16 weeks off and suffering new withdrawal? Help please! (w/response)

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

You said:

<<Hi to all,

I've now been off Citalopram for 16 weeks and was doing really well,

feeling better gradually all the time. I still had some bad days, but

it was only two a week until last week.

First my sleep pattern went and anxiety returned, then for one or two

nights I had foot cramps and uterine spasms again (my period wasnt

due) and awful thoughts (I keep imagining I have some awful disease

and am going to die a horrible death). I'm waking at five in the

morning, and I'm suffering constant nausea and diaphragm spasms. The

sight of food makes me wretch and dry heave and I have barely eaten

for days. My head aches and feels like my brain is shrinking.

I cant live like this and I have no idea when or if its going to stop.

I'm giving up all hope, I feel utter despair and am contemplating

suicide again as I dont see how I can go on like this. I have no future.

My memory is shot to pieces to the point where I can barely function,

this must be what it is like to be a goldfish!

I havnt worked for over a year and had hoped by now I would be working

again, but I feel so rotten all the time. I live alone and feel really

anxious when I am on my own, which is much of the time. I feel unloved

and unwanted.>>

** How long did you take Citalopram and at what dose?

How long did you take to discontinue it?

Have you taken any other drugs of this type?

If so, when and which ones?

A delayed discontinuation syndrome can happen with this drug, especially if

a person is a poor metabolizer of it (I am assuming this is the case for you

given what you are experiencing). Citalopram has a couple of active drug

metabolites that stay in the body for a long period of time. These may have

helped you not experience anything too bad up until now.

You can't predicate the rest of your life on what is happening today. Do not

killl yourself. There are other options. You could reintrrduce the drug at a

low dose and go off it more slowly. Others have been where you are right now.

It's a terrible situation to be in, but this does not mean you need to kill

yourself.

Again, the symptoms are classic withdrawal symptoms someone experiences after

having discontinued a drug too quickly.

You said:

<<I split with my boyfriend a couple of weeks ago because he wasnt

making me happy and wasnt right for me. I felt strong enough to do it.

Normally I am so needy. Now I am considering having him back just so I

have some company and feel a sense of belonging and care. Worse still

I have even contemplated going back on the pills, but because they

gave me a seizure its really not a good idea.>>

** Ahhhh...how long did you take them before you had a seizure? Did you

discontinue them after he 1st seizure? Again, the question comes up, how

quickly did you discontinue it?

Having seizures is a clear sign of difficulty metabolizing a drug. When you

are a poor metabolizer, the half-life of a drug can be extended for weeks beyond

normal.

You said:

<<Is this normal? Will it pass? What can I do to help?>>

** Normal? Probably. I say this because I'm missing the crucial info on how

long you were on it and how quickly you discontinued it. It is normal to have

difficulties after discontinuing one of these drugs.

Will it pass? The answer to this lies in how long you took to discontinue

the drug. As far as what you can do, as soon as my questions are answered I

can give you a better idea on this.

You said:

<<This morning I have made myself up a flower remedy to take, and I've

used some Lavender Oil to calm myself. I still cant face food.>>

** What flower essences did you use in this remedy? Do you get a positive

response from the lavender?

You said:

<<Yesterday I rang the local Primary Care Trust as they want info from

users of the mental health services of how we feel it might

improve.... where do I begin?

I told them my story and rather than me make a complaint some of what

has happened to me has triggered an internal mechanism and it will

happen automatically. The woman I spoke to was shocked at my

treatment. I'll almost certainly have to move GP practice now too.

I feel very angry that a drug has made me like this. Before I went on

it I was very low, I'd had a lot of stress. But at least I still had a

life.>>

** You refer to the treatment you received. Can you tell me more about

that, please? Thanks.

You said:

<<When will it stop? Why am I getting this now?

Please help if you know anything about this.>>

** I'll let my responses above stand for this. After your responses I will

know more. Am I surprised at what you're telling me? No. This is not

uncommon. The only question is to sort it out to get your particular picture

dso we can tailor recommendations to your needs.

Do you have any medical conditions of which I should be aware or take any

other drugs (prescription, OTC, or street drugs? How old are you?

Regards,