Hi, I started reducing my 10mg dose of citalopram about a month ago. Eventually got down to 5mg every 3 days. I have felt so low and very anxious I was given amitriptyline as an alternative, but I don't think this helped from an anxiety point of view.
My worry is now I have reduced will I have side effects taking 10mg each day to start off with? Also how long do they take to kick in. I know it's still in my system a bit as I get dizzy on the third day during withdrawl. Took 10mg today and felt fine.
I need medication for life as I always feel bad when not taking anything. However when I came off meds over a year ago I tried a natural SSRI called 5-HTP which needs to be taken with l-tyrosine. Both can be bought from Holland & Barrett (if you're in the UK) and you need to take them both. Read a book called 5-HTP The Natural Way to Overcome Depression, Obesity by Michael T Murray ........ it's a really interesting read.
You need to be off SSRI's completely before starting 5-HTP as they mustn't be taken together.
Other than that, if you're restarting meds and still taking 5mg every 3 days, just start taking 5mg every 2 days for a while then increase to every day, and the same with 10mg until you're back up to your full dose. Or maybe take 10mg every other day or similar. This way the side effects will be less.
Thanks I will have a look. I've taken 10mg for the last 2 days and feel really sick might miss tomorrow. I'm going out anyway and might want a few drinks!!
I have received my copy of the 5-HTP book and starting to read it. Must say very interesting indeed. Thank you for the advice, hopefully in 3/4 months when I start reducing I shall be ready.
Hey that's great! I'm always delving into the book - it makes such a lot of sense. Ooh are you thinking of reducing then? Yes, always good to have a back up plan. When I started the 5-HTP I felt flat of course, but started to feel good. It was also good to feel normal and not have any side effects at all, and my head felt much cleared. Only one downside I found though - I became very emotional and would cry at the stupidest thing lol.
Funny you should say that but, I have not cried since Cita kicked in last November. I soon realised that this was part of the "sticking plaster" and confirmed it when we watched "It's a Wonderful Life" (other films are available!) and did not shed one tear! The first time in watching this or other weepies since I don't know when (58 now).
Being of Welsh hermitage it is the norm to get emotional in a singy, non violent, loving kinda way so, I have some trepidations about comiing off!
Will it be "Becky Falls" of "Niagra Falls"?
(Becky Falls is a small run of boulders on Dartmoor that sometimes has enough water - other falls are available, of course!)
Yes the meds dumb down emotions, though I do cry still if feeling really emotional but nothing like I was when I came off the meds - only had to see a fly get squished and I'd bawl lol.