Citalopram withdrawal. Help.
Posted , 10 users are following.
I have been on Citalopram on and off for several years. I decided to wean myself off it as it was giving me tinnitus and didn't want to take it forever. I tapered the dose slowly, although in hindsight, maybe not slowly enough. It's been around two months since I stopped and everything went well at the start. I can honestly say I didn't notice any difference. But in the last month there has been a gradual build up of symptoms. I actually wondered at one point if I was getting early onset dementia. I know your brain naturally forgets things for it to function, but I've actually been scared on some occasions. For example, I randomly forgot the word for cabbage. It came back to me but I just couldn't get the name. Also, I deliberately went to pick something up in the supermarket and thought I'd picked it up, then got home with something completely different, without realising. Also, in a restaurant, our meals came to the table and I'd completely forgotten that I'd changed my order. So I'm at the table saying I hadn't ordered what they had brought me.
Reading this back it sounds trivial and silly, and I think because I've noticed a memory issue, I'm noticing and over analysing everything now(I suffer from anxiety and OCD).
In addition, I feel as though my brain is foggy sometimes and I can't think straight. I feel confused and can't concentrate. I feel as though my anxiety has returned ten fold, although sometimes I feel ok. I wake up sometimes feeling panicky, but I don't know why. I generally feel I don't want to go out or see anyone. I often can't be bothered to engage in conversation, either that or I won't shut up. I've read that some people have a horrendous time coming off citalopram or SSRIs, but I've mainly read about the more physical symptoms and not the mental ones. I really don't know what to do.
0 likes, 82 replies
Potatoghost liz25203
Posted
was just about to comment saying that their is a lovely lady who will know how to help called toria but it seems shes already replied x
toria_07298 Potatoghost
Posted
aw bless you potato, hope youre doing ok? ive got eyes everywhere lol x
elcolonel liz25203
Posted
Hi Liz,
this sounds too much like my own symptoms for me not to post. I also have terrible tinnitus and I am pretty sure the 2 are related - I have been taking Citalopram for over 10 years on and off - i think if you want to taper down you should go and see your GP and see what they recommend? There may be another SSRI that would work better for you?
Its a horrible place being where you are right now - but remember that you do (eventually) see the other side ... keep your chin up x
lois95799 elcolonel
Posted
i had tinnitus for two years and finally it went away.i also did not get off the celexa only to get back on.best regards
liz25203 elcolonel
Posted
Thank you. Yes, I think citalopram and tinnitus are definitely connected. It comes up a lot on Google searches.
Grounded liz25203
Posted
I had/ have those memory issues while on the celexa so not sure it's a withdrawl symptom. I was on too high of a dose at that time and I think my mind was just overwhelmed with anxiety and caused it to not think straight, because when I was calmer it wasn't like that and the memory issue wasn't there. Oh and I also have ocd and I think with that during a time of high stress if you forget a word or something our minds will obsess over that so much that it will actually cause us to forget things! I don't think you have dementia or early onset I believe that you have really bad anxiety right now and your mind is just overwhelmed. Just give it time to calm back down and relax and it will get better.
laura45992 Grounded
Posted
Ive said many times that my brain fog on this med feels like dementia. I forget common words all too often, even peoples names Ive known for years. Its also like I dont always hear people when theyre talking to me. Theyll tell me theyve told me something and I have no memory of it. Seems a bit better since Ive reduced, but still very strange. My husband has always made fun of my crazy good memory so this is very unlike me
lois95799 laura45992
Posted
definitely celexa side effects.i had all that plus more .but it all subsided.
toria_07298 laura45992
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my memory is a hundred times better since reducing but when i have a bad day with withdrawal it flares up, but alot of the time i actually feel intelligent again x
liz25203 laura45992
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I had exactly the same this evening. My husband told me about a conversation we had a week ago. I have no recollection of it. It totally panics me. I seem to feel worse earlier in the day for some reason. Come bedtime I feel more relaxed.
laura45992 liz25203
Posted
Same. Mornings are the worst. I usually cant get started before 9am.
katecogs liz25203
Posted
Is it withdrawl or is it the return of the symptoms now being meds free. Probably the latter.
Often when people come off medicine they can easily slip back into the habit of anxiety. Meds hang onto your Serotonin helping you to feel calm and happy, and once you stop the medicine your body won’t be performing this function anymore and will go back to its normal level.
Thats fine, though once the old familiar feelings start you’ll easily slip back into the cycle of anxiety again, with the feelings and thoughts feeding each other.
This is why I profess about learning about anxiety, knowing why it starts, why it stays (becuase we feed it) and how to help yourself in preparation in being meds free.
The brainfog is simply your mind becoming overcrowded with thoughts and feelings with no room to think clearly. There is nothing physically wrong ie dementia - your mind is just tired.
You can’t fix this unless you know how to, and you’ll end up going round in circles making it worse. This is how we feed our anxiety making us become stuck in a cycle.
Yes some SSRI’s can cause tinnitus, and agree, see your GP and discuss another SSRI. There’s many out there and there’ll be one that suits you better. Escitalopram is meant to be easier to take.
Another alternative first is to try 5-HTP which is a natural SSRI, it works quicker and has no start up or withdrawal effects and can be bought over the counter. Worth trying before going down the SSRI route. Note though, do not take 5-HTP if you do start SSRI’s.
laurel64844 liz25203
Posted
When I started taking it 20 years ago, I never intended on staying on it long term. I was going through a rough patch in my life and needed temporary relief. I've tried weaning myself off several times, but because of the continuous brain zaps and emotional feelings (crying for no reason), I was never successful. I've come to the conclusion, I'll just have to stay on it forever. I did cut my dosage from 10mg to 5mg. You, too, may have to stay on it because of your anxiety.
liz25203
Posted
Thank you so much for your replies. It means a great deal to me. Although I can talk to my other half and he's very supportive, he can't really understand what I feel like and if it's normal. I think the main issue for me is when I had completely stopped the Citalopram (end of May), I didn't have any issues. Then all the symptoms gradually started hitting in the last few weeks. I read that the withdrawal hits in two stages, and maybe it's the seratonin gradually dropping that has kicked off the memory and concentration issues and the other symptoms a few weeks after stopping. As I said, I suffer from anxiety and OCD, which tend to fuel one another. The anxiety then doesn't help my memory and I start dwelling and obsessing on every little thing. The logical part of me tells me this is 'just' the withdrawal. The anxiety-ridden me tells me there's something seriously wrong with my brain. I just want to feel like me again. On a positive note, I think the Citalopram was causing my nasal congestion and my sense of smell had all but gone. The congestion has completely disappeared and my sense of smell is gradually coming back.
lois95799 liz25203
Posted
do you still have tinnitus??
toria_07298 liz25203
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when i change doses it always takes 7 to 8 weeks to hit me x
liz25203 lois95799
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yes, I still have it. That was one of the main reasons I wanted to stop Citalopram. It's not hugely annoying but I was worried that it may get worse.
lois95799 liz25203
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i thought mine would get worst also but i was wrong finally after two years it dissapeared.it just got less n less as my anxiety got better from the celexa so did my tinitus among other sideeffects.