Citalopram withdrawal. Please advise on symptoms.

Posted , 49 users are following.

Hello. I need some advise pls. I started taking citalopram 10mg 18 months ago for health anxiety. I went 'cold Turkey last Wednesday so 7 days ago. I was feeling a lot better and I felt the time had come to stop. Since Saturday I have been having awful falling/whooshing sensations in my head and feel weak and dizzy. Is this because I stopped and how long will this last? I'm feeling very anxious about it.

2 likes, 160 replies

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  • Posted

    yes. I am having similar symptoms....this can last for weeks. I have read that one patient just took one pill once a week then eventually one a month and it helped him. I am going to try this myself and see if it helps...and I will post back here with results.

  • Posted

    Hi Sula

    sad to hear how you are feeling .......I too having the same symptoms

    seems difficult to get answers from anyone.

    I have weaned off of 20mg citalopram over the past 6 weeks with my last 5mg taken 4 weeks ago.

    Have progressively got worse since stopping .......not sure if it withdrawal or original condition but no straight answers.

    I take comfort in reading similar posts on this forum but sad to know people are feeling like me.......its indescribable.

    I too have whooshing noises in my head

    wierd headaches and dizzy. also very disassociate in the morning and takes me most of the day to feel part of the real world.

    all my gp wants me to do is take more ADs

    I have only been taking citalopram for 45 days in total and the gp says it's no problem coming off in 2 weeks.

    any thoughts gratefully received

    take care

    martin

  • Edited

    I hear you. I was on 40 mg Citalopram for 2.5 years. Ive been off now for 3 months and the withdrawal symptoms are horrid. Unbelievable sensations of panic and anxiety. Once that lifts its on to dizzy, lightheaded, off balance stuff. Muscle tension also seems to be something that hits daily. Anyone else feeling this bad, and this far along after discontinuation?

    • Edited

      I too am having extreme anxiety and panic symptoms. I was on 40mg. I'm down to 30mg. I can't imagine stopping this med cold turkey. I would probably end up in the ER.

    • Posted

      I was reduced to 20 and really struggling. anxiety and muscle twitching and now im scared i have something neurological going on w the twitching

    • Edited

      Did you wean off slowly? I feel like just giving up and taking it forever

    • Posted

      That's what I have done, I couldn't go through the unknown.

  • Posted

    Celexa is so hard to stop especially cold turkey! After a week of no celexa your body realizes its missing causing symptoms to appear. I have been on if for 20 years and been trying for months to get off of it. have horrible side effects..

  • Posted

    Hi just like you I stopped them cold turkey after the gp said she was going to wean me off after years of being left on them, I've been through hell pains shooting in my head awful anxiety to the point of not wanting to go out a strange feeling in my head like I'm doing a double take slowly. I gave in today after 5 weeks and asked to go back on them so I've been put on 10mg instead of 20mg to see how it goes, tbh I've forgotten how I used to be before I was put on these but I know now I cant be without them I'm looking forward to the next few weeks when I get to feel better.

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