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Created in 2008, Phoenix Rising is the largest and oldest forum dedicated to furthering the understanding of, and finding treatments for, complex chronic illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia, long COVID, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and allied diseases.
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Hello Skycloud,
Yes I am also doing well, I did get insomnia a few weeks ago but I got a few sleeping tablets and they got me through it (think I cut too much off the tablet).
When I saw my doctor I told him I was tapering off the cit and how I was doing it, he didn't agree with me because he said you can't be accurate cutting them. He and told me to drop to 10mg from 15mg overnight! And then carry on for two weeks then just take about three a week after that, I told him I already feel ill with M. E. And didn't want to feel anymore ill. So I just ignored his advice, I will do my way by cutting the tablet like you. I am also just down to about 12 mg and will stick with this for 3 to 4 weeks.
The only other symptom I had early on was a slight headache but I could get rid of it easily with my usual painkillers. I am happy with how it is going and looking forward to being completely off.
Let me know how get on, good luck.
Regards
Jessie
Hi Jemima, It's difficult - we had real reasons for taking the tablets in the first place, so I don't think we can be too hard on ourselves. Good luck with coming offYes. I've gained over 30lbs in 3 years on Mirtazapine. I'm currently slowly weaning off it and can't wait to be free of it. I wish I never took them long term.
Hi Skycloud,I'm with you on the feeling ill anyway from the ME and not wanting to feel any worse. He didn't seem to have a plan for how to get from 10mg to 0mg, but didn't seem worried about accuracy, pill cutting or making solutions. He's happy for me to come off it as I like but I'm not sure if he's just humouring me on how I'm choosing to do it. I don't think he thinks any of this is necessary but does take on board that I can be unusually sensitive to changes in meds. He's keeping my prescription going for as along as it takes. Basically supportive.
Good luck to you too, Jessie, and let me know how you get on too
Hello Skycloud,Hi @Jessie 107
I'm doing fairly ok at the moment, thanks for asking.
I'm sorry you're having such trouble sleeping, that just makes everything worse doesn't it.
I wonder if your brain hasn't adjusted to the level of citalopram you are on, I know that I had insomnia when I first dropped, from alternating 20mg and 15mg each day as my GP advised. It was during my first 3 weeks. It felt like I was 'wired but tired' and that was why I had trouble getting to sleep, and didn't sleep so well when I did. I also felt kind of restless and energetic in an odd way during the day, and found it hard to relax and switch off. Does that sound anything like you?
I know that I have insomnia and feel wired but tired when I overdo things as part of my ME picture too but this seemed different. It was why I wanted to go more slowly with my reductions.
With my insomnia I largely put up with it but also worked hard at my sleep hygiene, including settling to sleep a earlier than usual at 9.30pm in case I was becoming overtired. I also reduced light levels in the bed room in stages for about half an hour before settling to sleep. I think it all helped a bit but I can't be sure.
If it were me I would probably want to put off reducing again for longer and not drop straight to 10mg from 12mg. I read through the information again on the survivingantidepressants.org that Caledonia posted on page 1. I'm thinking of switching to dissolved tablet solution by syringe soon to see how I find that method. It does seem fiddly.
Jessie, this could settle soon, your brain may just need more time to adjust. I hope so. Keep letting me know how you're doing. We will crack this you know
Hello Skycloud,
I really don't know if it is down to coming off the citalopram or just my sleep being altered by M. E.
Hello Skycloud,it's so tricky, isn't it @Jessie 107 . I've had a reoccurrence very recently of muscle spasms that I haven't had in a while and did wondered if citalopram was involved but I think it's probably the ME and an electrolyte issue . I've had some bad nights from them when I've overdone it, but over all my sleep is good enough.
My mood is ok too so that's a positive for both of us.
I'm sorry you're still not getting enough sleep; has it improved any at all? I'm sorry to that you're not able to do the walking that you used to. I'm sitting on the fence about getting a scooter actually. I really don't get out much and would like to more. I sometimes use a wheelchair for hospital visits and things like that. I can't walk far - gently for 10 minutes tops but I'd suffer for it. I think I'd get out more with a scooter. What kind do you use? Are you happy with it?
I think my level of function is a 3 maybe 4 going by the scale they use on this site. I can concentrate well for a few hours a day, and be gently active for maybe upto 3 hours across the day on a good day? I find it hard to say and it varies.
I'm about to try reducing to 10 mg too, from Monday. If you decide that 4 weeks from your last reduction isn't long enough (apparently it can take 6 weeks to adapt, but I don't remember now where I read that), I can hang on and 'keep you company' if you'd like
Hello Skycloud,@Jessie 107
Dropping to 10 ml today too! Good luck to you too with the tapering, and I hope your appointment is helpful.
Thanks for the reply about your scooter - I'm really coming round to getting one. I'll look yours up.
Yes I was doing very well on 10 mg and was sleeping really well and I generally felt ok.
So a few days ago I dropped to 7.5 mg and I have felt a bit all over the place emotionally, also every time I drop I get the dreaded insomnia back.
I am hoping I will stabilise after a while of being on this dose until I adjust again.
I do have alot of stress at the moment which is ongoing so I know this is not helping but for me I do feel abit worse than I did on the 10 mg. I was reading that it gets harder once you get to the lower doses than it is when you first start.
Anyway I hope you get on ok, we are all different. Do let me know how you are when you drop down.
Regards
Jessie