Can someone help me? The worst I've ever been.

[sadie28]

I have been on Citalopram 40mg once a day for 8 years and have been working relatively well.

I suffer from severe anxiety and depression and about a month ago it was getting worse, compounded by stress/burnout at work. I have also had a diagnosis of PTSD from a traumatic incident when I was a teenager and am having counselling. (I'm 42).

I booked a GP appointment a fortnight ago and spoke honestly about how bad I was feeling and that I was crying a lot, tired all the time, am having counselling which she said was good etc

She told me it sounds like the Citalopram may no longer be working and switched me to Mirtazapine 25mg once a day. Told me to stop taking Citalopram immediately and switch to Mirtazapine ..Issued a prescription which husband went to get the same day.
Signed me off work.

I've been off Citalopram for exactly a fortnight now. Been on Mirtazapine and take it the same time every day as Prescribed.

For the last 8 days I have been feeling the worst ever. Physical symptoms are extreme dizziness, every time I stand up I feel I'm about to fall over. Nausea...everything makes me feel sick. Am thirsty a lot and have been drinking cold water, Coke, orange juice....

The worst is the mental health symptoms. I'm thinking of death a lot. I feel a sense of doom, that I will soon be dead.

I'm crying a lot. Husband has taken a few days off work to be with me.

I feel hopeless and am thinking about how to plan my funeral.

I'm scared a lot. I feel awful fear. Fear of everyone and everything. Even the door knocking or receiving an unknown call or email.

I'm literally sitting on the sofa crying and feeling hopeless. Every time I try to stand up or do housework, have a shower, anything, I feel like I can't stand up or I'm falling over, I'm do dizzy. Trying to eat proper meals but it's hard as I have no appetite for food.

Is this normal? Is this withdrawal symptoms from the Citalopram? Or new ones from the new meds?

What can I do?
Thank you for listening.

How awful for you. I’m not a medical professional but it sounds like withdrawal and start-up effects from the medication switch. I have withdrawn from Cipralex in the past (I’m back on it now!) and my withdrawal effects were quite extreme and similar to what you describe.

Is there anyway you can get another job ? No job is worth your mental health. You're in a trap OP, please try and break free .

It’s always a rough coming off one drug and going on another. I’m sorry you’re struggling. It’s bloody awful.

I agree that it sounds like withdrawal symptoms. Can you speak to your gp about this. You could maybe continue on the mirtazapine, but reduce the citalopram more slowly?

I’ve no experience of these particular drugs OP but these are awful side effects to be having and it sounds like you need to have a chat with your GP.

Some drugs increase suicidal thoughts so it might be this particular one is not for you or it could be you getting used to it. Either way, you are really suffering now and the GP would definitely want to know and help you.

Take care 💐

Great to hear your DH is supportive x

Goodness, swapping the meds straight like that sounds like a dreadful idea. You're supposed to taper off citalopram because the dizziness and head zaps are hard even on a taper.

they have handled this badly. Please call and ask for help urgently. I promise you will feel better. The GP has added in a physical problem IMHO.

I see mirtapazine is known for causing dizziness and suicidal thoughts. The GP won't like this but in your situation I'd ask to stop that and possibly return to the original med and maybe build up to a higher dose.

is the M one the one that causes weight gain and sugar cravings more than the others? My doc suggested it to me twice and I said no way after researching it.

big hugs for you. I had a full on nervous breakdown last year and I'm on no meds now (after 20+ years). Honestly there is light at the end of the tunnel but I am a bit cross at your GP. But think of it this way - you're having a big physical response to a medication that doesn't work and also withdrawal. They must give you a sensible path to get back on track.

I am sorry you're having this experience 💐

I was only on 10mg citalopram per day and even still I had to taper down slowly (eg just move to one every other day for a while before actually stopping). Even still I had stronger feelings of panic, and dizziness to the point of temporality stopping driving in order to be safe. These are known withdrawal symptoms for citalopram and are the reason why usually the recommendation is to taper slowly. I am no medical professional however the advice to stop citalopram cold sounds very poor to me.

This will be temporary but id liaise with a doctor (is there a different doctor at the practice you can request?). Discuss how this has made you feel and they really ought to look into whether it’s safest for you to just restart citalopram right now, or safest to for you continue off it as perhaps the period of strong withdrawal effects may come to an end soon. Definitely seek advice on this asap. I’m really sorry you’re going through this but remember this severity is side effects/withdrawal effects and you will get through it. You just need the right advice from a medical professional during this time.

I don’t know about side effects from the other drug so cannot advise on that. Shame there isn’t a psychiatrist you can speak with rather than a GP.

Take care - this is temporary but whilst it’s happening seek all the support and help you can get and be very kind to yourself. Get signed off work if you aren’t already

Speak to your GP about your mental health symptoms. When I started Citalopram I felt awful after about 2 weeks and went to the GP in floods of tears. They were really reassuring. It's one of the worst apparently for starting on so it makes sense that you may have symptoms in reverse.

Anecdotally I think ADs affect the gut microbiome and electrolyte balance until the body adjusts and levels it out. If you can stick it out I think you get a clearer picture of the drug after 4-6 weeks.

Hello! I'm sorry to hear you are having such an awful time of things.

I don't think you should have stopped the citalopram cold turkey even though you are using another anti depressant- mirtazapine.

When you have been on an anti depressant for years you have to slowly taper off from it and your gp is irresponsible for suggesting you just stop regardless of whether you are using a shiny new anti depressant.

I know exactly how you are feeling because I have gone cold turkey on anti depressants before and it is horrendous.

Please return to gp and ask them to help you. Ideally you would be slowly lowering your citalopran over a space of weeks/months whilst also taking the mirtazapine.

I'm hoping you feel a bit brighter soon.

Back to the GP I'm afraid, this isn't particularly brilliant is it. You should've have to put up with this and it needs careful monitoring as it sounds like you aren't reacting well to it.

Thank you all so much for taking the time to answer, I really appreciate it all.

I think I agree the GP shouldn't have told me to stop cold turkey and I should have been tapered off.

I've got the GP calling me back this afternoon so I will talk to her! I think I'll have to tell her straight how bad things are and how unwell I feel.

When you speak to the GP have your post in front of you so you can describe all of your feelings like you have here. Don't hold back and stress those feelings of dread / doom. Make it clear where feelings are new / exacerbated since your meds switch. Good luck

Well Done on contacting the GP as that can sometimes be a challenge in itself!
How did the call back go?
Hopefully you were listened to x