JD4010: Hello

[JD4010]

Here's my intro: I'm a 58 year old divorced guy who has dealt with depression and anxiety for most of his life. I attempted suicide in 2013 but failed (obviously). Made an appointment with a Pdoc and got put on Citalopram. It seemed to work (after about 3 weeks of pure hell while it felt like my brain was being squeezed in a vice), but I became very lethargic. Next step was to add Bupropion. The combo seemed reasonably effective.

 

I was also described  prescribed meds for persistent insomnia (something else I've had since I was a kid). First was Trazadone, which was awful. Then Remeron, which was slightly less awful. Now, it's Gabapentin (seems benign enough).

 

I would like to wean off of the meds because I may be losing the crappy "health" insurance plan I've got now. I have co-pays on prescriptions that are reasonably low. But I'll be paying full price if the insurance gets yanked. I want to be out front of any withdrawal I'll be experiencing, rather than immediately going cold turkey.

 

I have gone without either citalopram or bupropion for a few days and it has been a miserable experience in both cases.

 

This is probably a familiar sounding story. But it's mine.

 

Edited August 31, 2018 by ChessieCat
corrected typo

[Altostrata]

Welcome, JD.

 

If you go off any psychiatric drug suddenly, you risk withdrawal symptoms, which can be quite severe and last a long time, possibly many months.

 

How much citalopram were you taking? If I were you, I'd reinstate a half-tablet immediately.

 

Reinstatement of buproprion may also be necessary, but it could be a bit of citalopram is enough.

 

You would stay on the reinstatement until withdrawal symptoms go away completely, then taper off one drug at a time very gradually. See Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

You will need to get prescriptions filled while you taper. Walmart, Target, Walgreen's, etc. offer some generics at very low cost, less than $10 per month.

 

Please let us know how you're doing.

[JD4010]

Thanks. Yeah, I'm still going strong with both meds right now. But my insurance may be disappearing next year. That's why I'm contemplating starting the taper.

 

Edited September 3, 2018 by ChessieCat
removed quote

[JD4010]

I updated my signature to show the doses of the "big 3" meds I take for depression/anxiety. I'm on various other meds for health issues as well...pantoprazole for acid reflux, Advair for asthma, etc.

 

Big Pharma adores me.

 

I haven't started to taper from anything yet. Work is massively stressful right now and I'm barely keeping my head above water.