Dee12h Posted April 15, 2021 Share Posted April 15, 2021 I have become more & more irritable the older I get. I just chalked it up to age & kids. I did notice a big jump after my 2yo was born though. Like it’s uncontrollable at times. Well guess when I started my SSRI? (Escitalopram) 2 years ago! I thought it helped my irritability at first though. Then it got bad again. 🤔 I do think it’s gotten a little worse since I started tapering down, but I’m bad about remembering the timing of all my symptoms. In your experience is it more a side effect of the meds or WD symptom? AND, have you found anything to help it?? (I am big into natural health & have found things to help all kinds of symptoms. Nothing has ever helped my irritability 😣.) May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30 .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg, April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! Taking Magnesium, whole foods iron, & natural supplements as needed for sleep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostmysock Posted May 1, 2021 Share Posted May 1, 2021 It can be both. I found that all I can do when it hits is take myself off to the bedroom, shut the door, and isolate myself from my family until it passes so that I don't lash out and yell at them. Jan 2020-now - Tranexamic acid and 800mg ibuprofen for heavy periods 2015-2020 - Sertraline (Zoloft) - started at 25mg, went up to 200mg, tapered back down to 75mg, off in August 2020 (don't recall dates) 2015-now - Ritalin on and off as needed 2015 for 6 months - (before Sertraline) a month on Lithium, list of others I can't recall, Quetiapine (period of psych trying me on different drugs to see what would 'work') Supplements: Probiotics | Magnesium + zinc + B6 | Hemp seed oil (omega-3) | Ferrograd (iron) + vitamin C | Collagen Intro topic: lostmysock: Sertraline 5 years, off since August 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee12h Posted May 4, 2021 Author Share Posted May 4, 2021 On 4/30/2021 at 10:53 PM, lostmysock said: It can be both. I found that all I can do when it hits is take myself off to the bedroom, shut the door, and isolate myself from my family until it passes so that I don't lash out and yell at them. Yes, I do this too. I think it’s mostly a side effect for me, so far. May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30 .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg, April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! Taking Magnesium, whole foods iron, & natural supplements as needed for sleep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purple Posted May 11, 2021 Share Posted May 11, 2021 It's been both for me, on top of career burnout. The more space I've been able to hold for myself though, the less irritable I've become. I've just noticed that on top of me being a naturally sensitive person, the AD has increased my nervous system irritability. 2017 Oct sertraline | Nov switched to escitalopram 10mg | 2018 Apr escitalopram fast taper (4-8 weeks) to zero/off 2018 Nov restarted escitalopram, increased to 20mg | 2020 Jan escitalopram fast taper (2-3 months) to zero/off 2020 Aug 27 restarted escitalopram 10mg tablet, came across SA.org 2021 Feb 27 complete switch to liquid 9.8mg | Mar 7 decreased to 9.5mg | Mar 14 decreased to 9.3mg | Mar 21 decreased to 9.0mg | Apr 11 decreased to 8.8mg | Apr 18 decreased to 8.6mg | May 9 decreased to 8.3mg | May 16 decreased to 8.1mg | Jun 6 increased to 9.0mg | July 18 decreased to 8.6mg | Aug 15 decreased to 8.2mg | Sept 19 decreased to 8.0mg | Oct 21 decreased to 7.6mg | Nov 18 decreased to 7.2mg | Dec 16 decreased to 6.9mg 2022 Feb 27 decreased to 6.8mg | Mar 31 decreased to 6.4mg | Jul 5 decreased to 6.1mg | Jul 23 decreased to 5.8mg | Aug 10 increased to 6.0mg | Nov 24 decreased to 5.4mg | Dec 31 decreased to 4.8mg 2023 Feb 1 decreased to 4.4mg | May 17 decreased to 4mg | Jul 6 decreased to 3.8mg | Jul 19 decreased to 3.6 | Aug 11 decreased to 3.2mg | Sept 9 decreased to 3.0mg | Sept 22 decreased to 2.7mg | Oct 24 increased to 2.775mg | Nov 12 decreased to 2.7mg | Dec 20 increased to 3.0mg I hold for longer periods of time when life gets stressful, usually work related. Supplements: currently none Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kush Posted June 2, 2021 Share Posted June 2, 2021 Its both for me when i feel irritate or angry then i dont go outside my home nor meet anyone Started on august 2012 Until feb 2017 no data of prescribition available Feb 2017. Resperidone 2mg August 2018 1mg resperidone June 2019. 0.75 mg resperidone March 2020 0.5 mg resperidone August 2020 0.75mg resperidone December 2020 0.5 mg resperidone Currently may 2021 0.5mg resperidone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kat66 Posted July 27, 2021 Share Posted July 27, 2021 It helps simply knowing it's not just me. My irritability is off the scale at the moment. I'm currently on 1mg citalopram having reinstated after coming off CT at 10mg recently. Everything sets me off, including my husband, which I find worrying. I find I just want to be on my own, undisturbed, as everything seems to trigger me. History of depression and anxiety. Symptoms of PTSD. 1998-1999 Venlafaxine 2006-2007 Prozac.2013-15 Sertraline 50mg. 2015 cross-tapered to citalopram 20mg. 2015-2021 Citalopram 20mg (brief increase to 30mg for 2/3 months in 2019. 01/2021 Dropped from 20mg to 10mg, back up to 20mg til June. 25/6/21 stopped CT. Started 50mg 5htp after a week without citalopram in the hope this would balance out my serotonin levels. After 3 days increased to 100mg 5htp. 11/7/21 Stopped 5htp with the intention of reinstating citalopram at 1mg. 16/7/21 Reinstated cit at 1mg. 2/8/21 Increased dose to 2mg. 28/11/21 10% reduction to 1.8mg. 8/12/21 2mg 6/1/22 1.8mg 10/2/22 1.6mg 13/5/22 1.5mg 4/6/22 1.55mg 4/7/22 1.4mg 4/8/22 1.25mg 1/11/22 1.1mg 3/3/23 1mg 18/4/23 0.9mg 2/6/23 0.8mg 4/10/23 0.7mg 11/11/23 jumped off @0.7mg started on 5htp 200mg -400mg, L-Theanine, and L-tyrosine 200mg. 25/11/23 came off 5-htp, l-tyrosine and l-Theanine. 24/12/23 went on 7.5mg mirtazapine. 27/12/23 stopped mirtazapine & reinstated citalopram @.35mg. 1/1/24 increased to 0.5mg. PTSD diagnosis October 2023. 11/11/23 started EMDR therapy for PTSD. Multiple unsuccessful attempts to taper off citalopram. Vegan, otherwise healthy lifestyle. Other medications; tapering off combined HRT. Other supplements; magnesium glycinate, vegan omega3. Completely OFF caffeine (since July 21). Finding it difficult to completely give up alcohol but haven’t had any since 25/12/23. Main symptoms; crushing depression, anhedonia/emotional anesthesia, irritability, rage, anxiety/fear, intrusive thoughts, cognitive fog, inability to focus, restlessness and some insomnia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon1 Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 I’ve had some pretty awful anxiety and depression-like withdrawal effects, but the irritability is without doubt the hardest to deal with. It’s just there all the time. My partner feels the brunt of it. I keep quiet and to myself as much as possible so I don’t say anything I really regret, but even then the simplest ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer to a question can sound snappy even when I try not to. I’ve even thought about taking myself off away alone for a few weeks when I get to the final stages of tapering, just so I can be alone and not worry about being mean to those I love. I’m not sure that would go down very well though! Oct 2018 - Jun 2020: 10 mg per day generic Escitalopram in pill form. Jul 2020 - Aug 2020: Switched to 9 mg per day of Cipralex drops to aid tapering. Sep 2020 - Oct 2020: Taper to 8 mg. Nov 2020 - Dec 2020: Taper to 7 mg. Jan 2021 - Feb 2021: Taper to 6 mg. Mar 2021 - Apr 2021: Taper to 5 mg. May 2021 - Jun 2021: Taper to 4 mg. Jul 2021 - Sep 2021: Taper to 3 mg. Sep 2021 - Jan 2022: Taper to 2 mg. Jan 2022: Stopped taking altogether. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kat66 Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 On 8/5/2021 at 7:41 PM, jon1 said: I’ve had some pretty awful anxiety and depression-like withdrawal effects, but the irritability is without doubt the hardest to deal with. It’s just there all the time. My partner feels the brunt of it. I keep quiet and to myself as much as possible so I don’t say anything I really regret, but even then the simplest ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer to a question can sound snappy even when I try not to. I’ve even thought about taking myself off away alone for a few weeks when I get to the final stages of tapering, just so I can be alone and not worry about being mean to those I love. I’m not sure that would go down very well though! I agree with you it’s one of the worst symptoms because nothing helps alleviate it. Being away from people is the only way to keep it from boiling over but that’s not possible unless you’re single and work from home. I totally get where you’re coming from about taking yourself off for a few weeks though. I guess knowing we’re not alone in feeling these things helps too. 1 History of depression and anxiety. Symptoms of PTSD. 1998-1999 Venlafaxine 2006-2007 Prozac.2013-15 Sertraline 50mg. 2015 cross-tapered to citalopram 20mg. 2015-2021 Citalopram 20mg (brief increase to 30mg for 2/3 months in 2019. 01/2021 Dropped from 20mg to 10mg, back up to 20mg til June. 25/6/21 stopped CT. Started 50mg 5htp after a week without citalopram in the hope this would balance out my serotonin levels. After 3 days increased to 100mg 5htp. 11/7/21 Stopped 5htp with the intention of reinstating citalopram at 1mg. 16/7/21 Reinstated cit at 1mg. 2/8/21 Increased dose to 2mg. 28/11/21 10% reduction to 1.8mg. 8/12/21 2mg 6/1/22 1.8mg 10/2/22 1.6mg 13/5/22 1.5mg 4/6/22 1.55mg 4/7/22 1.4mg 4/8/22 1.25mg 1/11/22 1.1mg 3/3/23 1mg 18/4/23 0.9mg 2/6/23 0.8mg 4/10/23 0.7mg 11/11/23 jumped off @0.7mg started on 5htp 200mg -400mg, L-Theanine, and L-tyrosine 200mg. 25/11/23 came off 5-htp, l-tyrosine and l-Theanine. 24/12/23 went on 7.5mg mirtazapine. 27/12/23 stopped mirtazapine & reinstated citalopram @.35mg. 1/1/24 increased to 0.5mg. PTSD diagnosis October 2023. 11/11/23 started EMDR therapy for PTSD. Multiple unsuccessful attempts to taper off citalopram. Vegan, otherwise healthy lifestyle. Other medications; tapering off combined HRT. Other supplements; magnesium glycinate, vegan omega3. Completely OFF caffeine (since July 21). Finding it difficult to completely give up alcohol but haven’t had any since 25/12/23. Main symptoms; crushing depression, anhedonia/emotional anesthesia, irritability, rage, anxiety/fear, intrusive thoughts, cognitive fog, inability to focus, restlessness and some insomnia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon1 Posted August 10, 2021 Share Posted August 10, 2021 On 8/8/2021 at 12:23 PM, Kat66 said: I agree with you it’s one of the worst symptoms because nothing helps alleviate it. Being away from people is the only way to keep it from boiling over but that’s not possible unless you’re single and work from home. I totally get where you’re coming from about taking yourself off for a few weeks though. I guess knowing we’re not alone in feeling these things helps too. The only way I could describe it to my partner was to say "imagine being really 'hangry' but eating food doesn't make it go away". Oct 2018 - Jun 2020: 10 mg per day generic Escitalopram in pill form. Jul 2020 - Aug 2020: Switched to 9 mg per day of Cipralex drops to aid tapering. Sep 2020 - Oct 2020: Taper to 8 mg. Nov 2020 - Dec 2020: Taper to 7 mg. Jan 2021 - Feb 2021: Taper to 6 mg. Mar 2021 - Apr 2021: Taper to 5 mg. May 2021 - Jun 2021: Taper to 4 mg. Jul 2021 - Sep 2021: Taper to 3 mg. Sep 2021 - Jan 2022: Taper to 2 mg. Jan 2022: Stopped taking altogether. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts