Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Personal Experiences => Topic started by: Spangles on April 20, 2017, 08:38:31 AM
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Hi
I've been taking Citalopram for about 14 years, gradually my dose went up to 40mg.
I've now started to reduce it to 30mg, I've been taking 30/40/30/40 alternately for about 8 days now, I feel awful.
Has anyone else reduced and if so what have you felt like?
Thanks
Shellb
xXx
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Is anything else going on in your life to make the decreasing feel a bit odd? I only ask because I know you are meant ot be on completely even keel before decreasing
What about taking 35 mg every day instead and see if that helps?
SP x
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Hello
I came off Citalopram a few years ago, after taking it for some time. I was weaned off it, over 3 months,very gradually under the supervision of the GP. I am sure that I dropped down by a 5mg dose ever 2 weeks. I was on a very high amount.
I had no side effects, other than some dizziness at times. To drop to 30mg one day, and then up to 40mg the following, seems an odd way of reducing, but then I am not a GP.
Are you able to get in contact with your GP, and explain how you are feeling?
Hoping that you soon start to feel better. x
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Hi Ladies,
Thanks for your replies.
As for being on an even keel Pixie, I think I feel well most of the time at the moment but I dthink get regular dips due to my hormones like we all do.
I had a medication review last year and the GP (one whom I had never met!), 'told' me I needed to reduce to 30 from 40. I wasn't happy with him so I saw a doctor who I do know who said if I wanted to do it them I should do it when I feel the time is right.
It's something I've wanted to do for a while now so I thought I would give it a go.
The GP also said most people are fine just dropping down to 30 from 40 but if I wanted to taper it was up to me. I spoke to a pharmacist a couple of weeks ago too and she said the same.
It does make sense that alternating the dose would cause ups and downs though.
The way I feel about the moment I just feel like continuing with the higher dose, I feel frustrated as I really want to reduce my dose to 30.
Sorry for moaning but I've been on AD's for such a long time, reducing the dose isn't something I've done on a whim, I didn't expect it to make me feel like this.
Thanks
Shellb
xXx
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For me it was recognising that any bounce back symptoms didn't last longer than 24 hours and didn't get worse despite my head bothering me: "will I need to go back to the higher dose because these feelings won't go away": they did go away! then I had 3-4 days on the reduced dose B4 dropping again. It wasn't this particular AD but in the same 'chain' of medication. Under supervision it took 9 weeks.
Why are you reducing? You shouldn't feel up and down whilst tapering but 'different' as the brain and body becomes used to a different regime. Think about how you feel physically and whether these feelings are maintained or if they get worse. I don't understand how one would taper from 40 to 30 unless there's an intermediate dose.
What exactly are you feeling?
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Hi Shellb. I found an excellent article years ago on the internet by a Dr who said it was poppycock that you could wean off ADs so easy despite what the GPS tell us. I was like you so set about following his advice. I literally did each stage for about 6 weeks at a time by shaving tiny bits off the tablet for each 6 weeks. Yes, it took months but I had no withdrawal problems, my son did the same when he came off them. I am back on them as I found it was needed again but I know I can stop them again so don't panic any more. I can't remember who the dr was but have a search on the internet and you may come across it. I'll have a look too and will post the link for you. Good luck, honestly, it's the way to do it. xx
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Hi Shellib,
I came down from 20 to 10mg Citalopram with no problem with the following taper schedule:
Monday -10mg then the rest of the week 20 mg;
Monday and Tue -10 mg then the rest of the week 20mg
... and so on until I started taking only 10 mg throughout.
I think this taper schedule brings the least shock to the brain thus no side effects at all.
Good luck
Milamam
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It does depend on the type of medication, GPs have access to small amounts that aren't usually available other than for weaning off.
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I had to take 10mg every second day as I weaned off as that's the lowest dose. I weaned myself off them by taking every 3rd day & so on. Been off completely for 3 weeks now & feeling fine.
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Hi ladies,
Thank you for your replies.
I don't feel any better to be honest.
I've just done two days of 30mg, my Bowles have gone to pot and so has my appetite.
I feel like going back up to the 40 but then I think if I do I will have gone through the last 12 days for nothing. I'm trying so hard but it's really difficult.
Any tips on getting my appetite back as I lose weight really easily.
xXx
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Sure your appetite will come back on it's own. No point forcing yourself to eat. When my anxiety was bad 3 years ago, my appetite went as the anxiety made me nauseous.
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Yes, cubagirl is right - don't beat yourself up or force to eat. I'll help if you "juice" your food : i.e make smoothies from greens or things you fancy and sip during the day. When I lost apetite during a meno low point a few years ago, I lived on celery juice, tomato juice and small bowls of soups. Little sips throughout the day and at night if needed. It will pass - don't push yourself too hard!
Milamam
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I suggest Bovril in a cup of hot water with toast - my go-to when I can't eat.
Your body/brain will get used to 30mg - however, where do you go from 30mg :-\
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I was started on 10mg citalopram but the side effects were cruel so I would cut the tablet in half to begin with. Then the GP transferred me onto the sister drug called escitalopram which is similar but kinder. I take the 5mg dose now. It keeps me on an even keel.
Occasionally I think I ought to try without it but then I ask myself why, if it is helping. I don't think I should reduce my thyroxine as my body needs it. So my brain needs the support of the low dose AD. I have to remind myself of that. However if I was on a high dose I don't think I would be happy long term so I wish you well with your reduction.
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Shellb - what symptoms are the most bothersome?
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Hi ladies,
Just a quick update.
Still taking 30mg, it's been a month now.
My anxiety is higher and my mood is a bit lower, anxiety being the worse part.
Had an anxiety attack the other night, I thought it was due to a trigger from my past but also coincided with my period starting???
My PMT has been really bad tha past 3 months, e.g heightened anxiety, nausea, headaches etc.
I've also been getting cold flushes at this time too, could that be a drop in oestrogen? Would it still drop though as I'm using HRT?
I'm still plodding along and very reluctant to increase dose again.
Thanks
Shellb
xXx
P.S. Out of interest does anyone take a high dose of Citalopram?
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Hi Shellb
I have been on citalopram for 16 months & it did nothing for the anxiety, I got up to 30mg & reduced to 20mg then to 10mg, I stayed on that for 6 weeks & kept crying so upped to 20mg again, did nothing really as still felt awful, last week I was put on mirtazapin & have slept really well but also had this week off work to rest, I have just seen a different GP who said to start tapering off the citalopram doing 20/10/20/10 for a week then to 10mg for a week & then 10 every other day for a week then 10 every 2 days etc..I cannot stress how ill I have felt on ssri's, I wish I didn't go back up to 20mg as it feels like I will have to start all over again, I am also on hrt & anxiety is still bad, I often think I am in some sort of Gaga land :'(
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So ask for a dedicated anti-anxiety medication, i.e. a beta-blocka or an as-necessary tablet? Also eating correctly can ease anxiety surges and I found Rescue Remedy useful at times. Breathing properly can control anxiety too.
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CLKD
Hi,
Thanks for your replies.
Since I've been reducing from40 to 30, I have gradually felt like the anxiety and depressing feelings and thoughts have been coming back.
I have heard that withdrawals can feel like symptoms returning? Although would I get withdrawals with reducing? Also I am on my period this week and it's this week I have felt worse, I'm also stressing as I'm having works done at home.
I would just like things to settle so that I can have a clearer head!
So sorry for moaning.
Underneath it all although I am suffering I do feel proud of myself for getting down to 30 from 40 but I didn't anticipate feeling like this as I had no idea or expectations. I really hope it passes as I don't want to up my dose again.
Thanks
Shellb
xXx
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It's all a bit silly. Sometimes I don't know which way is up! I am on the lowest dose tablet and I shave a slice off to make a dose of three quarters of a tablet and I tick along nicely on that. However on the odd occasion I get curious as to whether I could manage with less, and I take half a tablet I feel less well within a day or two. You wouldn't think a quarter of a tablet would make a difference but, in my case, it does so don't be surprised if you feel a difference on 10mg less than you are used to. Unfortunately I don't have the patience for feeling iffy so I stay on three quarters of a tablet (most of the time ::)). :)
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Shellb - it's known as 'bounce back anxiety' - the what-if syndrome, the physical symptoms ask 'what if I can't reduce any more', 'what if I have to go back up a dose' ......... think carefully, do you feel any worse each day, has the bounce back become stable? One can't be addicted to modern ADs, but bounce back and the fear of not being able to stop the medication can get the brain whizzing! >:(. It took me 9 weeks, still here >wave<