Citalopram cold turkey - what to expect?

[Dumbitdown]

I'm a bit nervous. I've been taking citalopram 30 mg for two years and due to an unfortunately timed bill, I can't get my refill until next Tuesday. I'm on day 3 without. My head feels stuffy and I cried three times so far today - about Ukraine, a homeless man on the radio, and when the pharmacy told me they can't give me a few days' worth of the pills on credit, to tide me over to pay day. Definitely more tearful than usual!!
I'm in Ireland so can't afford to go to the doctor either, so I'm not sure what to do. I've been taking care to notice and acknowledge any dark thoughts and I'll make sure to exercise and eat well but I'm scared of what might come. Has this happened to anyone? Is there anything else I can do?

I haven't but I have heard that some people can be badly affected. Cold turkey is not advised.
Could you go to hospital and get a short prescription that way?
I'd hate to think you would be badly unwell before your next dose.

Thank you for your response. Would going to hospital mean going to A&E? Unfortunately there's a hefty charge for that too. When I hit rock bottom I had to go in twice and that cost me €400. It might not be unaffordable to some but I can't handle it right now. My money problems should ease by mid April if all goes well. Anyway, it's just this week that matters for now.

No one should be put in this position for the cost of a few pills😡

Its dangerous to withdraw suddenly when you've been on a high dose like that for a long time. Can you not get an emergency prescription or borrow cash from someone? You'll probably just feel extremely ill for a few weeks but cold turkey on antidepressants has been known to cause heart problems.

How much is a prescription? Could a friend of family member get it for you and you pay them back next week?

I tend to feel a bit sick but don't get dark thoughts for a few days. Does nobody you know take them so you could at least take them every other day to tide you over?

Do you have a medical card?

Ask for advice from your pharmacy? They can give a few days of a prescribed drug for free in emergencies in UK. Surely they would advise you best way forward.

I’m sorry, I’d somehow missed that part of your post. Awful that the pharmacy can’t help at all.

Can you ask a friend for the money or stick it on a credit card / overdraft? How much do prescriptions cost in Ireland? Is there anything that you could quickly sell or take to a pawn shop.

I really think you need these pills as a matter of urgency.

I have a heap of things I could sell. I'll do that!

I'm in this unfortunate position due to life events and covid but I am definitely through the worst of my mental struggles and things are truly looking up. I am in the process of getting a medical card but again the timing is just off and I was side swiped by this bill! I'll be fine next Tuesday! I was taken aback by the pharmacy. The pills come to about €27 per month so I asked for enough to get by and 4 days worth came to €16. I have 4 euro 🤣🤣 I asked if I could get them on credit and they said no. They're a chain pharmacy though - i think after this I will change to a different one.

I think after this I will also see my doc about lowering the dose or starting to wean off. I never want to be stuck in this predicament, ever again!!!

I don't think you should come off meds that are helping you because of finances, but then I'm in the UK so I guess that's easy for me to say!

Is there any way you could save up a small buffer of money as an emergency fund for an unexpected bill or medicine so you're not in this position again?

I have a standing order to my credit Union account which is my buffer but the last few weeks have been a series of big costs - brakes, new tyres, insurance, tax and nct for the car, new boiler for the house, and heating oil all wiped me out! Plus my dad is unwell so I've seen doing a lot of driving, and fuel ain't cheap!! Before, when I had my own little business and didn't have mental illness and alcohol misuse to get through, I always kept minimum 5k in the credit union. I'll get back there.

I've just put a message on my local Facebook page offering fresh organic eggs from my garden flock. If I sell 3/4 of what I have, I'll have enough 🤞🏻

Good luck selling your eggs, @Dumbitdown, great idea. I’m so sorry you are unable to get your medication immediately, though. It’s not right - there should be a safety net.

No help to you now obviously but a strategy yhat might be useful in future, if it works for you (appreciate it might not!). When I was taking citalopram I found I was able to space out my doses a bit (eg leaving an eveing one till morning,morning one till lunchtime etc) so there were a few left in the packet each time the new box was due. After a few months it meant I had a week or two 'in hand'. In the UK so it was not so much financial worries for me at the time, so much as worry that imports would be messed up by Brexit and it wouldn't be available. It might not work for everyone but if your circumstances make it impossible to save money , but you have a regular prescription, maybe you could save pills?

In the meantime, I wish I could post you a saved-up box! Are you sure you don't know anyone who takes or used to take them, and might be able to'lend' you a few days?

No one should be put in your position

I have gone a week cold turkey before - I had vivid nightmares , felt ‘out of sorts’, emotionally all over the place, restless.

Sincerely hope you can get some help soon op. There are some good suggestions above

I just wanted to let you know that I sold all the eggs and a lovely casserole pot and some utensils, and with that I've enough to get the full month's prescription. I want to thank you all for replying to me - you made me realise I had to do something and couldn't just wait it out.

I'll set aside cash for next month's refill as a priority and I'll also do what one of you suggested and build up a little emergency reserve of the medication, no matter what happens. Hopefully though, soon enough, I'll have the medical card and not long after, gainful employment!

That’s great news, @Dumbitdown! 🎉🎉 Yay for happy chickens!

This is amazing news!

Sending love!

Well done to you and the hens, great news!

Well done for getting through that @Dumbitdown I'm really glad you were able to get your prescription, coming off antidepressants is best done gradually, I'm so sorry you were put in that situation 💐

Thank you! I finally got my refill this morning. Still feeling pretty awful but I hope to improve from tomorrow, if that's how it works. At the moment it's as if I have swollen glands and a sinus infection without the runny nose.

To give you an example of how today went - I properly bawled crying in my car listening to interviews of people in Ukraine. I then switched to another station and they put on that Dermot Kennedy song, Better Days, and I BAWLED some more! I'm just glad I have the headspace to know this is all down to (lack of) medication; otherwise I'd be thinking I'd lost the last marble!

@Dumbitdown

Yes I had this with abrupt Sertraline withdrawal a few years back. It sounds like you've gone back on yours quickly enough to alleviate the symptoms hopefully and to go a bit slower next time.

Bad timing with the content of the news 😩

Expect pins and needles everywhere! Your lips, stomach, bum - the list goes on. This lasted around 2-3weeks. I also suffered anxiety in that time but that went after a month or so. I did go cold turkey but I k ow it isnt recommended.