Just want to stay in bed, feeling so depressed and well just nothing.

[Astridastro]

GP has me coming off citalopram to eventually go onto sertraline, I’m on 10mg of citalopram just now but used to 40mg so will be like nothing. I’m also peri menopausal and have chronic pain. At the moment I have so much going on family and work wise too.

I can’t sleep properly or eat properly. I wake each day and don’t want to get out of bed, I’m up this late as I don’t want to go to sleep as it will be tomorrow. I have no interest in life or my family. Poor DH has taken over, the cooking, cleaning, looking after them. I go to work, come home and go to bed. I don’t even practise basic self-care barely showering only when I really have to. My poor family, I just do not care about anything right now.

Hi @Astridastro , sorry to hear you are feeling so bad but it’s not surprising if you have reduced from 40mg to 10mg of citalopram. Have you spoken to your GP as it seems that you need to get into the Sertraline as soon as possible.
FWIW, I tried to come off 30mg of citalopram myself by tapering down but my mood crashed and I ended up in a psychiatric hospital and was forced back onto the medication. Hope you can get your meds adjusted quickly and you start to feel more positive. Good luck x

Hi @Hectorsgardengnome thanks for replying I phoned the GP today earliest appointment is the 20th I’ll do a week with no citalopram By then so hopefully I can start on sertraline.

Hi OP, just a though but if you are in peri have you considered hrt? It can make a big difference to your mood, brain fog and energy levels.

@Seaoftroubles I’m on HRT 😀 my hormones are insane. I was on the mini-pull for years quite happy then I started to get break through bleeding so I came off it to find out what was going on, had lots of tests but thankfully nothing sinister. I was on a combi patch now I’m on oestrogen patch with a progesterone daily tablet, I have heavy periods still with break through bleeding in between my period.

I came in from work today went to bed stayed there until DH called me for dinner then went back to bed. It’s the only place I get peace from the incessant noise which drives me crazy.

So sorry that you are feeling so bad, do make sure the progesterone part of your hrt isn't making things worse, some progesterones can really impact negatively on mood. Also if you are bleeding a lot and feel exhausted have you had a blood test to check you're not anaemic? Re the anti depressants, it sounds tough that you are going to have to go without anything for a week, l really hope the sertraline helps you when you start.

Hi @Astridastro It is shocking that your GP is just leaving you to get on with it. I’m not surprised you are feeling so low as you are coming off the Citalopram. How long have you taken to taper it down? Is there no way to ask for an urgent appointment with the GP. I’m worried about how low you could get in the next couple of weeks while you are waiting for your appointment. Are you getting any brain zaps?

@Seaoftroubles ive just started this new progesterone tablet as the old patch was doing nothing I’m hoping this new one helps a bit, I’m not anaemia I take daily iron tablets, I take quite a few multi vitamins to try and help with the pain
@Hectorsgardengnome i know it’s kind of my own fault as I was supposed to get an appointment before that but kept forgetting. It really winds me up as the doctor says I want to see you in 4 weeks but you can’t book for 4 weeks as the diary doesn’t open that far in advance so you have to remember to phone back a week on Friday (this is Tuesday) wait on hold for 25/30 mins then to be told the only time is in the middle of the day when you work full time (which I should be but needs must right now)

so here we are I’ve been tapering for about 6 weeks no brain zaps I had them with duoxetine they were horrific. I was off work for 9 weeks end of last year as I could cope with it, I absolutely hate it. It’s so toxic. I’ve taken sun extra 2 days work in another place as we need the money right now it’s ok but physically it’s tough. I’m in the original place Weds/Fri now and could cry at the thought. I have so much happening at home right now too, it will just be a case of in, do as little as possible, back out.

I was able to switch from one straight to other as they're both ssris. Maybe get another opinion op?

Second opinion? It’s hard enough getting a first opinion lol just got to hang on and muddle through the next few weeks until I see the GP again.

How are you feeling today OP?

@Hectorsgardengnome I’m feeling so flat I’ve taken myself off to bed. Work was utter rubbish today I might as had not been there. I’m so low, sad, have no interest in anything, I just want to sleep. Thank you for actually asking I think you are the only person who has actually bothered to ask how I am feeling 💝

I know how tough it is @Astridastro and it makes it even harder if no one else seems to appreciate how much you are suffering.
I really think that you need to get some urgent help because it isn’t fair to expect you to manage the reduction of the citalopram on your own. Is there no way of contacting your GP to get a telephone review of your meds? If you could start on the Sertraline you might find your mood lifting a bit. Or even trying 111 they might be able to advise?
i think you are so strong to be keeping working while you are dealing with this. Try to give yourself some slack and recognise how brave you are. Keep posting on here if we can help. There are lots of kind and supportive people on this board who are with you xx

@Hectorsgardengnome thank you for your kind words, I had so much time off work the end of last year I feel I can’t have anymore off. I just came in from work today went to bed got up when DH called me for dinner ate hardly anything and went back to bed where I’ve been all night. Can’t be bothered with anything or anyone. I’m really sore just now as well. I’ve got a week to go now until I see the GP I can hang on a week then I can start the sertraline. I had an assessment with a CPN last year who basically said I wasn’t “bad enough” for counselling (!) gave me a few website addresses and that was that. I don’t know how bad bad enough is.

The NHS MH service is so shockingly shite now.

Could you pay for private therapy as that seems to be the only way to get help these days? I know that is so unfair that only people who can afford to pay get help.

Hope the week passes quickly for you so you can get on the Sertraline and start feel better.

Sending you best wishes xx

How are feeling today @Astridastro

@Astridastro I can't believe you were told you were not bad enough for counselling - what a load of rubbish. You can self refer to Talking Therapies and it is free. Just fill in the form online and you should hear from someone very soon to assess you and then get you on the list for meeting with a therapist - in my area it was a three/four week wait. But worth the wait.
I hope you are feeling a bit brighter now.

@Hectorsgardengnome thank you so much for asking how I am I am not used to anyone asking how I am. I am feeling rubbish today. I have started my period and the first day is always horrific very painful, my legs were like jelly at work. Luckily when I came home DH and my DC sent me to bed, made dinner, tidied up and brought me tea so that was nice.

The weekend was tough, I had 5 days off work so I mostly didn’t them in bed. I don’t think I said I also have fibromyalgia so have chronic pain and fatigue which obviously doesn’t help how I’m feeling mood wise.

I’m now totally off citalopram first time in oh at a rough guess 7 years maybe more.

@Rainbow1901 I’ll have a look thank you I’ve been thinking of getting private therapy, NHS has been limited to 6 weeks CBT before and I have some deep issues.

Hang in there @Astridastro you are doing so well to have got off the Citalopram completely. Things should start to look up soon when you start on the sertraline. xx

Finally saw my GP this morning and I’ve started on 50mg sertraline and to see her in a month 😣 so now I’m probably going to have all the lovely side-effects of that.

That’s great news @Astridastro
My ex is on Sertraline. He didn’t have any side affects when he started so it isn’t a given. He is a much nicer person when medicated too 😀

I probably won’t even notice side-effects my DD said she had an awful headache but I have a headache most days anyway. I have fibromyalgia and am peri menopausal so have so many ailments what’s a few more?

one of the reasons the GP wanted to swap me over was that citalopram apparently is contra-indicated with a lot of other meds. She wants to try me on a few different things for the fibro pain although I’ve been on quite a lot for that too.

Hopefully you are through the worst then OP