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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To just stop taking the citalopram

150 replies

filee777 · 30/07/2013 22:49

It's messing me up, I've barely been able to move today and my head is spinning.

I am actually in fear of taking tomorrows installment and having another day of this nasty smacky gurning crap

Seriously considering just not bothering

OP posts:
SirBoobAlot · 31/07/2013 17:51

There are lots of ADs available. Citalopram tends to be one of the first they prescribe. If this one has disagreed with you, try another one.

They do all have side effects (am on day three of re-starting mine, feeling somewhat more normal today), but hopefully not as drastic for you next time.

RobotHamster · 31/07/2013 17:52

My GP said to start taking them in the day too, but also said that if it didn't work for me then to switch to taking them before bed.

ilovesooty · 31/07/2013 17:52

She's put me back on my lovely Valium and I can just take that on an adhoc basis which is better I think than a drug daily

Since it's only for short term use, what plans has she mentioned for after that time has passed?

neverbefore · 31/07/2013 17:55

i knew some one on this made them feel shit at first , they took it before bed not in the morning , it made them feel light headed and sick if taken in morning.

Toohottohandle · 31/07/2013 17:56

I am on 20mg of citalopram the first few weeks are awful but worth it
I took mine just before bed much better
Please try and carry on it will be worth it in the end

fluffydressinggown · 31/07/2013 18:01

Valium is not a long term solution, there are lots of different anti-depressants and anti-anxiety meds with different side effects. I would ask to try another one, maybe from a different family of anti-depressants.

Original poster
filee777 · 31/07/2013 18:17

I am absolutely NOT continuing a treatment that has made me shit the bed.

I am also not expected to, the doctors have removed it from me and put it down as an allergy in my notes

I think what I will do is speak to the doctor in 3 weeks time (I have an appointment booked) and try and work out me getting signed off work for a week so that I can adjust to a different script.

To be honest I wish I could just keep taking Valium on an adhoc basis, I can't see why that is 'worse' than taking an AD daily.

I do need something though.

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 31/07/2013 18:23

To be honest I wish I could just keep taking Valium on an adhoc basis, I can't see why that is 'worse' than taking an AD daily

Because clinical guidelines allow benzos only to be prescribed for limited periods and not on a maintenance basis. They are addictive in ways the newer ADs aren't.

ilovesooty · 31/07/2013 18:24

Oh and there are also issues around illicit/street supply and use.

StraightJacket · 31/07/2013 18:26

If you read the leaflet that comes with Citalopram, it says to take in the morning or evening, so not necessarily supposed to be taken during the day. Depends on the person, side effects, and what you are taking them for I would assume.

But either way, the diarrhea obviously was too much so you can't carry on. You need to go back to discuss others, because there are various ones out there which you can try so don't give up because this one didn't agree with you.

Good luck.

Original poster
filee777 · 31/07/2013 18:37

I've had a valium script for around 6months, I only take them when they are needed, when i have anxiety so a box of 28 usually lasts me around 3 months.

I will definitely speak to the doctors about a different AD and possibly taking a week off work to make sure they are working well before i return.

OP posts:
SirBoobAlot · 31/07/2013 19:37

You should probably try and see the GP earlier than three weeks time.

I use valium too, and need to use them less, when I have a mild anti anxiety dose.

Original poster
filee777 · 31/07/2013 19:45

What anti-d do you take for your anxiety sirbob

OP posts:
2rebecca · 31/07/2013 21:07

Valium doesn't solve the problem, it just masks it. Antidepressants replaces neurotransmitters you are lacking. CBT is best for anxiety as it teaches you to manage without any drugs. Valium just makes people feel that when they are anxious they need a tablet rather than to look at why they are anxious objectively and get things in proportion. Fine for a short term crisis but 6 months is about 5 and a half months too long for a short term fix and is becoming a habit.
They aren't "lovely" valium at all.

Original poster
filee777 · 31/07/2013 21:11

They are lovely when you are sitting with so much to do that you can't work out what to do first and why. When you are so anxious that you just forget to function...

I'll try and make an earlier appointment with the doctor but I still stand by my lovely Valium!

OP posts:
McNewPants2013 · 31/07/2013 21:12

I am glad you have spoken to the doctors and hope you find a treatment that works for you.

Turniptwirl · 31/07/2013 21:13

Yeesh after your nasty nocturnal incident I changed my mind and agree coming off them is best (obv you care what I think!) glad your doc supports you in this. That is absolutely not a normal side effect that you should just put up with!

To those saying "placebo effects", you don't know what you're talking about. ADs are very powerful drugs and can have an effect immediately even though the desired effect usually takes a while to kick in fully. When I switched to venlafaxine, after a hellish withdrawal from duloxotine and a week of no meds, within a couple of hours of the first tablet I had stopped feeling dizzy and sick and my mood improved. At my check up I said this to the doc and that I thought it was prob a placebo effect to have happened so quickly but she said no not placebo they can act quickly and are powerful

Turniptwirl · 31/07/2013 21:13

OP hopefully your doc can put you

Turniptwirl · 31/07/2013 21:14

On an alternative AD, although I understand you may well be reluctant to risk the side effects again.

Original poster
filee777 · 31/07/2013 21:22

I would like to try an alternative AD but it will have to be with careful planning, so a week signed off and one that doesn't make me crap myself because that was a bit too much.

OP posts:
SirBoobAlot · 31/07/2013 21:51

You won't necessarily react the same again next time; though it is well worth discussing with your GP what happened so they can work out what would be best of prescribe you.

I'm on Venlafaxine and Respiridone again, have been on them both before. Expecting the venlafaxine to take the usual amount of time to start working, but respiridone works incredibly quickly and my anxiety is already decreased.

Irishchic · 31/07/2013 22:09

Is valium not highly addictive though and really difficult to come off? I suppose it depends on how often you take the valium OP, its prob not daily is it?

CrabbyBigBottom · 31/07/2013 22:40

Just read whole thread. I think 20mg was a bit high as a starting dose, 10mg od would have been better I think. Out of interest, had you been taking valium regularly and then stopped when you started the citalopram

If you are referring to valium as lovely (the feeling it gives you is lovely, I'm sure) and wishing you could stay on it indefinitely, then in the nicest possible way, I think you need a reality check. Valium is highly addictive and masks your anxiety whilst giving you another problem to deal with - that of increasing tolerance and dependance over time. SSRIs, whilst having varying degrees of nasty side effects and difficulties in coming off them, don't have the same issues with tolerance and needing larger doses. It works well as a short term measure, but there's a reason you can't keep taking it and it isn't just to stop you feeling lovely.

Regarding citalopram, I've been on it for about 8 years now. It's had the best, most stabilising effect of all the ADs that I've taken (venlafaxine, on the other hand, was absolutely fucking disasterous for me and my life, and made me briefly suicidal and manic). However I've always been able to reduce my dose in the summer when I'm more stable, and increase it in the winter. The last two years I've found that harder and this year I've had a real bugger of a time reducing it this summer, despite being in a better headspace than previously. If I miss just one dose I start getting brain shivers and feeling very odd, which absolutely did not happen previously. I've had to reduce incredibly gradually, reducing by 5mg every other day (so cutting 10mg tablets in half and taking 40mg one day and then 35mg the next, then 40mg, then next day 35mg again, then every two days until I'm stable on 35mg each day Then I've done the same down to 30mg per day). This has never happened before - I've been able to reduce by 10mg at a time - but this time I've been fine, reduced the dose and just crashed a week later. It's put the wind up me a bit and I want to try coming off them.

Anyway sorry for rambling on. My point is that it takes trial and error to find an AD that suits you, so you're right not to put up with unacceptable side effects. Keep with it though - when you find the right one then you will feel better, promise. Wink

Original poster
filee777 · 01/08/2013 07:07

I've only ever taken Valium on an adhoc basis, so feel a bit anxious and take one, not able to sleep - take two

I usually have 28 tablets last me 3/4 months

It's certainly not something I would ever dream of taking every day.

OP posts:
Original poster
filee777 · 01/08/2013 09:23

Okay I've arranged to have a phone appointment with my doctor on Monday, I'm going to arrange a week when I can possibly be off work to allow the drugs to calm down if they are going to affect me adversely

I'm also going to speak to work about when that could be because I don't want to mess them about at all or leave them in the shit.

OP posts: