Hi,
Around 6 weeks ago I went to the doctors as I was suffereing with some anxiety problems. I asked if there was anything I could take to help with this and was told there are no anxiety medications available but that Citalopram would help curb the anxiety. I told him I wasn't depressed in anyway so was it really the way to go? I decided I would try it. A few weeks into taking them I felt truly awful. I was so depressed it was untrue. I felt sick and dizzy almost constantly.
So I rang the doctor to say what had happened and was told I should stop taking them. So I did. That was about 10 days ago now and I have never felt so depressed in all my life.
I am seriously on the verge on suicide.
2 months ago the only issue I had was a slight anxiety problem and now after a doctors recommendation I am totally broken and on the verge of suicide!
Anybody else had a similar problem?
Will this feeling go away?
Don't know what to do.
Any insight would be brilliant.
Thanks.
Everything passes chief. Suicide is a pretty permanent solution to a temporary problem. Hang in there...
Hi Carl
So sorry to hear you're feeling like this. I've recently struggled coming off citalopram and can empathise with how you're feeling.
My advice would be to get an emergency doctors appointment and see you doctor in person. There may also be mental wellness services in your area that can help which won't have as high a waiting list as counselling for instance. Your doctor may be able to advise of this. If you are employed then your employer may offer a confidential employee support programme, I know that mine offers short-term counselling so this may be an option.
I can understand that it is hard to have hope right now but know that you are not alone, reach out to friends and family for support. This will pass.
Sam
Hi Carl
I'm so sorry you are feeling like this. What kind of anxiety symptoms were you suffering and how many mg were you on? If you didn't really feel depressed with it he could have given you propanalol to deal with the physical effects. 4 years ago I suffered with anxiety but no depression and these worked really good for me for about 6 months. Eventually the effects no longer worked as it was just like a plaster covering the problem. I eventually started to get slightly depressed because of my anxiety. That's when I was put on citalopram.
Even though I wasn't very depressed at that stage, once I'd started on the meds they made me sooo depressed. I stuck with it though and got my life back even though it was a tough few months. The only reason I'm back on here in a similar situation to you now is because I came of them after 4 years and started with anxiety again. I'm now on 3 weeks of taking the medication &
I'm suffering the side effects of the meds at the moment. It sounds like your doctor didn't give you enough time on them or if he did he shouldn't have just told you to just stop taking them. Last time I came off them I tapered off very slowly and I still got some withdrawal symptoms then and they were just as horrendous as starting out on the meds.
I would suggest you go back to the doctors urgently. No one should have to suffer like this. Be honest with the doctor about how you are feeling and see a different doctor if you have lost confidence.
Stay strong. This forum and the people on it are great and will be there for you. Don't give in but go back to docs & get help
A x
Tell the doc you want clonopin, xanax, or valium as a temporary fix while your seratonin levels get back to normal. benzos are a good TEMPORARY fix.
Carl, going cold turkey off any psychiatric drug is totally not advisable and can ruin your health. Your increased anxiety and thoughts of suicide are withdrawal symptoms. Perhaps you need to restart a mild dose of Citalopram, and then wean off it very very slowly. Maybe over the course of a few months.
Thank you all for your quick responce.
My anxiety wasn't extreme. Just used to to get nervous in public.
Excercise and a good balanced diet was all I needed to control it in the past but then winter rolled around so getting out for long walks became more difficult because of the weather. I am not a gym person so wouldn't join a gym so needed something to help take the edge off.
I knew that there would more than likely be some side effects but if I had known just quite how bad it be I wouldn't have started with them.
What makes me feel worse is knowing that a couple of months ago I was fine and I have done this to myself by taking the meds.
Just gonna ride it out now and get back into exercising and eating right. Not gonna be easy as I have never felt this bad but I know I can do it.
Thanks again for all your input.
Hi Carl
Its the medicine ...... it's not you, just side effects of starting the medicine, and probably withdrawl symptoms of stopping them too. This medicine needs to be withdrawn very slowly as it can make you feel very ill.
It always amazes me that doctors dish out these meds without really understanding how they make people feel plus telling someone to just stop is absolutely irresponsible. This is serious medicine, and is brilliant for many - but most people go through hell before feeling better.
ID say these aren't for just a bit of anxiety. Please phone someone, speak to someone if you're feeling like this. These feelings will wear off, but it will take a little time. Just hang on in there, and just remember that this WILL pass and you will be ok.
Please speak to someone ......
K x
I'm so sorry this happened to you. Citalopram is awful. I don't know why these pills are called 'anti' depressants. Depressants is a more apt word. Citalopram did the same to me. Luckily you weren't on them long. They made my anxiety much worse as well. They never kicked in. Some people can't tolerate SSRIs.
In time this will go away. I know that terrible suicidal feeling in the head that only a drug could cause. It's not human. It may take time but it will go. Just take it one day at a time.
Awful things they are.
I will always try to find a natural solution to any future problems and never go near another drug as long as I live.
You need to tell your gp how you feel. Also it may help for you to see a different doctor? Try and stay rational and keep telling your self it's the pills making you feel and think like this. But please go back to uour doc adap! X
I'm too far into the withdrawal now so just gonna ride it out. All the doctor will do is try and put me on some other drug and it's exactly that what got me in this situation in the first place. I'm pretty sure I can get through another few days of this. Started walking again which helps but as soon as I stop I feel terrible again. Maybe I should just keep walking constantly until I feel better? Would also lose the bit of weight I put on over xmas. That's a silver lining!
What has happen to you Carl??