Problems getting back onto SSRI antidepressants after

[Holdingonforlife]

Hi
Wondering if anyone has had a similar experience to me? I'Mm looking for reassurance really.
Was takung Citalopram for many years and weaned slowly off them by April. However, struggled with withdrawal and at the beginning of June had a complete breakdown.
However, when restarting the citalopram at 10mg, I became extremely suicidal and agitated, something that didn't happen the first time round.
After two weeks with no let up despite diazepam, GP persuaded me to switch to sertraline 50mg and gave me promazine to ease the agitation.
I've been on this regime for 8 days, the agitation has lessened but I'm far from out of the woods and worried that it won't work.

Really regret coming off the citalopram now as I can barely function. I was really independant and doing well, now I'm a wreck

Bump

The first couple of weeks on any SSRI can be so intense and difficult, even if it's one you've had success with before. That's why they all have suicide warnings on the leaflets.

I know you can't really feel it when you're in the middle of it, but the extreme emotions are your body's way of adjusting to the changing neurotransmitters that are suddenly available, and finding ways to metabolise everything.

It's a case of riding out the storm and looking after yourself as well as possible until things balance out and you get back to yourself.

Thank you for the reassurance WhoWants2Know. The GP is keen for me to increase to 100mg, however, I'm prone to wait until the initial side effects have stabilised, I'm worried the anxiety/nausea and suicidal thoughts will increase again.

Hi

Haven’t come off , but just thought I’d comment

I’ve known a lot of people in RL and on forum who have weaned of ad’s
Slowly and few months down the line had to go back on them!!
Either because they can’t handle the symptoms that have represented themselves again after stopping or
Had a complete meltdown
It’s frightening when you think off it

What dose citalopram where you on?
Personally I don’t think 2 weeks is long enough, I’d say at least 6-8 weeks
I know exactly what your going through as I got really bad a few years back, was on escitalopram
That must of pooped out on me, as they wasn’t helping me with bad anxiety/depression.

I then got put under secondary mh care, psych put me on venlafaxine
It was a rocky time, like you suicidal thoughts, I literally couldn’t eat or sleep. It was the worse episode I’ve ever had, so frightening
Psych put me on promazine, I was only on it 5 days think it was 5ml
And I suffered with massive headache and my jaw started tightening. Stopped that
Then they gave me quetiapine, I fainted on that and ended up in a&e

After that, no more meds try’s for me, frightened me to death.
I’ve stuck with the venlafaxine been on it 8 years now, and upped it twice just again recently as anxiety is high again. I can’t say it’s great and worked as I still can’t do things
Because of high anxiety.

I’d say give it longer, I know symptoms are shit but you have to stick with one longer than two weeks as you’ll end up going through them all

Just seen your update

Take your time on the 50ml, don’t rush it. Gp and psych like to get you upto therapeutic dose asap, but that doesn’t suit all.

You will get some symptoms when upping again, but not necessarily the same ones could be different

Thank you for your input granadagirl.

I agree, it is frightening, I don't really think the consequences of longterm SSRI use are really understood or managed well.

I'm going to stick with the 50mg sertraline and pray I get back to some kind of normal soon.

I've been on the sertraline for two weeks, I simply feel like crawling out of my own skin, every waking minute is a nightmare. Can't sleep properly, can't eat, struggling to function at all. Feel like a burning sensation in my chest.

Is this normal for sertraline this far in? Don't know whether to continue, I feel absolutely shit.

Hi @holdingonforlife, I'm on sertraline, have been for over 3 years now. Recently the anxiety was triggered and I've been in a really shit place for around 6 weeks with it. The dr has upped my dose and after about 2 weeks I feel ive turned a small corner. Anyway when I initially started taking sertraline it was awful, anxiety through the roof, nausea, teeth grinding, etc, i swear i had every side effect listed. Even after day 1 I was thinking what have I started and didnt know whether to continue. I'd say it took a good 6 weeks for me to feel like my normal self again and in that time I was increasing the dose. If you can, stick with it because when it does kick in you will feel so much better. When I first started it I was doing a online CBT course and this time I'm seeing a therapist and starting the CBT again. Have you been offered any other support?

Hi Sian03

Group CBT - went to first session Friday, but unfortunately was in too much of a state to sit there. The organiser took me to one side and rebooked me a personal session for next Thursday.

I just feel too agitated and restless to engage in anything at the moment - it's not easing at all
I really don't know how much more I can take.

I just keep thinking I can't go on another minute, did you feel this? I wish I could sleep but the anxiety and panic keep waking me up, I was never like this before restarting the SSRIs

Hopefully a one to one session will be more helpful to you. I do remember thinking it was a lot worse starting them than before and thinking to myself what have I done to myself by starting them. Its bloody tough! I couldn't even bare my children talking to me. What time of day are you taking them?

I was exactly like that when my anxiety was sky high. I couldn’t eat either.
I to started cbt 1-1 and couldn’t engage even then!
I couldn’t eat, and she wanted me to go round supermarket to see if there was anything I fancied or smelt
I felt like throwing up 🤮
Unfortunately it didn’t help me one but, think I was too poorly

The gp gave me zopiclone at first to help me sleep then later anti histamines(think there only available via gp for sleep) can’t remember the name but they worked.

I’m still get like that now if my anxiety heightens

@Sian03
Only just seen your message. I'm taking them at 6.30am. Since my last post I think I've improved a bit - now managing to eat a bit more, anxiety has toned down a level (although still uncomfortable at times) and I'm slowly doing a bit more. Also slept well last two nights.

So fingers crossed, maybe it's going to work...

@granadagirl
I think going to therapy before the medication is sorted is a bit like going to physio with a broken leg that hasn't been set!

However, I'm due to go to CBT tomorrow, hopefully it'll help