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Mirt and citalopram together? Seratonin Discontinuation withdrawl? Can I use both together? x

Posted , 7 users are following.

caramax
caramax

Hi,

Was wondering if anyone has had similar experience / could advise...

I tried Citalopram (upped from 20 to 30mg) for 3 months and while I had some good days, I was very up and down and had a few big meltdowns near the end. 

I also wasn't sleeping so my doc changed me to 15mg Mirtazapine.

This happened 4 days ago and for the first few days I was ok and it has helped me sleep. He told me to stop the Cit (all this was done over the phone as no time for appointments) but after internet research I didn't stop the cit and decided to taper off (going from 30 mg straight to 10mg cit in the morning while taling 15mg mirtazapine at night). 

Last night I had the most terrible pains and was rollling around, sweating and vommiting all night (never had anything like it and can only imagine it would be similar to heroin withdrawl) and today I am feeling completley dazed and achey. 

Not sure if I made a mistake and should've come off Cit like he said. Worried might have seratonin syndrome or discontinuation syndrome. The symtoms seem to be similar.

Doc is ok but don't think they listen / care / know what they doing and I also feel embarrassed as I can feel he is exhausted with me and my depression and will be angry that I didn't follow his advise. The bits that I did find on the internet was 50 / 50 on tapering off  / mixing mirt and cit / stopping cit. Anyone had similar experience of taking mirtazapine and citalopram together?

Also sleeping ok but bloody hell so groggy / tired during the day. Does this wear off?

Also been suggested hormonal problems (as well as depression), which sounds probable as my meltdown often (though not always) coincide with the time before my period. Any experience with hormonal imbalances and depression (particularly suicidal behaviors) citalopram / mirtazapine

Sorry lots of information there and questions. Advice on any of these points much appreaciatted

x

1 like, 40 replies

40 Replies

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  • Calmer
    Calmer caramax

    Posted

    Hello Caramax, I hope this helps.  

    I have been on both Citalapram & Mirtazapinem (they don't clash clinically) but I've been told by my GP that I don't need both.  Initially prescribed Citalapram but my anxiety & sleeplessness got so bad that I was prescribed Mirtazapine .... and hey do they help you sleep.  Never before have I slept so well.  I literally weaned myself off Citalapram so carefully over 2 months - lets face it we're sensitive at times like this and I for one needed to be careful.    YES I agree with you, Mirtazapine knocks you drowsy initially, and I have been on them now for 4 months - I do tick the side effect box of "FATIGUE"  as the leaflet says.  Gained 16 lbs in weight (gggrrrrr) feel tired but can cope with it as opposed to the chronic symptoms before.  I was told not to come off antideps before 6 months to a year as it would be counterproductive.

    Hope this helps x

     

    • caramax
      caramax Calmer

      Posted

      Hi Calmer46

      Thanks for your reply and sharing your experience x

      I am enoying the sleep but feel rotton / numb (though bit angry  / anxious)/ dizzy during the day. It's funny as while I eventually started feeling mostly ok on the cit I had the worst crashes ever. But since been on the mirtazapine I feel for the forst time like I am on anti speressants and nothing like myself at all. Does the groggieness wear off?

      I am still taking 15mg mirt at night and 10mg cit in morn. Can't get a docs appointment for another week so will probs just keep at it, even though I'm tempted to come off them all tomorrow and hope for the best I know this could be a disaster.

      I do think as I mentioned my mental health issue are caused or at least exasbarated by hormone imbalances so I'm looking into this now. It's a minefield eh!

      xx

       

  • australia2014
    australia2014 caramax

    Posted

    Hi Guys

    Just a suggestion, perhaps try Valdoxan...its works for sleep, and depression- is a agomelatine medication- i think its reasonaly new to the market?? it is also presribed to limit depression and coming back and side effects smile

    • Calmer
      Calmer australia2014

      Posted

      Thanks Australia & Caramax.  I switched, swapped & changed my medication back in August/September not realising that initially most of the antideps/meds that help calm you and therefore help you sleep dumb you down initially - now probably 5 months on mirts* I'm quite used to them & am particularly needing them to sleep.  I will rread up on Valdoxan tho' - thanks. I intend to stay on these for now though, and caramax - I wouldn't recommend coming on Mirt until you have something else to take - just in case.  Have any of you tried CBT or Mindfulness??? 

      Best wishes

    • gillian66830
      gillian66830 australia2014

      Posted

      Not heard of this before, but have looked it up now. It looks ideal. Wonder why we haven't heard much about it?
    • gillian66830
      gillian66830

      Posted

      Sorry, Valdorax that is. Hope you don't mind me jumping in pon your conversation, but I am desperate to find something to lift my mood, particularly in the mornings, but without increasing my anxiety and impairing my cognitive function. It's a nightmare. Was on Mirtazipine 30mg having weaned down from Mirtazipine 45 and Venlaflaxine 375 because I was a zombie, albeit a functioning zombie. But crashed and burned after six months. Have just had five weeks on Sertraline, only got up to 50mg, anxiety very bad and cognitive function very poor. Started duloxetine 60 th morning with Mirtazipine 15. Fingers crossed things get better and not worse.
    • australia2014
      australia2014 gillian66830

      Posted

      Hi Gillian

      I think Valdoxon is new to the market, or in Australia anyhow..Its great that people contribute to conversation smile Support network is very important when dealing with depression and such alikes...Im not sure if Valdoxan is a morning medication, though it should work just the same as it is also for major depression and will help rid the shadow in time..I have noticed that many people are reporting the same affect with SSRIs, I am thinking of doing some research into this... smile

    • australia2014
      australia2014 Calmer

      Posted

      Hi calmer

      Yes.CBT is a great option, combined with medication.I would recommend all people under going treatment to have a health care plan.Medication works however you still need to deal with the causes of the chemical imbalance that occured to begin with..I guess my advice is to find a good Psychologist and to attend the appointments even though you may think its mundane or trivial to begin with..Its suprising how information given from Psychologist really have an impact in your life, even if you find yourself reflecting on the therapy in the future, it does help if you manage to get a good psychologist...

    • gillian66830
      gillian66830 australia2014

      Posted

      Yeah! That would be good. I speak to people all the time who would benefit from support with anti-depressants, but are too scared to go on them, and with good reason. I feel like I am on a merry go round and my options are getting narrower every year. Thanks for your support.

    • Calmer
      Calmer australia2014

      Posted

      Hi Australia2014, I agree entirely, mundane as CBT is sometimes I find that by doing the "homework" I'm slowly realigning my negative thought pattern.  As for getting a good Psycologist, I am lucky I could afford to pay as nothing was available through the GP unless I was admitted to hospital - there is (obviously) massive space for improvement within the NHS.  CBT is available on the NHS with a waiting list - I would advise anyone to try it and READ around the subject to affirm.
    • gillian66830
      gillian66830 Calmer

      Posted

      Have tried CBT a few times, and I can see it's value.  Unfortunately, my confidence, self esteem etc... Are so poor that I have found its helpfulness limited. I can't 'believe' the positive affirmations.  I am seeing a counsellor privately now, so that I am not panicked by the limitations of short term therapy. Also planning to do some regular 'mindfulness' sessions, and going to try hypnosis. On day 3 of Duloxetine and Mirtazipine mix. I feel as if stopping the Sertraline has had massive positive effects. My anxiety is massively reduced, I feel as if I am thinking a bit more clearly and a bit more positively.  Seems a bit of a dramatic improvement, but I am not complaining. Let's hope it continues. Morning panic seemed a bit better this morning as well. Have been reading about difficulties coming of Duloxetine, but can't worry about that just now. Going to ask advice about coming off the Mirtazipine in about a weeks time if I feel up to it. Are you having CBT currently? How long have you been having it and are you finding a steady improvement? I have also been referred to see a clinical psychologist on Nhs. Know you should only try one type of therapy at once, but hoping that the Clinical Psychologist might be able to add something into the pot to keep me on track.
    • Calmer
      Calmer gillian66830

      Posted

      Hi Gillian,  In reply to your questions firstly, I saw a Clinical Psychologist 3 times privately as NHS couldn't help and I just KNEW I needed to.  As my anxiety was on the ceiling she recommended I steadied myself on meds (Mertazapine) to try CBT to strengthen myself mentally before any further treatment, and to reaffirm the CBT for 6 months or so.  The CBT was and is very useful indeed; it then led on to a course of Mindfulness which in times of [u]utter despair[/u] was a realy grounder and after 4 weeks of this I am "seeing the light".  Although I have been on mertazapine since September 2013 I don't plan to come off anytime soon - needing the help to sleep.  I know what you mean Gillian when you say to "keep you on track" - it's a way of life really don't you think? ... there's no quick fix, trying to achieve happinness through negative depression takes a lot of unlearning.  x
    • gillian66830
      gillian66830 Calmer

      Posted

      Thank you so much for your honesty and generosity in sharing your personal experience. I am new to these forums, but will definitely be a regular visitor when there is so much intelligent thought and experience to be gained from others with similar difficulties as myself. Yes, I think the mindfulness wi be a great help in getting me back into the moment and give me a break from the incessant negative dialogue that I hammer myself with nearly ever waking moment. Hope I am not fooling myself, but I feel as if my change of meds, new therapist, the other things I plan to try and the support of these forums might just help me turn a corner at long last. Even expressing a hope of change is a massive leap forward from how I've been feeling over past few months. That said, I have sat in front of the telly in my PJ's for past 3 days, so still a way to go. I didn't wake up waiting that I hadn't this morning and I am at least seeing this as a temporary low point and not a template for the rest of my life since feeling less anxiety. Thanks again guys.
  • australia2014
    australia2014 caramax

    Posted

    Hi Guys/Gals

    I would reply independantly, though you all have made very ligit and personal expereince/advice about withdraws and CBT...It may work for some, it may not work for others, but there is other options- As i recently explained to another post on here..withdraws are a process- you have the medication withdraws, then you have to adapt back to a life without the co-dependant medication..your emotions and thinking might be confussing and self-identity may also be uncertain as we experience a lot of our inter personal selves in regards to our emotions and thoughts- this may take months, so its important to try and not draw conclusion when going through process...it will balance in time and every person is different...Another point  worth considering is this adaptation process  has a lot of parallel behaviour linked to it- i.e. comparrison...Its normal to determine how

    "happy" or "normal" we should be based on remebering what were like before depression or such alikes...dont be to hard on yourself- allow change and remember that naturally things change, through growth, experience and such events that we speak of in these forums..You may do some re-discovering about yourself and dont let this confuse you..its all part of your experience smile

    • australia2014
      australia2014

      Posted

       I Would like to add to that parallel behaviour, to clarify- this also applies to low and negitive moods..we may link them to the  trauma or depression expereinced and feel a personal progress was not achieved with medication,..Its always best to give yourself time and allow adaption and change,..This will help you move forward smile
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