Other - SSRIs! how have you felt coming off of them?

[Kamuix]

SWIM had been taking Citalopram for a few month @ 40mgs a day prescribed for anxiety. he just stopped 6 days ago and he was expecting to get more depressed by now but hasn't. only noticeable withdrawl symptom he's having is the weird electric shot sensations. he also notices he gets them more in anxious situations.

SWIM is wondering how other swiys have felt when coming off of ssris

[wespawloski]

For swim, he felt almost nothing coming off, maybe a little tired. Withdrawl is usually going to take form in the opposite of what the drug provided... but with SSRIs and such, SWIM believes they have a much slower homeostasis process and one might not even notice the withdrawl. If you arnt feeling much of a downturn, great! You might not even notice anything, perhaps a few moments of reminiscence depending on how the SSRI affected you :P

But the electric shock... could you ellaborate on that? Sounds a little shakey... but its probably nothing, just a result of the homeostasis. If it persists after a month, definitely let your doctor know

"he also notices he gets them more in anxious situations." - That is fascinating :P how did the SSRI affect your anxiety? Maybe you did some "rewiring" with the help of SSRI.

[Kamuix]

it's alittle hard to describe and it seems to happen more when swim is anxious. it's like a small buzz feeling in his head that only lasts a split second. he get's it more when he's stoned. it gets annoying but it doesn't bother swim that much

It helped his anxiety alittle.. when he was in public he feels more comfortable. however it wasnt that that he really had much of a problem with. it was more like when he talks to someone he doesn't know he feels extreamly uncomfortable and only cares about being accepted and liked by that person. so swim gets preoccupied with uncomfortable thoughts and can't wait to get out of the conversation.. not to mention he can't talk right and gets awkward and somewhat jiddery.

[wespawloski]

"it's like a small buzz feeling in his head that only lasts a split second. he get's it more when he's stoned " Ok, thats alot milder :P it sounds like it should work itself out in due time and is just a byproduct of homeostasis. The condition of increasing with THC - SWIM wishes more research was done, but he belives many parts of your brain get... looser when affected by THC; the fact it increases directly with THC means its being compensated at normal operating, and should work its way out (IMO).

"so swim gets preoccupied with uncomfortable thoughts and can't wait to get out of the conversation.. not to mention he can't talk right and gets awkward and somewhat jiddery." The line between anxiety and depression is thin and overlapping; SWIY described it as uncomfortable thoughts, which sounds more like a depression influence. Just a thought to consider, SWIM has spoken to a few docs, and some brought up the point that depression can sometime be a defence mechanism against anxiety, slowing oneself down to reduce feeling anxious, not letting influencers touch your conscious.

SWIM has the exact same issue with anxiety, and got no relief from many drugs including the anti-depressant spectrum and a benzodiazipine. If you noticed it got easier to manage with your SSRI, SWIM wonders why you would stop? But thats SWIY's business... If you notice anything debtrimental, make sure you let your doc know. Any little effects you are noticing now should die down at atmost a month, if they dont, SWIM advises letting your doctor know.

[Kamuix]

Interesting. SWIM figured that benzos would likely work better since therre cns depressants and alcohol is the only drug ive done that really lowered swims inhibitions enough to be confortable talking to almost anyone. but he doesn't want to get into benzos since therre so physicly dependant.

The side effects we're kind of getting to swim like sexual dysfunction, drowsyness etc.

after some research he wouldn't mind trying effexor, since it's shorter acting and thinks it might work better for him. he was thinking of requesting it from his doctor.. but would it be normal to request a drug change from your doctor? has anyone done it? are doctors often flexible like that? or no? or does it depend on what your doctor is like?

swim just doesn't want to sound like a moron and feel like a complete dumbass after being denied

[wespawloski]

" after some research he wouldn't mind trying effexor, since it's shorter acting and thinks it might work better for him. he was thinking of requesting it from his doctor.. but would it be normal to request a drug change from your doctor? has anyone done it? are doctors often flexible like that? or no? or does it depend on what your doctor is like? "

If your doctor will not talk to you as a patient, find a new one right away. If you do research and would like to try something, tell your doctor! You are searching for something, so have him tell you his opinions as a professional. SWIM had a horrible psychiatrist who wouldn't prescribe anything over a Reuptake inhibitor... then he found a new one who could understand SWIM had done research and had viable conclusions, to the level of even letting SWIM experience amphetamine as a treatment for depression.

Also you mention doctor, do you mean psichiatrist or general?

"SWIM figured that benzos would likely work better since therre cns depressants and alcohol is the only drug ive done that really lowered swims inhibitions enough to be confortable talking to almost anyone. but he doesn't want to get into benzos since therre so physicly dependant." More importantly, they are GABA agonists :P the principle effector in clinical anxiety. In SWIM's case he really felt he had to try a benzo to rule out GABA being a problem in his anxiety/depression; SWIM would advise not throwing it out entirely, if only to see how it effects you (and it works instantly, so you will know in one day).

"The side effects we're kind of getting to swim like sexual dysfunction, drowsyness etc." Completely understandable if a SSRI did seem to be doing something for you, there are many different types which affect and cause different side effects in different people.

Also note venlafaxine (effexor) is a SNRI, which means it should also increase noradrenaline levels. This could produce an extra effect of norephinephrine stimulation, which might turn out adverse (irritability, attention defeceit and the like) but because you are depressed, the noradrenaline stimulation may only exhibit in a positive or non-exhistant manner.

Good luck! Listen to your doctor, but make sure he also listens to you.
????: Drugs Forum http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=78722

[oxyholic]

SWIM is coming off of Sertraline(150 mg daily), SWIM has been taking said drug for the past year and a half for SWIM's severe onset clinical depression, Swim has been almost "buzzing"- occasional light headed waves, small flashes of anxiety, and other minor reality altering symptoms.