[RamblinClementine]

I stopped taking Citalopram after 2 years of 40mg about a month ago. So far it's been a mixed bag but yesterday I was pretty low. I keep thinking about death and dying and it was one of those days where I'd wished I'd called in sick to work.

I know I should be nice to myself and indulge myself since I'm pretty sure I'm going through withdrawals but what does that look like/how do I stay happy and less anxious? My Dr. is quick to want to prescribe something new-- she is suggesting Zoloft at 50mg. I am planning to wait and see how I feel.

[ChangingMyMind]

Hi RamblinClementine, I wish I had the answer to your question since I too am going through the same thing. I am now 8 months in of being off Citalopram and still feel bad. Not horrible but bad. Although I was on Citalopram for 11 years so I imagine if this is withdrawal mine will last much longer than yours. I am at the point where I do believe this is withdrawal and not my natural state so I'm plugging along. I finally have a little relief after all this time but I am no where near 100%. Are you able to take any supplements to help you with withdrawal? There is a book that might be worth reading, it's called The Mood Cure. I am reading it right now. I have side effects to the amino acids so I cant take them so instead I am focusing on my dietary intake but maybe the aminos would be good for you?

Hang in there. You're not alone.

[RamblinClementine]

I will look into the Mood Cure. Easy to do since I work at the public library.

I have some herbs for anxiety, Ashwaghanda and Yerba Mansa (more for my tummy but related). I've never looked into St John's Wort but I'm willing to try.

[ChangingMyMind]

Originally Posted by RamblinClementine

I will look into the Mood Cure. Easy to do since I work at the public library.

I have some herbs for anxiety, Ashwaghanda and Yerba Mansa (more for my tummy but related). I've never looked into St John's Wort but I'm willing to try.

Glad you can take ashwaghanda. I can't take that as it causes itching and a rash unfortunately. But yeah I think using supplements to help through the withdrawal is better than going at it alone. St John's wort may be good just look up the interactions there are many of them. Drug and food. It acts like an MAIO. SAM-e might be worth looking at as well.

[LastQuestion]

Ashwagandha and L-Theanine have helped me a great deal through my withdrawl from Temazepam as has melatonin, both instant and time released, when I have difficulty sleeping (I use it only if I know I will have trouble sleeping, not when it's late at night, so as to avoid giving my body conflicting signals that could screw with Circadian Rhythm). Increasing my dose of fish oil from 2400mg to 4800mg improved matters as well.

Sleep, diet, and exercise have been invaluable in promoting neuroplasticity and neurogenesis, which can help accelerate recovery from withdrawal. I recommend nuts (raw almonds, walnuts, cashews), fish, fresh fruit, and a healthy portion of lean red meat every so often in order to get important fats and minerals, such as magnesium and zinc, which are depleted during times of stress. I've noticed low blood sugar has a greater effect on mood while in withdrawal than otherwise and that removing gluten, avoiding sugar, and consuming plenty of brown rice, vegatables, and good fats helps keep blood sugar stable longer.

The Ashwagandha and L-Theanine can help with some of the hyperattentiveness that withdrawal can cause as well as provide some protection from depression. Neither of these directly affect mood the way psychotropics do, instead they increase resiliance to stress. The AD qualities these supplements have seem to center upon neuroprotection; by mitigating the damage caused by stress (physical and psychological) in regions of the brain with key roles in mood regulation, as well as other aspects of cognition adversely affected by depression, one can be better able to respond to and cope with stress. Ashwagandha takes about four to eight weeks to begin providing it's long-term benefits. The same is true for L-Theanine.

Regular sleep, exercise, and diet have helped mitigate the depressive aspects of withdrawal for me, notably improving mood. There were days where I would walk around for hours at a local park simply because thoughts of suicide were less frequent while doing so. The physical exertion and staying away from sugar made going to sleep less difficult. Sticking to a regular sleep schedule had a very pronounced affect on mood.