Coming off citalopram. :(

Hi Nicola, Welcome to the forum.

Julie and Ms Mac are both right, you should take things very slowly when coming off this drug. I have had 5 unsuccessful attempts over the last 5 or 6 years to come off. I came off too quickly I think. At the moment I am attempting to do it again, but have reduced my dose by 2.5mg every 1 or 2 months, depending on how I feel. Am down from 20mg in October to 10mg now - trying to shake off withdrawal symptoms from the last drop. They seem to last a week or 2 with me.

As far as cutting dosage goes, my doc told me to start off with 20-20-10-20-20-10 etc for the first two months which equates to roughly 17.5 per day. I didnt like the 10-20 difference - it made me feel funny, so I bought a pill cutter from the chemists (£4) and cut the tablets myself. My doc wasnt keen on me doing this as he said its not necessary due to the half life of the tablets, but I ignored him and carried on. You hear so many conflicting opinions but I have been told that other GP's say this is fine. So do what feels right for you and drop only when you want to, not necessarily how your GP says. Unfortunately they are not always very well versed in Mental Health matters, many not having had anxiety or depression themselves have no idea of how bad it can be.

Good luck, will be back from hols in a few weeks, hope everyone is ok

You're so right, Bday - most of those docs., have no experience of depression and haven't a clue how awful it is. Not enough money is spent on research.

I'm still struggling and wish I were still on a low dose. Have been taking 5HTP but don't think they have helped. Going to get some Valerian to try, next. I just feel so weepy.

Do you think it might be worth going back on a low dose Ms Mac? Like say 10mg for a month or two then reducing very slowly off them? It might help you through this without creating the risk of starting things up again. The super quick reduction may have caused more problems than it's helped!

I also keep an emotional diary and have hoped against hope it would throw up some pattern of some sort so that I could see what made me so miserable but alas after 35 years I'm still waiting! I refuse to accept that I have to live like this though.

Marg, I'm taking 5HTP so can't take both. I could stop 5HTP but I'm now determined to stop antidepressants. It might be a good idea to do what you say but I'm going to persevere without and see how I go.

I was ok until the weekend when water kept coming through my flooring in kitchen. It's stopped so neighbour above must have had a problem and didn't tell me as we don't speak so I'm left having to get a new floor.It's been so upsetting and worrying. I just went to pieces, having to deal with it alone.

I will get there! Even on antidepressants, I don't cope well when things go wrong.

S

hi ms mac

i'm taking omega 3 oils 1000mg twice a day, i read it somewhere that it helps not sure where, but it cant do any harm!!!!

Am the same as you, i crumble when it comes to sorting out my own problems, i can help everyone else but not me lol

we have to remember that the dreaded pill took weeks to get into our system and make us feel better, and, with most of us its had years messing about with the serotonin in our brains, so its only right that we need time to adjust and let our little brain cells recover. just wish it would hurry up thats all lol

had a major headache for most of the night, like a little person with a pix axe hammering my head, but hey cant complain at thats minor compared to most

try and get some fresh air tomorrow ms mac, it should make you feel better, and about your floor, yes its a problem now, but as my dear old mum used to say, it'll still be there when your dead and gone, so no use worrying lol

Juliex

True Julie, just a floor which I can pay to have fixed - not like my head!

Just wish I had something to get rid of the butterflies in my stomach as they make me cry. I have beta-blockers which I will try. I'm going to buy Superdrug's 2calm (?) as a couple of reviews on their site said they were good. I will try anything too!

Over 13 years of stuff getting pumped into my brain so I know I can't feel better right away but I feel like a junkie looking for a fix so I will feel better!

Just getting ready to go out. For once, the rain has stopped and the sunis coming out.

Fri update

Went out early this morning and did some retail therapy then sat and had a lovely cappuccino and muffin and a nice chat with the guy who served me. I talk to everyone! :D

Bought the herbal tablets - Be Calm from Superdrug so hope they help. They are doing a 3 for 2 deal.

Feel lots better. It's just a matter of riding the big waves when they come. Eventually, we reach calmer waters. No Tsunami last forever.

Someone I know who was initially on 50mgs of Citalopram was put on 5mgs more or less forever as a maintenance dose.

That sound ok, Aly, but was never suggested to me. It was all or nothing. My doctor told me a low dose would do nothing for me but, even, a placebo helps people. To be truthful, I would still be taking them if it weren't for the huge weight gain that I'm sure was due to years on SSRI's. That, in itself, was making me depressed. I want to feel good about myself instead of not wanting to go out because I felt too fat. I'm not gross - just more overweight than I would like.

I know what you mean Ms Mac - I live on my own as well and sometimes it just gets overwhelming when you have to deal with EVERYTHING especially when you don't have a clue as to why something's happening! I had a stomach bug this week and it would have been so nice to ask someone else to take the dog out or feed the cats or hoover the house or the 101 other things which need to happen so that I could just be ill!

I've been a bit low this week but I suppose it could be lack of food and general weakness due to the bug - I did wonder if it had anything to do with being on 10mgs though. I have over 30 20mg tablets left though so can easily spread them out over 2-4 months yet - hopefully a slow reduction will let my brain get used to having less of the drug in my system.

glad you got out and about today ms mac, sound like you had a nice time

i used to take beta blockers when my daughter was ill, the gp said as i was stressed and my stomach was churning all the time, it triggered a response called flight or fight which gets us ready for action so releases adrenaline into the blood stream, hence the butterflies in stomach.

the beta blockers did work well if i remember correctly

I feel ok today, can wait till i can reduce them down further to 5mg so i can rid of them once and for all, i go to see the gp next week so all is good at the moment.

Juliex

Not easy at all Marg. I'm a huge animal lover and understand how bad you feel when you have to look after them and yourself but, oh, what great companions they are! The never let you down like humans do. Unfortunately, my last cat died 5 yrs. ago and I can't go through any more grief of losing something or someone dear to me.

Feeling low will be due to being sick and maybe a bit from the medication reduction. wouldn't it be nice for someone to give you a hug and reassure you that everything will be alright?

I have been on anti depressants for the past 18 years. Have tried to come off them before many times and

failed. Dr advised to do it very slowly. I cut down from 30 to 20mg for 4 months and am currently taking

20mg/10mg on alternate days. Am on the 2nd month of doing this. Will next reduce to just 10mg per day for 3 months or so then 10/5mg alternate days and then 5mg daily then 5mg again on alterate days before stopping. I have had no side effects or problems cutting down this way. Was advised that the best to do this was over a long period of time. Seems to be working for me. If it takes a year to come off them then I will be more than happy. Hope this helps anyone.

It's a strange feeling without the old crutch. Just taking a pill makes you think you will be better. I must say, I am sleeping better. I can be quite determined so hope I don't go back on another SSRI. I, too, have my check-up, with doc., next week. I bet I get all weepy!

I wish my doctor had advised that, Flo. Mine was all wrong to tell me TWO weeks after 13 yrs. No wonder I've had withdrawal symptoms, 'nerves' and being emotional!