trucker47 Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 (edited) This is the second time I have tried to reduce my reliance on citalopram and I have sought more help this time. I am also a recovering alcoholic with 23 years sobriety and drugs and withdtawls are the bane of my life. Over the last 2months I have tapered from 30mg down to 10 mg a day. Doing 20 one day and 10 the next seemed to be ok, but been on 10mg for 5 days and the symptoms have got worse, headaches and light heads seem the norm now and i would appreciate any feedback on reducing further or taking a slightly higher dose. I also take BP controlling tablets. Edited March 28, 2019 by Shep updated new username in title 2014 was prescribed citalopram 30mg for stress related depression as Iwas attacked on the way to work twice and chased once. I became frightened of my own shadow. In 2015 I stopped taking the medication and after a week could not function at all so started on 30mg again. In 2016 and 2017 I tried again, failing both times. In 2018 around August my GP changed me on to sertraline, after 1 week I changed back as i couldn't cope. Mid Jan 2019 went to 20mg and then to 20mg 1 day and 10mg the next. 21st March 2019 dropped to 10 mg and I can cope so far Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Carmie Posted March 27, 2019 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 27, 2019 (edited) Hi Trucker, Welcome to SA. Tapering from 30mg to 10mg in two months was way too quick. Also changing from 20mg to10mg every second day has caused some destabilisation too, our brains can’t handle that, we need to stay on the same dosage every day. Stay at the 10mg for now. Before we can give you any further recommendations we need you to fill out a drug signature with the medication amounts and dates you were on them. Just the last two years. Someone will send you a signature link. Thank you. Wishing you all the best in your healing journey 💚 Edited March 28, 2019 by Shep edited to reflect new user name Seroquel. 2019:➡️ From 7.25mg to 5.80mg✔️ 2020➡️From 5.60 to 4.80✔️ 2021➡️From 4.60 to 4.0✔️ 2022➡️From 3.95 to 3.55✔️2023➡️ Jan 26=3.50✔️March 17=3.45✔️ June12=3.40✔️ July30=3.35✔️ Sep14=3.30✔️ Oct31=3.25✔️ 2024➡️Jan15=3.20✔️ Feb19=3.15✔️ March26=3.10✔️This is NOT medical advice.Consult your doctor. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted March 27, 2019 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 27, 2019 1 hour ago, Carmie said: Someone will send you a signature link. Thank you. To give members the best information, we ask them to summarize their medication history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly. Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature. Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of April 1: 6.8mg Taper is 91% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment
Gracee Posted March 27, 2019 Share Posted March 27, 2019 (edited) Welcome Trucker to SA from a fellow recovering alcoholic and AD taperer. You will get lots of help here from experienced moderators who really know what they are talking about. You will recover if you are willing to taper slowly, in small increments at a steady pace. Wishing you the best. G. Edited March 28, 2019 by Shep edited to reflect new user name Hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg, Multi vit., Calcium, D3, Magnesium, Fish Oil, Melatonin, Ambien 3.3 mg 1 or 2X/mo. Benadryl-seldom, .......2002 - eliminated alcohol 2002- Paxil - 20 mg (3 WD attempts: 2005, 2008, 2010) 2011 - 30 mg 2018 - 40 mg- Sept to Nov} {Dec - 37.5} Jan 2, 2019 - 35 mg Jan 11 - 33.75 mg Jan 28 - 32.5 mg Feb 4 - 33.75 mg Mar 4 - 32 mg Mar 30 - 30 mg Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted March 27, 2019 Administrator Share Posted March 27, 2019 (edited) Welcome, Trucker. If your symptoms do not start to abate in the next few days, you may wish to take 12mg citalopram to help your nervous system to settle down. Citalopram comes in liquid form to allow taking small amounts. For information, see Tips for tapering off Celexa (citalopram) Please let us know how you're doing. Edited March 28, 2019 by Shep edited to reflect new user name This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
trucker47 Posted March 27, 2019 Author Share Posted March 27, 2019 (edited) Thank you, at the moment worst time is when I get up, and I find doing anything takes my mind off the bad heads and the blurry vision but will give it a couple of days and will try 12 mg if I get not better thanks again. Edited March 28, 2019 by Shep removed old username 2014 was prescribed citalopram 30mg for stress related depression as Iwas attacked on the way to work twice and chased once. I became frightened of my own shadow. In 2015 I stopped taking the medication and after a week could not function at all so started on 30mg again. In 2016 and 2017 I tried again, failing both times. In 2018 around August my GP changed me on to sertraline, after 1 week I changed back as i couldn't cope. Mid Jan 2019 went to 20mg and then to 20mg 1 day and 10mg the next. 21st March 2019 dropped to 10 mg and I can cope so far Link to comment
trucker47 Posted March 28, 2019 Author Share Posted March 28, 2019 Thank you all for your posts so far, I just feel better that I am not on my own. I was a bit cocky at first, having kicked the booze, thinking nothing could be harder but I was wrong!!!! 2014 was prescribed citalopram 30mg for stress related depression as Iwas attacked on the way to work twice and chased once. I became frightened of my own shadow. In 2015 I stopped taking the medication and after a week could not function at all so started on 30mg again. In 2016 and 2017 I tried again, failing both times. In 2018 around August my GP changed me on to sertraline, after 1 week I changed back as i couldn't cope. Mid Jan 2019 went to 20mg and then to 20mg 1 day and 10mg the next. 21st March 2019 dropped to 10 mg and I can cope so far Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus SkyBlue Posted March 29, 2019 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 29, 2019 13 hours ago, trucker47 said: Thank you all for your posts so far, I just feel better that I am not on my own. I was a bit cocky at first, having kicked the booze, thinking nothing could be harder but I was wrong!!!! Definitely not on your own! The good news is, really and truly, people who heal from psych meds say it is absolutely the hardest thing imaginable, even worse than illegal drugs. So when you beat this, nothing will be harder!!! 2020: After 18+ years (entire adult life) on Paxil, a dangerous doctor-led "taper" in 2015, and four years tapering off the last 1 mg thanks to SA and the Brassmonkey slide, I AM COMPLETELY FREE OF PAXIL! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Forever. 2021: Began conservative, proper, CNS-respecting taper of Zoloft, led by the only expert on me -- me. Making own liquid. 5-10% plus holds. 2022: Holding on Zoloft for now. Current dose 47 mg. Hanging in, hanging on. Severe protracted PAWS, windows and waves. While I may not be doing "a lot" by outside standards, things are graaaaadually getting better. Yoga (gentle to medium); walks; daily breath practice; nutrition, fruits/veg; nature; water; EastEnders (lol); practicing self-compassion, self-care; boundaries; connection; allowing feelings; t r u s t ing that I, too, will heal. (--> may need to be reminded of this.) "You are not alone, and this is not the end of your story." - Baylissa Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Carmie Posted April 2, 2019 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted April 2, 2019 Hi Trucker, How are you doing?💚 Seroquel. 2019:➡️ From 7.25mg to 5.80mg✔️ 2020➡️From 5.60 to 4.80✔️ 2021➡️From 4.60 to 4.0✔️ 2022➡️From 3.95 to 3.55✔️2023➡️ Jan 26=3.50✔️March 17=3.45✔️ June12=3.40✔️ July30=3.35✔️ Sep14=3.30✔️ Oct31=3.25✔️ 2024➡️Jan15=3.20✔️ Feb19=3.15✔️ March26=3.10✔️This is NOT medical advice.Consult your doctor. Link to comment
trucker47 Posted April 20, 2019 Author Share Posted April 20, 2019 (edited) Topic title: Sadness Doing ok on my 10mg citalopram but am now prone to bouts of sadness/ stress. Keeping myself occupied helps but it is ongoing and gets me down, any Ideas anybody? Edited April 20, 2019 by ChessieCat added topic title 2014 was prescribed citalopram 30mg for stress related depression as Iwas attacked on the way to work twice and chased once. I became frightened of my own shadow. In 2015 I stopped taking the medication and after a week could not function at all so started on 30mg again. In 2016 and 2017 I tried again, failing both times. In 2018 around August my GP changed me on to sertraline, after 1 week I changed back as i couldn't cope. Mid Jan 2019 went to 20mg and then to 20mg 1 day and 10mg the next. 21st March 2019 dropped to 10 mg and I can cope so far Link to comment
Gracee Posted April 20, 2019 Share Posted April 20, 2019 Hang in there. You have only been on 10 mg for a month. Let your body and brain adjust for at least two or three more weeks, then evaluate. Please, do not up-dose nor down dose at this point. Stay put. A mod will be here soon to advise. G. Hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg, Multi vit., Calcium, D3, Magnesium, Fish Oil, Melatonin, Ambien 3.3 mg 1 or 2X/mo. Benadryl-seldom, .......2002 - eliminated alcohol 2002- Paxil - 20 mg (3 WD attempts: 2005, 2008, 2010) 2011 - 30 mg 2018 - 40 mg- Sept to Nov} {Dec - 37.5} Jan 2, 2019 - 35 mg Jan 11 - 33.75 mg Jan 28 - 32.5 mg Feb 4 - 33.75 mg Mar 4 - 32 mg Mar 30 - 30 mg Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Carmie Posted April 20, 2019 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted April 20, 2019 Hi Trucker, I’m sorry you’re feeling down. You did say you’re doing okay on the 10mg though. A month isn’t a long time, it can take quite a while to stabilise when we make changes. I changed formulations last year and went through three months of waves. You will eventually stabilise, it’s just a really slow process as our brain tries to find equilibrium again. Keeping yourself distracted while going through waves really is the way to go. Distract! Distract! Distract! It’s always been my motto. I do arts and crafts, listen to music, read, do DVD and Netflix marathons, go out in nature, take photographs etc etc. It doesn’t take away the symptoms, but it helps to not put all our focus on the symptoms. The more we stress, the more we can ramp up our symptoms. Take care, sending hugs🤗 Seroquel. 2019:➡️ From 7.25mg to 5.80mg✔️ 2020➡️From 5.60 to 4.80✔️ 2021➡️From 4.60 to 4.0✔️ 2022➡️From 3.95 to 3.55✔️2023➡️ Jan 26=3.50✔️March 17=3.45✔️ June12=3.40✔️ July30=3.35✔️ Sep14=3.30✔️ Oct31=3.25✔️ 2024➡️Jan15=3.20✔️ Feb19=3.15✔️ March26=3.10✔️This is NOT medical advice.Consult your doctor. Link to comment
trucker47 Posted April 21, 2019 Author Share Posted April 21, 2019 Thank you every bit of distraction does help 2014 was prescribed citalopram 30mg for stress related depression as Iwas attacked on the way to work twice and chased once. I became frightened of my own shadow. In 2015 I stopped taking the medication and after a week could not function at all so started on 30mg again. In 2016 and 2017 I tried again, failing both times. In 2018 around August my GP changed me on to sertraline, after 1 week I changed back as i couldn't cope. Mid Jan 2019 went to 20mg and then to 20mg 1 day and 10mg the next. 21st March 2019 dropped to 10 mg and I can cope so far Link to comment
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