☼ joy2730: withdrawing from citalopram, quetiapine

[joy2730]

A shallow sleep and a hot night but I feel fine. My daughter announced she is pregnant it was all carefully planned and hopefully I will be able to see the baby grow up without me taking too much citalopram. By the way same daughter once a had a severe depression and took sertraline for 2 years and took herself off it over 2 months with only a bit of nausea. But she didn't have the complicated meds history I have. Dizziness had stopped a but of a headache and the odd jab of ear ache

[joy2730]

A really good full sleep last night, not shallow at all, and I felt relaxed when I woke up and continued to feel relaxed all day, just a good mood all round.  No real withdrawal symptoms today just the odd touch of a headache but I haven't even thought about taking anything for it. 

 

Thinking about keeping at 13 mg for another two weeks and then dropping to 12.5 mg.  Appetite normal and no particular carbohydrate cravings. 

 

Because I am taking less citalopram I subconsciously think I can eat more, but this is such a bad trap to fall into.

 

Hope everyone is well and doing OK.

[joy2730]

Another good sleep last night just a few pricked of odd senations in my left foot which is neither pleasant nor unpleasant. It just is. Feeling tired though.

 

I think if you stop the meds cold turkey u just get hit by everything whereas if you stop slowly it's just a much slower hit

[Flowers]

It's good you are taking things slowly with the drops and feeling generally OK.

 

What good news about your daughter!

 

Things all OK with my taper.

[joy2730]

Thanks flowers I am really pleased for my daughter.

 

A friend of mine started talking duloxeyine which is a ssri like citalopram about two years ago for stress and fibromyalgia and o have just seen a Facebook pic of her. She looks happy but about 2 stones heavier. It seems to be a common side effect and cumulative. No withdrawal symptoms tiday and a lovely sleep.last night.

 

Hopey daughter doesn't get on as she had a bad depression previously but she is really happy about her pregnancy and so is everyone else. I am going to tell my own mother tomorrow the news with my daughters blessing. My motherboard too deaf to use the phone now so I have to travel to see her specially. So glad I am getting my life back together re pills

[joy2730]

Brilliant nights sleep so down to 12.5 mg this morning. Mood good but I am gaining weight again

[Flowers]

Good luck with the latest drop Joy.

 

xxxx

[joy2730]

Drop on dose going

fine but feel like i am gaining weight and dare not get on the scales.

Sweaty also

[joy2730]

Still going well, slept well last night, up and about with a clear mind this morning.  I seem to have more energy now and am enjoying life more.  Have not been as sweaty today.  Going swimming again tonight and am going to go for a bit of a walk in a minute.

 

No irritability today, so that's good.

[scallywag]

Hi joy, it's good to hear that the sweating has decreased.  Swimming sounds wonderful. If someone told me to "Go jump in the lake," I would!

[joy2730]

Another good sleep last night but a bit more shallow.

 

This morning for about 10 mins after a lot of physical activity looking after someone with MND, the sweat just pored off my back like a river giving me horrible crawly feelings, but other than that and a bit of nausea this morning, all is good.

[joy2730]

All well less sweaty today and a good night's sleep. Mood stable. Weight continues to be a problem. Glad I made this last drop though

[joy2730]

A good sleep and good stable mood but when I got up this morning I was so dizzy I nearly fell

[joy2730]

Another good day I feel so much better. No withdrawal symptoms tiday am going to do another two weeks of this and then down to 12 mg. I feel.my body is beginning to burn fat a bit better

[joy2730]

Weighed myself this morning and I am no longer gaining weight which is a big relief. Good sleep and good mood. All going well. Life in withdrawl is ok at present.

[joy2730]

Less sweaty which is a relief and I feel really well.  Good sleep last night, can't complain at tall.  I look tired but I am working hard due to having so much more energy and concentration.  I don't have any other symptoms at present.  Life is good and I am so glad I decided to make this journey.  My appetite has really normalised now and I can now see if was being increased greatly by the citalopram.  It is a wonder I am not bigger than I am!

 

Going swimming tomorrow.  Discovering I am ok on 12.5 mg is as good as winning the lottery for me.  About another week of this and I am going to drop to 12mg..  I feel I have built up a pattern for myself and can easily spot if things are going well or worsening for me.  Monitoring and diary keeping really helps.

 

Take care everyone, lets learn together and do this together to increase awareness.

[joy2730]

Stayed up all night watching UK referendum results - I could not have achieved this if I had still be on psychiatric pills, but on 12.5 mg citalopram was able to enjoy the night.

 

No withdrawal symptoms whatsoever.  Life is good.  Going for a longer swim tonight, went for one yesterday, going again tomorrow.  May or may not be helping who knows? 

 

I do know I am enjoying life more on less.  This is a case of less is more.

[joy2730]

A brilliant nights sleep last night but a stiff neck this morning. That us one of my standard withdrawal symptoms so hello there again I know who you are and I know you dont stay long

[scallywag]

Three cheers for a BRILLIANT night's sleep.     I love your attitude to a sneaky, occasionally recurring symptom.

[joy2730]

Yes sneaky stiff neck only stayed a day and then moved on. Sleep a bit more shallow last night but still good. I am so much more awake on a morning and can get a lot more things done early in the day which increases my productivity later on. I have more energy and my body shape is starting to look better

[joy2730]

Brill sleep but I am so sweaty. I am having so many baths and showers am.having to use products for dry skin and my fave makeup diesnt last long

[joy2730]

Good day today but I feel that the drop on dosage is really taking effect now. I feel achy and tired as if I have flu without the flu if you see what I mean. Not as sweaty today. My stomach feels totally different somehow

[scallywag]

Joy, I want to let you know it's a delight to read your posts. Your username is well chosen. You may have been born with a tendency toward obvious optimism and a practical attitude or you may have had to work to develop them. Either way it shows.

[joy2730]

Thank you scallywag. I think I was born like this but the use of psychiatric meds covered it. Flu us better today fly has flown away for the present. Another brilliant sleep. My stomach feels signifucantly different totally different more stable and irgamused. More form. Something is changing. Its like i can feel my stomach properly now and it can commmunicate with me better mow as to whether it is hingry or full. Weird.Less sweaty by far now

[joy2730]

That should say flu has flown away and stomach is more organised now

[joy2730]

Brilliant sleep again and felt very well but from mid afternoon I have been very tired, my bones ache from mid afternoon onwards but I did have a very demanding 4 1/2 hr meeting this morning.  Headache tonight so about to take 2 pain killers.  I am surprised at how resilient I was to stress today, given the citalopram withdrawal I am in.  I am too tired to swim tonight.  My body is telling me to slow down.  Have felt a bit nauseous tonight, which usually only happens to me on a morning, so that is a new development.  Withdrawal does seem to be taking its hold at present, but it is still very doable.  I am going to proceed carefully by sticking at this dose for at least another 2 weeks.  I am stock taking in a way on my physical symptoms. Good news is that my mood is very stable, my sleep is outstandingly good, my work load has dropped of late and I have a week's A/L next week, and am taking it easy at home.  Life is good, husband is supportive and I am enjoying getting my brain back.

 

Britain has just voted Brexit, I am voting Citexit, ie exit from citalopram.  Citexit is so worth doing, even if I never actually get off this stuff the journey so far has been great.

Take care everyone, of course if I was not sleeping well and had mood problems I would be thinking otherwise.

[apace41]

Britain has just voted Brexit, I am voting Citexit, ie exit from citalopram.  Citexit is so worth doing, even if I never actually get off this stuff the journey so far has been great.

 

Love this line, Joy.  You are doing great.  You will be a success story.

 

Best,

 

Andy

[scallywag]

Love that turn of a phrase! Citexit or Celexit.

[joy2730]

I am going to refer to celexit rolls off the tongue much better that cite xit so celexit it is thank you fir the suggestion. This morning celexit is on course and good. No particular symptoms to complain of aches and pains a bit better than last night

[joy2730]

Celexit nice and settled and on course. Down to 12 mg this morning. I nearly went to 10 mg as I couldn't be bothered with the fuss of making liquid etc but managed to talk myself into 12 mg. So I took 10 mg first thing on morning and then did liquid for 2 mg over lunch. So far I feel fine. I am expecting a little increase in symptoms by tuesday, ie sweating aching neck headache and sickness. I don't think my body will realise the drop until Tuesday. However my brain already feels better.

[joy2730]

Brilliant sleep last night but very vivid dreams. Felt sick this morning - usual pattern

[joy2730]

Swimming, sauna last night and another super sleep.  My sleep is much more refreshing these days.  Did some sewing this morning which I really enjoyed.  Feel a bit more tense, but on the whole, fine.

[joy2730]

Evening and all is well.  I have tidied my house, doing stuff that I should have been doing all the time I have been sedated with citalopram, but not just citalopram, other psychiatric drugs as well.

Interestingly my husband is reacting badly to this, I don't understand why as he has moaned for decades I don't do enough housework.  Perhaps he is reacting badly to the new me, but if he is he will have to get used to the new me, because I am not going to take drugs again to become the person I used to be for the majority of our 30 yrs together.  He probably has other issues on his mind, but he certainly doesn't seem impressed with me.

[joy2730]

Life has a strange way of unfolding just right at times.  I have just found out my present large contract at work is ending at the end of July and my husband seems pleased that I will be around home a lot more - so I think he was just feeling neglected.  Coming off these pills has made me leave the house and work a lot more, but I need to find a new balance.  Life and relationships, work and prescription drugs are so are intermingled.

 

Symptoms today, and I think today should be the worst if I am following my usual pattern, headache, nausea and the very lightest of head zaps.  I hadn't felt those for ages, it really does feel like my brain is convulsing.  I don't think I look very well so now is the time to take care of myself more.

 

I am continuing the clean out my house this week with a new found passion for order.  it is as if I needed to come off these pills to get control back of my life in the fullest sense of the word.

[joy2730]

Felt really rough last night, tense, headache, nausea.  This morning I still be all of this, but I am sticking with it.  It will be interesting to see how long it lasts.  My jaw aches and around my ears and throat.  I have decided to love myself through the symptoms.  As I am on A/L I am taking it easy, going to watch a Netflix movie, slowly have a shower, tidy my house a bit more - this I find therapeutic, chase some of my paperwork at bank, I am due a tax rebate.  Trying to do positive stuff.  I think I have diarrhoea as well, but who knows what causes what. 

My hips ache, but that could be because I am overweight?

[apace41]

My hips ache, but that could be because I am overweight?

 

Joy,

 

You are doing great and I love your daily updates.  Interesting and helpful to see as you go.

 

I know that I, and several others, have had severe hip pain during this process that seems out of proportion to the amount of "bone-on-bone" shown on an x-ray.  I believe there is a good chance that much of the joint pain that you (and I) feel is the product of withdrawal.  It seems too "coincidental" that you are having the pain now when your weight has not changed (to the extent it has it seems you've shown improvement).

 

Best,

 

Andy