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Coming off citalopram. :(

Posted , 299 users are following.

smallfry
smallfry

I've been on 20mg citalopram now for just over a year. I decided to come off about 3 weeks ago as I had

started to feel so much better, which I put down to a combination of counselling and the drug which really did do wonders for my depression. I actually hadn't realised quite how bad it was till I started taking citalopram and I felt normal!

I've come off it properly, one every 2 days, then half every 2, then quarter every 2/3 days. The whole process took about 3/4 months. Now I'm on nothing. The physical withdrawl hasn't been too bad. I've been dizzy and kinda sick for the first week or so and that's starting to go now. However I've been feeling awful emotionally. I feel just as bad as I did before I started the medication, worse even! I feel incompetent at my job and I've even started wondering if it's right for me, I'm a teacher and I've always loved my job. I'm becoming paranoid about my relationship and tearful at the slightest thing.

I feel very depressed and unstable if that makes sense. I almost feel suicidal. Is this normal?? I really need some reassurance that I won't need to be on this for the rest of my life. sad

23 likes, 1894 replies

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  • karen540
    karen540

    Posted

    Hi Clare, just want to say Gillians way does work I know cos I'm using it and have got down to 5mg alternate 2.5mg. do it slowly and your brain and gut have chance to readust to making enough serotonin. I had a really bad experience due to bad advice (from dr's both times) I became suicidal, very scary as I was only put on them for panic attacks and felt really scared to try again so did'nt for over a year till I found this website. YOU can do it safely if you do it slowly, all the best Karen.
  • karen540
    karen540

    Posted

    Clare, I forgot to add that I felt just like you do tired and anxious on 20mg, I started feeling so much better even just alternating with 15mg every other day . Try it for a week before going back up to 30mg the 20mgdose really disagreed with my metabolism, maybe its the same for you?
  • gillian176
    gillian176

    Posted

    Thanks for that Karen

    I just continue to be amazed at the lack of GP knowledge though. It's scary...

    I can do better!

    Good luck all

  • jax123
    jax123

    Posted

    Dear All,

    Thanks so much Karen for your advice. Guys I am starting my journey of cutting back in Cit today. If you recall I was on 20mg for over a year, and then the doctor upped my dose to 40mg, within a week, I felt awful, teary, extreme fatigue, headaches and nausea...so after 7 days I went straight back down to 30mg, and after 2 days (today) I've taken 20mg. I am now going to start the slow reduction process from 20mg down to 0mg. I think it will take a good 3/4 months. So am just hoping I do okay. I WANT TO BE OFF THESE TABLETS, and be able to function off them. Any advice for now?

  • marbel
    marbel

    Posted

    Hi

    just to say I have finally moved from taking 5, 2.5 alternating since July to 2.5, 2.5, 5mg!

    I wasn't brave enough to go straight to 2.5 as had problems in July doing so. I even delayed reducing for two weeks as things are stressful with building at home. I've been reducing since October last year from 20mg so it is a slow process for me but I'm looking at the long term picture.

    Not having any probs with this except a slight overheated feeling for a few evenings.

    I really want to avoid the awful and dreadful experiences and feelings that others are having from going cold turkey.

  • gillian176
    gillian176

    Posted

    Jax. Marbel

    Jax. I started reducing from 20mg mid July and am still at 10-10-5-10-10-5

    It's not a race!

    Go slow

    Doesn't matter if it takes months..or more

    Yr body needs time to readjust and make its own seratonin

    Marbel..well done. Sounds like a plan

    Yes I am getting bit hot as well! Thought was just me

    I woke this morning feeling a bit black dog but I have family illness to deal with as well and must not confuse feelings anxiety over that with reduction wobbles...

    Coming on this sight for mutual support helps

    Good luck everyone

    This drug did the trick initially but now it's time to goooooo

  • jax123
    jax123

    Posted

    I feel like I just need to get off and try and control my life myself and on rely on the tablet. I am scared of coming off them and am scared of staying on them.
  • lisa05115
    lisa05115

    Posted

    Hi guys im new to this site I have been on these tabs for longer than i care to admit i have tried on numerous ocasions to come of them but i get the dizziness and the hadaches but the main wory is i get such a temper i never get angry normally but i can be an nightmare th dlightest thing woul have me seeting and foaming with rage and that terriefied me whe i went to my doc he told me i would be on them for lift now as my wn body has stopped producing a certain chemical that i now have to rely on the ctl for i too gainedd weight but more worrying am losing my memory i forget basic stuff names of items n such

    has anyone else hadthese sort of symptoms

    sorry keyboard sticking so not all words completed lol

    • al6684
      al6684 lisa05115

      Posted

      I have been on this for 3+ years, I'm also on numerous other meds to try and get me back to a somewhat normal life. I've attempted to come off this multiple times and each time I have very similar side effects, the rage is what forces me to get back on them. But being on them has caused other side effects that has keep me from working due to side effects like tremors and stammering and the occasional breakdown. The meds have caused sexual side effects such as ED, which obviously causes me to feel less like a man, but thankfully my wife understands. The doctor has prescribed viagra and cialis to help but again more medication just to be somewhat normal. I've noticed over the past year that my memory is getting worse and I can only only assume it's due to the medications. My doctor says without the meds I could end up worse than I was before so I'm just not sure what to do or where to turn. If you have received any advise on how to come off the meds without the terrible side effects I would be so grateful to here about it. I just want my normal life back as I'm sure you do too but I'm very confused at what is better, being someone who can't provide for my family or being a raging a$$ who flies off the handle at everyone.
  • chris87308
    chris87308

    Posted

    Hi agen

    I went cold turkey last Sunday and i found this site during the week to lol.

    so far it hasn been so bad ysday i was getting the dizziness but nothing really major just when i was walking and sometimes when i was working on pc, but because i have been reading the posts on the site i have learned what the side affects can be so it hasn scared the life out of me lol. and i dont panic cos i know thats ment to happen you know? im getting little spaz in my face and the odd flash to.

    befor i would have got all worked up cos i felt i needed to get back on my pills but i had ran out then i would have went for a few drinks to compensate and that just put me in a rut. but this time when i get a side effect i understand what is happen to my body and thats helps me work trough it if you understand what i mean.

    im just worried im going to get into a big dip soon, but nothing so far. Is maybe this the right time for me have i got the ballance back??

  • kerry1978
    kerry1978

    Posted

    Hi everyone. .it's been 12 days since going cold turky..terrible head and body zaps today..sickness itching all still here. .but I'm determined to kick this..xxx
  • karen540
    karen540

    Posted

    Hi Lisa, Chris and Kerry,

    So impressed youare sticking with the cold turkey Chris, it does help when you know what to expect I agree.

    Lisa I was an absolute nightmare when I first cutback I was unbelievably rude, flew off the handle at the slightest thing, which is why I started trying the cutting back a tiny bit at a time method I read about on this site and thank heavens it has worked. I honestly dont have a lot of confidence in Drs advice now regarding getting off citalopram, have you ever tried the very slow reduction process, it has made all the difference even though it takes ages it does seem to cut back on the more scary side effects? Hope you are all ok today another day closer to saying goodbye to 'C'.

    • Singers1121
      Singers1121 karen540

      Posted

      Does the anger subside? I went off citalopram gradually and have been completely off for about 3 weeks now. I find myself getting extremely angry over nothing! Please tell me this wont last!!
    • sara72296
      sara72296 karen540

      Posted

      i just saw this site and am wondering if you are still off the meds and if your feelings of rage are gone !!!!  i moved to another country and ran out of my meds 3 weeks ago and i just want to throw things and scream and am mean to my husband but he is the only one iwant to be around !  my head feels like it has burst for a second and i am sad and tear up but the rage is what scares me ! i feel like i am crazy and just want to kill mtself .    olz let me know if you are off and how you are doing and if there is hope for me ! thank you 
    • sara72296
      sara72296 Singers1121

      Posted

      i saw this site and wonder since its been 3 months  how you are and if there is hope for me !  i feel like y head flies into little burst for a second and mostly the rage i feel inosde at nothing . plz let me know if there is hope   thank you
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