I recently tried Escitalopram but had such an adverse reaction after 2 weeks I had to stop cold turkey. 

 

Racing heart, extreme anxiety, insomnia, dread and more. I ended up at the emergency room about 1 week in where they gave me Clonazepam. This somewhat helped but carrying on felt impossible. I've had startup symptoms from ADs before but this was way, way too extreme.

 

Since stopping the symptoms have continued. My heart is racing up and down all day and it wakes me up pounding in the middle of the night. The anxiety is absolutely crushing to the point I don't feel I can carry on like this. 

 

I started ADs due to a lack of joy in my otherwise good life but this is a million times worse. It's like constant fight or flight.

 

Various expensive private GPs and Psychiatrists have prescribed Trazodone, Mirtazapine, Vortioxitine, Promethazine(for sleep) Benzos and Beta Blockers.

 

At the moment I'm using the Beta Blockers, Promethazine and Benzos(on occasion). I'm obviously worried about touching the ADs when I'm 99% sure that's what caused this.

 

 

It's been 3 weeks and the improvement has not been as fast as I was expecting

 

Do I reintroduce an AD or try to tough it out?

Welcome to the forum, Panic.

 

I am the Recovery Assistant Bot and I am here to post some information for you whilst we await replies from other members.

 

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Hey Panic

 

Welcome to the forum. It's good to have you here you are very welcome indeed.

 

Could you update your DOB please? (You can select to only show age in the drop down box)

 

I'm sorry to read of all your issues you have been experiencing recently. 

 

We are a peer led site staffed by volunteers and cannot offer medical advice. The members (including staff) can offer you their thoughts on your situation but please remember they are just that, thoughts and opinions. Ultimately what you choose to do is between you and your medical provider. I would suggest making sure who ever that is, is  well versed in WD and drug harm.

 

My feelings are that your story is similar to many on here. Including myself. You started Citalopram in January 2023. You didnt do too well on it at first (this is common) but then your CNS settled down and it was ok. You tapered off (You didn't say how quickly?) and were fine. This is my and many peoples experience. What we see in the community is often this is a pre-curser or warning of future potential issues. 

I personally think that the bad side effects you experienced during this period were signs of the drugs starting to irritate your system. You problem stopped too quickly (you don't say how fast) which would cause even more irritation, but your CNS recovered but it's been 'punched'.

 

Fast forward a year (Jan 2025) you felt you needed another run at Citalopram (this happened to me too) but this time your system said enough. So you stopped and it forgave you.

 

Later that year (Oct 2025) you tried a psychedelic and the same happened, your CNS didn't like it. It wants to be left alone.

 

Then at Christmas 2025 you tried Escitalopram at 2.5mg. Your system seemed to cope with it. But only just. You tried to increase your dose. Your system got angry. You dropped your dose it didnt calm down so you CTd.

 

I think you get the idea now. Each and every time you start, stop or alter a drug it will cause you further problems.

 

Personally I don't think there is anything to reinstate here. You were on Escitalopram such a short time and have a clear history of increasing CNS irritation.

 

I would, if it were me, take no further drugs at all. The Beta Blockers, Benzos and Antihistamine (Promethazine) you are using occasionally are not helping you and are likely causing you further harm.

 

As I said above. This is just my opinion which I offer you as a way of support. Not medical advice! If you can spare a few pounds I would recommend taking a private consultation with Dr Mark Horowitz to discuss your condition with him. I can send you information about how to contact him via a PM if you would like to do this?

 

In the mean time this is what I would do if I were you:

 

-Stay away from Caffeine, Alcohol and Antihistamines and any other psychoactive substances.

 

-Good clean whole food diet. Avoiding GM/processed foods and sugar. Plenty of fluids.

 

Supplements are to be avoided they often irritate our nervous systems. Try to get your nutrition through food.

 

SA recommend Fish Oil, Magnesium and Melatonin. As with all these things some find them helpful some can't handle them. Start low and see how you get on should you choose to try them.

 

A daily walk is very important as much as you can manage. Gets you your fresh air and Vitamin D does wonders for your mind!

 

Again it's great to have you here. Do let us know how you get on.

 

Chippy

Thank you for joining.

 

I agree with Chippy.

 

I would definitely say that you are right to be wary of antidepressants, and in general, I think the best thing you can do is take 0 drugs and let your body calm back down and go back to its pre-drug baseline.

 

This is not medical advice, but it is from a place of having observed many stories where people chase relief of symptoms caused by adverse drug reactions with more drugs, and in a lot of cases people tend to just worsen and worsen themselves before resigning themselves to waiting to heal naturally (often regretting deteriorating by taking further drugs and not doing this sooner).

Thanks Chippy and Luke. Your breakdown is pretty much how it all happened. The first few times I’ve recovered really quickly using basic tapers. Back to “normal” after the usual brain zaps.

 

This is something else. I’ll take my depression over this any day. It’s relentless :/

 

 

 

Marks details would be really helpful! I’d pay anything to figure this out.

Hey Panic

 

Ive Pmd you.

 

Yes Im afraid it's not an easy journey. We are here to support though. We all get it. Trust me.

 

Let us know if you book an appointment and how you get on.

 

Chippy