Feeling down, coming off Citrolapram- advice please.

[Bakeoffcake]

I've been on it for 18 months and it has helped me so much, I've felt better than I have for many years. (I was prescribed it for anxiety rather than depression, though it did really lift my mood)

I started coming off it 3 and a half weeks ago. I was on 20mgs so Dr told me to take 10 mgs for 3 weeks then reduce to every other day. I've felt absolutely fine for those three weeks but the last few days I've felt so down. I'm sat in bed now absolutely crying my eyes out and I don't know why.

Is this a tempory thing which I should just work through or do you think I should go back to taking the 10mgs everyday?

I do have an appt with Dr on Thursday, but wanted to get some advice from other people too.

Yes, i had a look at that website. very helpful :)
So i did three days with nothing and took half a tablet today so 10mg. I felt fine and probably could have gone another day but just worried about the side effects so am going to do another three days then 10mg again and so on for a couple of weeks or so. Then i am going to give them up completely. How are you doing bakeoff?
Have been a bit irritable today. Not sure if it is withdrawal or just me!!!

Thanks for the responses all, sorry have been very busy last few days.

Weirdly woke up yesterday morning feeling suddenly better and it has lasted a couple of days now. greengarden I know what you mean about feeling happy on them, I had really happy moments. I felt that I had finally resolved all my 'issues', not so sure now! Like you I am now in a less stressful job which is how I have been able to come off them. The truth is though that there is nothing I can really change in my life I am really lucky with what I have, but since coming off the pills I feel more dissatisfied with everything.

I came off them fully about five weeks ago.

violator I recognise you name maybe you were on the withdrawal thread early last year? I was on one when I cut down from 20mg to 10mg.
On Monday a good friend said I should go straight back onto them, but am encouraged by how I am feeling now - not manically happy but okay - so will stick with it knowing I can always go back on in future.

Being able to spend time outdoors in this lovely weather is helping.

greengarden irritability was the worst symptom for me and is still lingering, more just grumpy now. it is horrible!

I'm feeling really good thanks Green.
H
Just a bit scared about cutting down from 10mgs to 5. I'm definitely going to do another couple of weeks on the 10, before trying.

Glad everyone else is doing well. And like you say Arcadia, this sunny weather really helps.

since coming off the pills I feel more dissatisfied with everything
Thats what worries me. Have been so layed back about things. Used to let things get to me. Sadly felt unhappy with my house etc when in reality, i am lucky. I live in a good area, not the best house but so what? All my children are healthy, i have a husband that loves me and would do anything for me. The tablets took that discontentment away for me and i was glad of it.

Glad you are doing well. You seem to be better on the 10mg so just keep with it until you are ready. We had a bit of sun today and my dh took the kids out which was nice to have me time.

greengarden hopefully it just takes time for the chemicals in the brain to rebalance or whatever and then we will feel less dissatisfied with things. I don't feel depressed as such, just more bogged down by things, less content and more easily knocked by minor irritations. But that could still be the hangover from the withdrawal.
bakeoff I went from 10 to 7.5 (approx - by cutting it up) and so on. I think however you do it you get some side effects but don't be scared about it. I actually quite liked some of the physical side effects, I didn't get brain zaps but got some funny feelings in my head which were quite pleasant!

I had strange feelings in my head when i went on them. Cant describe it. Dont think it was a brainzap. More just a kind of pressure in the head as if it was going to pop..like too much noise or something for a few moments and then it faded! Strange :)

If you're struggling to withdraw successfully you can ask your gp for the liquid form of the medication which I don't think is available for all kinds of meds. But worth asking. I used liquid escitalopram to reduce bit by bit and it was very helpful. Docs may resist as it is expensive!!