Coming off SSRI's |
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If you're considering coming off SSRI's, you MUST discuss this with your Doctor or other medical professionals first. This is my personal journey and am only sharing my experience with you.
I have read that staying on medication for at least a year will give you a better chance from having a relapse. Speak to your Doctor before coming off medication and decide on a withdrawal programme. Below is my experience on withdrawing from this type of medication.
Do not suddenly stop taking your medication - you will feel very ill. This medication needs to be withdrawn very slowly - over many months. The slower, the better. I have read some doctors recommend stopping abruptly which I don't feel is wise - but before going against their wishes you could show them my withdrawal programme and discuss first before trying.
I have come off these meds twice. The first time I withdrew I reduced by halving my dose each time spending around a month on each dose - it was still too quick for me. I still had withdrawal symptoms which felt a bit unpleasant, but I coped ok. The symptoms I experienced were nausea, headaches, heady feeling, tight band around my head and brain zaps (brain zaps are weird and only lasted seconds - they're not painful in any way, but just a strange feeling which reminded me of when a fly gets zapped in one of those outside blue lights).
After a year I felt the need to restart meds, then stayed on them for another year before reducing again. This time I did it even slower, spending around a year doing so ..... and this time around I didn't have any withdrawal effects. Not one.
Second time I reduced my 20mg by 5mg at a time. I bought a pill cutter and cut my tablet into 1/4's, making each section 5mg. I started by taking 15mg (3 pieces of the tablet) and I stayed on this for around 1 - 2 months, before moving onto 10mg and eventually down to 5mg, each time staying on each dose for about a month or two. Lastly I crushed the remaining 5mg as it was too small to cut, and I took half of the powder making it 2.5mg and stayed on that for about a month or so, before again halving the amount to 1.25mg (it was a few grains on the end of my finger). Then I stopped. This whole process took about a year.
No withdrawal.
In summary I did 20mg / 15mg / 10mg / 5mg / 2.5mg / 1.25mg / 0mg - stay on each reduction at least a month or 2 or until any withdrawal symptoms have stopped (if you have any) before moving onto the next reduction dose.
It might seem like a long drawn out process, but if you want to avoid withdrawal symptoms, or at least lessen them greatly, then the longer the better.
Some people experience worse withdrawal than others, and some have different symptoms.
Remember - DO NOT STOP YOUR MEDICATION SUDDENLY - you will feel very ill.
This is my personal way that I withdrew. Please see your doctor.
An online webpage I found re Tapering off Citalopram Safely Without Side Effects may be helpful to you too.
I have read that staying on medication for at least a year will give you a better chance from having a relapse. Speak to your Doctor before coming off medication and decide on a withdrawal programme. Below is my experience on withdrawing from this type of medication.
Do not suddenly stop taking your medication - you will feel very ill. This medication needs to be withdrawn very slowly - over many months. The slower, the better. I have read some doctors recommend stopping abruptly which I don't feel is wise - but before going against their wishes you could show them my withdrawal programme and discuss first before trying.
I have come off these meds twice. The first time I withdrew I reduced by halving my dose each time spending around a month on each dose - it was still too quick for me. I still had withdrawal symptoms which felt a bit unpleasant, but I coped ok. The symptoms I experienced were nausea, headaches, heady feeling, tight band around my head and brain zaps (brain zaps are weird and only lasted seconds - they're not painful in any way, but just a strange feeling which reminded me of when a fly gets zapped in one of those outside blue lights).
After a year I felt the need to restart meds, then stayed on them for another year before reducing again. This time I did it even slower, spending around a year doing so ..... and this time around I didn't have any withdrawal effects. Not one.
Second time I reduced my 20mg by 5mg at a time. I bought a pill cutter and cut my tablet into 1/4's, making each section 5mg. I started by taking 15mg (3 pieces of the tablet) and I stayed on this for around 1 - 2 months, before moving onto 10mg and eventually down to 5mg, each time staying on each dose for about a month or two. Lastly I crushed the remaining 5mg as it was too small to cut, and I took half of the powder making it 2.5mg and stayed on that for about a month or so, before again halving the amount to 1.25mg (it was a few grains on the end of my finger). Then I stopped. This whole process took about a year.
No withdrawal.
In summary I did 20mg / 15mg / 10mg / 5mg / 2.5mg / 1.25mg / 0mg - stay on each reduction at least a month or 2 or until any withdrawal symptoms have stopped (if you have any) before moving onto the next reduction dose.
It might seem like a long drawn out process, but if you want to avoid withdrawal symptoms, or at least lessen them greatly, then the longer the better.
Some people experience worse withdrawal than others, and some have different symptoms.
Remember - DO NOT STOP YOUR MEDICATION SUDDENLY - you will feel very ill.
This is my personal way that I withdrew. Please see your doctor.
An online webpage I found re Tapering off Citalopram Safely Without Side Effects may be helpful to you too.