coming off my citalopram.........update!

[tashbella]

This is all great information! The medical community needs to get their act together and have a united front. Everyone is telling us different things!

I just was told to up my C to 40 mgs and that it would be perfectly fine for pregnancy, it's amazing the difference in advice! My view is that I would avoid getting pregnant at all costs if I wasn't on this drug, I'm so afraid of what happened last time. This is the only way I can sanely become a mother!!

What happened lasttime hun x x

We lost our boy to a very rare fatal genetic problem at 4 months. I remember being worried about miscarriage, worried about spotting, worried about everything, but what came and hit us was something I didn't know existed. It rocked my world, for a long time (and still) I worry about other things now as well. I feel like I need to worry about everything to ensure that I will be ok, but I know that's impossible. I feel, if I worry, and something bad happens, it won't hurt as bad. Because I didn't know about the fatal issue my boy was carrying, it came as such a horrible surprise that I was really hurt and angry when it all happened. Maybe if I knew about the chances of it happening, then it wouldn't have hurt so bad? I know that's not true, we were a 1 in 4,000 case, but still, it's how my mind works. So with that, I worry about my dog being dead when I get home, a car accident, my house burning down, let me tell you ITS EXHAUSTING! (and embarrassing to be honest). With the meds, it's been a life line, that extreme fear is gone and I can start to cope with reality and know that I can't control or know everything.

I feel like I just dumped all over you guys!! I'm just really glad there's others there that understand and we are able to talk to each other. Generally, I'm a normal run of the mill girl, I hold a lot in and don't share my worries, so it's nice to get it out like this!!

i used to do that aswell worry about the whole lot and then dare not not worry cos i thought if i stopped worrrying something really dreadful would happen its exhausting !!
really sorry to hear of the trauma you went through x
only time helps the pain but he'll always be there with you always. my friend lost their son at a very young age in a tragic accident she did go on to have another tho' and life did get better, at the time thought i thought she was just gonna give in. we are amazing and strong !!

 

[vixta]

I dont care how much weight i put on as long as i am mentally stable x x

 

[AlwaysPraying]

Thank you guys SO MUCH for your support! I didn't mean to derail this thread!!

It is incredible what we are faced with and what we go through in our lives, isn't it? Like you said, Vixta, it's really frustrating when people say to get over it or to just suck it up. Sometimes you just can't and you need help. My doctor said it was a really good thing I asked for help because too many women suffer alone and it only gets worse.

For now I'm going to just do what feels right and stay on the meds for now and while ttc. My partner said he was worried about my stress when I was pregnant last time and that was before our loss, clearly. He's happy that I'm on this and that next pregnancy may be smoother for us.

I wish everyone the best during all this! It's hard and complicated, but sometimes we need to take it in our own hands and figure it out.

 

[vixta]

I am not doing so well these past few days
I dont know whats wrong with me, all i wanna do is stay in bed cus i dont see anypoint in getting up. I have had to start taking 20mg a day again now cus of how i feel. I wish i could just snap out of it and be the person i used to be!
When i do get up i dont get dressed and i dont wanna wash or do my hair, i dont wanna do anything at all.
I am so sick of myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[AlwaysPraying]

Stick with is Vixta, you'll get through it. Give it a couple days more for the new dose to kick in (sorry, can't remember how long you've been doing 20mg for now).

Pregnancy does weird things to a body on top of emotional stuff. It's ok if you don't want to be up and active as long as your being safe, eating and sleeping ok.

 

[tinkerbellita]

I am not doing so well these past few days
I dont know whats wrong with me, all i wanna do is stay in bed cus i dont see anypoint in getting up. I have had to start taking 20mg a day again now cus of how i feel. I wish i could just snap out of it and be the person i used to be!
When i do get up i dont get dressed and i dont wanna wash or do my hair, i dont wanna do anything at all.
I am so sick of myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So sorry hun, I'm totally in your boat too. You could fry a steak in my hair and I'm battling tears 24/7.

Wishing for a magic wand....

 

[clarabel]

my doctor said there was a a lack of information relating to effects in preganancy so to be cautious i should come off straight away ( i wasnt even weened just went from 40mg to nothing! iv since been told this was a bad idea!)
x

that is really bad that you were taken from 40mg to nothing! i cannot believe that a gp would do that!!!!
My gp said no way can you just stop taking them, she said that they are safe in early pregnancy but when you get into the second trimester they arent considered safe. the side effects are horrendous i have severe dizziness and i can be ok one minute then the next i will be at the window with it open tryin hard to catch my breath as i am having a panic attack!
All of this whilst coping with early pregnany too !!!!!

I am also in a similar situation. I have been on citalopram for nearly 2 years. 20mg daily. I was advised by my gp to come off them last week as I'm pg and I am experiencing the most awful side effects. I had to visit a-doc last night as I almost passed out due to the dizziness, I had the whole fainting sensation but managed to get on sofa. The doc said the side effects should only last a few days yet I am reading that more and more people are having terrible sensations and side effects to withdrawl. I pray this won't last too long as I'm even worried about driving. How long do you think the severe dizziness and tiredness will last????

 

[tiggerlix]

im having the same problem with citalopram.3 days i was of them and i felt i was going insane i felt this overwhelming fear.I went back to the doctors yesterday and we are now trying a dose of 10mg a day,im expecting to feel some kind of withdrawel but it is better than nothing.You ladies are so brave coming of them on your own..i just cant do it.It kinda makes me feel weak but i cant stand myself without them.I see my counciler on 14th of dec to so im hoping that will help..
congratulations to all you ladies that have done it without the meds..i hope to be there soon.
x

 

[Adela Quested]

x

 

[emzeebob]

im so glad i found this thread as im having terrible problems, im only 9 weeks pregnant but ive been on citlapram 60mg for a year now for servere depression and panic disorder, i was told to go cold turkey from the citalpram as it was harmful to my baby and put on imipramine 25g x2, and for the last 3 weeks i have thort due to gps advice that ive had 24hr morning sickness, but through reading this thread and talking to people ive strated to relise its withdrawal from citlapram, its awful i have v
neva felt so ill in my life, and im so hoping it starts to wear of soon,
the imipramine isnt working yet and im starting to have terrible symptons again feeling down atc and the dr has sed there is a high chance of me having post natal depression which has made me feel so much better not

im so hoping i start to feel better soon not only of my sake but also for my babies, sorry to waffle its just a nice to no im not the only one in the same boat

 

[qpaulina42]

hey there -
I'm also on citalopram, 30mg. my doctor told me that it would be good, but not absolutely necessary if I could go off by the time the baby is to be born. I read a lot of scientific articles and talked to a bunch of doctors and that is basically the agreement. citalopram doesn't cause birth defects but it can cause withdrawal in the baby when it's born because it's been used to the drugs.
Also, I would like to say that your doctor couldn't have been more wrong when they told you to go off the drugs cold turkey. It's really bad and actually dangerous. You need to go off them slowly. What a jerk...
I would strong recommend the book "The antidepressant solution". It outlines how to go off SSRIs safely. I have gone off the pills twice and this book was very helpful. I'll be starting the process again once I reach second trimester.
Also, know that it is far worse for the baby to have a depressed or anxious mom, so if you just can't handle life without the pills, it is better to be on them.
Hugs!!!

 

[My4thmiracle]

My best friend had been in citalopram for 4 years taking 20mg daily, the day she had her bfp she rang her doctor to ask what to do. He said carry on taking them as the pros out did the cons. Towards the end of her pregnancy they suddenly increased tbe care and started scanning her to check babies weight etc. They told her her baby might need to be rushed to intensive care as a result of her taking her medication in the 3rd trimester. Six weeks before she gave birth they changed her antidepressant to another kind as she wanted to breast feed. She had her little girl 2 weeks early weighing 5lb 4oz. Nothing at all wrong with her.

 

[My4thmiracle]

I will find out what her new medication is called, they told her she was on the lowest dose but it's more mg than the 20mg of citalopram that she was on. She did a straight swap in medication, no withdrawals at all. I wish you all well with her pregnancies and your medication. Will report back later then you can all ask to be transfered onto a better antidepressant that you can continue taking and be able to breastfeed x

 

[Ladybuggz]

I'm currently coming off of 20mg of Citalopram. I've managed to come off over a period of 2 weeks however the side effects are pretty bad for me. I've been feeling so dizzy and lightheaded that I've had to take time off work. Also felt really nauseous and irratable along with feeling low in mood and tired. I'm hoping to just stick with it and hope to ride it out. Hoping it'll improve soon!

 

[trenwick]

I am currently doing the same thing, so far its hell. How did it go for you??