Grill: Struggling with anxiety during Valium withdrawal

[Grill]

Bubble. 

 

Thanks for your post in the other thread.

 

So Cit or Valium taper?

 

I just cant decide!!

 

S

[bubble]

It would be really helpful to put at least approximate dates of your drug history in your signature: when you stopped and started, decreased, updosed, etc.

 

If I were you I would hold to consolidate the progress you've made with reducing Valium. You seem to have had lots of bouncing with drugs so it's no wonder that your central nervous system is so sensitive and reacts badly to any changes. Zou wrote that you held for 1 month but it seems you would benefit from an even longer hold. When your CNS strengthens through a hold reducing will be much less symptomatic and it will allow you to have a reasonable quality of life and carry on with your plans. There is no reason whatsoever to worry about starting a family (you don't have to get pregnant

 

When you feel strong enough )it might take a month, or 2 or even more) I would taper Citalopram first for all the reasons we mentioned earlier.

 

Again, you are on a relatively small dose of Valium and your overall exposure to the drugs has been relatively short. So this would be the real time to work on the non-drug coping skills that Karen mentioned and focus on what relaxes you and makes you feel better. And try to put the worry aside. Easier said then done, I know. Worry is the biggest issue now. It is also a WD symptom and you should treat it as an unwelcome guest: acknowledge it but show it firmly that you don't have an intention of entertaining it.

 

Also don't read too much about other people's situations unless it gives you hope and strength which doesn't seem to be the case. Your story is different and unique and you are writing it. You can write it in such a way that you feel very comfortable being in it.

[Grill]

Hi thanks a million for all the advice. 

 

Patience is my biggest issue I'm afraid. 

 

And as you also say worry. 

 

believe me reading some of the stories on here does me no good whatsoever. 

 

Yes it been a traumatic year to be honest with so much happening. So maybe not ideal timing. 

 

You might shout at me but I might try another 10% cut next month to see if i feel as rough. 

 

Or maybe a 5% cut as you said. And do that every two weeks. 

 

I just need to be constantly making progress downwards! 

 

Or if you want to really wrap my knuckles then ill just hold everything until the wedding is over and take ti from there.

 

My constant WORRY is that ill continue to find excuses not to drop down!

 

I chat to a brilliant gentleman in England called John who has been a saviour to me. He has the patience of a Saint. 

 

He reckons that Valium is much worse as you can develop tolerance to it and that it would be better to get off it first.  He also says it can cause brain problems in alter life. But as you say I,m close the minumum daily dose. 

 

Toss a coin eh!

 

I feel as if i have found another friend in you bubble. You have been very patient with me.

 

I would like to update you on progress but think i will avoid this site for a while. 

 

If you have a personal email addy i could contact you on that would be great. If not then ill keep checking on here. 

 

Thank you soooo much

 

Sean

[Grill]

Hi Bubble, 

 

Just to let you know i was singing in the shower this morning. 

 

So that 3 "bad days" and a week of feeling tense. 

 

But still able to work and function and exercise. 

 

Not bad for a 10% cut in medication. 

 

I'm going to keep cutting the Cit until the wedding (Mid Feb).

 

I go for a sleep test next week and then back to see the sleep consultant. 

 

Another small victory eh! Hope your symptoms have passed as well?

 

Harm reduction at all times. 

 

G

[bubble]

Hi there.

 

It's really great to hear you are doing so much better (I didn't doubt it would happen  My situation is a bit more complicated so I got slammed really badly over the past 2 days. For women there are hormonal issues in addition...

 

I totally understand how much it means to be going down and reducing, moving and moving in the right direction. Allow your CNS to enjoy this struggle free period before the next cut. Next time should be easier because now you know what to expect and most importantly, you know that it passes. And there is always an option of a 5 % cut for a smoother ride.    

[Grill]

Oh dear. 

 

I wont pry about the hormonal issues! Sorry to hear you're struggling. I know that feeling all too well!

 

I still get the odd flutter at work but i stop and breathe and then I'm fine.

 

if you could be so kind could you explain the 5% thing a  little more?

 

Can i do 5% ever two weeks? 

 

Or is it a case of figuring out when I'm strong enough to drop again? 

 

Thanks again so much. 

 

Sean

[bubble]

Luckily you don't have to know how hormones influence this whole mess Today is much better than yesterday. These things change so quickly...

 

5 % would mean that instead of going to 8.1 mg you go to let's say 8.5 mg. When to drop next is as you say dependent on how you feel. The idea is that such a cut wouldn't cause a too strong wobble and that you would bounce back more quickly than after a 10 % cut. You now know how long it takes for your symptoms to appear after a cut so you definitely don't cut before that. It might be a bit more than 2 weeks, hard to tell.

 

The first few cuts are exploring what works best for us and finding a rhythm.    

[dowdaller]

Hey sean, just read your thread, I went off xanax in the past with a very quick taper substituting with rivotrill, it was awful for at least two weeks, Unfortunately it takes as long as it takes, fish oils might help and mindfulness. Take it real slow. work helps me, its really hard but the alternative of sitting at home doesnt appeal to me. Good luck

[Grill]

Is that croagh patrick in the background? 

 

I didnt know you could get xanax in Ireland? 

 

Yeah super slow and steady is teh only way for me Im afraid. 

S

[dowdaller]

Is that croagh patrick in the background? 

 

I didnt know you could get xanax in Ireland? 

 

Yeah super slow and steady is teh only way for me Im afraid. 

S

 

No cooley mountains behind my house, unfortunately you can get xanax i asked for it, (facepalm) 

[ChessieCat]

Hi Grill,

 

I saw you post about male fertility.  It's actually been moved to another topic which was started a couple of months ago.

 

It doesn't seem that your drug signature is current.  Would you please update it?  Thanks.  This is the suggested format:

 

 A request: Would you summarize your history in a signature - ALL drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly?

• Please leave out symptoms and diagnoses.
• A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs. 

• Any drugs prior to 24 months ago can just be listed with start and stop years.
• Please use actual dates or approximate dates (mid-June, Late October) rather than relative time frames (last week, 3 months ago)
• Spell out months, e.g. "October" or "Oct."; 9/1/2016 can be interpreted as Jan. 9, 2016 or Sept. 1, 2016.
• Link to Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

[Grill]

Hi there, 

 

I was on 10mgs and have tapered off Citalopram over the last 5 months. 

 

I tapered the last 1.3mgs in 15 days which is obviously to quick. 

 

I lasted 5 days off but my anxiety was too much so I reinstated to 1.5mgs this morning. 

 

I'm panicking now that this was the wrong thing to do and don't know how long I will take to stabilize. 

 

I start a new job in 10 days time and am dreading feeling anxious.

 

I'm on 5mgs for sleep as well. 

 

Any advice would be great. 

 

Thanks

 

Sean

[Grill]

5mgs of valium for sleep

[Grill]

Ive been on Citalopram for about 10 months. 

 

Can anyone please help me? 

 

Im desperate here to know the right thing to do as the next few weeks are crucial for me.

 

Thanks

 

Sean

[Staz]

Don't make anymore changes to your meds would be my advice Sean and hope you stabilise. Any knee jerk reactions will just make things worse. i know as it's a mistake I've made in the past.

Staz

[Grill]

Hi, 

 

Are you saying to keep taking 1.5mgs?

 

I have only taken one dose this morning. 

 

Thanks

 

Sean

[Northcoastboy]

Bump

 

[Grill]

Hi. Sorry what does bump mean?

[Northcoastboy]

It means bump to top of list Sean, so a mod sees it and helps you.

 

 

[Grill]

Ok. Thank you. Hopefully someone can give me some guidance. 

[Duva]

If you using citalopram just for 10 months it's very normal that you will get (short term) withdrawal symtoms, maximum 3-4 weeks but after that every thing will become fine.

It's also good idea to reinstate small dose ,it will help to ease symptoms BUT be aware about valium. If you use it regularly you will have/get worse problem than ssri!

[Gridley]

 Unfortunately no one can give you an exact timeline as to when you will start feeling better and while some do recover relatively easily, for others it can take longer.  It is best to reinstate at a very low dose, so, yes, hold at 1.5.  During the time you have been tapering, your brain has already made some adjustments to the lowered doses and to reinstate too much can be counterproductive. Staz's advice above is very good.  It is important not to panic.

[Altostrata]

Grill, how are you feeling?

 

If all goes well, the 1.5mg citalopram should have taken the edge off your withdrawal symptoms.

 

(I moved your posts here as an update on your Intro topic.)

[Grill]

Citalopram before Diazepam

Hi There,

Currently on 5mgs Diazepam and 20Mgs Citalopram to help with a bad Diazepam taper!

Long story short. Tried all manner of tapers before and failed.

Been steady and stable on the above for 2 years.

Citalopram has killed my sex drive and been checked by an ENDO and I have borderline low testosterone.

He reckons it may be down to the meds.

Want to drop the Cit to 10 Mgs on a 10% per month basis before looking at the Diazepam.

What is the most effective liquid for dissolving the Cit? Am very familiar with Titration.

Want to make it as foolproof as possible.

Do people use ethanol? Don't want to drive to work drunk!

Thanks in advance

Sean

 

Edited July 15, 2020 by ChessieCat
added topic title & removed grey highlighting

[ChessieCat]

tips-for-tapering-off-celexa-citalopram

 

From the How to Make A Liquid from Tablets or Capsules topic:

  

On 5/2/2011 at 1:00 PM, Rhiannon said:

 

Originally, Rhiannon was using a small amount of ethanol to dissolve her Celexa. She later changed her method and was successfully dissolving her tablet in water only.

 

 

 

[ChessieCat]

@Grill

 

Antidepressants are generally activitating.  You might find that as you lower your citalopram dose the valium may make you more tired because it is sedating.  If this happens you could hold for a couple of months on the same citalopram dose and then start reducing the valium for a while.  And then do a hold for a couple of months then go back to tapering the citalopram.

 

taking-multiple-psych-drugs-which-drug-to-taper-first