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Citalopram withdrawal advice please

Posted , 4 users are following.

arlene79
arlene79

Hi. I came off citalopram 40mgs starting from july i think. I went from 40 to 30mg over a week then 20mg a week then 10 for week and stopped on docs advice. I was fine. 2wks later i became dizzy. Had nausea. Just couldnt function. Went to gp not my regular one who said i had imbalance and got anti nausea drug for few days and had to space out till saw my own gp week later. I also had what felt like bugs crawling over my back. I bately slept. Had vivid dreams. Felt like crying. Jittery. Sweating. Headache. Irritability. Palpitations. Head felt like exploding. This lasted a week and was sheer hell. By time saw own gp felt better and had also bought vitamin b complex and zinc and tried to improve my diet. I felt normal and had energy. This lasted a week. Now the dizziness and nausea has come back big time and i feel low in mood. Like crying. Heart missing beats. Headache. Fatigue. Jittery. Afraid. Anxious. My muscles also ferl so weak as if no strength in arms and legs. I also get diazepam which is only 2mg and i took one yesterday to calm me and one today. Only use in emergencies. I was taken off citalopram to go on another drug. My consultant wanted me to just start straight on it but gp wanted me off citalopram first. I have yet to start the other drug as too afraid. What i would like advice on is if anyone has had withdrawal symptoms on and off. How long do they last. I cant get appt with own gp for another 11 days. I dont know whether to continue like this or go back on but not up to 40mg. I was fine till docs started messing with my meds. Any advice would be great. Thanks

0 likes, 26 replies

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  • David_21660
    David_21660 arlene79

    Posted

    Hi Arlene,

    Sorry to hear you had cr*p advice from yer GP because, that was way, way too quick!  However the good news is that Katecogs is on the case and you will get sound advice from that lady.

    Listen to her, get to some level point where you are not suffering withdrawl and balanced and take it from there.  Then I suggest you mention this site to your GP and where he/she is missing vital info regarding looking after patients (messing them about!) when they do not know much about sticking plasters for the brain (the meds) and obviously the effects they have.

    Keep posting, keep listening to Kate, amongst others, and get yer self levelled oout before you do or take anything else.

    Best Regards,

    David

     

    • arlene79
      arlene79 David_21660

      Posted

      Hi thanks for response. Im just so confused and feel awful. Like i responded to katecogs i thought too quick but ive came off anti dd before no problem although shorter time on them and probably different brand. Ive been on 40mgs for 3yrs since my mum died and 20mgs for a few years before that. I think my docs must know about this site as our surgery has patient access and laughable as access to Gp is 2weeks just now unless get same day appt with whatever doc covering and wsit for hours to be seen. I did that few weeks back for anti nausea drug and was hell sitting in waiting room spinning and doc i saw only gave me few days anti nausea drugs even though my notes if she had read would have told her id just come off meds
  • Citaloman
    Citaloman arlene79

    Posted

    Hi Arlene,

    I 've had same problem with my doctor until I changed to one that knows what they are doing. You have come off way too quick. Absolutely ludicrous.  In my opinion this is negligence on the part of doctor. It is a doctors responsibility to know about the drugs they are prescribing. I'd like to see doctors struck off for doing things like this, they should not be practicing. I am withdrawing at the moment at a rate of just 1mg every 2 weeks. From 20mg to 0 over 10 months or more. In your position i'd be changing Drs and going back on citalopram for a few more week, then starting a long and gradual withdrawal using the citlopram drops. Each drop is about 2mg. I have used a 10mg tablet with the rest made up using the drops.

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