Help! Thinking of going back on ADs

[Lindylu74]

I went on ADs three years ago after my Dad died and I was made redundant. I’ve been slowly tapering off Citalopram, going down from 10mg to 7.5, 5, then 2.5 and finally zero (using the liquid form). I’ve done it over a couple of months and at first it was ok but it’s got increasingly harder. I’ve been off them completely for three weeks and the last week I’ve felt pretty awful. I’ve got brain fog, nausea and anxiety plus not sleeping too well. I really do want to come off them but I’m wondering if I’ve chosen a bad time due to lockdown and winter. There’s nothing major going on in my life which is why I thought now would be a good time but now I am having a rethink. The only thing is I’ve come this far, should I keep going and will it start to get easier or should I go back on them and try again next spring? Has anyone had experience of coming off these successfully?

Could you be in peri-menopause?

It took me months to get off them. I would take one dose a week for a few months and then drop that down to every 10 days, 14 days etc until your basically off them.

This is oy if your actually on to come off them. If your still depressed/anxious then do t come off them stick to a very low dose and see where your at.

My GP would only ever let me come off in April till September. She always said this time of year was never very successful for anyone.

Yes I have come off them successfully but it took almost 6 months and it was summertime. If I began to feel like I was pushing it I increased me dose for a bit until I stabalised.

Thanks @Crakeandoryx it’s really helpful to hear from someone who has gone through it. I think I’m going to try going back on 5mg and see how that goes until Spring time. How did you decrease your dose over six months?

If you've come that far I'd probably give it another few weeks and hopefully the brain fog will lift. I'd dose up on with some multivitamins and magnesium as to help the anxiety. If the insomnia perists speak to your doc, they may be able to prescibe something non habit forming for an emergency. Walking and fresh air will help too.

I weaned off sertaline and it does get better.

I mentioned peri-menopause because ad's are not appropriate to treat the issues you are having, which are all classic peri symptoms. It's worth considering.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/news/health/menopause-antidepressants-symptoms-worse-hrt-shortage-a9148951.html%3famp

i.stuff.co.nz/life-style/well-good/teach-me/113666670/perimenopause-lead-up-to-menopause-very-uncomfortable-and-poorly-understood

@Aquamarine1029 that’s really interesting. I did wonder about the peri menopause as the brain fog is a very new symptom for me. I’ve never had it before. But I don’t have hot flushes and I’ve still got regular periods so not sure if it can be peri menopause.

But I don’t have hot flushes and I’ve still got regular periods so not sure if it can be peri menopause.

It most definitely can, op. Peri is a phase that can last more than 10 years before full menopause, and your symptoms can change throughout. The brain fog, anxiety, horrible sleep is exactly how mine started. Some women get hot flushes, some don't, as with any other symptom, but that does not mean you're not peri-menopausal.

@Aquamarine1029 that sounds exactly like what’s happening to me but I assumed it’s to do with AD withdrawal as it’s coincided with that. What did you do about it? Did you get any help from your GP?

I went to the gp who were useless, which is common when women go for help with peri. Gp's are notoriously ignorant when it comes to peri and menopause.

I decided not to waste my time and went privately to a specialist. Best money ever spent and was put on HRT immediately. It's a lifesaver, truly.

To be clear, I am NOT saying you are experiencing ad withdrawal. You very well may be, but you could also be in peri, which I think should be very much considered. You need to look at the whole picture.

You are not* experiencing

Thanks I have a good GP so will talk to them but if not, will think about private referral.