weaning of the meds
HIya, Im off the meds!!!
Ive been off cipralex for 11 days now and all is good apart from these strange 'headrushy' things i keep having. It is not like im dizzy, its more like a rush. I have them more of an evening. Im assuming that it is a side effect of coming of the med but now im thinking that surely it should hav passed by now! if anything they are getting more intense:eek:
Does anyone else hav exp of coming of meds and side effects??
Cheers
Tx
Answers:
Hi, Haven't a clue what that med of yours is, but when I came off anti-depressants it took a looooong time to get over all side - effects. In fact, it was only after having homeopathic treatment a couple of years later that I'd say it's all gone. Took about 4yrs all in.
Not saying that to depress you, just that it could take a bit longer for your body to readjust. Hope it's a lot quicker than me though!!!
Answers:
Really!!! 4 years!
I used to take it for anxiety and panic attacks and stuff-mild depression.I went to the nurse today to check my bp and it was fine. She said that I shouldnt be having any side effects now-ive only been off them 12 days!
She suggested that i was experiencing panic attacks but.....i really dont think she is right. I used to get them and they werent like this.
The thing that is not helping me is that i cant explain properly what it feels like!!
Thanks!
Tx
Answers:
Hi Trinity,
I will try and help you, but the drug cypralex in not in my medicine book. Have you spelt it wrong or is there another name on the pack.
Answers:
Hiya Gilliebean. It is called escitolopram (sp??).
Thanks!
Tx
Answers:
Hi T
The longer you are on anti depressants the longer it takes to come off them. I was put on Cipramill but weaned myself off them after about 4 months as I hated the side effects.
What you describe sounds a bit like what I had, I had a perculiar side effect tho that everytime I yawned (which was a lot on those tablets), my facial muscles wanted to yawn again! very strange, but I did get dizzy spells and headaches when coming off!
What I did tho was at the end just take 1 every couple of months just as a little crutch now and then.
hope this helps a bit
Love
Maria
Answers:
Cheers Maria!
I too had the yawning side effect when I first started Cipralex! What a weird side effect to hav tho!!!
Tx
Answers:
Trinity,
The drug, as you know is an anti depressant. They don't take effect until at least 10 days, and the real benefit takes up to 6 months. I don't know how you came off them, but they are addictive - despite what the doctor says. Try gradually (and I mean gradually) reducing the dose a month at a time. That is, take 3/4 tablet for 4 weeks, then 1/2 for 4 weeks, then 1/4 for 4 weeks. After that, your body will no longer be relying on the drug. You should be then able to just carry them around with you for however long you feel necessary and just take them in an emergency.
Answers:
Hiya Gilliebean,
I came off them gradually.
I was taking 20ml once per day at first.
Then I started taking 20ml every other day for about 7-14 days.
Then i cut them down to 10 per day which was fine-no probs.
Then I started having 10 every other day. I did this for about 14 days. Thats when I started to hav these head rushes-it was always the night on my 'other' day. Like my body was starting to 'notice' it hadnt had its medicine.
So a good friend suggested me taking 5 mil every day rather than 10 ml every other day and that was much better.
after about 14 days I started to do 5 ml everyother day. I did this for about 7 days.
Then 1 everyother day for about 6 days, then 1 every 3 days.
I planned to do 1 in 4 days but when I got to my fourth day I just never took it again.
Compared to what you said , it seems that I have come off them very quickly BUT I have done it ALOT slower than my GP advised. He reckoned it would only take me about 4 weeks to come off them!!!!
Tx
Answers:
Dear Trinity,
Well done for stopping the anti depressants and I really wish you well and hope you keep going.
I have helped others through coming off such things before with reiki etc, I suggest you take any help you can to make things easier.
I am afraid it can take a while for these things to leave you totally, and symptoms of withdrawel can vary and be unpleasant. I had a lady come to me and announce that sghe had been taking so many things for so long none of it worked any more and she was worse off for it all, not better...so she decided to stop it all at once and wouldn't consider coming off slowly as her Doc advised. I tend to like to have clients go along with DR's but I had to help her, she went through hell for a few weeks, physically and emotionally, even her pee was fluorescent!
But but she got through and after a month or so she felt better than she had for years..of course she then sought to holistically solve the problems she had had for which she took so much meds and anti depresants and it helped.
Good Luck,
Hal
Answers:
Thanks Hal!
Ive feeling fantastic! (apart from the head rushes) but to be honest, the head rushes are such a small price to pay compared to being off my AD's!
Ive got laods more energy-I dont even slepp in the day now!!!
Tx
Answers:
Hi Trinity,
I am so glad you are doing so well and feeling better, you will continue to improve, I think it is good to concentrate on enjoying yourself and not worry about the not so good bits.
The sort of advice I offer to ladies in your situation is varied as everyone is different, but some things are helpful in numerous ways;
exercise - helps your body get good at releasing chemicals which make you feel good naturally.
Meditation for relaxation.
Reiki - healing, your body still needs to heal.
Eat a really good diet, pine kernels are good for avoiding depression and can help to prevent furthew bouts.
Best of Luck and well done,
Hal
Answers:
Cheers Hal!
Im gracing the gym with my presence next Tues for the first time in AGES!!!
I agree that a good diet helps-it amazing how much better I feel cutting out sugar and alcohol (but not in an overboard kinda way). If I dont deny myself anything I dont miss it, and in turn generally dont even want it!!!!
Brown rice is excellent for depression aswell. Hmmmmmmm!!!
As Ive said in another forum (or is it in this one??!) I actually WANT to get out of bed now-before I could have cried when it was time to get up and would go back to bed asap! (like when I took my daughter to school) [&o]
No way to live I cant tell you.
Now I feel F.I.N.E!!!!!!
Tx
Oh, just re read your post- I used to try and meditate but I cant really get the hang of it! But there again I dont suppose it is very good if you are knackered (which I was ALL of the time) I just used to go to sleep.
But, now im feeling A OK ill give it another go I think!;)
Answers:
Hi Trinity,
This is a good recipe for a meal which is full of things to keep depression and bugs away and will keep you strong and help make brown rice etc tastier.
You need:
Basmati rice(white)
Brown rice
Lentils
pine kernels
spinach
mushrooms and or any veg you enjoy
onions and garlic
green cardomons and cinamon sticks
tumeric powder
curry powder
bayleaves
Make the rice first, i prefer to make pilau which means it is baked in the oven, I wash the rice lots and put whit and brown together, add a handful of lentils and cinamon and cardomon, put in a dish, cover with foil and bake it.
Then fry garlic and a few mustard seeds in oil, as they brown and pop add a whole, finely chopped and washed onion and a little salt, fry, as onions dry, each time add a little water, allow onions to gradually soak up water until you have a sort of mulchy, onion soup sauce, then add curry powder, paprika, whatever you like.
|When you have a nice thick curry sauce, add finely chopped baby spinach and mushrooms and cook. When they are cooked put in fresh and chopped coriander.
In another pan, roast the pine kernels until golden, then chuck them in the sauce and cook.
Then chuck in your lovely rice and fry it up and eat it.
This is also a dam good recipe if you have a cold, you might chuck in a few chilies too! Every thing in there will do you lots of good and is tasty.
Also, if you are a meat eater, add lamb if you get run down or low, this recipe really does pick you up, I like it with a tomato and coriander salad.
Hal
Answers:
Also, to help cleanse your system;
Lots of pinapple and drink cranbury juice.
If you can stomach it rhubarb is good for cleansing, shop a few sticks up, boil in small amount of water, add ginger if you like it as it is good for blood, and no too much sugar(honey if you are a good girl - I am not!)
Dates are also good to pick you up and good for sex drive!
Answers:
Hal, thank you so much for your post *says Trin with a mouthful of dates;)*
The rice dish and the rhubarb sound deeelish.
Will it make a difference if I just used brown rice instead of the basmati white do u think??
Mind u a little bit of white rice aint gonna kill me is it! (unless i hav a car crash on the way to the supermarket to buy it!)
Cheers
Tx
Ive been off cipralex for 11 days now and all is good apart from these strange 'headrushy' things i keep having. It is not like im dizzy, its more like a rush. I have them more of an evening. Im assuming that it is a side effect of coming of the med but now im thinking that surely it should hav passed by now! if anything they are getting more intense:eek:
Does anyone else hav exp of coming of meds and side effects??
Cheers
Tx
Answers:
Hi, Haven't a clue what that med of yours is, but when I came off anti-depressants it took a looooong time to get over all side - effects. In fact, it was only after having homeopathic treatment a couple of years later that I'd say it's all gone. Took about 4yrs all in.
Not saying that to depress you, just that it could take a bit longer for your body to readjust. Hope it's a lot quicker than me though!!!
Answers:
Really!!! 4 years!
I used to take it for anxiety and panic attacks and stuff-mild depression.I went to the nurse today to check my bp and it was fine. She said that I shouldnt be having any side effects now-ive only been off them 12 days!
She suggested that i was experiencing panic attacks but.....i really dont think she is right. I used to get them and they werent like this.
The thing that is not helping me is that i cant explain properly what it feels like!!
Thanks!
Tx
Answers:
Hi Trinity,
I will try and help you, but the drug cypralex in not in my medicine book. Have you spelt it wrong or is there another name on the pack.
Answers:
Hiya Gilliebean. It is called escitolopram (sp??).
Thanks!
Tx
Answers:
Hi T
The longer you are on anti depressants the longer it takes to come off them. I was put on Cipramill but weaned myself off them after about 4 months as I hated the side effects.
What you describe sounds a bit like what I had, I had a perculiar side effect tho that everytime I yawned (which was a lot on those tablets), my facial muscles wanted to yawn again! very strange, but I did get dizzy spells and headaches when coming off!
What I did tho was at the end just take 1 every couple of months just as a little crutch now and then.
hope this helps a bit
Love
Maria
Answers:
Cheers Maria!
I too had the yawning side effect when I first started Cipralex! What a weird side effect to hav tho!!!
Tx
Answers:
Trinity,
The drug, as you know is an anti depressant. They don't take effect until at least 10 days, and the real benefit takes up to 6 months. I don't know how you came off them, but they are addictive - despite what the doctor says. Try gradually (and I mean gradually) reducing the dose a month at a time. That is, take 3/4 tablet for 4 weeks, then 1/2 for 4 weeks, then 1/4 for 4 weeks. After that, your body will no longer be relying on the drug. You should be then able to just carry them around with you for however long you feel necessary and just take them in an emergency.
Answers:
Hiya Gilliebean,
I came off them gradually.
I was taking 20ml once per day at first.
Then I started taking 20ml every other day for about 7-14 days.
Then i cut them down to 10 per day which was fine-no probs.
Then I started having 10 every other day. I did this for about 14 days. Thats when I started to hav these head rushes-it was always the night on my 'other' day. Like my body was starting to 'notice' it hadnt had its medicine.
So a good friend suggested me taking 5 mil every day rather than 10 ml every other day and that was much better.
after about 14 days I started to do 5 ml everyother day. I did this for about 7 days.
Then 1 everyother day for about 6 days, then 1 every 3 days.
I planned to do 1 in 4 days but when I got to my fourth day I just never took it again.
Compared to what you said , it seems that I have come off them very quickly BUT I have done it ALOT slower than my GP advised. He reckoned it would only take me about 4 weeks to come off them!!!!
Tx
Answers:
Dear Trinity,
Well done for stopping the anti depressants and I really wish you well and hope you keep going.
I have helped others through coming off such things before with reiki etc, I suggest you take any help you can to make things easier.
I am afraid it can take a while for these things to leave you totally, and symptoms of withdrawel can vary and be unpleasant. I had a lady come to me and announce that sghe had been taking so many things for so long none of it worked any more and she was worse off for it all, not better...so she decided to stop it all at once and wouldn't consider coming off slowly as her Doc advised. I tend to like to have clients go along with DR's but I had to help her, she went through hell for a few weeks, physically and emotionally, even her pee was fluorescent!
But but she got through and after a month or so she felt better than she had for years..of course she then sought to holistically solve the problems she had had for which she took so much meds and anti depresants and it helped.
Good Luck,
Hal
Answers:
Thanks Hal!
Ive feeling fantastic! (apart from the head rushes) but to be honest, the head rushes are such a small price to pay compared to being off my AD's!
Ive got laods more energy-I dont even slepp in the day now!!!
Tx
Answers:
Hi Trinity,
I am so glad you are doing so well and feeling better, you will continue to improve, I think it is good to concentrate on enjoying yourself and not worry about the not so good bits.
The sort of advice I offer to ladies in your situation is varied as everyone is different, but some things are helpful in numerous ways;
exercise - helps your body get good at releasing chemicals which make you feel good naturally.
Meditation for relaxation.
Reiki - healing, your body still needs to heal.
Eat a really good diet, pine kernels are good for avoiding depression and can help to prevent furthew bouts.
Best of Luck and well done,
Hal
Answers:
Cheers Hal!
Im gracing the gym with my presence next Tues for the first time in AGES!!!
I agree that a good diet helps-it amazing how much better I feel cutting out sugar and alcohol (but not in an overboard kinda way). If I dont deny myself anything I dont miss it, and in turn generally dont even want it!!!!
Brown rice is excellent for depression aswell. Hmmmmmmm!!!
As Ive said in another forum (or is it in this one??!) I actually WANT to get out of bed now-before I could have cried when it was time to get up and would go back to bed asap! (like when I took my daughter to school) [&o]
No way to live I cant tell you.
Now I feel F.I.N.E!!!!!!
Tx
Oh, just re read your post- I used to try and meditate but I cant really get the hang of it! But there again I dont suppose it is very good if you are knackered (which I was ALL of the time) I just used to go to sleep.
But, now im feeling A OK ill give it another go I think!;)
Answers:
Hi Trinity,
This is a good recipe for a meal which is full of things to keep depression and bugs away and will keep you strong and help make brown rice etc tastier.
You need:
Basmati rice(white)
Brown rice
Lentils
pine kernels
spinach
mushrooms and or any veg you enjoy
onions and garlic
green cardomons and cinamon sticks
tumeric powder
curry powder
bayleaves
Make the rice first, i prefer to make pilau which means it is baked in the oven, I wash the rice lots and put whit and brown together, add a handful of lentils and cinamon and cardomon, put in a dish, cover with foil and bake it.
Then fry garlic and a few mustard seeds in oil, as they brown and pop add a whole, finely chopped and washed onion and a little salt, fry, as onions dry, each time add a little water, allow onions to gradually soak up water until you have a sort of mulchy, onion soup sauce, then add curry powder, paprika, whatever you like.
|When you have a nice thick curry sauce, add finely chopped baby spinach and mushrooms and cook. When they are cooked put in fresh and chopped coriander.
In another pan, roast the pine kernels until golden, then chuck them in the sauce and cook.
Then chuck in your lovely rice and fry it up and eat it.
This is also a dam good recipe if you have a cold, you might chuck in a few chilies too! Every thing in there will do you lots of good and is tasty.
Also, if you are a meat eater, add lamb if you get run down or low, this recipe really does pick you up, I like it with a tomato and coriander salad.
Hal
Answers:
Also, to help cleanse your system;
Lots of pinapple and drink cranbury juice.
If you can stomach it rhubarb is good for cleansing, shop a few sticks up, boil in small amount of water, add ginger if you like it as it is good for blood, and no too much sugar(honey if you are a good girl - I am not!)
Dates are also good to pick you up and good for sex drive!
Answers:
Hal, thank you so much for your post *says Trin with a mouthful of dates;)*
The rice dish and the rhubarb sound deeelish.
Will it make a difference if I just used brown rice instead of the basmati white do u think??
Mind u a little bit of white rice aint gonna kill me is it! (unless i hav a car crash on the way to the supermarket to buy it!)
Cheers
Tx