Hi, 13 months off and the past few weeks have been challenging, worse since withdrawing from caffeine. A new symptom for a couple of days have been the sensation of head pressure at the top of my head, making me feel the need to lie down rather than stand up. It scary. Can anyone relate? Thanks😊

Hi, has anyone got a link to the video on the Waves and Windows of stabilisation please and if so please could you copy the link to me. Thank you 🙂

Hi Sonia, I don't have the link but hopefully someone else can help with that.  Can't believe you're still feeling so bad, it's been a such a long time since you took your last dose. 

 

I also get the head pressure, at times it can throw my balance and I nearly fainted a couple of times last year.  Those phases don't last for long though; if that's any comfort! 

@Mamgu, Hi again. Yes, thank you, that's what my head pressure felt like, it's scary stuff.. It's gone now and I've never had that before and hopefully I won't again. I know 13 months off seems like an eternity to still have symptoms but it's not unheard of, particularly when you are living with daily stress at home. 

I have been withdrawing from caffeine over recent weeks too and I think I have been getting withdrawal symptoms from that. They are similar to ssri withdrawal symptoms so it been a double whammy. I think it's what caused my head pressure.

The link I was hoping for I've seen on the SA website, I've been back there but do you think I can find it.😏I remember watching it before and it was very reassuring, I'm always looking for reassurance, I use chagpt a lot, I find it very helpful.

So, hope all goes well with your dose reductions, it will be nice to keep in touch and to hear about your final reduction. Until next time, take care x

Hopefully the caffeine withdrawal will soon be over, it can't go on as long as AD withdrawal!!  I know what you mean about stress exacerbating withdrawal then withdrawal makes us stressed.  It's the cruellest of feedback loops 😞

 

I stumbled across some helpful videos on Youtube recently, Mark Horowitz and Angie Peacock are good for reassurance, helps us understand all those weird and disturbing symptoms are par for the course for those of us experiencing this. xx

 

@Mamgu Yes, it's a vicious circle isn't it.  Mark Horowitz's videos are really reassuring, sometimes I listen to him in bed and fall asleep because it's sort of comforting hearing his voice. I haven't seen the Angie Peacock ones though so I'll take a look, thanks. Hope you had a good day today, mine started out ok, head cleared a bit walking my dog, did usual housework when I got back, a bit fuzzy headed afterwards though and now a headache coming on😥. Hope your little dog is doing ok. x

Hi @Sonia2 thanks so much for checking in with me. It's nice we all have a new home here. Do you think you are in some kind of PAWs now? 

@Kat66. Yes I agree, it's great that we still have somewhere to chat, hats off to Luke and Chippy.🙏

Yes I do believe I am in protracted withdrawal, I don't know what else it can be. I've had CT scans of head and body, x ray on abdomen, electrocardiogram, ENT visit, eyes checked and more recently bloods three months ago. My symptoms have been worse since withdrawing from caffeine, this is when I have experienced horrible head pressure for the first time. On top of that I have stressors at home with my husband's illness so that has added to the mix. I still manage to do my chores and walk my dog but I am not driving. I have to pace myself throughout the day. I still have many symptoms all that I have mentioned before. On the positive side I am not bedridden like I used to be. One day at a time, that's all we can do. So good to hear from you, hope the next time we speak you will be feeling better. Take care x

It's so awful that you're in PAWs after such a small final dose!! I pray things get better as the months go on. How is your husband? I'm so glad we have this new home - hats off indeed to @Luke and @Chippy

@Kat66 Thanks for asking. With a history of stroke, heart attack, diabetes type 2 and prostate cancer, no day is ever a good day for him. He can still drive when he feels up to it which is something we are both grateful for. Our lives have changed so much, his personality has changed so much. We take each day as it comes. 😊🙏

wow @Sonia2, that's an awful lot on your plate.  Sending you lots of hugs and positive vibes xx

Thanks @Mamgu I read your post 're having your tooth out, hope things have settled for you. Just a question, what do you mean by having the "squeezies". Is it an uptake in symptoms or something else?

Just curious x

20 hours ago, Sonia2 said:

Thanks @Mamgu I read your post 're having your tooth out, hope things have settled for you. Just a question, what do you mean by having the "squeezies". Is it an uptake in symptoms or something else?

Just curious x

 

Squeezies is my term for WD symptoms in general - mainly because the predominant symptom is head pressure 😆

@Mamgu Oh ok, sorry to hear that,I hope you're having a better day today 🙂

Hi, It's been 13-14 months since dropping off citalopram at 0.3 mg and I can hardly believe it but I'm still getting  symptoms. For the last month I've been reducing caffeine which has made everything worse. My new symptoms are upper back ache, indigestion, stomach aches, head fullness, heavy head, anxiety, depression, general body aches and pains, stiffness, plus my usual dizziness and balance issues. Stressors at home haven't helped. Two weeks ago I had my first and only window in a long time, for a whole hour I felt normal. I've noticed if I overdo things I pay for it the next day. I sometimes wonder if this is the new me, I hope not because it's so miserable. I hope this is caffeine withdrawal because that will fade eventually, although I've read it can take months and longer to get over. Sorry for the whinge, just feeling a bit low at the moment. Best wishes to all x

Hello @Sonia2 Yes, I've heard a few stories with people cutting out coffee and feeling the WD. It's a real thing! I do hope you feel better soon. 

49 minutes ago, Sonia2 said:

Hi, It's been 13-14 months since dropping off citalopram at 0.3 mg and I can hardly believe it but I'm still getting  symptoms. For the last month I've been reducing caffeine which has made everything worse. My new symptoms are upper back ache, indigestion, stomach aches, head fullness, heavy head, anxiety, depression, general body aches and pains, stiffness, plus my usual dizziness and balance issues. Stressors at home haven't helped. Two weeks ago I had my first and only window in a long time, for a whole hour I felt normal. I've noticed if I overdo things I pay for it the next day. I sometimes wonder if this is the new me, I hope not because it's so miserable. I hope this is caffeine withdrawal because that will fade eventually, although I've read it can take months and longer to get over. Sorry for the whinge, just feeling a bit low at the moment. Best wishes to all x

Hey @Sonia2 makes a lot of sense, caffeine is addictive substance, as are cigarettes, I'm a smoker and tried to cut down a few times, couldn't last more than two days before it made the already bad withdrawal to much worse so decided that one battle is enough for now.

so sorry you're going through a rough patch now, hopefully it will fade soon.

@Fullhealing, @Marina Thank you both, it's the warmest day of the year so far and I've had to go to bed with my socks and cardigan on to get warm, really weird! Hope you're both doing ok. x

5 hours ago, Sonia2 said:

I had my first and only window in a long time, for a whole hour I felt normal

 

Well, that's something to celebrate, some light at the end of the tunnel 🙂

 

Although it can feel as though it's teasing us, with only a fleeting view out the window, but it bodes well for a complete recovery.  I hope your next post is about longer and more frequent windows!

 

@Mamgu, yes I was grateful for it as short lived as it was. I've taken a step backwards since reducing caffeine for sure, uphill all the way. Hope you're doing ok x

Did you stop caffeine because it's making you worse?  I'm firmly addicted to my morning coffee and luckily it doesn't impact my symptoms, unless I have 4 cups in a row!!

6 hours ago, Mamgu said:

Did you stop caffeine because it's making you worse?  I'm firmly addicted to my morning coffee and luckily it doesn't impact my symptoms, unless I have 4 cups in a row!!

@Mamgu Ironically I never drink coffee or caffeinated drinks. I was taking anadin extra tablets for years because I was prone to migraines and they contain caffeine, 45 mg. Migraine meds never agreed with me. I had to hold down my job so I took them every day and  sometimes took up to four or six on a really bad migraine day. I spoke to my doctor recently who said I was stressed but did not believe in protracted withdrawal from citalopram, even though I had been withdrawing for over five years when my symptoms started. When I spoke to her I had already cut back on the anadin but she told me to stop taking them or any other painkiller because they could be causing my dizziness. I asked what I should take for headaches and she replied nothing. So I am currently reduced to taking one and a half tablets a day, equivalent to half a cup of caffeinated coffee. My worse symptom is head pressure which is a common caffeine withdrawal symptom but I still have my usual protracted withdrawal symptoms from citalopram. 😏

Wow, that's a double whammy then, what a horrible situation to be in.  And an entirely unhelpful doctor too, grrrr!  Hopefully the caffeine withdrawal will soon be over when you've stopped taking the pain killers altogether 🤞

@Mamgu, yes, had a horrible night last night, very little sleep, bad dreams when I did manage to drop off, I thought I was losing my mind, intrusive thoughts, but I'm ok again this morning. 🙂x

Edited March 20Mar 20 by Sonia2

The swinging between such intense symptoms is so difficult - hope you're still feeling better xx