SSRI withdrawal

[StayingPutt]

Please can someone help. Came off SSRIs 4 weeks ago, after undergoing grad reduction.

Have experienced persistent negative effects since stopping which are affecting daily life, although haven't disclosed these to work. I am currently studying for a prof qualification (sponsored by my work) and am in the classroom full-time for another two weeks until the exams.

I am finding it difficult to cope with the exam stress alongside the withdrawal. I feel it would be beneficial if I could do fewer exams this sitting and also want to get back on the meds asap.

Does anyone have any advice please? Esp how I can go about disclosing this to work. I have already informed them am struggling with the workload but they can't do anything unless there is a medical reason. I don't know whether to say.

[StayingPutt]

Please help

[EllenRipley]

Could you speak to a sympathetic GP and get sick line? How long did you take to taper off? When I've tapered off I've done it very very gradually over 3 months - when I've done it before under GP guidance the withdrawal was too much for me! But it does pass, you need to keep telling yourself that. Eat & sleep as well as you can. I also used some supplements like a good B vitamin, l-theanine and lemon balm to take the edge off and help body adjust. It's not a nice experience so I do sympathise and I can imagine work stress will exacerbate things. Don't be afraid to find some support. X

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

I gradually tapered off over a period of months. Going cold turkey will be awful.

[EllenRipley]

Apologies OP, I missed the bit where you said you were going back on the meds! Which is also a good plan. Just bear in mind next time to go for a very slow taper with perhaps some supplemental support, and do it at a time when you don't have any obvious stress in your life. But def spk to your GP about what you can do to take some time out from exams etc. Good luck! X

[StayingPutt]

Thanks- I tapered over 8 weeks then stopped 4 weeks ago but continued to be affected by it. Just not sure if this will fly with work. I am going to GP today (private local one as need sorted asap) to get put back on and to see if I can get a doctors note. I have never requested a doctors note before though so I don't know what it needs to say? I also don't know how work will take it?

[StayingPutt]

The GP who I'm going to also doesn't know me so I imagine will be limited in what they can say. Unfortunately there's a risk of losing my job if I fail one or more of my exams so I do think I should disclose this. I just don't know whether it's a good enough reason. Urgh sorry going in circles here - panicking when I need to be studying

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

That sounds like a very short time to come off them one. I reduced slightly every month. When I was down to the last 10 mg I asked the doctor for a liquid version so I could go down 1ml at a time. Some of these meds stay in your system for ages so even if you've not actually taken any for a while you suddenly feel the the withdrawal.

[EllenRipley]

Second @DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen - I took 4-6 wks for 25% of dose at a time, after doing some research - and it obviously depends on what dose you're on to start with. Don't have any knowledge of how sick lines work but perhaps you can ask GP to be general eg 'relapse of condition' or 'recurring condition' if you don't want your employers to know the exact nature of it. Discuss your concerns in full - a private Gp should still be able to access your medical records if they need to treat you for something that's ongoing?