To want to announce I'm finally off of ...

[DragonBone]

Bloody antidepressants (citalopram) after a 10 year stint !

Started taking them soon after my youngest son was born - he's amazing and in his final year of primary school now.

I've tried a few times over the last cpl years to come off of citalopram- but the withdrawals had been horrendous- I don't know whether it's been a mind over matter thing but this time I've actually done it ! (And i feel so proud of myself )

10 days without them and I feel like a mist has been cleared.

Feeling better for sure !

(Thx for reading what is likely the most boring thread on here 😆)

@CrochetBelle I think it's far more a case that the GPs dish them out as a cheap option instead of getting people therapeutic input!!

No shame in needing medication, the shame is them being misused by the medical profession due to woeful NHS provision by the NHS.

Anyone wanting to come off - please gonsee a good GP for advice with regards to
Reducing your dose over time. My gp was fab. But you need to be in the right mindset to do it ( I tried about 4 times over 2 years and couldn't go through with it ) this time I've nailed it.

Well done OP!

My DP is trying the smaller dose every other day thing at the moment and it’s been pretty hairy for the last month although he says he doesn’t feel as bad as when he ran out of tablets for three days :/

How many times have you tried to come off them before? Are citalopram notorious for bad side effects? I wish someone had told my DP three years ago before prescribing them.

Socksrock - awesome !! 😍 well done.

I have dogs that keep me busy with a few miles a day - it's nice to enjoy walks in the country again now the mist has been stripped

Ah x post. Well done that’s great you’re in a good place to do it.

Reduce dose slowly over a few weeks - then over other day - every few days - and hopefully - thats it - but ask GP for advice- ft a BP check and have a good chat first

Always one.

Well done!

I came off a year ago to lose weight and I'm doing OK so far. I may have to go back on at some point but hey ho, thats the way it goes.

Well done OP. Be proud !!

Great stuff. Certainly not easy. x

Well done Dragon I've tried a few times to wean myself of Citalopram 20 but can't cope with peri menopause and withdrawal so staying on them for a bit longer !

Very good news, Dragon, I'm really pleased for you.

I think there isn't enough 'real' information about ADs as to what exactly they do and when (unless I'm mistaken). My mum 'dips in and out', that's the only way I can describe it and I don't think that helps her at all. Did anybody get/read any good links about how important it is to keep going with these? I'd be really grateful if anybody can point me in the right direction.

That's very quick.
I tried and was incapacitated by my anxiety. I had to take diazepam to be able to semi function. Had been on them 12 years. Had to go back on them.
I did it much slower than that too.
Maybe it's easier with depression.

Well done OP :)

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻. Good for you OP.

Congrats, and well done! 🤩

well done!

DragonBone Really well done. I’ve been on citalopram for 30 years. The last ten years I haven’t needed them as thankfully I’m not depressed. The withdrawal symptoms are so disabling though I just can’t come off them. I’ve done the gradual weaning off them very gradually, taking months which was ok but as soon as I’m not taking them at all I feel literally sea sick. I’m so dizzy I can barely walk and am disoriented. My GP said very rarely some people just can’t rid themselves of these symptoms and I’m better off taking a low dose. I take so much essential medication so it would be nice to be able to stop this one. You’ve done so well and I agree that some people will always need them and that doesn’t mean they are doing less well.

Well done! Hubby is on these and has tried to reduce his dose in the past, unfotunately he's not in a good place at the moment so he's back on full dose.

You are definitely right to be proud of yourself

Crochet belle is quite right though. It’s not to take away any celebratory aspect of you coming off dragon, but even your reply which said “but it came a time I knew I was strong enough to come off them” is actually a kick in the teeth to other AD users- they’re clearly weak? I KNOW you didn’t mean it that way. But really all this talk about being strong enough and making it a choice etc is horrible for those on longer term AD who know they are better for being on them and stronger because of them and maybe won’t ever be off them.

It’s great you are feeling better and I hope it was just the right time for you which is down to life really and luck.

Wishing all those reading this the best- whether on, off or midway with AD.

crochet
With respect.
This isn't about you.

Well done dragon
I asked for them when my DD was dx with cancer. I was on a very low dose for two years and they whacked them up when she died. Worse thing I ever did. Stunted my grieving, made it impossible for me to cry. I came off them about a year after that but haven't cried properly since. 12 years later.

Its hard to come off them. You did well.

Oh don't you start Isadora. This isn't about your or anyone but the OP.
She hasn't called anyone weak. She is talking about her own feelings.
Its hypocritical of you to call for solidarity for others with MH issues whilst trying to demonise the OP.

'Its actually a kick in the teeth for other AD users -they're clearly weak?' Hyperbole and unnecessary.

Oh wow ! Really ?!

This is just my own personal thoughts and how I've coped and feeling proud - not meant to o pick anyone at all that is on AD's - why would I ?!

Anyway - thx for the positive replys - I really do hope it helps anyone else that's looking to
Come off see a light shining at the end of the tunnel - its there - just do it the right way- only when you are ready x

Ignore it Dragon.
its all a bit 'that's enough about you, now lets talk about ME'
Its endemic on MN.

Well done.

Congrats, and well done! 🤩