AIBU to stop taking this medication

[2004pickle]

I've had a tough couple of years but am doing much better. I had ptsd and became depressed as a result of the constant anxiety. Had a lot of therapy with a psychologist, talking and emdr, and am coping with life again - yay. I have lots of good days and it sounds cheesy but I am proud of myself for asking for help as I've been through a lot and have spent many exhausting years being 'fine'. I am now sleeping and eating well and my mood is generally better.

I have had beta blockers for the panic to take as needed which I hardly need to take any more, but this week I saw my gp and said that although I am significantly better, my general mood can still be negative and I still have physical anxiety symptoms even though I much more in control of my thoughts. I asked about medication just to lift my mood while I carry on with therapy (I am about 2/3 of the way through what I have funds for) and was prescribed 10mg of citalopram.
Well it has had the worst side effects ever! I've taken it for 2 days and I am having burning skin, head rushes, dizziness and worst of all I didn't sleep last night. I work full time and have dc and can't afford to feel like this - it's awful.
AIBU just to stop and see my gp again this week to try something different? Or do I persevere? Am I just being impatient with my desire to feel 'well' so trying to speed it up? The emdr has done wonders but it's a difficult process and due to my history it's long and complex.

I spoke to a pharmacist today who said sometimes people are particularly sensitive to these drugs so I am not overly worried but I need sleep and feel so strange.

Thanks

Keep on the beta blockers and stop citalopram until you see GP.

If you want to stop the citalopram I would be cautious & recommend you cut it in half so take 5 mg tomorrow & see the dr as an emergency mon rather than stop the citalopram suddenly.

Stopping citalopram suddenly can make you feel even worse! I know as I was on a higher dose, stopped suddenly & was really ill. So I had to cut down slowly.

Luckily 10mg is only a low dose so it's easier to cut it down & come off it quickly.

I’m going to see whether I sleep tonight and if I don’t I’ll either stop tomorrow or cut down (maybe ring pharmacist).
I feel as bad as earlier but I’m more anxious about sleep now as last night was so bad.
Thank you

Yes, consult the pharmacist, but as you have only taken it for 2 days you may well be safe to stop it. This does not mean you won't have withdrawal symptoms, but these happen even when you cut the dose in half. Again, this may not be the case when you have only taken it for 2 days.

One of the withdrawal symptoms is depression, so be aware that this isn't necessarily 'your depression' as such.

I'd also consider if taking antidepressants to 'lift your mood' is your best route right now. You have outlined good reasons for having low mood, and have said that this is improving on the whole. If what you are doing is working, it may be better to look at more self-directed mood-enhancing activities - the ones people usually laugh at when suggested, but that actually have a lot of evidence around them for mild to moderate depression. Things like high intensity exercise, careful nutrition, being in nature, connection with others - and things that combine them like cookery classes, exercise groups, gardening, walking/running in nature etc. The chemicals you make yourself (via neurotransmitter and hormone release) don't have side effects, which is a bonus

Exercise (especially high intensity exercise if you are fit) is also really good for the physical symptoms of anxiety as it mimics the 'fight or flight' actions that the anxiety hormones are trying to get your body to take - so it uses up those chemicals.

If someone was severely depressed, then antidepressants make sense - but as you have said, the EMDR is a long process. And when you get there, you then have to wean off antidepressants if you are taking them. Only you can decide if that would then be worth it for a mood-lift now. For all I know, you may already have been doing things to lift your mood for a prolonged period and it hasn't worked, so it really is something for you to consider for yourself.

@ChristmasFluff I’m not sure it’s a good idea either but I’ve worked so hard on the trauma and it’s been a painful process. I’m still having the therapy and we’ve tackled the worst of it I think but I’m tired of feeling flat. The therapy hasn’t magically lifted my mood even though it’s changed my day to day life.
I do mindfulness which has helped but admit I’ve slipped with my attempts to exercise.
Part of me feels that I’ve failed by taking medication or ‘cheated’ somehow but that’s probably symptomatic of the fact I’m very critical of myself as I don’t judge others who are on medication.
I’m worried I’ll become dependent on them and never be able to come off them but equally as worried that my therapy will end and I’ll still be having negative thoughts.
I’m too anxious to make decisions