Citalopram Helped Me When I Needed It But Now I'm Free
UpdatedI have been on 20mg for 3.5 years. At the time I needed it. I was uncontrollable with tears, attended counselling, but feared for myself because the counselling wasn't helping quick enough. It helped me to think clearly, walk through the rat race with my head up and made it easier for my partner to stay living in close proximity of me! I then became complacent, I tried to come off them once after about 2 years, with terrible results.
My experience of citalopram: Tired all the time- started taking them b4 bed which helped with the afternoon sleepier but still meant that for 3 years I have been falling asleep where ever I am at the point I am ready (or not ready as the case may be) this could be at parties, during intercourse, watching tv, pretty much anywhere! No libido at all. I could never tell my partner, but I was never "up for it" I just went along, and when I got into the swing of things eventually started to enjoy myself, but the desire was non existent. Weight gain - 3 stone, adds to low self esteem. Hot all the time, no heating in one of the coldest winters we have had. Drove my fella and me mad with the body temp differences between us.
Forgetfulness
Lack of feelings of love
Lack of motivation
Lack of life
How I've come off and side effects:
-20mg, then 10mg alternate days for 1 month.
-10mg daily for 6 weeks
-10mg then 5mg alternate days for 2 weeks
-5mg daily for 3 days
-None
Withdrawals:
-Extreme hot flushes, clammy, sweating. It is summer but this is ridiculous.
-Dizzy
-Nauseous
-Head aches
-Rudeness a bit snappy
Nothing too bad though, barely noticeable until you read that these are withdrawal symptoms
What's great is I feel in love again, my libido is coming back and it's really hard to explain but I just feel more alive. I'm really looking forward to have more energy and feel less lethargic. Throwing myself into work and excersice (to loose this 3 stone citalopram jiggles)
I think I failed the first time I tried because I wasn't ready, I thought I was at the time, but in he-insight my externals were very unstable, my family had there own stuff going on and couldn't offer much emotional support.
My suggestion is, don't stay on them too long, use them to get through a tough time, then when you feel strong again, move on and be thankful that you had them to get by. They are not a long term solution for most cases. Extreme cases yes, mine was border line. I feel so much better and more confident now that I am free. All this time I thought the meds were helping me to deal with things, but it was the 2 years of therapy that changed my thinking. Had I timed it right, I could have been free long ago.
Tell everyone that will listen that your coming off. If you feel wonky, just tell yourself it's to be expected, you have been giving your brain drugs for a while and it's bound to be in a mess for a few days.
Do what feels right xxx (a puppy helps too!)
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