I also gained 4 stone in the time I have been on these, despite eating / exercising as I always used to. Overwhelmed reading on the net how weight gain has been a big factor on taking these, despite our GP's telling us differently. Am hoping I can get some positive feedback on how long the side affects will last & hopefully a weight loss too. Feeling very fed up right now
Just posted to someone else about how I withdrew from these meds.
I think you may still be coming off too quick. I spent a year coming off 20mg and reduced by 5mg over 1-2 months for each reduction. I bought a pill cutter and went from 20 / 15 / 10 / 5 / 2.5 / 1.25 / 0 (crushing the last 2 doses) and had NO withdrawal at all doing it this slow.
40mg to 10mg in 6 months may be too quick for you. I came off once before doing it like this, and the first time I also had exactly the same withdrawal effects as you - dizzy, brain zaps, spaced out, snappy, cried a lot etc. These effects lasted many, many months for me. Its too much of a drop for the body to cope with, so doing it much slower is kinder.
Your body is missing the meds, so you may find going back up to 20mg and waiting there whilst the symptoms settle will help, before starting to reduce again.
I know you want off the meds, but doing it as slow as you can will eliminate those horrible withdrawal effects.
Thanks for your reply...I have got a back up pack in case I need to reach out for them
it sounds ridiculous to many but the weight gain is really upsetting me, I am suffering with my joints because of this I have had blood tests to rule out any other problems... i'm also at the age where pre-menopause is creeping up .... Five years is a long time to have been on the CIT & I'm going to try & give it a month to see how it goes. If things don't improve I will go back to my Doctor. It's one evil against the other ! xx
Weight can change at that time too, and of course the meds do affect people differently as some gain weight and other don't and have heard others have joint problems too.
I was on the meds for 16 years and though I a stone heavier than I used to be, I think that's age not the meds (menopause again) bah.
Yes might be worth hanging on a bit on your current dose and see if it settles, and if not just increase a little. I really did find withdrawing by the 5mg so good - much better than the first time.