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Day 8 Off Citalopram And Feel Alive!

370 replies

boolifooli · 07/09/2009 12:08

The last 4 days have been yuk but I feel great today! I first noticed yesterday that I am feeling things more, I cried while watching a movie yesterday and that hasn't happened for a while. Although the Citalopram capped the anxiety it also capped a lot of the good stuff. Anyways I just wanted to give some hope to people who are thinking of coming off and worried after reading many horror stories.

OP posts:
BrokenFlipFlop · 25/09/2009 00:00

Erm, I am new to this thread but wanted to ask a quesion or two if thats ok? I started on 20mg of citalopram yesterday. I do feel sick/dizzy and slightly 'odd' but I was expecting that. I am however slightly concerned as I seem be constantly grinding my teeth. Is this 'normal'?

Thanks

Summertimefizz · 25/09/2009 07:20

Hi BFF, I can relate to the dizzy/sick feeling, grinding teeth I haven't experienced anything like that, but each persons sypmtoms differ I suppose. Sorry I can't be of any help to you, perhaps other MNers can give you some advice once they've read your post. Good Luck.

boolifooli · 25/09/2009 07:42

Morning everyone. Hi broken, if I remember rightly the teeth grinding thing is called Bruxism and can be a side effect of the meds. I don't think it lasts long though.

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BrokenFlipFlop · 25/09/2009 08:13

Summer and boolifooli, thank you for your help, much appreciated. Hopefully, it'll stop soon.

gonnabehappy · 25/09/2009 08:49

Give it a couple of weeks, it should settle down. I know some people have it so bad their mouths really hurt in the morning...but it does seem to disappear.

My codeine was for arthritis, but having had the worst joint fused nearly two years ago now I should not have taken it for so long. I know it is a problem because I reach for it before my boys come home from school!

The wine, well always indulged too much but now it is an essential part of the evening, that and a sleeping tablet to ensure I sleep. It is unusual for me not to open second bottle now. Apart from the effect on my health I can't afford to keep this up! Just seem to run out of the courage to have a 'dry' night by evening. Oh well - tonight is the excuse of it being Friday....like I said tomorrow is (always) another day!

Dropped to 20 last night though will do 40 tonight. Am hoping that as I get stuff out of my system to wild dreams/nightmares and restless nights will subside and I will stop sleeping tablets and then (or at same time) reduce wine.

It is really good to hear success stories - keeps me a little hopeful! Keep posting you guys.

ChilloHippi · 25/09/2009 09:33

The alcohol definately came before the citalopram. I've always drank heavily. I don't know how I used to manage a few years ago, when I was on prozac, drank a bottle and a half of wine every night, took sleeping tablets and still got up to go to work in the morning.

BUT BUT BUT I didn't drink last night. I don't know if it was the EFT or just will power, but I am rather chuffed anyway.

BrokenFlipFlop, the teeth grinding is normal. I did it for over a year but it's stopped now. Feel free to join us on this thread for some support

Summertimefizz · 25/09/2009 09:48

Ladies, all we can do is try. My DH thinks I'm trying to kick too many things at once, citalopram, codine, alcohol and dealing with this damn arm. My thoughts were that I will just need to go through all the bad stuff in one clear swoop. This career break will be the only time I'll be able to cope with all the side effects from withdrawl without the pressure of work etc. So if I don't do it now I never will. I am finding it difficult...

Do you believe in the term 'addictive personalities'? i.e some people are more prone to addictions than others. What are you're thoughts?

boolifooli · 25/09/2009 10:41

Hi Gonna - I don't think I would have been so happy to drop the wine for a month while I was on Citalopram. I'm not sure why, you would think the opposite would be the case. Maybe the drink livened my brain up? Lifted me out of the fuzz for a moment?

Hi Chillo - I bet you feel great this morning! In the last week my house has got a whole lot more organised. I am tidying up after the kids are in bed whereas before, after a glass of wine, it's really nice to come down to a cleanly swept kitchen and ironed clothes laid out if not a little Stepfordy

Hi Summer - Yes, I hve to put my hand up to having an addictive type personality. Wether it comes to nicotine or alcohol or food or tetris, if I discover something I like I just want it 'wall to wall'. Hubby, on the other hand, has great restraint with everything and rarely does anything to excess. He has so much more self control than me. Not sure why I am like this, my childhood sucked but whose didn't!

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gonnabehappy · 25/09/2009 10:53

Boo I can totally understand that, I really feel inside that I need to stop the cit, start sleeping and then cut out the booze. Yes I know it does not make sense but it feels right!

I agree about addictive personalities - yes pretty crappy childhood too! Father an alcoholic, brother on Class As and mother will she took to her bed about 40 years ago, and is so overweight that getting out of it is very hard, guess she has her own 'addictions'. Oh, and yes I tick the nicotine box too! Hopeless!

No, not hopeless, note name change - I am going to beat this.

Boo please keep posting, Chill you are amazing! Was it hard? Bet you feel so good about yourself now. x

ChilloHippi · 25/09/2009 14:01

Hi Summer. I have heard of adictive personalities, and I guess it is true. A therapist once said to me that when you take something out of your life, like when you kick a habit, you need to be prepared to deal with the gap it leaves, and fill the gap with something new, like a new hobby or interest. Does that make sense?

I felt ok this morning. I would have felt better without a sore throat and a kranky, snotty little boy

Thanks, Gonna I like the new name btw: much more positive!

Has anyone got anything nice planned for the weekend? It's good to have something to look forward to.

ChilloHippi · 25/09/2009 15:34

What a great day! I just got an email from MN to say I have won a prize

Summertimefizz · 25/09/2009 17:47

Hi Chillo YAY! for last night, that's great, looks like you've been rewarded today doesn't it, brilliant news. Hope you and your son are feeling ok.

That makes sense about filling the gap, suppose I'm feeling a little lost and irritable due to restriction with my arm.

DH's going on a lads weekend away, DD's got two friends over for the weekend (I can feel a drink coming on!)

What's everyone else up to?

boolifooli · 25/09/2009 19:03

Hi all, ooh what's the prize???

We have decorating to do, again. Nothing fun on the cards. I think I might be hormonal. One of my friends said something that hurt my feelings the other day and I have been sort of avoiding her. I am useless at working out wether it's me or them when I feel hurt, not that I ever actually do anything about it, maybe I should? Still it might be the hormones?

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ChilloHippi · 25/09/2009 19:22

Summer will you be alright with your cast and DH away?

I won a Thomas set: curtains, bedding, cushion. DS will be so pleased!

Booli do you want to tell us what was said and get someone else's perspective on it?

Summertimefizz · 25/09/2009 19:58

Hope so, my DD has promised to help me, to be honest they'll be fed oven ready junk food!! That's all I can manage I'm afraid.

Great prize, DS very lucky.

Booli chin up, I agree with Chillo about getting someone else's perspective....

boolifooli · 25/09/2009 20:55

It's difficult, I'm paranoid about anonymity. I skipped my last period so am sure I'm having a double dose of the 'mones this month. No doubt Hubby will be getting it in the neck this weekend

Chillo - that's a good prize. Will you give it to him now or wrap it for Christmas. Oh yes, I'm starting to stress about that now.

Summer - Tonight my children have eaten a drive thru Happy Meal, party rings and birthday cake. I am winning the junk food competition at the moment

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Summertimefizz · 25/09/2009 21:54

Booli - Anonymity is definitely an issue so understand.

I feel less guilty of feeding them rubbish now, just might indulge in some myself. Cheers

The 'moans' that's what DH's are there for...

Have a good weekend everyone!

ChilloHippi · 25/09/2009 21:55

DS loves a Happy Meal.

I'm going to probably save it for his b/day (next month) or maybe Xmas. He's still in a toddler bed, but it's falling apart, so he needs a single bed. I'm hoping DH's dad will get DS a bed for his bday, in which case he can have it then, as the bedding is single bed size. If not, I'll keep it for Xmas and we shall save up for a bed for him. I want a nice pine one.

Booli, if I were you, I would explain calmly to your friend how you feel and why. If she is a good person she'll either apologise or explain that you are being paranoid.

ChilloHippi · 26/09/2009 11:44

I've just got up

Summertimefizz · 26/09/2009 13:05

Good on you Chillo, you obviously needed it!!!

1 hour and counting down until DD buddies unleash themselves, this will be very interesting

Booli - Good luck for when you speak to your friend, hopefully it was all a misunderstanding...

Summertimefizz · 26/09/2009 13:10

Gonnabe - Hope your day is going well, hear from you later perhaps?

OrmIrian · 27/09/2009 10:45

I have stopped taking 10mg now. Could't be bothered with the fannying about. Feeling no worse than before as yet - a few head shivers but not too bad on the anxiety front. DH accused me of self-pity last night - twat! I wish he could spend 10mins in my head to see how it feels.

Summertimefizz · 27/09/2009 11:38

Great that you've taken the last step with little side effects!!!

Self-pity? Unbelieveable they haven't got a clue, they would'nt last 10 secs never mind minutes....

Hope everything works out for you being AD free

ChilloHippi · 27/09/2009 12:07

Well done, Orm

OrmIrian · 28/09/2009 10:08

Thanks.

Can anyone tell me how long the spacey head shiver feeling goes on for? I feel like I have a dose of flu atm. Also memory is f*cked - I forgot DS#2's best friends' party on Saturday.