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Original poster

Absolute rage after stopping antidepressants

19 replies

Neondisco · 01/07/2021 20:41

I'm posting on chat for traffic as mental health doesn't get much and I'm not brave enough for aibu.

I stopped my antidepressants just under a month ago. I tapered from a v low dose. I'm not feeling anxious so far so good. But...
I'm so full of rage! It's like the worst irritable pmt ever but most of the time.

Something will kick me off and then I'm angry about every tiny or not so tiny thing in my life I might be a bit unhappy with. It just doesn't feel sustainable to feel this much rage, but equally the meds had shit side effects and my anxiety was worse on them. Now I'm OK anxiety wise, I actually feel they caused my anxiety or at least made it worse.

Can anyone please share experiences of rage or anger when coming off antidepressants. I just feel like they've broken my brain.

OP posts:
Original poster
Neondisco · 01/07/2021 21:38

Anyone?

OP posts:
MuchTooTired · 01/07/2021 21:46

I came off of the max dose of sertraline (tapered off properly with gp advice, been on them for nearly 3 years) and I’m full of rage and have taken to proper ugly crying as well because I feel bad about the rage.

I too feel like my brain is broken although I don’t think it was the ads that caused it - it was definitely broken beforehand! I was sobbing in the car earlier because I just want to be “normal” whatever that means and I just don’t know what to do.

You’re not alone 💐

Mrsbrand2019 · 01/07/2021 22:02

Hi
I was on fluoxetine for 4 years and I had the rages too when I finally stopped them. For me it lasted around 6 weeks (give or take) it was one of many reasons I started taking it in the first place.
It does subside if you can bear with it, difficult I know! But another thing to consider is it could also be your depression coming back?
I know it’s so difficult to deal with but maybe give it another week or two and if there is no improvement then go back and see your doctor see if they can suggest anything
Sorry not much help to you but just wanted to share I had the same experience, so your not alone with this one

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Mrsbrand2019 · 01/07/2021 22:06

Oh and just to add my rages we’re just completely irrational! something silly like someone having the same shoes would send me into a complete and utter fury rage! I cringe at some of the stuff I lost my shit over, that’s just not who I am

RAOK · 01/07/2021 22:08

Coming off 25mg of Sertraline recently was horrendous for me for about a month. I had acid reflux and night terrors. I had no energy especially afternoons and evenings. It’s not an easy thing to do, be kind to yourself.

Iwantcauliflowercheese · 01/07/2021 22:09

I weaned myself off Sertraline as I had gained weight and it just won't shift. The rage was awful and I had to go back on them. Of course it took another three weeks to kick in. Never again.

stealingbeauty · 01/07/2021 23:57

I had anger as a withdrawal effect when coming off Cipralex. It did ease off quite quickly (perhaps a couple of weeks) and it was very strange. I remember waking in the mornings feeling angry for no reason. It was definitely a withdrawal symptom for me.

Unfortunately my panic attacks returned and I eventually started taking it again, but that’s another story.

Original poster
Neondisco · 02/07/2021 00:08

Thanks for the replies. Good to know I'm not alone, makes me feel a bit less crazy! Seems like the rage is a thing! Angry

I don't think it's the depression returning, as it really feels like a switch in my head I'm not in control of making me angry. It's awful though because like @MuchTooTired said you then feels shit for feeling angry. So I really identify with your post.

I feel like it's just taking over every emotion and ruining everything. So I'm wondering if I just need to be back on them? Like maybe I need something to balance me out.

As right now what's happening feels worse than the side effects of the meds.

OP posts:
Original poster
Neondisco · 02/07/2021 00:09

@Iwantcauliflowercheese

I weaned myself off Sertraline as I had gained weight and it just won't shift. The rage was awful and I had to go back on them. Of course it took another three weeks to kick in. Never again.
So do you just see yourself on it long term? I suppose same question with @stealingbeauty
OP posts:
thecognoscenti · 02/07/2021 00:11

Nothing to add OP except that I know exactly what you mean and have been through the same thing. Fist bump in solidarity from me.

Original poster
Neondisco · 02/07/2021 00:18

@thecognoscenti

Nothing to add OP except that I know exactly what you mean and have been through the same thing. Fist bump in solidarity from me.
Did you just wait it out? Or go back on?
OP posts:
mrsmacmc · 02/07/2021 00:22

I had 'hulk rage' when I came off Venlafaxine. GP advised taking high strength fish oils which helped greatly, not just with the rage but all the other delightful side effects of coming off them. 💐 ❤️

stealingbeauty · 02/07/2021 00:38

I see myself being on Cipralex forever now. I’ve had panic disorder since I was a teenager and I started to realise that meds were the only thing that really helped to lessen the intensity and number of attacks.
I did have a break of some years from the antidepressants, so I did get through the withdrawals the first time I came off the drug. The withdrawal really did mess with my brain chemistry though. It did take a while to get through.

Iwantcauliflowercheese · 02/07/2021 05:15

@Neondisco Do I see myself on it long term? I really hoped it would be a temporary thing to get me through a few months, but my husband says the improvement is dramatic and I know he's right. I cope so much better and am much calmer, so, unfortunately I think it will have to be long term.

BlueCowWonders · 02/07/2021 06:00

Might this also be perimenopause? Or a combination?
Perimenopause starts earlier than most women realise and rage is extremely common. Apologies if I've missed what age you are, or if I'm completely off the mark.

Barkus · 02/07/2021 06:22

Unfortunately GP are incredibly lacking in their understanding of withdrawal from anti depressants. I found the site survivingantidepressants very informative and helpful.

LBTM · 02/07/2021 06:30

I haven't been on ADs but I've found st John's wort has really helped my rage and boosted my mood a bit.

Original poster
Neondisco · 02/07/2021 08:50

I'm 35. But as we all know women's health is not well understood or researched so who knows?!

Thanks for the replies last night was horrific. Didn't get to sleep till 4am. So on top of everything else I'm knackered.

I agree re GPs knowledge on antidepressants. I'll have a look at the site. Tbh today I feel like I'm at the end of my capacity to deal with it and just want to feel better. So would go back on them if it would help, just feels like persevering through all this shit is probably for nothing.

I've got a gp call later on this morning but I'm not sure they have anything to offer magically to ease symptoms. So I think I need to really have decided myself what I'm going to do.

OP posts:
LindaEllen · 02/07/2021 09:21

I am on Sertraline and although I haven't tried to come off it, I was always frustrated and wound up before I took it, and ended up crying several times a week through sheer frustration. This hasn't happened since I settled on the tablets - I'm talking not once, in 6 months. So I would imagine that if I came off them I would feel much the same as you.

Speak to your GP. It's better staying on a low dose long term than feeling like this.

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