Coming off citalopram. :(

Thank you Kurani for sharing your story, your anguish.

You have had a lot to deal with, in your life and that takes a lot to get over because you never forget.

I won't go over what I've been through too but I have had trauma too and the death of my mother who I loved dearly and miss so much.

I realise that the tablets have become a crutch and I've been scared to come off them. The time just wasn't right as it was one problem after another.

Now, I feel the time is right, to get my life back. I'm a very emotional person but, also, a strong person and the doctor has told me that. She has seen people crack with less than I have gone through.

Today, after a week of cutting down, I felt dizzy and not too good, but, as the morning has passed, I'm beginning to feel better and so determined that I will stop taking all antidepressants - I've tried them all.

I've had quite a bit of counselling etc., which didn't help at all; it only brought the old memories back and I felt worse.

I hope you can move on and I do wish you a happy life as you VERY much deserve that.

All best wishes to you.

S

Hi all.

I have been on citalopram since the age of 20 in 2010. I went through a hugely rough time- lost much of my memory, hallucinations, fainting, nose bleeds, crying fits, tremors were all part of my conditions. However, it did help me hugely and I probably wouldnt be here if it wasnt for my doc recommending it to me.

I am being tapered off my citalopram for a couple of months now and Im currently on 10mg having started at 60mg. Im proud of myself. And Im proud of all of you too.

The worst withdrawal symptoms Im getting are the all over itching and the 'underwater spacy' feeling where you feel like everything is moving at 1mph. I can say a cream from the chemist called EURAX has really relieved the itching as has applying aloe vera gel to my body when I itch. The spacy feeling still lingers.

I really and truly believe that if we channel our minds to be positive, blissful and accept things for what they are rather than worry about what could or could not be, we will all be ok. No its not easy but we can do. And we will.

Love and light to you all.

Thank you JKK.

A few more days and I will be SSRI free - first time in 13 years!!! YEEHAA!

I'm having very few side-effects at all and have far more energy. It's people and circumstance that bring me down because I'm a very emotional person - always have been and always will be and I have to recognise that.

Love and light to you to. Here's to a drug-free life.

*too

Mrs Mac,

Just reading your posts and would say if you experience any setbacks, go back to say 10 or 15mg and take it slowly down from there. Am worried that you may experience withdrawal symptoms as you seem to be coming off very quickly. Some people are fine with this but everyone is different and you might find after a few weeks you suddenly start to feel bad again. I hope you dont, but just take care.

Best of luck

Thank you Bday, I understand what you are saying and worried too, that I might, suddenly, crash. This is what my doctor told me to do, although I think I might go on 10 mg a day instead of every second day for a week, as you say. I think it's far too quick, after being on SSRI's for 13 years!!!!

I've been on Cit for 9 years now and tried to come off 6 times without success. Came off fairly slowly each time and felt not too bad until I stopped completely, then crashed and had full blown depression and anxiety. So this time doc said just drop down very slowly to 10mg (am now on 12.5mg) over six months. Going very well so far, feel great, very "zippy" and in a good mood. I think Cit made my personality a bit strange although it really helped me thru a very bad patch, I would love to be off it. Too many side effects imo - weight gain, tiredness, lack of empathy and feeling "flat" - not getting much excitement out of life. At the moment I feel a lot better, so even if I cant give it up completely, dropping from 20 to 10 has got to be an improvement!

That's how I feel Bday - I feel 'normal' and quite alive and bright. Just realising how much they subdued me and took my, normal, bubbly personality away.

Instead of 10 zero 10 zero, I think I will take 10 every day for a week and then the 10 zero.

Fingers crossed.

Hi All,

Just been going through all your posts and I so agree with those who say they are thankful for this forum - it really helps to inspire and keep me going on the cold turkey ride which I should never have gotten on! It makes such a difference to know that you guys are out there experiencing some of the same things - and experienced the same things while taking the drug - and sharing it really helps, so thank you for all your posts. Here's to all of us achieving a drug-free life :-)

Sophia

Cheers, Sophia.

Looking back, I don't think drugs helped me at all but I needed that 'crutch'.

My doctor will not prescribe tranquillisers yet, will, happily prescribe these. A couple of tranquillisers to get me over the worst would have been far more helpful than Cit. and co. and I wouldn't have been on them for 13 years!

Hi Ms Mac,

Yes, I know what you mean - it seems like a very 'blanket approach' that well-meaning doctors use. I agree with your comment about whether they actually help - sometimes wonder if they were doing all that much to curb the depression when I think of the dose (10mg) and wonder if perhaps ther isn't an element of the placebo effect for some of us on such a low dose? Shame it still has the weight gain effect though!!

Good luck to all and remember not to do the cold turkey !!

Sophia

Hi Sophia

When I was on 40 mg (during a bad spell), I still had suicidal thoughts. If I'd been on 10mg, I would probably have felt as 'well'. I think the placebo effect works just as well. If you think something is helping, it will.

Good luck on your recovery.

Sandra

Hi Sandra,

Yes I think you're right. Sometimes I think belief is as powerful as being! Hope your recovery is going in the right direction too - all the best!

Sophia

Thanks Sophia

This is the brightest I've felt in years and have more energy.

Cheers!

Sandra

That's fabulous news, Sandra, and should keep all of us inspired enough to keep going through all the hideous side-effects! Looking forward to it!