Coming off citalopram. :(

Hi all,

I am really feeling the need for some support during my process of coming off Celexa, as i have no one around me who can know what its like. I started taking 20mg about 10 months ago to treat minor depression and get through a tough time in my life. I hated relying on a drug and recently felt i was ready to come off. I did not go to a doctor, but did research to see what the best way to discontinue it would be. Knowing I was probably not tapering off enough, I chose to half my dosage for a week, then I completely stopped. Its been a week and half since i stopped altogether. I felt okay at first, other than the woozy, light headed feeling. The last two days I was very fatigued. Absolutely no energy at all. And I've noticed over the last couple days that I've been very irritable. Now, I'm feeling very emotional about the smallest things and today I've felt very low, like how i would feel on occasion before taking the drug in the first place. Having read about withdrawal symptoms, i'm now wondering if my feelings of depression are symptoms of coming off the drug or if they're how I feel underneath the drug, if that makes sense. Will it pass along with the other symptoms? I'm not willing to admit defeat yet and I have given myself until April to see how I feel without taking the drug. Hopefully, by that time, the withdrawal symptoms will have passed and I can more accurately assess my state of being. Any thoughts or advice?

Thank so much!

joslyn79946 ,

From what I can tell everyone metabolizes this drug differently, however most seem to have withdrawal issues. It sounds like you may have stopped to abruptly? Slow, slow, slow seems to be a very successful route.

I am down to 2.5 mgs everyday - on week 7 and will continue another 7 or 8. I tried cold turkey and not for me.

I wish you well.

Micehelle

Ms Mac ,

Thank you so much for posting the article url - it was very interesting. I think maybe now since all these drugs are so main stream and so many people are on them it's relevant.

We just don't know what we don't know.

It's almost like cigarette info that surfaced in the 1950's and now we know for a fact the impact they have on our health.

Thank you again - Michelle.

You're welcome, Michelle.

As the article stated, there is no way of measuring what the brain needs. I don't think being on it for 14 years has done me any good but, at the start, I did need SOMETHING! I am going to look for alternatives which I can take when I feel I need something instead of taking pills every day.

Bit nervous, today, but hope tomorrow will be better. At least I haven't cried! That, believe me, is SOMETHING!

Joselyn, today I'm feeling the same but determined I will come off these pills. Something triggered it off though. I'm fairly easy going until someone does something to annoy me and then I can lose it. Been like thatsince I was a child - had red hair and the temper to match!

I so love the honesty in this forum!!! LOL! Ms. Mac - want stay on your good side :-)

I've never taken so many deep breaths with coming off this drug, some days I too feel so annoyed by little

things. I take a deep breath and try to focus on what is really bothering me, as in dis placed anger.

It's helping, but truly a work in progress.

LOL, Michelle! I'm always honest and know, exactly, what I'm like. 'Displaced anger' is such a waste of energy. I need to learn to control my temper. That would be a good start to feeling better. It's not easy, as I'm not young.

Ms Mac, that's how it is with me at the moment. I get so annoyed so quickly...not the best thing since I teach college kids =\

I've been having to really close my eyes and take a lot of deep breaths lately. I also work out a lot, which I find helps. Glad there are others on this crappy journey with me...

Yes, Joslyn, you are not alone. That must be so hard for you to do. I have beta-blockers which I can take when I need them but don't think they help a great deal but have resorted to taking one. I need to r-e-l-a-x.

First time posting on a medical forum but just wanted to share my current experience.

I've been on 40mg of Citalopram for about a year now, having previously been on fluoxetine for several years.

Since being on the citalopram I have felt a lot better in myself, my depression has eased off a lot (except for the first day or two of my period) and I am not as anxious as I previously was.

I suffer with social anxiety and going anywhere on my own was impossible. Since taking citalopram I've managed to fly to Spain on my own!

My current problem is that I didn't collect my prescription in time this month and the lack of medication has caused a bit of a vicious cycle.......I need the meds to be able to go out but I have to go out to get the meds!

I've therefore had no meds for two weeks now and frankly I can't wait to get back on them. My depression is hitting hard, any little thing gets me down and I feel completely worthless. On top of that the dizziness & headaches are awful.

I know a lot of people on here are desperate to come off them but I feel like I still very much need them. Hopefully sometime in the future I'll no longer need them but that time is not now.

The other thing I've seen on here about citalopram is that people have experienced weight gain while taking them. Perhaps it's just the way my body's made up but I haven't had any weight gain while taking them. In fact I lost weight just before switching meds and I honestly think they have kept me from putting weight back on!

Anyway, that's my experience of citalopram.

Jolene, Cit., obviously, agrees with you so stick with it.

You mustn't run out!!! You just can't do that or you will end up a mess. Surely, someone could have collected them for you? Most pharmacies have a delivery service for elderly and infirm so, I'm sure would have delivered them for you that one time.

As for weight gain, the leaflet inside says it can also cause weight loss but these side effects are general and work differently for different people.

S

http://www.anti-depressants.com/drugs/ssri/citalopram/

Had to post this link because it says not to take grapefruit with Cit. I've done that loads of times!

Hi Ms Mac

Unfortunately my pharmacy wouldn't have been able to deliver my meds as I haven't yet picked up the paper prescription from my Drs and taken it to them.

Planning on doing it asap though as I really need to get back on them

Jolene

When they deliver, the pharmacist collects the prescription from the doctor.

I halved my doses weekly as suggestd by the neurologist. She would like me off all my meds.

But I've managed to come off Lyrica Oromorph and the Citropram so far!!

I get awful headaches, no sleep and night sweats. But I have a complex medical history. I am still on Matrifenpatches and COPD medication plus Diazapam for neck nerve pain.

Before a car crash 2006 I wasn't on any medication.