Coming off citalopram. :(

Thanks Alan. Didn't realise that.

Just cling in

soooo far its been more up than down but I am dealing with post menopause on top of this so not sure what is the menopause and what is withdrawal. Ive also been having horrible nausea due to my olfactory being wacked out.

Weird smells that stay with me all day and make me feel like I want to upchuck and food does not taste the same some times it makes me nauseous to eat or think of food that I used to love just not the same but over one month and counting getting a little better every day

j

I think we all have our positive hats on and that's half the battle.

I do have a question are the moderators mental health clinicians or medical doctors? thanks

J

I would think neither.

Hi,

As Ms Mac says, neither. At the moment I am the only moderator and my medical background is an ex lab tech.

If you mean the authors who write the articles on patient.info then see https://patient.info/editorial_disclaimer.asp.

Most of our authors are GPs but do consult all evidence when authoring articles. If you ever have any feedback about any articles there is a link at the bottom of them to do so or just send me a message.

Regards,

Alan

thanks alan.

I was just curious since I started to follow this thread and wondering if there was any evidance based facts to these recommendations since I am a mental health clinician in the u. s. I am still glad there are real people going through real life experiances just wasnt surea bout the 5htp

thanks

j

Never tried 5 HTP, am having a couple of brazil nuts, turkey and bananas to try and improve sleep/seratonin. Not sure if its working or not yet but despite a few wobblies when first dropping each dose feel pretty good so far. Time will tell as am averaging 11.25mg a day a moment and think real test will come when I get down below 10mg.

Am also taking high strength omega 3's, evening primrose oil 1000mg, cod liver oil, multivitamin and probiotics. Feel like a right hypochondriac! Still - am definitely feeling more energetic these days.

MsMac - sorry you are having probs, hope you soon settle. Good luck to everyone else too xx

Thank you Bday. I've just started on the 5HTP. Have had 3 bad, tearful days. To be truthful, it's my life that I don't like and until that improves, my sadness won't. Weather has done nothing but rain which is so depressing as I don't want to go out when it's like that. Making myself go out, today, as it's brighter.

I HIGHLY ENDORSE TAKING 6-8 MONTHS to slowly (very slowly) get off of Citalopram!

You can get off Citalopram successfully if you:

• Take a very long time (say 6-8 months) to slowly reduce your dosage (we're talking a snail's pace)

• Get a pill cutter to cut your pills down

• Reduce each pill a tiny amount each month

• Are dedicated to not have to be addicted to a pill

• Make a change in dosage once a month

• Read up on Seretonin Syndrome - which are the symptoms you get from coming off Cit. too quickly

---------------- THIS IS WHAT WORKED FOR ME ------------------

This worked for me (I was taking 20mg/day) - shave your daily pill down a bit at a time so each month so you are taking less and less. What I did was take say, 7/8 of a pill each day for a month, then take 7/8 of the pill every other day for a month, then 3/4 of the pill every other day for a month, then 1/2 every other day for a month, then a little less than half every other day for a month, then 1/4 every other day for a month, then 1/8 every other day for a month, then 1/8 every 3 days for a month, then I think I was able to go off completely after that. You may need to experiment to get your dosage right. I'm not a Dr. but I am very detailed and wanted to be super careful. I read up a lot on Seretonin Syndrome.

To reduce, some doctors will tell you to 'take one every other day' then 'one every 3 days' etc., etc., but this is not great because then you get horrible withdrawal symptoms. The best way to do it is to cut it down so slowly that it will take you months, not weeks, to fully get off of it. It took me 6 months to get off my dose of 20mg/day.

When I tried to go off too quickly, the side effects were dizzyiness, irritability, trouble sleeping, general feeling I can't deal with life without this pill, etc. When I set up my own super super slow get off this pill schedule, the effects were still there but they were bearable, I could tolerate it. And it helped my mindset to think I'm not gonna let the pharmaceutical giants keep me on their addictive substance, I really wanted to be free from anything having power over me.

After 13 years on SSRI's, it was simply awful to be told to come off them in TWO weeks. Shows how little GP's know. I WILL get over these drugs. I hate the muzzy feeling in my head and dizziness but, I've had a lot worse to deal with, in my life.

Well done greenthumb! How are you feeling now your off them?? I'm going to do the same. Iv been on them for almost 13 years. Tried to come off and had bad withdrawals. Then you convince yourself that you may need them for life. Weight gain has been my biggest issue and memory! Have read enough now to know there are lots of important factors to keep healthy by eating right , walking, krill oil magnesium etc . Continued good luck to you!

My doc. kept denying weight gain was due to Cit. but, now, is admitting it. I thought I was on them for life too but determined I will not be.

Hi!

I have just come across this forum! I have recently stopped taking citalopram completely. I went from 40mg to 30mg to 20mg to 10mg and then to 5mg. I think its been over 4-5 months?? But have been on and off taking 5mg because i just hate the withdrawal symptoms. But its been about 2-3 weeks since ive been completely off them.

I was going to take 5mg again tomorrow but then i read this forum and im just going to keep stay off them anf hopefully itl get better soon!

All the best Sunnyb! I came to rely on them because of the fear of how I would be without them - they were a crutch. I can't expect to feel 100%, after being on SSRI's for so long. I AM taking the 5HTP, though.