Stopped the Escitalopram a month ago, now feel extremely irritable and low?

[mummytowillow]

I had been taking Escitalopram for 13 months for PND, I wanted to come off them and the doctor reduced my dose and told me how to come off them, I did this (kind of), I've not been on them for just over a month now but feel so irritable, fed up and aggressive?

I am a single mum to my 2.5 daughter and I feel at the end of my tether with her and got really angry with her this morning just because she wouldn't get dressed, I felt so sad and guilty afterwards. I've always had a short fuse, but not like this, I also have no motivation to do anything (apart from obsessive housework), I'm so tired and have piled 12 pounds on since Xmas!

I don't really want to go back on them, but would if it made me feel better or can anyone suggest anything else? Also how long can you stay on AD for?

Thanks

I tried to do this a few months ago. You have to reduce the dose slowly slowly slowly, or you get something called withdrawal syndrome - which is your depression symptoms all over again. Go back to your GP, and ask him exactly how to slowly reduce the dosage - perhaps one every other day or something?

Its hard, but I have resigned myself to the thought that its better that my children grow up with a happy mother than a grumpy depressed one. But I know for many people this isn't an ideal solution, so you need to work with your GP to find a way for you.

HTH