Posted by Dispossessed on March 4, 2014, at 18:04:08
In reply to Re: Sudden sensitivity to SSRIs/side effects? » Dispossessed, posted by SLS on March 4, 2014, at 15:58:50
> http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20050214/msgs/460726.html
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> - ScottInteresting. Does this apply to those who had previously desensitised their nervous system through a 'cold turkey' or to any long term user who wants to taper off these meds?
Some people on these forums have experienced withdrawal for 2 years or even longer after a cold-turkey. Of course, there is the possibility that in some cases, there is a re-emergence of the original symptoms, but in most of these cases what they are experiencing is new (panic attacks, memory loss etc).
What I missed out in my original post is that between 2011 and 2012 I tried citalopram again - just at 10mg - for 5-6 weeks. I felt myself being lifted out of the depression but then experienced the familiar SSRI activation syndrome, so stopped taking it. Felt great for around 2 months, but instead of experiencing the familiar depression that I experience coming off fluoxetine, I experienced panic/agitation/anxiety - coupled with intrusive thoughts - which I had never experienced to such an extent before.
Given that reinstating 5mg of citalopram 14 months later completely annihilated the anxiety - I suspect that some kind of histamine rebound was largely to blame. I confirmed my suspicions when I switched from low dose citalopram to low dose fluoxetine - and the intrusive thoughts/panic/anxiety returned. I've subjected my brain to a lot of changes over the past couple of years!
The interesting thing about reinstating the 5mg of citalopram was that I developed 'visual snow' around 4 weeks into taking it that has persisted to this day - even though I've been off citalopram for 5 months. It seems to be common in people with generalised anxiety disorder, but at the time I was feeling pretty relaxed, and enjoying being able to drink caffeine again.
poster:Dispossessed
thread:1061454
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20140214/msgs/1061842.html