Hi, my mum passed away in 2009, in 2010 I was put on citalopram... the past 6 months I have slowly been coming off citalopram.. on march 18th I stopped them
Altogether, it was relatively easy weaning off them, but now it has been 2 months off them all together and I have horrendous anxiety... to the point I think I'm going through a existential crisis too.
My doctor checked my depression score and it was 4 which is low, but my anxiety is quite high, so I have been taking proponol beta blockers to help with the anxiety symptoms.
We are planning to start trying for a baby in a few months so there's no point going back on citalopram.. because they will just take me off them again (and start the whole process again)
I'm just feeling very fed up of feeling this anxiety, I just need to know that this will end?? I was on citalopram for 7 years so I guess my brain will struggle for a while to balance out.
Get your self a fiddle cube or fiddle spinner. Might want to check out CBT theraphy. Even though they say there is no tie between antidepressants during pregnancy and autism I wouldn't take the chance.
I dont think the dr would take you off citalopram when you are pregnant. They are still given during pregnancy if the need for the tablets outweighs the risks to the baby. There is information on the MIND website that I read when I was pregnant. Everyone is different in how much anxiety they feel and how they cope with it so some people (maybe you?) Really need to take it and therefore its worth the possible risks.
I was on citalopram when I got pregnant first time and I weaned myself off over 3 weeks. I felt absolutely terrible coming off the pills (withdrawal) but once I was over that I felt fine all through my pregnancy. Something about being pregnant meant my serotonin was boosted maybe? As soon as I gave birth the anxiety was back with avengeance. I have avoided them.ever since because of.how.terrible I felt coming off them. Now I am definitely never having anymore babies im taking it again and plan to just stay on.it.. I have had up and down times and have found over the years the only things that seem to raise my serotonin are antidepressants and cardio exercise. Could you join a gym or start running? Before I had my second child I went to the gym 4 times a week and I felt as good as I did on citalopram.
Hi there. Sorry to hear about your anxiety. I was on Citalopram for more then double the time you were.
I stopped taking them cold turkey almost two years ago. The withdrawal symptoms can definitely be delayed.....like you, at first it seemed a bit easy as far as my emotions....but within weeks my anxiety went through the roof.
I did a lot of reading on forums about what others have said they went through. So, I was expecting this high anxiety. They call it neuroemotions. The medication had numbed me for so many years, so, when I stopped....I felt very, very raw and extremely irritable, paranoid, angry.....all kinds of intense emotions. I have a lot of meloncholy.
It does get better over time. My suggestion is that you figure out the best all natural ways that you can calm yourself down. Cut down on coffee, sleep enough hours at night, chamomile tea, vitamins, long walks. I also take Propanolol for blood pressure and anxiety....it helps a lot. I also take Xanax. But, I'm older then you and not at the child bearing years anymore.
i wish you well and hope you can figure out how to get the anxiety under control. Having a child might force you to focus on other wonderful, fun, loving events besides aging.
I also lost my mum in 2009 and my dad too - I know the pain you went through xx
I came off Citalopram last year and am now taking a natural SSRI bought over the counter - 5-HTP and I'm feeling great still. This is something to discuss with your doctor as again, I'm not sure if they'd be safe to take. Worth thinking about though.
When you suffer with anxiety you actually get stuck in a cycle - you become afraid of the anxiety which in turn produces more anxiety, keeping it recycling over and over. Scary / anxious thoughts are a side effect of anxiety - once the anxiety eases, the thoughts will diminish and be put back into perspective, not bothering you anymore. I had lots of scary thoughts, and now I'm better they don't bother me.
Understanding anxiety really helped me - how it comes about, why it stays, its side effects, how to deal with it etc. There's a great website I can send you by private message (can't post the link here or my post will be deleted). Its written by a man who suffered for 10 years and cured himself with no meds. He also talks about getting stuck in a cycle, and how to break out of it. He wrote a book too which I bought.
When you're anxious you naturally try and fight it, but that's the worst thing to do. Fighting it means you tense your body - and anxiety likes tensesness to keep thriving. Some people rush about trying to get rid of anxiety - but you can't. You have to relax the body, even when moving about, letting the anxiety be there, and carrying on with your every day, however uncomfortable it feels. Relaxing gives the body a different message ... your relearning no be unafraid of it. Its not easy and its not an overnight fix. Takes months. Anyway, the website and book talks about it more in detail. It really is a great read.
At the moment your body is sensitised - meaning its on alert all the time, and you have to desensitise your body, bringing it back to normal. That's done by this relaxing the body which slowly soothes the nerves.
Hi Kate, I am so sorry to hear about your mum and dad xxxx it's never easy.
Thank you so much for your thorough reply, I feel so much better for reading it.
I've had a better day today, I think my proponol have kicked in.
I have seen 5 HTP in holland and barratt, I asked my nurse about it but she knew nothing of it, I think I'll ask my doctor instead, as I like the sound of it.
I never knew all this information about anxiety! I thought I was going crazy!
Tomorrow I have the day off, so I'm going to see how I get on, I'm planning on watching a funny film and doing some painting.
Every time a negative thought has gone into my head I have squashed it straight away. X
Hi Sarah thank you for your reply, I have started doing yoga, but I do think some actual cardio could help! I'm just not much of an exercising person, but it must be worth it!
My sister was taken off antidepressants when she got pregnant but because of her mental health which went down hill they put her back on a low dose.
I'm a bit unsure what antidepressants do to an unborn child anyway, I need to do some research. Thank you for your support đ
Hi Mari, yes my sister is sending me some CBT books and I'm starting counselling next week- fingers crossed because I'm desperately wanting to feel normal
That good to know. Replace that negative loop with positive affermations. Take positive sayings and post all over your house then say them over and over every day. You can do this and you will get back to normal!
I found it hard to find in my research what ssris actually do to a baby. I know when taken in final few months that theres a chance baby can experience withdrawal symptoms when born and initially increases risk of miscarriage.I was already on citalopram when I found out I was pregnant (total shock as drs said I was infertile!) So went into a bit of a panic not wanting to risk anything which might harm my baby. But drs told me.recently it can be taken during pregnancy so I dont know... I guess it depends on how much you have to have it whether you take it during pregnancy. Your sister obviously had to whereas I think because id suffered anxiety for years without it previously I knew id be ok.
Yoga sounds good. Do u find it relaxes you? I keep thinking about doing yoga, even bought a dvd which is still in the wrapper! But yes if you can do some cardio even just fast walking itll make you feel better as exercise raises your serotonin
Make the most of your time when you can. Now Ive got 2 babies I dont have time to go to gym anymore :D x
I will definitely do some research then gives me something to focus on.
Today is a good day, I wonder what tomo will bring.
Yeah yoga is great! There's a link I would love to show you where anxiety stress trauma lie in a particular muscle. Is there a private message bit on this website?
Yeah I'll make most of my free time, I want my head to be straight before I have children, I'm 33 so I need to get cracking!
Another anxiety đŠ
These proponols are great, I hope I don't have much withdrawals once I come off these too.
Know that SSRI's cause neurogenisis meaning they sitmulate new nerve growth in the brain. This drug crosses blood brain barrier and also crosses umbilical cord and placenta. There is no way to know if the new neuro circuits are normal pathways. The baby's brain is developing so would introducing a drug that can alter those neuro pathways a good idea?
Doesnt sound good! Thats why I felt lucky I could do without them. Im sure the risks are very small though if people do need to keep taking them or drs wouldn't say they could be taken during pregnancy
5-HTP works the same way as a prescribed SSRI does and is apparently than St John Wort. You can't take them is you take SSRI's.
I can recommend a really good book on 5-HTP if you want ..... explains what it is, how it works in the body, symptoms on low serotonin etc etc. Interesting.
Yep - not many people do know about anxiety. So much happens with your body - fear, thoughts, physical symptoms, depression - you just end up going round in circles trying to find an answer. I read up on it loads and began to understand about it. When you're in the midst of suffering with anxiety its hard to make head or tail of it, but when you're better you can look at it in a different way and see it for what it really is.
Laughing is good and keepin busy ..... but always in a relaxed way. Negative thoughts are again part of anxiety, and letting them be there, let them build up and die away then following it up with a positive thought is good. You slowly give your body the message the positive thoughts.
Hi angel, I'm in the same situation too. Have massive anxiety too. We are also trying for a baby and my doctor was happy to put me on these, 10mg. So I think you can take there's when pregnant. 1 in 10 women take them whilst pregnant and there isn't any proof of risks. Are you feeling any better?