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Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention.

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Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention.

Mental health

I am hoping to start coming off my AD's in 2 weeks. Can anyone give me any advice please?

67 replies

TheOriginalFAB · 09/12/2011 19:42

I have been on AD's this time for 5 1/2 years. I hadn't registered that it had been that long as I have been on 2 types during that time.

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AChristmouseTail · 09/12/2011 19:52

SLOWLY. Take it very slowly and reduce the amounts in 10/20mg amounts at a time.

Keep a daily diary about your feelings and let people who are close to you know what you are doing and ask them to keep an eye on you.

Make sure that you go back to your GP (or whoever is monitoring you during this) every two weeks so that they too can assess how you are doing.

If you have ANY thoughts of harming yourself, call 999.

Make sure you talk to your GP and ask what you can expect in terms of withdrawal and side effects.

Be gentle with yourself, don't expect to feel okay every day, just make sure that you have someone close at hand to help should you need it.

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ASuitableGirl · 09/12/2011 19:53

When i came off ADs I did it very slowly and have now been off them for just over 2 years. Think it took about a year or so to go from 40mg Citalopram to nothing.

What Ad and what dosage are you on at the moment and how long have you felt "well" for? GP said I should wait until I had been "ok" for about 6 months before starting to cine off them.

When I tried more quickly I was back on them within about 2 months which was a bit frustrating.

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Upwardandonward · 09/12/2011 19:55

Definitely with medical agreement/monitoring is best, as others have said.

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andaPontyinaPearTreeeeee · 09/12/2011 19:57

Beware of false highs

Take it slowly, be gentle with yourself and don't expect too much.

And do NOT feel embarrassed if you need to go on them again.

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madmouse · 09/12/2011 20:00

FAB are you changing to something else? I'm sorry to say this hun but are you in a position to come off? Your last few threads showed you were struggling. Sorry if I'm speaking out of turn x

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TheOriginalFAB · 09/12/2011 20:08

Just to say I am not doing it without seeing my GP first. I mentioned it to a different GP today and he has said before about coming off them but I felt I needed to discuss it with the GP who put me on them and has seen me every 3 - 6 months for 4 1/2 years and will be seeing him in a week or so. I haven't seen him for a year though as that is what he said.

I have been taking the hospital doctor's advice as gospel and realised I am the same as I was 5 years ago ish in that there are no tablet in the world going to fix my issues but I need to be undrugged for a chance to see how I really am.

I am on 60mg of duloxetine and was on varying amounts of citalopram before that.

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madmouse · 09/12/2011 20:14

OK FAB I take it all back - you've clearly thought it through and I can see where you are coming from.

In that case my only advice would be to reduce twice as slowly as the doctors suggest.

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orangeflutie · 09/12/2011 20:16

I can understand you wanting to come off your ADs, however I would be very cautious about doing so during the winter months. Spring might be a better time.

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RandomMess · 09/12/2011 20:20

I've just come off mine having been on them for about 10 weeks in total. not sure if it would be the same reducing slowly but I got all the same "giddy" "spaced out" feelings that I had when I started them.

Very very bizarre feeling like that again, on the positive side my libido has suddenly returned!

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TheOriginalFAB · 09/12/2011 20:22

I want to come off them as I am certain they are the reason I have put 2 stone on without doing anything different and yet can't lose a thing when eating sensibly and exercising. I was losing the weight from my pregnancy and then once I was put on AD's I coudn't lose weight any more. I actually prefer the winter so that doesn't bother me.

I will have a problem with the GP though. He has never agreed the weight gain is because of the AD's and just said okay when I said the hospital doctor said I had to be on them for life.

I just do not want to be on them for life and need to make a start now.

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TheOriginalFAB · 09/12/2011 20:23

RM - does the doctor know you are coming off them so soon?

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AChristmouseTail · 09/12/2011 20:33

Sounds like you are fully in control and have the support to do this FAB, please use the help and support around you when you do this. xx

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TheOriginalFAB · 09/12/2011 20:39

I have told my DH but he hasn't said a lot which usually means he will wait and see what happens or is okay with me doing this. The doctor could always say no of course .

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RandomMess · 09/12/2011 20:43

No it wasn't by choice entirely, I'm still at the stage of not being allowed it on repeat, only get 2 weeks at a time and couldn't get a gp appointment before they ran out.

However they don't really seem to be helping and you have to have a week off before you try something new anyway. Not sure I'll ask to try anything else, I don't like the numb feeling they give me.

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TheOriginalFAB · 09/12/2011 20:45

RM - you need to make sure you book the appointment in plenty of time so you don't run out and I would suggest you need to tell the receptionist that you can't get some medication you need without a doctor's appointment and they will just have to fit you in.

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RandomMess · 09/12/2011 20:50

I tried 10 days in advance!!!! All they would have had are book on the day emergency appointments.

I've only been on this particular type for 3 weeks, a weeks break before that and 7 weeks of citalopram before that. I just don't antidepressants generally help me. I'm still desperately sad about the sad things in my life being on antidepressants doesn't change that just makes me numb and unfeeling about everything else and gives me lots of side affects.

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TheOriginalFAB · 09/12/2011 20:59

Then say it is an emergency for today. Also ask about counselling.

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AChristmouseTail · 09/12/2011 21:00

Random - please go back and speak to your GP or another HCP. You don't have to take pills x

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RandomMess · 09/12/2011 21:03

Took last tablet on Mon eve or Tues am. I'm fine, not suicidal or anything.

Have previously had several years of therapy but erm well I'm still waiting for the triage service to ring me 2 months on from when the first assessment appointment after which the person went long term sick. I really feel for people needing urgent help, the service sucks!

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coolkat · 09/12/2011 21:10

I understand how you feel Random, I started taking Citlopram in may time, quickly uped to 20mg, still feel incredibly low most of the time the only difference is I don't cry everyday. I have not done it intentionally but over the past week missed a few tablets and am thinking the tablets are not for me, A because I always feel shit and B because the tablets can not solve my problems. I do keep getting a bad head but exhaustion seems to be constant for months now. I would never harm myself but the thought has been there as people don't know how I feel its like my insides are screaming out but no one can hear!!
I will make a doctors appointment next week I just want to feel happy again, not worry and count every item I eat, not analyse everythind.

I WILL DO IT [BLUSH]

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RandomMess · 09/12/2011 21:23

Yep that's it I don't cry easily anymore but in a way that is a bad things as it just means I am emotionless but still miserable at the same time.

Odd but true.

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Clarajinglebumps · 10/12/2011 18:23

Sorry to hijack thread but I gave recently decreased by 10mg of citalopram from 50 to 40 and although I thought I was fine- I'm not coping at all. Have been told by gp that I cannot get 50mg any more as there have been a change in guidelines. So what are my other options if I decide to change medication? Do I need to withdraw altogether? Then start the others? Going to make an appointment with doc on Monday but today has been hellish! I've been a horrible mum. I've shouted and been crabby and can find no joy in any part of my life. Just want to go to sleep...feel like I just don't want to wake up. I know it's only 10mg but I feel like a different person. Sorry for hijacking again!

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TheOriginalFAB · 10/12/2011 18:47

Firstly, do not apologise, you are not hijacking the thread and even if you are it doesn't matter as it is my thread .

I can't advise on meds as I don't know but when I was on citalopram I have taken 20, 30 and 40mg and am now on duloxetine - 60mg. There are other options.

If your doctor refuses to up your dose then you need to ask him if he is going to take responsibility if you really struggle and can't cope. Of course he will say no and/or get stroppy but do no leave that room until you are happy with the support you (should) be getting.

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RandomMess · 10/12/2011 18:58

Clara how horrible for you.

I have to say I am so much shorter tempered and shouty went not on anti-ds just adds to the guilt doesn't it.

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strawberry17 · 10/12/2011 19:18

Lots of experience with this: prozacwithdrawal.blogspot.com/
Take it extremely slowly and carefully, if your doctor agrees you are ready to taper ask if you can get your medication in liquid form, chemists are sometimes a lot more knowledgable than doctors on whether your med is available in liquid, and taper with a syringe extremely slowly. My blog has quite a lot of info on tapering and links to other sites with info which may help. GP's are not very good at getting people off AD's slowly enough and for many the alternate day thing doesn't work (for some it does but for a lot it doesn't work). If your med isn't available in liquid it may be worth switching to equivalent dose of liquid prozac, stabilising on that before tapering, this is what I ended up having to do.