Advise on coming of Citalopram
Posted , 2 users are following.
Hi Guys,
First of all well done to everyone who has signed up and discuss things on this site, as first step towards helping yourself is talking about your situation, so well done on simple helping yourselves!!
I am on 40mg of Citalopram a day, due to anxiety, a bit of depression and used to get major headaches every day due to stress.
I am thinking about coming off Citalopram as things are a bit better and as I am 23 year old male, I don't really want to be taking tablets just to be able to get on with things, as you can imagine.
I was original on 10mg for 6 months then 20mg for 3 months but I have now been on 40mg for a year in total.
Life wasn't the best due to bad break up and a child being involved, but things are a bit better, stil don't see my son as much as I want to but I have got used to his mother being a bit awkward but he is happy and healthy and thats all that matters!
I was wondering what other people have had from the withdrawel sympotons, I have seen quite a bit online but actually talking to someone would be a better source of information, as you will most likely have first hand experience which is better than any general internet advice.
So any advice would be much appreciated and I hope you are all well!!
0 likes, 4 replies
katecogs Benjiiee
Posted
You need to come off these as slowly as possible. That at way you'll get minimal withdrawl symptoms.
Firstly buy yourself a pill cutter and cut the tablets into 1/4's which make them 5mg each if they're a 20mg tablet. Then start by taking 5mg less than you take now and stay on that for about 3-4 weeks. If you do get any withdrawl symptoms, then stay on the reduced dose until the symptoms have stopped. Carry on with this method until you're down to the last 5mg and you can even space this out to every other day and eventually every. 2 days until you stop altogether.
Ive recently reduced mine to 5mg this year and have had no withdrawl symptoms at all, unlike the last time I did it.
Don't hurry anything. Take as long as you need to.
Something I've been recommending to people to:
When you're off Citalopram try a natural SSRI called 5-HTP which needs to be taken with l-tyrosine. Both can be bought from Holland & Barrett (if you're in the UK) and you need to take them both. Read a book called 5-HTP The Natural Way to Overcome Depression, Obesity by Michael T Murray ........ it's a really interesting read.
You need to be off SSRI's completely before starting 5-HTP as they mustn't be taken together.
There are no side effects at all if you take these like Citalopram have. They have good reports.
K x
katecogs
Posted
Benjiiee katecogs
Posted
Yes, Sorry I have changed my name from truck to Benjiiee.
Apologies for the confusion.
Thank you for your advice, I will look into Holland & Barrett for the 5-HTP, is the book available online or from a specific store?
I noticed that if I forget to take my tablets for 1 or specially 2 days that I get major side effects, such as trouble sleeping, headache and sort of an itchy feeling, that’s what got me thinking about the withdrawal symptom’s of coming off Citalopram.
Thank you for your help, I very much appreciate your comments
Thanks
Benjiiee
katecogs Benjiiee
Posted
I bought the book online from Amazon.
Yes if you miss medication you'll get withdrawal symptoms. That's probably because you're missing a full 40mg dose. Taking 5mg less each time should avoid that, or if you do get any symptoms then they'll be much, much less severe. Only thing I noticed this time when I reduced by 5mg was maybe slight nausea, but nothing that really bothered me.
Hope it goes ok.
K x