GrandmotherofDragons: Citalopram for 15 years

[GrandmotherofDragons]

Hi, guys, I'm LeAnn. After 15 years on Citalopram for depression and sort of PTSD, I decided I should go of it in August of last year. I tapered off under my doctor's care and after about 8 weeks, I was completely done. I had the nausea, dizziness, tiredness, anger, laughter, CRYINGCRYINGCRYING. Still crying...not as bad, but because David Bowie died. I did lose a bit of weight, too, so that's a good thing.

 

The thing that brought me here was my search to see if there is a connection between going off an antidepressant and heightened senses. I'm noticing cigarette smoking more, and it's irritating my sinuses. Maybe it's the new neighbors in the next-door apartment, or my withdrawing, but I had to buy an air purifier recently and have it going 24/7 to get the smell out of our living room, even with the windows closed. 

 

Anyway, there you go.

[Ali4]

Welcome to SA,

 

That's a FAST taper for 15 years of cit!!!! Your coping well with withdrawl minus the heightened senses?? I say that's pretty amazing! At the forum we recommend 10% cuts holding for 4-6 weeks before another drop. You have done well by the sounds of it. Heightened senses are normal in withdrawl and if that's all your having with some crying spells, count yourself lucky, I wish I was that lucky. Lots of help and support from the mods and members here, take care. Ali

[mammaP]

Hi LeAnn, welcome to SA. You are doing great for such a fast taper and I am happy to see that you are doing so well. 

The heightened emotions are normal after taking ADs for so many years. They blunt the senses and emotions, them when they are stopped  the senses return in abundance! I have the same problem with tobacco smoke and if I get anywhere near a whiff of it I am snuffling and sneezing, coughing like crazy and eyes watering. I never liked the smell but after coming off effexor it is affects me much more.  I moved to this apartment last year and have been trying to get rid of the nicotine smell ever since. It is a lot better now but to me it's still there but no-one else can smell it!  I can even smell it if someone lights a cigarette on TV, now that is really odd, can smell cooking when cookery shows are on too,its in my imagination,  lol.

 

 The crying is the same  but a bit less now than it was,  I was listening to some music last week and ended up sobbing, my shoulders were heaving and I couldn't stop it. I wasn't worried about it or depressed just emotional. Friends thought I was having a breakdown but my daughter told them I cry at anything. I didn't cry for years, even when my dad and my brother died I couldn't cry or even feel anything. This will all settle down eventually. 

 

We have a topic on neuro emotions, I will find the link for you. 

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/9809-neuro-emotions/page-1

 

Have a good look around symptoms and self care and you will find some symptoms that you probably never thought might be withdrawal. 

[btdt]

Welcome by my calculations you have been drug free for 7 months did you finish or start your wd in Aug?  Seems your doing well.  I took find smells bother me all sorts of smells not just bad ones but things that use to smell good now make me sick. 

 

There is a link here called getting started I think it tells you how to post your drug history dose and your taper it would be helpful to know this as we all have a history. 

wishing you peace