April 04, 2005
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome on druuuugs
Hello dear readers... I had a question e-mailed to me today about citalopram and my opinion on it. It's a difficult one to call really because without a doubt I would say it dramatically improved my quality of life relatively quickly about five years ago when I was first diagnosed. However, since then I have tried to come off the medication several times and it's all gone horribly wrong each time. I've found myself very anxious and then depressed and then physically ill again. So it's a conundrum really. I think all-in-all they have changed my life for the better, but it is now very difficult to move onto the next stage - i.e. living drug free. I think I will probably follow my doctor's advice and go onto Flouroxetine - apparently it's similar but there's more research and it's easier to come off.
As I sit here writing today I am feeling quite good. I'm still job hunting - which is hard. On the last form I filled in I had to declare how much time I'd had off due to sickness. Oh dear. I'm not convinced I will hear about that one again. It's very hard having a disability that to those outside looks like I'm a person who is ill a lot. In the last two or three years I've had hardly any time off due to illness, however in the last relapse in January, I was off work for five weeks, which of course looks shocking on an application form. Another question I dislike is 'how would you describe your health?' How on earth to I answer that??! I have finally thrown in the towel and started ticking the 'I have a disability' box, because when it comes down to it, I gues I have. Just because it is variable and most people can't see it, doesn't mean it's not there.
Anyway, I'm off to do an internet job search.
Posted by Sleepy Sal on April 4, 2005 11:05 AM
Comments
Hi again. It was me who asked you the question about citalopram. I must say, withdrawal does frighten me and from what you've said it is a big problem.
I appreciate you weighing things up and coming to the conclusion that it's been worth it though.
Can I ask if you are on the citalopram now and will be switching to fluoxetine directly from that.........or are you not on anything at the moment?
I was just wondering if that's a feasible option for anyone on citalopram and having trouble coming off it. If it means you can switch directly and then withdraw slowly from that one then I guess that is a possible alternative option?
Oh, and were you given the citalopram originally for anxiety associated with your CFS or just for the CFS in general? And how long did it take for the SSRI to work and at what dose? I have been on a very low dose for two weeks now and am about to increase to 10mg. I haven't had any benefit yet and actually feel a bit worse.
Thanks
Posted by: Toy at April 13, 2005 09:01 AM