Coming off citalopram. :(

I went on Citalopram in feb this year and am now trying to come off it at the recommendation of my GP

I found this site and like all of you greatly appreciate the discussions encouragement and support from everyone.

The initial 3 weeks of starting were awful and it was very helpful to read similar feedback

It was worse than before I started

After that I became the women I used to be and my husband was delighted at my mood levels

I really felt that I had had a chemical missing ...and was now firing on all cylinders. I told my GP that and whilst I also said I didn't want to be on it forever...it's the stigma depression thing..she also said well at least you will be a happy old person, but she must have forgotten that or is following protocol...thinks is best to be well off it before the winter. 😏

I had forgotten that in my early research that probiotics helped in serotonins manufacture in the gut

. So thank you to that person who reminded me. I have reordered my supply PDQ

I was only on 20 mg but have done two weeks of 20 20 10 then just started on 20 10 20 but almost at once Felt..just not right...

Nervy irritable sick feeling in stomach..so am reverting back to 20 20 10 and back to taking them at night before bed. For ten days or so I have been taking them am but leaving them unbubble wrapped by the bed.

Thank you to whoever it was that said this may affect their chemical composition

I know that these feelings may be reducing side affects but hey that's why I took them in first place!

I definitely do not want to go back to that state

I know that slowly slowly is the answer and maybe I should have known better than just to do two weeks of initial reduction

So I will get the vitamins with probiotics back into my system and try again. I use Healthspan site

So thank you all and now I am registered I will follow through on this site. First time for me too ☺👍

Hello,

I have just read through the messages above and wonder how the people thinking about coming off of citalopram have got on, I had been on 20 mg since July 2012, I went to down to 15mg in April for a month then down to 10mg which should have been for a month, then I should have gone down to 5mg for a month then nothing but the second week on 10mg was awful and it has put me off going down any more even though I am fine now and have been most of the time it was just the second week on 10mg when I felt awful, I would love to come off of them completely because I know if I don't do it I never will. I would love to hear how others have got on.

If it was just the second week you felt rough and your ok now, why don't you just give yourself another month on 10 mg then do the 5 mg

I should practise what I preach! I have just gone to 20 15 20 15 as on 20 10 I was not doing well

However as I was feeling so much better today I did reflect that hey if I Did have to stay on it for the rest of my life..what's the big deal...

Hi Gill,

Thanks for your reply, like you I think so what if I have to stay on it for the rest of my life and then I think that I should be getting off of it, I just take it every morning and don't think any more about it for the rest of the day, before I started taking the citalopram the anxiety was awful and was on my mind all the time, it is so nice to feel 'normal' again, I think what worries me is that when I last saw my GP we agreed for me to come off by a 5mg reduction every month which means I should have been off of it at the end of June but when I put in a repeat prescription I still get the tablets, I think I will carry on as I am for a bit longer and see how it goes.

I hope things go well for you and like you say if you have to stay on them and you feel well that is the main thing.

Christine.

Hi Cmc,

Everyone is different in the time they need to come off while still feeling ok. The brain takes a time to readjust to the drop in citalopram and think how complicated and awesome the brain is. So give it the time it needs.

I found the a four week cycle a bit too soon to drop as well. I had problems dropping to 2.5 mg after being on an alternating dose of 5, 2.5 mg 5mg for four weeks. Previously I had been dropping every six weeks which worked fine but I got a little impatient!.

When I had trouble dropping to the 2.5mg the pharmacist suggested to stay at the slightly higher dose (alternating 5mg,2.5mg,5mg) for three months then try to reduce again after that. My yucky feelings cleared up very quickly when I went back to this slightly higher dose

Another suggestion is to do as Gill is doing (and me) and before dropping to five milligrams (when you are confident) you could alternate 10mg and then 5 mg the next day, 10, 5, 10, 5....until you have completed that for four/six weeks. A pill cutter is cheap at the chemist.

Your GP has indicated that coming off citalopram happens slowly. I thought it was great that he/she suggested a slow month by month drop. Let them know how you are getting on and that you want to take it even slower. When you have a chat with them I'm sure they will also support you coming off slower than he/she thought. Especially as you are feeling good at 10mg. Don't beat yourself up. The brain just needs some TLC. What do others think?.

Hi Marbel,

Thanks for your reply and help, I admit I never thought it would be so difficult to come off of them as it is, your way sounds very good and I will try it that way when I feel ready, I think one of the reasons I am so apprehensive to come off of them completely is because my Mum who is 93 lives with us and she suffers with dementia and I'm worried that if I feel bad I am not going to be of any help to her especially as she has got worse over the last 6 months, but I will see how it goes and have another talk with my GP.

Thanks again.

Christine.

Hi cmc and marbel

Thanks for the chat. You know I don't think these GPs really understand what it's like to try and come off Citalopram unless they have actually done it.

I am encouraged by marbel to do this more slowly by cutting my 10 mg tabs.

I never thought I would need to do that! Once you feel fine and enjoy each day, you forget how awful it was .....or one was! before

So go slow. Insist on it

It must be very hard looking after your mum as well. Can you get a review of her medication and or extra help with respite etc

Look after yourself holistically

it's really not a contest to see how quickly we can come off this drug so lets go easy on ourselves and not feel pressured by anybody

Hi Gill,

Thanks for your replies.

I am going to have to look into getting help with Mum as it is getting more difficult and I find I am getting housebound as well, my partner does the shopping, I can drive but don't enjoy it so he goes while I stay with Mum

That is very true, as you say it is not a contest to get off of citalopram and it doesn't matter how long it takes really to come off, the main thing is how we are feeling and enjoying life.

Hope all goes well for you both.

Christine.

..

Hi christine,

but, yes you must get out and about as part of your therapy. I certainly find I need that

Caring is hard work and you need me time.

Hi everyone, have stuck to my 20-15-20-15 regime as suggested and am really feeling OK on that now and have had four days of vitamins with probiotics. Don't know the value of either really but I sure feel better than 20-10

☺☺

I've been on Cit20 for years, which went up to 40 about 2 years ago. Coming down to 20 in 2 week stages seems to have been OK but, with GP advice, I stopped the 20Cit last week and switched to 15mg Mirtazapine (3 nights) and then 30mg since. I've always taken Cit in the morning (usually the most difficult time of day for me).

Well, that was a severe shock to my brain. I've had continuous dizziness, head zaps, a general feeling of being drunk (no alcohol involved at all - quote "if you think being drunk is nice, ask a glass of water" - Douglas Adams) and out of control and a bit manic - talking (and writing) quickly and without much consideration, very volatile emotions - from "best day ever" to "worst day ever" within 2 hours. Mirt is supposed to be a bit sedating at first which accounts for the initial feeling that I was wearing lead boots in the morning I guess.

Doc recommended yesterday stopping the Mirt and going back to 20Cit. I think he is telling me that this isn't "withdrawal" but a "side-effect". There may be a technical nicety in there that I don't understand but it feels like cit withdrawal to me. I had my last Mirt the night before last but needed some reassurance before going back to Cit,

So having read your posts I'm going to take the plunge and go back to the Cit. I'll try 10 initially and see if that stops the more distressing symptoms. When I'm stable (if) I'll cut down more slowly.

A quick whizz through the posts here is giving me the confidence to do it so thanks to all. I'll let you know how I get on.

Hello bonkers!

That sounds horrendous . Poor you. I reiterate that these GPs don't always know what's best for the patient but then everyone is different

Yes I would get yourself back on cit. ASAP

to recap I was on 20 mg daily when I started cutting back 20-20-10-20-20-10 , that worked AOK for about two weeks

But my next suggested reduction to 20-10-20-10 I realised was not good and am now on second week of 20-15 20-15, that's working fine

There is an internal pressure thought that you should get off it pdq isn't there..but it doesn't work...

I may even try a third week before going to 15 mg nightly and so on. Get a pill cutter as was suggested to me. Makes it easier to have 5mg and even cut that to 2.5mg..I haven't got that far yet though!

Good luck

Day 2 - felt good when I woke up but still very dizzy/drunk Many thoughts and new feelings that I can't put a name to. It feels good rather than bad today. Cit10 yesterday and just now. Hanging in there. Tell me to shut up if this looks like self-indulgent waffle. Bonkers.

On the topic of "getting out" as mentioned by Gillian above - this is the most difficult thing to do but also the most beneficial. When not staggering drunkenly from bed to sofa (due the the meds I hasten to add) I try to get out every day. Even sitting in the garden is better than sitting inside (for me).

Leaving your responsibilities is extremely hard but essential for well-being. Even for 15 mins. I guess its what smokers get when they nip out for a quick ciggie. (No offence meant - whatever works is my rule).