Coming off citalopram. :(

Sila I had the dizziness and muzzy head for a couple of weeks but then the emotions came to the fore. It will take months, I think.

I think I spoke too soon. Still lying in bed I think the storm has arrived. Hardly slept a wink all night. Feel like I have a huge hangover and feel so sickly. Can't be bothered to lift my head up.

Can anyone tell me what to do. I am inches away from reaching for my tablets and taking a double dose. I can feel the tears filling up and I don't know why I am feeling sorry for myself.

Cockoo, I've gone through the 'reaching for the tablets' bit but didn't. Only you can make that decision but it's not a crime if you do and it makes you feel better. I'm emotional, daily, but I was like that on Cit. so persevering.

This WILL pass.

Thank you Ms Mac

It helps to know someone is listening. It is my day off today do I am going to drag myself out of bed and go for a nice long walk. Although the weather is awful again. Wet and foggy which doesn't help anyone at the best of times.

I hope you are fully over your accident and feeling better xx

Yes, it really helps to know you are not alone. If I had to wait for good weather to get out, I would be housebound. Forcing yourself out of the house always helps and even going amongst people.

Getting over the fall but got loads of stress dealing with insurance over the leak in my kitchen. All to much for a woman on her own.

Someone is usually on here at different times. Take car.

take care, I meant!

Hi from Australia......just came across this site. l have been on 20mg Citalopram for nearly 10 years and boy, am l having trouble comming off them! l have tried before and failed. This time l started at the beginning of Dec. 2013, by shaving a small (tried to keep it pretty equal) amount off each 20mg tablet...staying on this for 1 month then going to 3/4 tab for another month, etc. til l finaly got down to a 1/4 tab. Then l started taking a 1/4 every 2nd day for about 2 weeks before giving them away. l'd had no real problems with the dizzyness and brain zaps until this point--they came back with a vengance!--very emotional too. Doc advised l go back to the 1/4 every 2nd day again, which l did, and immediately felt better. Next step was to try to cut the 1/4 tab in half again. This l managed and kept up this routine for another couple of weeks. Now l've stopped taking them--2 weeks so far and the brain zaps, dizziness, insomnia, etc have all reappeared! Determined to try living with all the symptoms til l'm finaly free of this drug. My advice; don't go on them in the first place--try every other option available to you before resorting to this drug. l wasn't offered any other options at the time and was becomming suicidal, so that was the reason l was put on them. The past year has been extremely stressfull, but l feel like l have grown through all the bad years and now know how to cope better. Only time will tell. Thanks for listening.

Welcome, Maureen. I'm a brave Scot and after over 13 years on Sertraline, Prozac and Citalopram, came off them within 2 weeks!!! Docs. advice but wish I'd known better and taken it more gradually. Still, I'm still here and have had lots of stress recently.

We are all different so do it at your own pace. Good luck!

Hi Ian,

Can totally agree with you on the lack of care given by NHS for mental health problems. I had a nervous breakdown 13 or 14 years ago after a very bad period in my life and was given no help whatsoever. My GP sent me to a psychiatrist who was very patronising and just dismissed me saying I had nothing wrong, just a bit of anxiety and suggested I go to anxiety management classes. The waiting list was 3 months and I felt desperate. This is after having severe panic attacks whereby I couldnt travel in a car or bus and having to get up several times a night to get dressed and walk the streets. I couldnt function properly and all my motor functions slowed right down, slurred speech and gibbering like an idiot. I felt one day as if I was falling into a black hole which was absolutely terrifying and the outside world was becoming dimmer and fading away. Anyway, to cut a long story short, in the end I just had to sit it out and with the help of self help books it got a little better. Eventually, I found a better doctor who put me on citalopram, which was at the time a life saver.

So yes, totally agree that we desperately need better help from the NHS for mental health care. Some of these so called "professionals" are rubbish.

Hi to Maureen from a fellow Aussie! I've lived in London for 12 years now but come from Sydney and Melbourne. I came off Citalopram the bad way - just stopped taking 40mgs after 8 years after I'd missed a few days. Yep, I know that is dangerous and I should have been sensible like you but I just couldn't stand taking that little pill any more with my morning cuppa!

I feel weird, spacey and emotional but I'm going to try and see it through. Oh and I have acquired a lovely new set of bags under my eyes. All in all, I look dreadful, but I'm going to give it a bit longer. My husband and kids are on their way to Sydney (without me, long story...) this weekend, which will give me nearly 3 weeks to sort myself out.

I hope that your symptoms start going, but it does sound to me that you are doing it the right way. Come back and let us know how you are getting on. All the very best, Allison.

So day 13 now cit free and although a lot of the physical symptoms have gone I'm finding myself prone

To massive bouts of depression ....I'm fine in the morning and I think "yes! I've done it!" Then by late afternoon and evening I'm a wreck....making rash decisions about changing my life. Is anyone else finding that the evenings are the hardest?

Ben 13 days is still early days. I'm expecting to have a roller-coaster ride for a few months. It must get better and if not, well you might have to go on a different tablet - who knows? Have y

oops - have you tried any herbal remedies?

Hi Ben,

I always find evenings to be the hardest too, guess its some sort of primeval response? Maybe in our genes to be more wary at night for instance. We probably feel best in the mornings due to (hopefully) a good night's sleep. Hang on in there for as long as you can.

Hi Guys

17 years on SSRI's. Seroxat and last 10 years Citalopram.

Withdrew to 10mg and then got liquid citalopram. (Just ask GP)

10mgs is 3 drops of liquid cit

Over next 10 days I reduced my daily dose by 10%.

I did this by putting 3 drops into 30ml of water

I the drew out measured amount using baby syringe I got from pharmacist.

I think this is the best way to withdrawal other than I did it far too quick.

The 10% drops should be over months not days!

Fine down to 2.5 mgs then dizzy spells and withdrawals started.

Now day 4 of zero Citalopram.

Worst effect is if I move head quickly my eyes don't follow.

Headache/dizzy and flu like sysmtoms.

Anger and manic feelings.

Low mood/tearful.

Other than that ok:-)

Trying to eat well and walk 5 miles a day.

Having read loads on this subject,I expect this may last a while but I am determined get off this stuff for good.

I keep telling myself these symptoms are my brain recovering and not me getting ill again.

Will post my progress.

56 year old male.