1. Community
  2. Brain and nerves
  3. Citalopram

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

Prev Next
  • gina38408
    gina38408 charles13800

    Posted

    I have been on Celexa for 15 years...with the goal of the past couple of years being to get off. I went from 40, to 30 (a 20 + 10), to 10 and then recently, to zero. I think going to zero might have been a big mistake. I am 5 days out and I am so sick. Nauseated, sweats, aches, dizzy, you name it. Should I go back on 10 and taper from there? I am so confused. I've talked to a few pharmacists and they don't seem to have much of an opinion on what I should do. This is awful! 

    • patricia22438
      patricia22438 gina38408

      Posted

      I been on Citalopram/Celexa 20mg for 17 yrs, Gina.  I had  been withdrawing very well doing 4 weeks of 10mg one day, with 20mg the next.   Then the past week I took jjust .05.  Had some real irritability and depression set in.  Reading your post made me take a look at my plan - now I'm thinking of going back to 10mg one day - 5mg the other day, for 4 weeks. I think the drop from the first 4 weeks of 20-10 5th week just 5 was too much of a decrease.  So I will go back to 10 tomorrow, 5 the next and so on for 4 weeks.  I'm also taking SamE 400mg with my Citalopram dosage.  

      I don't know how long you did the 40 to 30 and then down, but it needs to be gradual I've read.  If I were you and feeling so sick, dizzy, etc - I'd consider a retry.  I'd go back to 30 for four weeks.  Get back on track.  I don't know if you have to work outside your home as I do - but it's very hard to put up with people, noise, stress you can't walk away from if you decrease this medicine too fast.  Just my opinion.  I know  alot of people have been on 40mg a day, some people - more.  But if it's going to be hopefully a permanent life change to be free of this chemical - then you have time to do it slower for your brain to adjust.  Message any of us here - great people and lots of sound advice that we can't get from our pharmacy or doctor unless they have experienced this.  I will be looking for a positive post from you soon! Going back to 30 or 20 even is not defeat - it's a restart for your brain.  smile  

    • gina38408
      gina38408 patricia22438

      Posted

      I had tapered over time and my most recent amount was 10mg-I had been on that for awhile and was doing fine. I think my mistake was going to zero from there. I took 10 yesterday and I think I am going to take 5 today and alternate that for awhile. I feel so terrible (still) today. My belly and leg cramps are God-awful. If I were to go back to any dose it would be 10...but...trying not to go that far. I REALLY appreciate your response to me. This is all so very confusing. I can't wait to be on the other side of this! 

    • will20275
      will20275 gina38408

      Posted

      Hi Gina,

      I’ll say a prayer for you to get through this! 

      Will😎

  • gina38408
    gina38408 charles13800

    Posted

    I am seriously so confused. I am so sick I can barely stand it. However, going back on it seems like all this angst was for nothing. 
  • gina38408
    gina38408 charles13800

    Posted

    Well...I just broke down and took some. I am so sick that my head is spinning, my body is tingling, my stomach is hurting, my body is killing me. I cannot believe how awful this is. This weekend was so terrible...I wonder if I will ever be able to be free from this stuff. And, I wonder when I will feel OK again.
    • lois95799
      lois95799 gina38408

      Posted

      Remember you took this Medication for 15 years ..your tapers where too fast..it can take a year or two to wean..and you where at the highest dose 40 milligrams.take care..
  • gina38408
    gina38408 charles13800

    Posted

    Yes, I now realize what I have done wrong...not sure what to do to fix it. 
  • leanne83332
    leanne83332 charles13800

    Posted

    i’ve been completely off of citalopram for around 8 weeks, it started off not bad just some dizziness and tiredness but i now have extreme numbness in my legs and arms sometimes and pins and needles also ringing in my ears ,pains in my face .

    has anyone had these and seen the light at the end of the tunnel? i am worrying i have something more serious wrong but it all coinsides with me stopping these tablets . 

    any help or advise wouod he greatly received.

    thanks 

    • lois95799
      lois95799 leanne83332

      Posted

      You probably wean too rapidly ..your having delay withdrawals ..you can either reinstate or ask your doctor for a benzo..
    • leanne83332
      leanne83332 lois95799

      Posted

      thanks for the reply,what is a benzo?

      i was only on 10mg for year and half and started taking only ever other day then stopped . will this go away? or will i need to go baxk on it! i really really don’t want to go back on these tablets .

    • lois95799
      lois95799 leanne83332

      Posted

      Oh no wonder your having withdrawals .. weaning should of took you at least 6months or so to come off..and a benzo is xanex/Valium/Klonopin etc...you will more than likely need to reinstate the celexa..
  • helen73879
    helen73879 charles13800

    Posted

    Hi all, has anyone got through the other side of the dizziness, headaches and nausea after stopping completely? I’m two and a half weeks into stopping completely after alternating days at 5mg. I’m still feeling sick and dizzy and didn’t expect it to last this long. Will it ever go away? If so how many weeks? 
Back to top
Prev Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.