Anti depressants or not?

[Bookaholic73]

I started taking ADs in May, as I have struggled with depression for quite a while before that.
The first ones I went on did nothing for me, so changed to Citalopram. They were fab to help my low mood, I felt an improvement almost straight away.
However, they made me so incredibly tired, all I did was go to work and then sleep all evening, all night and I was so tired I struggled to get out of bed in the morning. I know it’s doesn’t sound too bad, but it was honestly completely debilitating.

I tried a lower dose, but then they didn’t help my mood at all.

So I slowly weaned myself off them. I’ve been off them for a week and I’m straight back to my old self. Crying all the time, losing my temper, feeling incredibly overwhelmed for no specific reason and just feeling so sad and miserable.

I want to go back onto ADs but here’s the problem-the GP was so rude and not at all helpful when I spoke to him about changing ADs the first time, I just can’t face contacting them again about ADs.
But I know I need to.

Sorry, I don’t know what I’m asking for really, I just wanted to get it out. I’m sat here bawling my eyes out for no reason at all, and I hate being like this. But it’s either this, or sleeping 16 hrs a day.

Could you try a different GP at the same practice who would hopefully be more sympathetic? Either that or get an appointment with a private psychiatrist who would be more experienced with the different options for ADs?
It’s interesting how different people are affected by ADs. I’m on 40mg of Citalopram and have terrible insomnia rather than the tiredness you experienced.
Also, did you taper off the Citalopram really, really slowly? If not, you might be experiencing the withdrawal symptoms rather than just a return to your previous depression.
Good luck x

@RetailTherapyMightHelp thank you for replying. Yes I tapered it down over the course of a month, so I definitely don’t feel like I’m going through withdrawal.
I really wish I could tolerate 30mg without the exhaustion, as it helped my mood so much.

Good idea about speaking to a different GP, but we don’t really get a choice, we just get a call from whoever is on that day.

I woke up this morning and have decided 100% that yes I do need to go back on the ADs as I had another night of crying myself to sleep for absolutely no reason.

Hi, I take Sertraline and find it a lot better than Citalopram however have you had other things checked such as Thyroid, B12 and Ferritin. Also how old are you?

Sertraline didn’t agree with me at all.
Yes I’ve had a full blood panel checked and all is ok.
I am 46

Perimenopause? HRT might be more effective

Escitalopram? Also helps focus and motivation but is cleaner than citalopram. I have a small amount of tummy ache but am accepting it.
Think Vortioxetine also helps focus and motivation, my adhd psych recommended these two.

Citalopram made me feel tired too. Someone did suggest swapping when you take it from morning to night or vice versa.

Serialise killed my focus and motivation. It did improve when I took it at exactly the same time every day but it was also such hard work to taper off that I vowed never again

Sertraline!

I'm 45