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Citalopram withdrawal.

Posted , 24 users are following.

charles13800
charles13800

I have been completely off citalopram about 4 months now. I tapered off from 20mg to 10mg and then 5mg for about a month. I didn't feel too much until I finally quit altogether and then had all kinds of problems. Dizziness, lethargy, sore joints. I felt lost, spacey and isolated. I just kept toughing it out one day at a time, sleeping a lot and having very limited physical activity. About two days ago I actually felt like doing some things and most of the symptoms have greatly subsided if not disappeared totally. At first I couldn't believe that the widely prescribed drug could do all those things. I figured it must be something else causing all my discomfort and was just about ready to go into the VA hospital for more bloodwork and counseling when it lifited. I see now that the only thing that could fit all the symptoms was the citalopram withdrawal. What a ordeal.. glad I'm seeing the sun shining again. A lot of people go back on the drug as they want the temporary pain to go away but I just took it one day at a time, when I got thru that day I chalked it up to one day closer to getting my health and life back...so hang in there... it DOES get better.

3 likes, 51 replies

51 Replies

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  • charles13800
    charles13800

    Posted

    Addendum to above: no matter how bad your day is in withdrawal bive yourself credit for making it through that day...do anything you can to get thru it..I listened to audiobooks a lot and did some computer time doing some reasearch... I basically douldn't go out in public or didn't want to.. riding it out can be tough.. but take one day at a time..if you stay with it you will never have to repeat that day and you can go on to the next.. forward and upward...

    • james85889
      james85889 charles13800

      Posted

      Good to know Charles I was off citalopram for a month felt fine then starting getting aches and pains in feet and hands started panicking am back on citalopram think a will be on the them for life second time have came off them thought had brain tumour cause of sore heads all down to this little tablet doctors have not got clue about withdrawal symptoms had worst five weeks of live good to know aches and pains could be down to this ????????

  • geory
    geory charles13800

    Posted

    I'm on day 7 of stopping my meds. Tapered from 40 mg to 10 slowly then jumped to none. Feeling very bad. Nausea, flu like, headache, dizzy, crying/emotional, brain zaps, overly sensitive to sounds, lights, and people. Thanks for your post. I feel like giving up!

    • patricia22438
      patricia22438 geory

      Posted

      I don't know how long you were tapering off, Geory.  But from 10 to zero is harsh.  Maybe go back to 10 and after three weeks then go to 5 one day, 10 the next and do that for three weeks, see how you feel.  Then when you feel you're doing well, try going to 5 for a few weeks.  I'd go even further then.......3 weeks of 5mg and then 5mg one day, zero the next, 5mg one day....and do that for a few weeks.  It's a serious thing this drug vs. the brain.  Don't give up - just don't force it if you can still get a prescription to do it slowly.

    • mindy79985
      mindy79985 geory

      Posted

      Have your brainzaps gone away. I tapered off of 40mg the zaps got so bad my whole body was seizing. After 4 weeks of the I could take it no more and went back on the drug. I just want to know there's hope if I can get off of it again.

    • gina38408
      gina38408 geory

      Posted

      Please tell me that it got better for you...I am right where you were. Wondering if I should go back...
    • mark13785
      mark13785 geory

      Posted

      you've lowered lowered your dosage too much too soon , you might need to go back to a higher dose for a bit longer then gradually lower your dosage

  • anna78365
    anna78365 charles13800

    Posted

    Thanks for posting this and well done for persevering. Not all people suffer withdrawal symptoms when coming off Citalopram, but it is classed as medium difficulty for withdrawal with 60% experiencing withdrawal symptoms compared to Fluoxetine which is considered low with 44% experiencing withdrawal.

    I have not yet withdrawn from Citalopram as it is still early days for me but it is in the back of my mind.

    For all those that are at this stage I have been told that a good way to withdraw from the tablets is as follows;

    4 weeks 20 mg one day then 10 mg the next

    4 weeks 10 mg one day then 5 mg the next

    4 weeks 5 mg everyday

    4 week 5 mg every other day.

    I can't say it works for everyone but this is what I plan to do.

    Any thoughts and opinions on this method are welcome.

     

  • dellesom
    dellesom charles13800

    Posted

    I never had problems coming off a drug as I have with Citalopram.  I was on 40mg for three years.  I used a formula similar to yours to go off it. It’s been a month since I completely stopped. If I had been told about the horrific problems when coming off the drug I would have never taken it.  I have no depression but I have real bad body aches, my head feels like its full of something, lots of pressure.  Gout has come back and now in both feet.  I drag myself out of bed to sit in my chair.  My energy has been taken from me and the desire to work is hard to come by.  I wanted off this evil drug because it was causing weight gain. Now that I have been off of it for about a month my weight has gone out of control.  I’ve gained at least 15 lb. sense I quit a month ago and that’s with dieting.  My dreams are strange and the next day it is as I’m still in the dream.  Believe me I would have been much better off had I not ever taken one of these pills.  Some days are fair but most are bad.  I wait for spring, hoping it will help things get better.  If anyone is considering taking Citalopram I would tell them to run away as fast as they can.  Thank you for your post. I get comfort knowing all of this is not in my head. Thanks for your service! Dellesom
  • john059
    john059 charles13800

    Posted

    Wow. Glad i'm getting off Cit. I'm now down to 5mg's everyday--for the last 5 days and I'm feeling it. I take omega 3oil everyday. Not sure if that helps but it cant hurt. I eXercise daily also. That helps a lot. Feeling a bit dizzy at times but thats the way it goes!!! Or so it seems. I am not going back on these meds no matter what. It works for some but def didnt for me!!!!!!! Have a good day all.

  • dotty28
    dotty28 charles13800

    Posted

    I've been on 20mg of Cit for over 2yrs I'm now in the position where I would like to come off them.  I'd love to get some updates on how you're all getting on and how you recommend reducing.

    • mark13785
      mark13785 dotty28

      Posted

      one thing i can suggest is do it very gradually unlike i did , made me feel terrible . I dropped my dosage by too much too soon , speak to your doctor for advise if you're unsure

  • kath08635
    kath08635 charles13800

    Posted

    I'm so glad to hear this. I'm cutting down gradually. 20, 15 and now 10mgs but am so dizzy and head feels as if it's spinning. Really hope it stops soon. It's so debilitating

  • rob37052
    rob37052 charles13800

    Posted

    Hi there, I’m going through similar thing at moment, down to 5 me& feel absolutely dreadful, my joints are hurting especially my elbow & wrists & hands. Need someone to talk too regarding.....going through it in silence 😢......many thanks r.

    • Guest
      Guest rob37052

      Posted

      Hi Rob,

      Read your post, sounds just like me, aching joints, hands feet and back. It almost feels like i've got gout throughout my body although I've never had gout. I've been off citalopram for over a week now, trying to ride it and praying I will start feeling normal again. Today has probably been my worst day, felt a little light headed and unsteady on my feet. My tinnitus playing up and having weird heart feelings. I wonder if it could be something else but then I look in the mirror and I look well enough so I am telling myself it's withdrawal symptoms. I then try to put my mind elsewhere and keep busy. I've had blood works and have seen ENT for tinnitus and all ok. I do have early arthritis though. It's been nine days since your post and was wondering if you are feeling any better?

    • Guest
      Guest

      Posted

      I meant weird head feeling not heart feelings. I had an echocardiogram just over a year ago when I had a racing pulse but it turned out ok.
    • mark13785
      mark13785 rob37052

      Posted

      try keeping them moving slowly , it helps . Dont just let them seize

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