Coming off citalopram. :(

There is some hope. I was on Celexa for over a decade. I had to come off of it recently because of a side effect it had on another medicine I began taking (Rhythmol for atrial fibrillation). Aside from a tendency to tear up at odd times, I've had no noticeable side effects. So there is hope!

Hi all, I've just been looking around this forum and can really say 'thank God, I'm not alone'. I have been on Citalopram 60mg for 5 years, started on 20 then went to 40 then to 60 within the 1st 2 years of having

depression and borderline OCD.

I have felt much better taking these tablets, but have had issues with weight gain and poor sex drive. That said these tablets have really helped me get through a bad period in my life.

Just 4 months ago I mad the decision to come off the tablets, I had already changed from 60 mg to 40mgdaily on my own for about 6 months. Then went to see my GP and took his advice on coming off them.

Reduced down from 40 1 day to 20 the next for about a month, then 20 every day for a month, then 20

every other day for a month, then 20 twice a week for a month.

Now I am not taking anything and my symptoms include strange heart palpitations (especially at night),

headaches, very low feelings,crying, very very angry outbursts over the silliest thing, irratability, no sex

drive,low energy levels, over eating and I'm a downright bastard at times to people I love.

I'm now contemplating taking them again because I being a shit to my new husband and in general feel as though I am back at square 1, 5 years ago.

It does help that I have read this forum and now don't feel alone. I don't talk to anyone about this as I

think people would be sick of hearing about it and some people say 'stay on the tablets or don't moan

about coming off them' HELPFUL!

Will I get though this? As anyone else done this? Is it just coming off the tablets or am I still depressed?

HELP PLEASE

Hi Sarah- it's so hard to come off them - the posts I've read of people reducing inevitably ends in tears - I'm at the stage where I'm on 20mg until everything in my world is perfect...which I guess will be forever! It would be nice (due to weight gain and decreased sex drive) to be off them but at the end of the day the journey is too much of a struggle- I felt worse reducing my dose than when I was prescribed them 2 years ago...I wish I hadn't started them but then I guess I wouldn't be here now without them. Life is short you have to take each day as it comes and if it means taking the big c then so be it!

Hi Sarah , thesymptoms you are describing are what researchers euphamistically call 'reduction syndrome' your not supposed to call it withdrawal symptoms it upsets the drug companies!

I really don't think you are still depressed, what you have described is exactly what an enormous number of people experience trying to come off citalopram as someone else once observed they really are a nasty little drug often creating far more problems than they solve.

You may need to stay on a stabilising dose for a while and the try cutting back say 5ml for a period of time before reducing further. you were on an incredibly high dose, well done for at least trying to get down to a lower dose, I wish you all the best.

PS my husband has'nt been incredibly supportive despite being a pharmacist although now he has read up on it he is more understanding, and a little shocked at the way c is prescribed for such long periods of time.

Hi Sarah

i hear you on this i find the anger issue the most stressful and have decided to stay on them maybe get down to 5 and take it from there x hope you are successful but try not to let it become an issue if you decide to wait a while x good luck all

Hi low sex drive weight gain ..yes been there done that!

But I think your coming off them far too quickly and that's caused your problems. I won't bore you with my reduction plan! It's back there in the posts

Hi guys new to this forum, ok I have been on my cit for well over a year, after a completely crazily messed up mental looney got into my head, my cit helped me remain in control to a degree, however a situation occurred a few weeks ago which resulted in my self harm coming up again. It was only after this episode that I concluded the cit weren't designed to block negative thoughts etc, but were just as serotonin inhibitors.. With this in mind I decided to stop my tablets on Saturday, and apart from the skittishness and dizziness, bad dreams etc I am glad to having emotion, being able to cry, being able to laugh out loud at things. Don't get me wrong I am so grateful for being on the tablets, but they aren't a long term answer, for me I have to learn to let bad stuff go over me. The side effects of coming off any medication are always going to exist, but if your ready to fly again then persist with it, they won't last forever. It will get better. Good luck and lots of love xx

Hi everyone. .just though I'd give you a little update for those who are looking to gajn answers to what happens next..been nearly 2 weeks cold turkey after 2 years of cit..still dizzy..brain zap..can't sleep.awful anger and rage..tears..pretty much the same as 2 weeks ago apart from the awful dihorea. . ( I know..sorry)..plus side..I've managed to get a doctors appointment for Thursday to get bp checked and make sure they know what I'm doing. .secondly have my very first counselling appointment on Monday. .a room with a complete stranger who I'm hoping will ultimately help me deal with my depression WITHOUT drugs...only time will tell..but I'm sure that because of the withdrawal of these tablets and what I have to go through to get off them only confirms how little I know about these tablets!! Thanks to everyone who has replied and made me realise I'm absolutely not on my own..that in itself helps me every day..THANK YOU..each and every one of you x

HI everyone,

I'm based in Sydney and it's been great finding a forum to share experiences on Citalopram. I've been on it

for 4 years initially taking 20mg for the first 2 years then upping to 40mg for the previous 2 years. I have also had weekly counselling sessions to help me develop strategies to cope with anxiety and to help with getting

through a messy divorce and becoming a single mum to two very young girls.

However, the weight gain and the memory loss I have endured on 40mg has gotten me to the point of wanting to get off it. I also feel that my life is stable and I'm ready.

I tried last year to go cold turkey and almost had to commit myself to a mental ward. Seriously. I could not

function and was so exhausted with blurred vision that I could not drive. I had to mentally tell myself to put

one foot in front of the other in order to walk. My GP (who had advised this strategy) just said "oh well that

means you're not ready to come off them. Go back on to the 40mg" Cheers.

After reading this forum I am so angry with my GP for advising me to go cold turkey, I feel that was really

negligent. I could have had a breakdown. Plus I am on my own with my girls as the sole carer so had no one to support me or them. In short it was horrendous advise and awful to endure.

So, 6 months ago I decided to start cutting down my dose by 5mg month. I had no symptoms until I got down

to 5mg when I experienced terrible muscle cramping in my legs. Very painful.

I have been citalopram FREE for 6 days....I have the brain and body zaps constantly, diarrhoea, extreme

lethargy but the worst is the BRAIN FOG. I feel I have cotton wool in my head. I had no motivation for anything and I just want to stay inside and hide. Another symptom I have is that I've been very angry and snappy with my girls and have very little patience which I feel extremely guilty about.

I am also very bloated. Much worse than when I was on citalopram. I have started taking Executive B Formula vitamins and a probiotic so I hope that will help.

I have 2 stone to lose and I know it is a direct result of taking the cipram because I have had a personal

trainer for 7 months, have been seeing TWO dieticians and following their advise to the letter - 1300 cals per day, low carbs and no sugar plus exercise and I have not lost a single pound.

PLEASE PLEASE can I have some words of encouragement and motivation as I am struggling to see the

light at the end of the tunnel. When will these withdrawal symptoms end?

x

Hi Megawati...repeat after me...'I'm a single mum..I can get through this..I'm stronger than I think' dealing with what you are going through and being a mum is so hard..but you have found the right site to realise that you're very normal and its the drugs that are the problem. .you're doing the right thing. .and there absolutely is light at the end of the tunnel x

Thank you Kerry1978, I will repeat the mantra today. Instead of getting cross with my 3 year old! How are

your symptoms going? the brain/body zaps are strange arent they?

I am horrified at increasing number ofGPs who do not know what they are doing

Cold turkey is not the way to go

Slow slow

See my past posts

Am down to 10-10-5-10 etc

Will be aware of what you said though! At 5mg. Weird that isn't it. I may go even slower then

Yesi take vitamins with probiotics...is the gut where seratonon is made so it helps

Good luck and yesi will get there..will my memory come back tho!

I have lost some weight since reduction

I too was at gym every day and watching diet but subtly it went on...

Hi all, well after 9 days off Citalopram i feel blessed that my "withdrawal symptoms" have gone, I've lost 1kg and I've not felt so alive and good in a long time! I wish you all the very best, remember take it slow and keep it manageable, you can do it!

Hi All,

Yes I can't believe some GP's I find it a lot better to talk to people like you who are going through the same things and know what I am talking about. I am now down to 5mg everyday and have found this the worst drop as regards withdrawal symptoms and they didn't start till week 4, now on week 5 and still there but some days are better than others, the brain fogs and bloating seem bad, I am glad meg said about the bloating as I was beginning to think it was all my old problems coming back as my anxiety all started with stomach problems, after tests was told it was IBS, but when the stomach feels bad the anxiety starts, I am still worried about the final drop but think I will stay on 5mg till the new year.

Good luck to you all, I'm thinking of you and know what you're going through but we'll get there.especially when we hear encouraging stories like kurani's. xxxx