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Antidepressant Withdrawal — My Month From Hell
I had no idea how bad it could get
I began writing, and specifically bloggging, because I wanted to help others. I have more experience than I would ever care to with depression, anxiety, and also self-esteem issues due to my weight. I’ve been depressed on and off since I was fourteen, and I’ve been on antidepressants for most of the last 20 years. Recently though, I experienced something I never have before, antidepressant withdrawal.
The Last Two Months
I’ve written over the last few months about my struggles with medication. I was on Citalopram, but it stopped working. I felt very low and was snappy and irritable with the people I loved. I discussed it with my doctor, and we decided I would try Venlafaxine. Venlafaxine lifted my mood but stopped me from sleeping. It was taking til 2 or 3 am to get to sleep, and that did nothing for my physical or mental health.
So, in consultation with my doctor, I decided to stop taking Venlafaxine. I also made the big decision (for me anyway) not to start on a new medication. I wanted to see how I coped.
I know the risks of stopping antidepressants suddenly, so I did it the way I have in the past. I slowly reduced the dose, and it took me more than four weeks to stop taking it altogether.
