Went cold turkey on Cita (Now please help and advice)

Hi, sorry to hear you are not feeling so good. I really wouldn't advise taking your wife's escitalopram. I think cit and escitalopram are quite similar, but not the same and they haven't been prescribed to you. It's best to come off cit gradually, as you get side effects if you go cold turkey, as you are experiencing. I would go to your doctor tomorrow. Google 'the citalopram survival guide' it's on the no more panic website, and is very good and informative. Good luck.

I don't know what the drug is that your wife has...but benzos help with anxiety.

I was also on Citalopram for 8 years..and actually I went cold turkey 3 weeks ago....the first 2 weeks...I felt like you....I feel fine now.....

I did actually go to the hospital because of it (on my own) on 1.5 week discontinuation....to make sure I wasn't dying...all they did was give me a few benzos for 3 days.

I feel ALL better NOW...I feel better than I EVER did taking Citalopram.

I am on Wellbutrin (for about 5 days)...feeling better mentally already.

I wouldn't start the Citalopram again...but just know...I don't think your symptoms will last much longer cause mine only really lasted for about 2 weeks....

I have been drinking Chamomile tea at night for anxiety and it works.

I have taken 5HtP a herb similar to Citalopram ...which calmed some of my anxiety during withdrawal....but if you decide to go herbal....be careful that the herb you try does not interact with any of your medications.

I would wean off properly man I did and other than a crashing headache that lasted about 5 days. I was fine. If you go cold turkey your brain goes into major withdrawals and panic attacks are one of the few withdrawals you can suffer. The serontonin takes a while to increase and to stop its asking for trouble go back on and wean down for about a month or longer.

I'm on 20mg of citalopram, I used to take escitalopram at a 10mg dose but I didn't like how I felt. I reduced it down to 5mg but still didn't like how I felt. They are very similar to each other . If it was me, I would take the escitalopram until I could get my prescription renewed.

Oh Boy Ali,

Stopping cold turkey is not the way you want to do this!  You should give your doctor a call ASAP tomorrow.  You will most likely need some help, as your body is going through some withdrawals already, and is not done yet.  Going off of Cital needs to be done slowly, as it is a very powerful med.  If you think starting Cital was rough, well I hate to say it, but it will be at least that bad, maybe a bit worse.  That's why you need to give your doctor a call.  Everyone is different...so fingers crossed, maybe you will breeze through...I'm just wanting to give you as much info as I can, and a lot of people do have a very rough time of it, going cold turkey.  I hope you don't!!  I do wish you good luck!!  Please let us know how you do, and what your doctor has to say.  It will help others in your situation too! 

No one should ever just stop a medication. You should have weaned yerself off slowly and gradually.

Regards,

David

You should never stop Citalopram abruptly - you can become quite ill.  Taking these meds for 3 months wasn't a long time and its often recommended staying on the meds for a year to ensure the illness doesn't return.  Withdrawing from them is needed so your body adjusts.

Do not take your wife's Escitalopram - they were prescribed for her only.  Never take anyone elses prescription meds.  You still have Citalopram in your body and you must not mix meds.

As you've been off your meds 7 days, you could restart your meds again or even take 5mg of them to ease back up to 10mg.  If you then want to come off them, it has to be done slowly to avoid what you're feeling now.

See your doctor.

K xx