still feel terrible 7 weeks into reducing my dose from 40 to 20
Posted , 7 users are following.
hi all can anyone please help me and reassure me out this vicious circle I'm in that's driving me insane. I'm into week 7 of reducing citalophram from 40 to 20 and I'm getting side effects of feeling not in my body kind of light headed stoned feeling and I keep getting cold shivers right threw my body I've been like it for like 6 days now can anyone else relate to this?? if so how long does it last it's driving me mad I feel slightly drunk all the time or stoned ha or could this be signs of something else I don't no what to think I just want it to go away before I crack up 😭😭😭
0 likes, 30 replies
borderriever gemma88362
Posted
Depending on how your GP has instructed you could try and take a smaller cut of the tablet you are taking now, this will extend the period that you take the medication, it will however hopefully reduce your contraindications. Talk to your GP before you do any increase
gemma88362 borderriever
Posted
I did so yes my doctor told me he's lowering my dose from 40 to 20 in which he did do 7 weeks ago and he said in 3 months time he's lowering it again to 10mg then keeping me on them for 6 month so then I can hit the final 5 allspice good with my anxiety and panic attacks it's the feeling of not been in my body kind of slightly drunk feel I'm taking each day as it comes and praying it is my med reduction making me feel like this and hoping it will go away thank u for replying
borderriever gemma88362
Posted
You will be ok
If you are worried regards these feelings, make an appointment with your GP and explain your worries.
We are here for a chat if needed
gemma88362 borderriever
Posted
I'm a strong headed person to be fair all I want to do is be medication free after been on citalophram solidly for 7 years I feel I don't need them anymore but coming off them is hard work I just need to be certain that how I feel will pass then I'll ride it out thank you for your reply
borderriever gemma88362
Posted
I have been on this drug for over ten years and because of my condition will be taking them for the rest of my life. The drug if working is worth taking and if you deide to come of the mediation after an extended withdrawal you will need to start taking it again, so you need to be positive I will not need the drug again
In my case I have been on many AD and it is a real fear that I have had in the past on withdrawing medications, I do not wish to do that again so I will stay the way I am now and remain stable
Good luck on the withdrawal of this medication, Keep in touch how you get on
katecogs gemma88362
Posted
Hi Gemma
John059 messaged me about you reducing these meds. Hope I can help 🙃
I've just come off the meds which has taken me a year and the way I did it I didn't get any withdrawal symptoms.
First time I came off I reduced by taking half each time and still got withdrawal symptoms, but did eventually get off them. Sadly I had to return to them when family illness began to affect me again, and when the time was right I started reducing again.
This time around I reduced by 5mg at a time as thought the smaller the dose my brain missed would be better. I bought a pill cutter and cut my 20mg tabs into 1/4's making each one 5mg and started reducing from 20 / 15 / 10 / 5 / 2.5 / 1.25 / 0 and stopped a few weeks ago - I didn't have any withdrawal symptoms at all this time. The last 5mg tablet I crushed because it was too small to cut, and I then took half the crushed powder on my finger, and eventually took half that amount too.
Each dose I reduced to I stayed on about a 4-6 weeks before reducing again and then stayed on 5mg for many months as had my daughters wedding this year and decided to stay on the small amount and start again after the event.
Take as long as you want with withdrawal - the slower, the better.
If you still feel withdrawal reducing by 5mg, you could even do it by 2.5mg each time instead.
Now I'm off meds I'm now taking an over the counter herbal tablet called 5-HTP which is a natural serotonin, and am also taking l-tyrosine with it too (both are needed together). These have no side effects and can be started / stopped anytime. They work quicker too - within days.
What dose are you down to now? If you're still feeling unwell you could reintroduce 5mg and wait for your meds to settle before starting withdrawal again?
K xx
gemma88362 katecogs
Posted
good morning lovely thank you very much for getting back to me as John referred 😊. I've been between 20 and 40mg for 7 years for panic attacks and anxiety I was on 40mg for 2 years and 7 weeks ago was reduced down to 20. can this reduction make you feel woozy as I've been like it for a week now everyday feeling really strange and will it pass? xx
katecogs gemma88362
Posted
Hi Gemma
Yes, reducing from 40mg to 20mg in just 7 weeks seems way too quick and is one hell of drop. I'm not surprised you're feeling ill at the moment. Took me a year to come of 20mg - you've done that dose in 7 weeks.
Yes it will pass eventually, but it might be an uncomfortable time for a while yet whilst your body adjusts. Yes the brain zaps are withdrawl - I had them first time I reduced by inky 10mg - it's like having a short circuit. That's why this time I did it much slower. I'm always so surprised doctors do this - they seem to have no idea playing around with these serious drugs. It might be worth going back to see your doctor and maybe discuss about reintroducing a small amount again which might help ease your symptoms? It won't ease overnight though. It's also worth pointing out to him/her this site and about withdrawal. Probably needs to go back on a training course.
If you're coming off meds completely you really need to slow it down and take the least possible meds each reduction that you're comfortable with. When your body has settled, please take it slower. You don't need to rush this - there's no hurry to stop the meds. Take as long as you like - it's your body.
I do feel for you xxx
K xx
john059 katecogs
Posted
Great advice K. I'm gonna take it real slow also. Started reducing on the 22nd of Sept and I'm down to 30mg's from 40. My next step in Nov will be to go down to 27.5 mg's and reduce by 2.5 mg's from there. I have the brain buzzes but I know they go away as the days goes on. Thank you for being here K. Dont know where we would be without you. Enjoy youre day.
katecogs john059
Posted
That's great John - taking it real slow is the way to go. I also figured that if I got to a certain dose and started feeling anxious again, then it wasn't such a big step to increase it if I needed. Luckily I didn't need to. Yes, those brain zaps felt to me like my brain was having a short circuit - noticed it more when I was tired, and yes, they do ease off. That happened when I reduced the first time - but this last year I felt nothing during my reduction.
I would never hesitate to take these meds again though if ever I needed to.
gemma88362 katecogs
Posted
you seem like an aginious John was right recommending you with your supportive words and know alot just what I need right now. my doctor put me from 40 to 20 with no explanation of side effect nothing just said I want to come off citalophram and he said he'll reduce my dose and then in 3 months he'll reduce again I've had more help of people like yourself in the 7 years I've been on this medication than the doctors or councilers surely that's not right I rang my docs about this drunk feeling I've had for 8 days now he said hang in there it will pass nice one doc 😂 think am gonna try stick to this 20 for a long time then try reducing 2.5mg a time for the last 20 but if these side effects don't settle then I have no choice to go up a dose even to 30 try that I really do appreciate your help tho you should be proud of yourself xx