Strange Irrational Thoughts

Hi Sonia, ive been struggling recently with increased anxiety. My health anxiety has been really bad with obsessivley worrying about different parts of my body and different moles etc I seem to go round in circles and every time I get reassurance about one thing my mind seems to go searching for something else to worry about.

I start week 4 tomorrow so hope to see some improvement soon. How are you?

Hi Graham

Unfortunately, when we start these meds our anxiety increases too and this additional anxiety is what is probably causing your worries. This will ease once the meds kick in. It's horrible worrying about every little thing, I was the same but it passed but if I'm honest, since withdrawing, I still find it hard t o believe that all of my symptoms are down to withdrawal. My symptoms are similar to when I first started the meds so I am hopeful that they will pass soon enough. 😊

Did you do a very slow taper that seems to be the key. My withdrawal lasted so long as was made go cold turkey and think sometimes withdrawal from z drugs can be worse. Citalopram so small imagine cutting the dose was very difficult. Hope you soon improve x

sometimes slow tapers you still have horrendous withdrawals to be honest x

Hi Lemanna

I went from 10 to 7.5, stayed there for a couple of months then went to 5, it's been around 6/7 months on 5. It probably is too fast for me, I was on them for 10 years so that makes it more difficult to come off them. Some people have no problems withdrawing slowly but I'm not one of them unfortunately. Some can take years to completely come off. I use a toe nail cutter to cut my tablet, it's an extra wide one with a 4mm jaw. (Just use it for tablets lol).

Think you are right it's length of time you are on them I was on zop on & off 12 years. I'm sure you will be OK eventually doing a slow taper like that. It is strange I've got couple friends stopped them no probs it's same with zopiclone some have no problems. Just wish these horrible thoughts would ease up, tried everything hoping the citalopram will eventually kick in. Trying go away impossible at moment, and if anyone else says aren't you better yet I'm going to scream!!!!!

Have you got a pill cutter they are quite good, never though of toe nail cutter!

Hi

I have tried two pill cutters but one half always end up bigger than the other. The toe nail clipper is better but I put a pencil line down the centre of the tablet as a guide. It doesn't always work perfectly though. I sometimes wonder whether my symptoms are prolonged by being slightly out with my measures.

Wouldn'T have thought would make that much difference if weren'T exactly the same to be honest.Think just takes time unfortunately for some people. Mind you I'm finding it really hard waiting for meds to work!!!!!!

Yes I know what you mean. I just try to stay busy to take my mind off it but I have to pace myself throughout the day. Nobody understands what it feels like unless they have been through it themselves. I've tried explaining to family members but they don't get it. Thank goodness for this site where we can all share our experiences.😊

I'm lucky my husband very understanding. People keep saying why don't you go away feel like saying some days can barely leave the house!!!! It's difficult as have this phobia about hurting people but try go out even if just for 10 minute walk. I've started designing my own tapestry which occupies your mind. But this forum is a life line x

ive just had my 4 year old niece here, i love her to bits but im shattered now haha x

Hi Lemanna

I had those days too when I couldn't leave the house when I first started citalopram. It was horrible but it did pass for me once I got used to the meds. It took about 10 /11 weeks before I could go back to work. I had to build myself up to it though.

Since withdrawing I still get those feelings sometimes, I go out but I couldn't think of going on a holiday right now.

Hey that's great you can do tapestry, I'd love to be able to do something like that. It must give you a lot of satisfaction.

Let's hope we can both look forward to a symptom free summer.🌞

Thats good to know it passed for you. Am making myself go out even if it's just to end of the road. Last week was awful but hopefully will improve. Hope your withdrawal gets easier. Yes last year was complete washout couldn't do anything much hoping this year will be better and for you too.

Yes, that's what I did, baby steps, it will get better. 🙏

Aw bless, hopefully you'll get a good nights sleep now🙏

i wish, sleep is awful x

Do the zopiclone not help with sleep then? they are less effective the longer you use them unfortunately. As your body gets used to them

no they help if it wasnt for them id have zero sleep!!! how you doing today? x

its cit withdrawal messing with my sleep as before this i slept 9 hours straight x

Wow I only ever slept about 4 or 5 hours on them you must be on much higher dose than me. Still struggling waiting for the citalopram to kick in. Have you not thought of biting the bullet and stopping the citalopram if you've been withdrawing for a while?

only if i wanted to end up in hospital!!! that would literally kill me x

Good luck hope you soon improve X

thanks i had 2 symptom free days a few months back so i know it can happen x

wWhat dose of zopiclone are you on, don't be tempted to increase the dose if you aren't sleeping well. Is your doctor supporting you in citalopram withdrawl if you are struggling with it. I've never heard anyone sleeping that long on zops mind you i was only on small dose as didnt want get addicted, that worked well lol!!!!

my grandad was on it for many years and it always worked for him! no doctors have admitted they dont understand withdrawal and are leaving me to taper how i feel comfortable, most people ive read on here doctors only make them worse! UP YOUR DOSE is all they know x

Zopiclone is so addictive and causes awful withdrawal, it is good still works for you at same dose as normally doesnt work well if on it too long. Years ago they were unaware of the problems with it when i started now won't prescribe it here long term. Good your doctor has allowed you to taper cit at your on pace so many try get people off too quickly.

i know alot of people it works for long term to be honest, and what choice do they have when they got me on these drugs for the wrong reasons! ssri withdrawal is brutal and has been on the news, plus they were only made for short term as nobody knows what they cause long term! try not to stay on them too long because imagine what youre going through now and add about 2 hundred symptoms then you have what around five percent go through terrible ssri withdrawal, anyway lunch then off for a walk x

You didn't say what dose zop you are on, just please be careful if you are on a high dose, as I was only on 2 mg and withdrawal been awful just don't increase the dose.Doctors have now realised they shouldn't be used long term and have re classified them as controlled drugs.. I think anti depressants are designed to be used long term if necessary, especially as they take a while to kick in, in fact doctors here recommend you stay on them at least a year. I agree doctors have got us onto drugs like zopiclone without considering the long term effects, but anti depressants aren't as addictive, but I'm not disputing they can cause problems for some people coming off.

ive never increased and also stopped for a while 😃 i will be fine thank you!

and i know you say its been awful and i believe you but when you list your symptoms they sound like ocd nothing more and ive had that all my life, ssri withdrawal been all over the news, in papers and all over the internet!

It's not OCD there is a difference between intrusive thoughts and OCD? it's a withdrawal symptom well documented, I've never had it before stopping the zop and the cbt would have worked if it was OCD? I appreciate you are having problems but mine is definitely not just OCD. we'll have to agree to disagree with SSRI's as the fact zopiclone is only prescribed for 2-4 weeks and is now class C drug think speaks for itself and about half of all people have problems stopping. I'm sorry you are having problem and hope you soon improve anyway.

i think youre having problems because you stopped cold turkey to be honest and dont understand why as you said you had some left so why not taper in the first place oh and i know what intrusive thoughts are i have them 24/7 i had voices telling me to kill myself!!!!!!!!!!

and youre right lets agree to disagree, just hope you dont get hit with bad withdrawal when you come off cit and i really do mean that! as before withdrawal i had never pulled my own hair out punched myself over and over in the face and scratched myself until i bled! the stories on this site are tame, the bad ones are on surviving antidepressants, anyway take care and good luck!