coming off medication

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I thought it would be a good idea for me to just share my thoughts. I have been tapering off my anti-depressant Citalopram with the intention that if this sits well with me, to then discontinue taking it.

I have decided to remain on the very small dose of 2mg until the end of the festive period. And I am starting to feel mildly highly strung, and unsure if this is part of the withdrawal process or if it is what I will have to expect to face with life post-meds. This is an open question I would like to put to you all, and would greatly appreciate your experiences. BUT please do forgive me in advance if I am unable to respond to your questions in return.

As it is only been 5 months since my dx with AS & subsequently starting the meds very soon after, I have no experience of consciously being a man with AS med free......It is a very new experience indeed.

I am not a person that gets angry or has ever had a tantrum as a child, however, internally I get overwhelmed and 'highly strung'. And in recent days I have noticed myself being internally agitated, although is not something I have got anxious about.

It seems that in recent years, my Rhinitis / hayfever Asthma, & Allergic Dermatitis have all got worse, even though I am a very healthy and fit person and have a balanced diet and daily exercise (including in last 3 months a GFCF diet) So my thoughts yesterday turned to the idea that if most of my body is in real need of dampening-down the arousal of my nose, skin & airways, it does seem that my whole being is in a state of over arousal that although stress plays a part, the underlying issues is my AS.

If through my observations there is sufficient enough evidence to proof this fact, I shall have no qualms what-so-ever in being totally convinced that medication has a positive and life affirming contribution to make for me.



Wishing you all well and thanks for hearing me

I would give it a little more time, just to check it is not withdrawal effects.

I came off my antidepressant (venalafaxine) a couple of weeks ago. I noticed quite quickly my mood dropped, but I coped okay. But things got worse, agitated mind, obsessing with compulsive actions, feeling like I would rather be dead, so now I am back on half a tablet. Not quite enough but I feel okay and I will try to stay on just half a dose.

I also have asthma and food intolerances.

Let us know how you get on.

thankx lucy, I do hear that that the mind mimics bad s**t in the withdrawal process and it is wise to try not to be fooled by these false messages, so I will continue with the trial at the small dose until the end of xmas, thankx for your thoughts.

OK off to work now

Definitely taper off gradually. I take 20 mg Lexapro, and if I miss a day, I start to experience withdrawal effects- specifically, intense dizzy spells which wear me out and make me just want to lie down and go to sleep. Good luck with your experiment!

I have noticed that if withdraws start you can sub things out. Best sub is another activity, something you enjoy highly to break your mind from what it wants. Careful, I have seen many withdraws go very very wrong because the person did not perceive how dependent they were.

Anytime you withdraw from medication, you should do it slowly...as your brain has built up a certain tolerance already. You don't
want to experience a sudden "crash" in having the drug cut off abruptly.

Also, make certain that you have plenty of support from other resources...family, friends, school or a job, social activities and whatever else you need to maintain a "happy," positive outlook on life

I went to sleep most of the time, & just ignored the feeling of wanting to take the meds. ( Cut down slowly not just stop... & it took ages on 275mgs of lucys drug. )

When you get off serotonin withdrawal you go through the same thing a smoker would...

I had horrible, terible psychological withdrawal... no physical withdrawal at all, but I wish I had that instead of the psychological withdrawal. I will not go off Celexa for a while... Criss, you shouldn't have to worry too much, 2mg is a very, very, VERY small dose.