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Post by scatterbrain on Jun 11, 2014 8:21:50 GMT
Hi Just moving part of this post out of introductions cos I think I put it in wrong place.
Psych said he could put me on concerta XL but first I need to come off Citalopram. He recommended I did it over a 6 week period but I said that since I had been forgetting to take them quite frequently lately, 4 weeks should be enough. In retrospect (I was so desperate to try the meds and so disappointed when I realized I had to wait longer) I think I was probably being a bit hasty. I've been on the citalopram over 10 years. I reduced the dose about a year ago from 60mg to 40mg and following the psych appointment I have reduced the dose to 20mg. Having thought this through I am sure you don't feel the effects for 6 weeks anyway and am worried that I will have a massive crash. Has anyone been through similar or can offer any advice?
Thanks
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Post by twix on Jun 11, 2014 22:02:44 GMT
Get another opinion. Messing with anti depressants you have been on for that long means you won't know if the meds are working or not. There is a possible interaction between ssris and methyphenidate but it may be possible to switch you to an ssnri instead if you still need anti depressants.
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Post by grumpy on Jun 11, 2014 22:41:34 GMT
Hi please dont go on my view with SSRIs but I can't remember how long I was on them for but top of my head it was about 8 weeks and I just stoped . I know I was not on for long , but I was not join them for depression it was for anxiety but they crippled me after 2 days on them I never left my bedroom for 6 weeks , I was dizzy , could not stop twitching , rolling over , hot flushes so bad I still get anxiety in the bath now from nearly passing out , shivers , all ADHD symptoms got worst by 100% , could not focus at all , could not watch Tv as felt my eyes shaking , Christmas day I tried to spend with kids but could not even manage Xmas dinner ( had to go back to bed ) and thast was after about 7 weeks on them.
I left the house once to see my pysch for the first time and she had to send Me over diazipam to just get bout the bedroom and to her and if with that it was hard.
Even after that time I was told by a NHS call line ( middle oif the night ) to not stop them until I see my doctor but I was in bits hot and cold feeling sick and dizzy
I made the choice new years eve that new years day I will stop and I put them down the toliet. Firsdt few days I had some diazepam that big took to get me downstairs and in the garden and easy by day I felt better and better.
But 5 months later I still believed big suffer from side effects from the SSRIs not so much side effects more like the habits it made me have was vit made my anxiety so much worst and I still suffer from anxiety in places in the house and gasrden and even in the bath where that stuff crippled me aswel as anxiety muscle twitching when i m tense.
For me I had not life or was not living and with all the side effects it was my only option and when I did get my meet with my pysch they agreed i done the right thing
Just do as your poysh says better to be safe then sorry you have been on a losing time.
Can I ask what you was like when you started them ? Side effects etc.. ?
Where I was so bad starting them I was better off stopping them but if you have had good results on them you might be the over way round ( bad coming off )
So if your pysch says slowly then slowly it should be
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Post by scatterbrain on Jun 14, 2014 7:19:06 GMT
Get another opinion. Messing with anti depressants you have been on for that long means you won't know if the meds are working or not. There is a possible interaction between ssris and methyphenidate but it may be possible to switch you to an ssnri instead if you still need anti depressants. Thanks Twix I will speak to my doc for opinion next week. By the way, loved the Schumos coffee ad!
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Post by scatterbrain on Jun 14, 2014 7:23:46 GMT
Can I ask what you was like when you started them ? Side effects etc.. ? Where I was so bad starting them I was better off stopping them but if you have had good results on them you might be the over way round ( bad coming off )
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Post by twix on Jun 14, 2014 11:30:05 GMT
Thats why I like it here people get my humour.
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Post by chickster on Jul 7, 2014 14:48:36 GMT
Ive come off them twice. Once I just stopped (citalopram I think), no ill effects but the underlying depression had gone & stayed away for quite a while. The second time, on escitalopram was a bit more problematic & I felt very physically out of sorts for a number of weeks. I would take one every few days to keep the side effects at bay (after halving & quartering my dose). It took several weeks (6 or so I think) to be free completely. But no emotional crash though. Not sure why he needs you off them though, lots of people take both & bring off them could really muddy the waters re whats working/doing what. Maybe halve your dose for two weeks, quarter it for 2 weeks & then tell him youre off completely. Thats what Id do anyway ;-)
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2014 17:06:01 GMT
..... but first I need to come off Citalopram. I couldn't wait to get off that stuff. Won't tell you how I approached it, but turned from zombie to human in no time. From the Mind site, here are some of the symptoms of coming off (I didn't suffer from these at all apart from a bit of irritability): Withdrawal problems vary, depending on the type of antidepressant. Common symptoms include gastric problems (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or diarrhoea), loss of appetite, sleep disturbance (insomnia, vivid dreams or nightmares), general discomfort (sweating, lethargy or headaches), mood changes (low mood, hypomania – 'high' moods, panic, anxiety or irritability) and extreme restlessness. With SSRIs, the commonest symptoms appear to be dizziness, light-headedness, numbness, tingling and sensations that feel like electric shocks. When withdrawal symptoms are severe, they may prevent people from going out and leading a normal life, and are particularly dangerous with activities like driving.
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Post by pseudonamed on Jul 15, 2014 21:19:40 GMT
I was on escitalopram - almost the same thing - for less than a year, my depression and anxiety had resolved, I am not sure whether the meds actually helped or not or if it was all the other things I did/life events that helped. I didn't relapse but it took me several months of very slowly taking tiny bits less every 2 weeks. When I first tried to do it faster I got horrible side effects - dizziness, tiredness, and "brain zaps" - those are freaky. However, everyone is different. But I'd advise a bit of patience if you can handle it.
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Post by scatterbrain on Jul 15, 2014 21:24:05 GMT
Not sure why he needs you off them though, lots of people take both & bring off them could really muddy the waters re whats working/doing what. Maybe halve your dose for two weeks, quarter it for 2 weeks & then tell him youre off completely. I think it's to do with interactions. See below (copied & pasted from web) methylphenidate ↔ citalopram Applies to: Concerta (methylphenidate), citalopram Methylphenidate may increase the blood levels and effects of citalopram. You may be more likely to experience side effects, including a rare but serious condition called the serotonin syndrome, which may include symptoms such as confusion, hallucination, seizure, extreme changes in blood pressure, increased heart rate, fever, excessive sweating, shivering or shaking, blurred vision, muscle spasm or stiffness, tremor, incoordination, stomach cramp, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Contact your doctor if you experience increased side effects or your condition changes during treatment with these medications. You may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.
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Post by scatterbrain on Jul 15, 2014 21:36:37 GMT
..... but first I need to come off Citalopram. I couldn't wait to get off that stuff. Won't tell you how I approached it, but turned from zombie to human in no time. From the Mind site, here are some of the symptoms of coming off (I didn't suffer from these at all apart from a bit of irritability): Withdrawal problems vary, depending on the type of antidepressant. Common symptoms include gastric problems (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or diarrhoea), loss of appetite, sleep disturbance (insomnia, vivid dreams or nightmares), general discomfort (sweating, lethargy or headaches), mood changes (low mood, hypomania – 'high' moods, panic, anxiety or irritability) and extreme restlessness. With SSRIs, the commonest symptoms appear to be dizziness, light-headedness, numbness, tingling and sensations that feel like electric shocks. When withdrawal symptoms are severe, they may prevent people from going out and leading a normal life, and are particularly dangerous with activities like driving. Thanks, the Mind site info was really helpful cos I wasn't sure about all my symptoms being from withdrawal or something else. I've been Citalopram free for 15 days now and although I still feel like shit it's not depression and I know it is going to end. I too have turned from zombie to human and certainly don't want to go back - just wish I knew how long I have to ride it out.
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Post by petra on Jul 15, 2014 22:26:50 GMT
I too have turned from zombie to human and certainly don't want to go back - How have you made this transition? edit - sorry just read a bit more of thread - I've got major under water head mush today. Just wondering if my other meds are making me a zombie..
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Post by scatterbrain on Jul 15, 2014 22:39:31 GMT
Hi Petra Think I was on the Citalopram far too long and ended up feeling really flat. Nothing particularly upset me but nothing made me laugh either (Eeyore springs to mind)just going around in a la de dah kind of way if that makes sense. My head feels better for being off them, I just wish my body would catch up!
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