Hi! I have been taking Citalopram (antidepressant) for 14 years at various doses. 2 months ago my Dr advised me to reduce the dose from 40mgs to 10mgs. So I went straight down to 20mgs for 4 weeks and then straight down to 10mgs for 4 weeks. He gave me Lormetazepam to help with the withdrawal symptoms. I took on average 1mg to 2mg per day for the 2 months I was reducing as and when needed. I have since found out that the cit reduction was far too fast and am having extreme withdrawal symptoms so have just had to up my dose to 20mgs. The Dr didn't advise me to taper off the lormetazepam which I stopped a week or so ago and I am wondering if I am having withdrawal symptoms from that too? Could this be possible after only taking them for 2months? I am at my wits end! Please help if you can.
Hello beverley47094, whilst I cannot help you with advice for the anti depressant (although if you have been taking it for 14 years suddenly halving the dose in such a short time seems very fast), I can believe that not tapering of the lormetazepam would cause such withdrawals. It is in fact a benzo and as such more addictive and difficult to taper than an anti depressant (I cannot believe your doctor giving you a benzo to get off an anti depressant, but many doctors are still unaware of the dangers of benzos, although they should know that it is dangerous to prescribe them beyond 3-4 weeks. In many countries such as the UK there are now restrictions on the length of time a benzo can be prescribed). No benzo should be stopped abrubtly. In fact the it should be tapered slowly. I dont know Lormetazepam and whether 1 mg/2 mg is a high dose or not? Hopefully somebody else will be more familiar with this one. But the good news is that you havent been on it for very long so it should be relatively easy to taper. You don't say which country you are in, but you need to find a doctor who understands benzodiazepines (refer to the Ashton Protocol and www.benzo.org.uk) and who can help you to taper slowly. If the dose you are taking is a low one it shouldnt take too long. So yes, in answer to your question, I am pretty sure the withdrawals you are from a combination of both reductions but in particular the Lormetazepam. Hope this helps.
Hi Beverey .I too reduced from 40mg to zero but zi did it slowly ..your doctor wants shooting for his bad advice..after 14 years it's going to take time for your body to adjust..I took my last pill 9 weeks ago and I'm still getting withdrawal symptoms..anxiety and irritability ..don't know about the lomeazepam but it sounds like a benzodiazepine which I also take and yes they too should be withdrawn slowly ..your doctor is snow idiot...if you need more help just ask ..are you happy to be back on 20 mg and has it settled you? Why did your doc want you off the pills in the first place ?
..benzo safe THE hardest pills to come off ..see your doctor ..google benzodiazepine withdrawal
..sorry for thr typos ..should read benzos are THE hardest pills to come off..it's taken me a year to come off cit and I'm still getting withdrawals 9 weeks after taking my last pill
Did you mean lorazepam?...that is a very hard drug to withdraw from...you will be getting withdrawals from this pill as well as the cit
Hi Pat - thank you for your reply - it helps to know someone is going through the same. I increased the cit from 30mg up to 40mg in May after a bad period. Things settled but then in September I started getting violent nightmares and heart palpitations. Dr suggested these could be side effects so wanted me to reduce or come off to see if I really needed them or something else that would agree with me. In hindsight I probably think the 40mgs was too much and I probably should have just reduced back down to 30mg again. I got down to 10mgs a month ago but since then I have experienced debilitating withdrawal symptoms. The hardest is lack of balance/co-ordination and the anxiety and depression hitting me like a ton of bricks. I only increased back up to 20mgs 7 nights ago and this week has been hell. I've had heightened anxiety and depression and loss of appetite. The palpitations are still there. Maybe it will take a little longer to feel any benefit from the increase? I am so confused as don't know whether it's the Cit, Benzo or both that is doing this to me. Not sure of a way forward at the moment! Feeling lost.
My Dr didn't advise me on a slow taper for the Cit and said nothing about how to stop the Benzo. What reductions did you make and over what time span?. Did you ever have to go back up a little and if so how did you feel ? 9 weeks is a long time to still have withdrawal symptoms. Are you going to stick with it? Are you still taking the benzos? I am trying to get as much info as poss about this. I live in Spain and am in the Spanish Healthcare System but have been seeing a private Dr. due to the language problem. I can speak OK Spanish but not about medical matters. I now have managed to register within the Spanish system with an english speaking Dr. My first appointment is Dec 15 so want to go armed with as much info as possible. i just hope he can sort out the damage the other Dr has caused!
I reduced 40 to 20 over 8 months ...20 to 10 over 2 months 10 to zero over 10 weeks ..the latter I feel was too quick ..no I never went back up but the withdrawal at the moment are making me think Of going back on 10 mg ..I an involuntarily dependent on diazepam ..but did reduce them from 30 mg a day to 10mg..this took 20 years ,!!..if you have any lorazepam left I would srart taking them till you see your new doctor
No - it's lormetazepam otherwise known at Noctamid. It is primarily a sleeping tablet but he gave it to me as it doesn't stay in your system as long as diazepam for example. Was taking probably 1 or 2 mgs over a 2 month period. Would this short length of time still cause withdrawal problems?
I think you are getting withdrawals from both pills ..sorry these replies are not in order ..let me know how you get on with the new doctor...
I really don't know as I've never heard of that pill..seems though that all meds for mental health have side effects when you come off them..so I would guess that even for such a short time you would have problems going cold turkey ..I hope you ha pave someone to support you over in Spain ?
I think you may be right about going cold turkey! As far as support, I have my husband. He has been great with helping me get dressed etc, cooking meals but he doesn't really understand what I am going through right now. I am not sure what sort of professional support there is here. I have been ticking along quite nicely all these years until this episode kicked off.!
I have just googled Noctamid and it is a pill that should be reduced slowly.
What a shame you didn't stick at 30mg
hopefully you will stabilise soon ..as I said perhaps taking the Noctamid is the way to go until you can slowly come off them properly
Yes, I think you may be right. I am now shaking uncontrollably when I try to move and can't use my legs. I am really scared. My husband has just come back and taken one look at me and is calling the original Dr who has done this thing. If no joy think we will be off to the Emergency Room! Wish me luck. Thanks for your advice.
I was just going to say get to Casualty ..let me know how you get on ...insist they do something for you !! Good luck ..I feel for you
Beverley, I tried to reply to you earlier but for some reason (probably the link to The Ashton Protocol) my response has not been published. I dont know anything about tapering anti depressants although the rate you mention seems way to fast, but I have had a lot of personal experience with Benzos. Your doctor was crazy to prescribe an even more addictive drug to get you off anri depressants but many doctors dont understand the danger of benzos. I am fighting the same battle in France but unlike you, i have been in the "benzo trap" for a long time. Yes, you can get these withdrawals after complete withdrawal after a few months of taking the benzo. It is effectively "Cold Turkey". But there is a special protocol to follow. For now you need to find a doctor who understands and do not be afraid to go to your local hospital. They will probably "reinstate" the drug and then you need to taper slowly. Preferably using valium. Please note I am not a doctor but am currently tapering myself to free myself from Havlane or Loprazolam. Good luck
Just an update! Dr came out and said to take a noctamid - I did and the relief was immense. I feel so much more relaxed now. So looks like I will have to slow taper off them too. Blood tests have been arranged to test electrolytes which I know nothing about but apparently do have an effect on the nervous system and heart rate. i will keep you posted and thanks so much for taking the time to help me.
Sarah, thank you so much for your help. As you can see events rather took a turn for the worse today and we had to get the Dr out. He told me to take the benzo and the instant relief was amazing. Have to get some electrolyte blood tests done and then will be discussing how to taper slowly off the benzo as well as the cit!! Why is it easier to taper off using valium? It sounds like you have a lot of experience that could help me. I really appreciate it and wish you luck on your journey to be benzo free. Damn things!!!
So glad to hear that..and glad I was right to take the noctamid....take care