Cipralex quandary

[lostmyway]

Hi

I have been on this drug a long time. My GP said to take a tablets on alternate days eg take on monday, not take it on tuesday etc.  I have been roughly doing this now i believe for getting close to 2 months. Anybody have any ideas how long this is going to take before i can finally come off these things? Im fed up of having to take the things.

Regards

[lostmyway]

**Update**

I am getting headaches, nausea.  Also getting increasingly more agitated, and short tempered at times (which i do not like very much).  The drug was used as a mood stabiliser , so now my brain is going round like a shirt in a tumble dryer and doesn't know what's hit it.  These drugs are diabolical to come off, and can say with all honesty that I won't be going on them ever again.  Its ok for GPs to just write out a prescription like its the answer to everything, but it really is not.  Not surprisingly, my anxiety and feelings of sadness etc have returned.  My sternum gets very tight when i get stressed and anxious, irritable etc so I use that as a sign to tell me things are not okay.  I was very depressed today and not much helped ('cept a shower).  The headaches are frequent and don't go away easily.

Sick of this.  Wish it would just go away and die.

[Amanda_George]

I've never taken Cipralex but it sounds awful to come off!    Is your GP going to refer you to a psychiatrist to find a better one for you?   

[lostmyway]

It is a nightmare.  My GP says that my problems are due to my personality and so on. I replied " fair enough but that doesn't really help me, does it?"
The withdrawal effects are still persisting.  The mornings and early afternoons are the worst.  Been on Cipralex for 8 years so I realised it wasn't going to be an easy transition.  i weaned off them for 3 months or so before deciding to stop altogether.  I am hoping it will get easier but right now it definitely isn't.  I just seem to be in a situation right now that i cant get out of, and I really hate it.

I have fatigue, headache, nausea, anxiety, depressed feelings, sadness, feeling hopeless not knowing where to turn.  I am out of work so don't see anyone during the day , and don't have many friends i can truly rely on to be there when i need them.. So yeah I'm really not enjoying myself right now.  I feel this drug suppressed everything and since I am not taking it any more, all of those things are now coming back.  Idk what to do except hang in there.

[SteveW]

I am sorry that you are having such a bad time. Unfortunately reactions like yours are pretty common in the Cipralex group. There is standard advice on intolerable withdrawal symptoms. That is to return to the 20 mg a day ? you were on before, then making a second attempt at withdrawal later. There are two more alternatives. The first is Cipralex Liquid. This contains 1 mg Escitalopram per drop. You could increase your dose until your symptoms subside and then drop 1 mg at a time as you feel able.

The other alternative is to make a switch to Fluoxetine. This might seem pointless but people seem to get less withdrawal symptoms when they try and come off Fluoxetine. There is a chemical reason for this which I won't go into. Fluoxetine also comes in a liquid form.

I think the liquid versions are more expensive than pills\capsules. This could pose a problem with a GP. Hope things improve for you soon.

[lostmyway]

Actually , I was on 5mg a day of Cipralex.   I took it every other day (day on, day off) for about 3 months.  To be honest, the last thing I want to do is go onto another SSRI.  I also gained weight when I was on it, and consequently need to lose weight.  I was once on Seroxat when i was 19, and Paroxetine later but that was horrid.  It will be about 2 weeks on the 16th February since I stopped taking them.  I hope it'll subside.  Was wondering was there anything else I can take to abate the withdrawal effects?  To be honest GPs annoy me with their 'advice'.

[SteveW]

There are over the counter things that might help your symptoms, although it is quite likely you have already visited this area. I have used Caffeine tablets to achieve basic wakefulness and an approximation of energy. My local supermarket sells them. Nausea should be reducible. Cyclizine is OTC and well established as effective in Nausea. You'll know that 8 mg Codeine 500 mg Paracetamol tablets are the strongest pain killer you can just buy.

Anything more fundamental is difficult because what is actually happening isn't really known. SSRI withdrawal isn't one of my specialist interests but I know someone for who it is. He has told me in the past that there are cases on record where withdrawal lasted over a year. He also insists that the literature has examples of people who had to be admitted to hospital, medical not psychiatric hospital.

I can see why you would be reluctant to touch an SSRI again. But you are describing the symptoms of depression returning. My own choice would be 2 or 3 drops of Cipralex until I felt better and then gradual reduction to zero. Or possibly the decision that I still need an anti-depressant of a different chemical group.

Decided to ring my friend. He didn't have any symptom relief suggestions. He told me the drug companies seem to agree that symptoms don't usually last more than a month. But he did tell me he has read a letter to the psychiatric press claiming an 18 month withdrawal period. I hope you tend towards the month.

[lostmyway]

18 months?? You're kidding right? The Cyclizine and Caffeine tablets are a possibility (Pro Plus maybe?).  I have been taking regular Paracetamol recently.  I had reduced it slowly over 3 months so I definitely didn't go cold turkey with this drug (silly thing to do).  The morning and early afternoon are definitely the worst times.  Society thesedays has become more isolated as people are communicating over electronic media.  Although I am introverted I also like to socialise.  Facebook and Twitter etc don't really do it, although it does have its uses.  The nausea isnt all the time, it comes and goes.. feeling queasy , not vomiting or anything like that.  In the meantime i could try Cyclizine and pro-plus + paracetamol and see what happens.  I hope it helps.  There also seems to be a certain amount of lightheadedness involved too which is kinda annoying.  I seem to be very intolerant of the stupidity and ignorance of others when I am in this transient state but that comes with the territory I guess.

[SteveW]

I am afraid 18 months isn't a joke. My friend has a couple of research degrees like me and can find his way around a psychiatric journal. If he says 18 months that is good enough for me. I am sure that is exceptional. When the drug companies say a month clears things for most they may be underestimating a bit but probably not wildly.

When it comes to long term effects you might like to look at this link.

   https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/mad-in-america/201106/now-antidepressant-induced-chronic-depression-has-name-tardive-dysphoria

I have an open mind at the moment.

You wont do yourself any harm on the drug combination you suggest. I really wish you luck.

[lostmyway]

Yeah it's true that when you study at higher education, research becomes almost second nature.  I have been studying with the Open University since October 2013 and am currently doing level 2 study ( i may do level 3, its a possibility).  It's computing and IT (networking pathway).   Postgraduate level is good although I'm not sure if I truly need it.   2 months maybe a realistic timespan to work with, and hope to feel 'normal' in the not-too-distant future.  Studying has been a good distraction (sometimes frustrating due to the material.)  So despite what is going on right now, I am trying to better myself.  I passed level one (CertHE level), and am progressing to DipHE level ( level two).  I really don't see it as a waste of time at all, though some cynics might think that it is. 

PS maybe I have digressed from the subject matter a little, but we all need to do that sometimes.

[lostmyway]

**Update**

I still feel like hell.  So irritable, and angry, tired and anxious.  I hope this goes away soon as I can't cope with anything.  My mother broke the button on the kettle (shes kinda heavy handed).   I told her to stop and looked at me like I had 3 heads. I cant cope with anything and frankly wish i was dead.  Nearly 45 still at home no job no GF no friends no nothing, so whats the point of it all? Maybe somebody can explain it to me as I sure as hell cannot..........

[Amanda_George]

I'm not a doc, I'm just saying this from personal experience so please see your GP about this and ask their opinion, but have you had your vitamin levels tested?  Especially B12?  Do you have a psychiatrist you trust that can help you with your feelings while you are coming off the meds?  There might be something they can prescribe to help your mood is all... might be worth a try?   

[lostmyway]

No I don't have a psychiatrist. I could go to Holland and Barrett and get vitamin B complex tablets I guess.  I have little faith in the medical profession, unfortunately.  Prob is my life never really got started, and am feeling its a little late in the day to be worrying about it now, and that makes me feel.. well...... not good at all.

[Amanda_George]

Maybe get a multivitamin at the same time as the Vit B complex?

If you could start your adult life again and you were healthy, what would you choose to do?  Is there anything that you could start now and take it from there?  Don't give up on yourself yet, lostmyway... it's never too late to start afresh with something you feel passionate about!   

[lostmyway]

Well anything worthwhile takes a long time to do, and that's the truth of it.  I honestly don't know.  I want to complete my degree and see where that takes me.