Coming off citalopram. :(

I have been on Cit for about 6 years 10mg. the great news is it made me feel great took away all that angst and low mood. BUT I have gained about 2 stone and its made my IBS terrible. its wierd because i always saw Cit as a cure and would look for other reasons why i was getting bigger, having bad stomach. it was only when I started a serious diet and had lost nothing after 4 weeks (while my daughter on same diet lost ten pounds) that i started to research reasons. Theres no question its this horrible little drug and i am furious that my doctor never thought to see if Cit was a cause. over many many forums the same theme is coming thru, doctors fobbing off patients that Cit doesnt cause weight gain and there should be no withdrawal symptoms. there are thousands of patients out there contradicting this and doctors should get more educated if they are going to dish this nasty drug out. starting my slow withdrawal, so far ok but im sure i will crash soon. will update xxxx

Hi Sazzyfrank, the weight gain is awful isnt it. I eat less now than before I started on the tabs and I am noticing that I am gradually gaining. I mentioned it to my GP who just said unfortunately it is a side effect. I can't wait to get off the demon drug. How are you getting on with your withdrawal?

hi linnyM. have no symptons so far on withdrawal but have taken half a tablet today as sudden stopping is not great apparently. plus the big crash can come a few days after stopping so im not assuming ok!. plan is to take half a tab every 3days for a week or so. but im also supplementing with vit E, omega oil and have ordered Clarocet, which is a good herbal alternative i understand and JNK which is mainly to kick start your liver function to get weight moving, apparently that may be why we put on weight, as liver slows right down. this is after extensive research on the internet as i am desperate to lose th weight. will let you know how it goes!

Hi Sazzyfrank - could you tell me what JNK is please? Thanks, John

Yeah, let me know how you get on, Good luck

Hello peeps, I've just joined to post in this thread. I have been on 20, then 30 mgs for a year, and my doctor and I decided that it may be the wrong thing to be taking about two weeks ago. He prescribed Sertraline, which I was to take a small initial dose of having stopped Citalopram. I noticed immediately that I felt much better, and because the Sertraline dose is taken in the morning, I forgot to take it on a couple of mornings last week, and took it at midday. It didn't knock me out as much as the Cit, but i felt more lethargic on it than off it. On the fifth day I felt fine, forgot to take the Sert, and at midday decided not to take it at all. Early days yet, but I've had no side effects that I can identify, feel loads better than I did, and I'm looking forward to life without the chemical cosh that has suppressed me for so long. I may turn into the incredible hulk in a few days, but I'm looking forward to finding out. We may all be different, and the reasons for being on the stuff in the first place will vary hugely. Our reactions to cold turkey may not be uniform either.

Good luck all of you. I'll keep an eye on myself and this thread, to see if I have anything more to add.

Very interesting reading your posts, just thought I'd let you know how I've got on coming off citralopram. I've been taking it for just over a year previously I'd been on trifluoperazine for about 12 years. My doctor suddenly realised that that drug was only to be used short term. Leading up to Christmas 2011 my anxiety got really bad so my GP put me up to 30mg, I'd tried over the year to drop it down to 20mg again but I couldn't . Leading up to Christmas this year my anxiety got really bad again and there was no way I was going up to 40mg.

After a rubbish Christmas I decided I was not going to have another one like this one. I decided whatever it took I was getting off these and was also going to sort my anxiety issues out once and for all. I contacted a hypnotherapist ( the one I use for my fear of flying). It is now nearly 4 weeks down the line I am down from 30mg to 5mg ( this is almost a miracle for me as when I've tried to cutdown before I've only lasted a couple of days). My brain fog has gone completely, I have so much more energy( my house hasn't been so clean in years ) and I actually feel emotions again. It is quite expensive but it's the best money I have ever spent as it appears to have got my life back on track again. Long may it continue

johnnymm1 found out about JNK here www.theroadback.org/Default.aspx while researching how to lose weight cit caused. seems to habe some science to it for this particular scenario ie anti depressant weight and good reviews. htats also where i got tips on omega oil and bit E. only available from the Netherlands but easy enough to order, mine should be here in next day or so......expensive but if it works its worth it as the weight gain is making me depressed lmao 😊. am 5 days off cit, just had a couple of half tabs to ensure not cold turkey and feel ok. clarocet, the herbal alternative, starts today.....lers hope that works. keep u all posted and stay strong all. weigh in friday lers hope ive lost somethin!!!!!

Thanks Sazzyfrank, that looks interesting, and might give it a go myself. I didn't change my diet when on cit, or when coming off it last month - but the weight gain has been a nightmare. And yes, the weight gain wasn't helping my depression! Thanks and hope it goes well.

hiya folks,

dont waste your money on the likes of clarocet etc, theres no clincal proven evidence that these formulations work, they make sweeping statements on their website that simply arent true.

they are not even approved by FDA , indeed some of the ingredients they include can react badly with prescription drugs, including anti depressants, they say on their site that no serious side effects are reported, again that is simply not true.

stear clear of these con men folks

cheers,

Ken ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

update. been off cit for over a week and feel completely fine. just taking a qtr tablet every couple of days and -sorry psychochief - clarocet must be a key reason as when ive tried stopping before with no help, ive badly crashed. as for the dreaded weight gain, i am definately losing some, about 3 pounds so far.....clothes feeling slightly looser and am losing that bloated water retention look. no idea if JNK is the reason. it works for me, it may or may not work for you. good luck xxx