Coming off citalopram. :(

Hi Jim...........that's interesting. l didn't know that you could get it in liquid form. So much for my Docs! Think this would have made it so much easier--and yes--even though l came down over 4 months, it still wasn't slow enough! l'm having the same zaps, nausea, emotional periods, insomnia and aches and pains as l had after trying it 'cold turkey'--though admittedly not as bad--l can drive still! Determined to beat it this time though, so no going back on even a tiny dose. l'm with you, it's our brains adjusting---" Rome wasn't built in a day"

Hi Maureen

I lowered my meds in similar fashion to you except pharmacist recommended when down to an 1/8 of a tablet to take one every day for three months. She said not to take one every second day because of the half life of the tablet which means that by the time you take the tablet again after two days the levels of citalopram are already dropping. Basically missing doses messes with the levels. Any way taking 2.5mg for three months worked a treat and no side effects when I stopped.

Jim that method sounds ingenous..

The pamphlet posted by Mrs Mac some weeks ago said that UK Psychiatrists recommended for those coming off cit to drop a 1/4 dose every 4-6 weeks. So yes this process can take months not weeks.

The method i tried gave me very few side effects and could still function well. I put it together from advice from drug company and pharmacist. Alternate 20, 15, 20 for a few weeks before dropping to a steady 15mg for a few weeks and then alternating 15,10,15,10mg for a few weeks until dropping to a steady 10mg etc.......when you have been on a steady 5mg, then alternate with 2.5 mg for a few weeks until dropping to a steady 2.5 mg for a good length of time (3 mnths on 2.5mg recommended by my pharmacist)

Gillian also posted about this method. By allowing time for our brains to adjust to these decreasing levels of citalopram we are allowing time for receptor sights to get active again. They have gotten lazy as we have flooded our brain with citalopram.

oh yes and if you have problems at any level then go back up to the one you felt ok on and stay there for a good while. I had a prob dropping to 2.5mg so went back up to alternating 5mg and 2.5 mg for three months.

During the whole process I found out that changing levels every six weeks worked best for me so that I could remain free of the side effects of 'reduction syndrome'.

Good luck all

Marbel down under

Hi Maureen/Marbel

I did do a plan with help of wife reducing as above by 10ml of the 30ml of liquid which equated to a .75mg reduction per month. This would have me stop in Oct/Nov not a particularly good time of year due to SAD.

So thought at least a spring stop maybe easier.

Disturbed night last night with head zaps continually waking me. Though got a few hours.

Lurched in night from going back on them to I'm losing the plot and can't cope with this.

This morning is sunny and I feel stronger and ready to fight the fight.

This is pattern of last few days ok first thing and a gradual increase in symptoms

Above post should read 1ml reduction per month:-)

I don't know if anyone has experienced an unexplained cough. I had one for all the time I had taken antidepressants, got tests and could find nothing wrong. It was especially bad, through the night and my neighbour above always commented on it - yes she could hear me! I would have to make myself sick to get rid of it - don't want to be too graphic.

As soon as I stopped Citalopram, the cough disappeared. Now that can be no coincidence!

Hi, it's great to read everyone's experience coming off this drug, it's all very similar to my own. I've been trying for 3 months to come off it now and I am starting to realise I need a longer term strategy to get off it. I've been a bit slapdash at cutting down the dose which always ends up in me getting disabling withdrawal symptoms. So thanks for the suggestions for how to cut down over months instead of weeks. I really hope it works, I realise I am addicted to it at the moment! The annoying thing is that I don't need it mentally anymore, but my body still needs it physically.

I've also just made a link between severe back and neck pain with coming off this drug. It has happened 4 times now, it starts around my left shoulder blade and spreads up my spine and on to the left side of my neck and up to my ear. It makes my back and neck so stiff I can't move around properly. I am absolutely sure it's the citalapram withdrawal but I find it bizarre to have such a weird effect from it. Does anyone else have this or know why?

I don't regret taking the drug, it was my life line for 4 years and I couldn't have gone without it, it's just annoying trying to come off it now.

l'm so glad l found this forum. Had a bad day yesterday--very tired, down, dizzy, coughing, and aches and pains, so took a (approx) 2.5 mg dose last night, after being off them completely for 2 weeks. Back to see Doc today and will ask him about the liquid form--sounds like a plan to me. Trying to cut a 1/4 tablet in half again is almost impossible! Also read about not taking them every second day, as advised, but the small amount every day for a couple of months. Goind to try this.

Thanks for all the advice and opinions! lt helps to know you're not a hypochondriac!!!!!

Hello, For all those who enquired it is not me who has been cutting my pills. Its the pharmacist doing it for me. You just need to ask your doctor to write you a prescription where you take 2.5mg less every two weeks. The pharmacist will give you 7/8th of a pill for the first two weeks followed by 6/8 of a pill next, followed by 5/8, 4/8,3/8, 2/8 and finally 1/8. Nothing has worked for me and so far this is going well. I am taking 6/8at present and I don't have much withdrawal symptoms. I guess I am feeling a little sleepier than usual and mild headaches every now and then but nothing compared to the major symptoms I used to feel when I tried coming off it other ways. Its really sad that many family doctors don't even know that a pharmacist can custom make certain pills for you. They have devices which helps them cut the pills as small as 1/8. I am not an expert to give advise but this has been working for me so far and I think its worth trying. Good luck every one.

At last I've found some meaningful info on the rotten withdrawal from citalopram, it seems that a lot of people are having these problems and it so helps to find out that your not the only one. I've been on the damn things for a few years and made up my mind to get off of them once and for all. Never new that piling on weight was a symptom so I'm looking forward to getting back my former Brad Pitt type body (joke). I've always had Tinittus and this seems to be getting worse as I reduce the dose, also my brain seems to go zapp now and then as if it's shorting out. Anyone else had that one?

Strength to you all

Peter

Hi all

Peter I had chemo for cancer in Nov last year and got tinnitus

In last few nights of withdrawal, volume has definitely increased.

Day 6 of zero Citalopram after 17 years.

Slept better last night.

Learning not to move head too fast to reduce head spins

By evening I get worse and need to lie down.

Symptoms are as everyone describes

Trying to stay positive and live a day at a time

This too shall pass etc etc:-)

Was it something I said?

Day 7 A real pattern now.

Wake up feeling ok and then:

Dizzines increases during day

By about 7pm I feel really flu like, headache, aching and tired.

So days are manageable

I can walk 5 miles a day and do some gardening.

Getting real cravings for Carbs and sweet stuff. I know these foods increase Serotonin, but also increase

weight.

Going to up bananas and walnuts see if they help

Anybody out there. My paranoia is growing!!!!!

Yoohoo, Jim!

Just nothing different to report. Coping, at the moment. Stay with it, as the withdrawal effects will disappear. Others must be doing ok too.

Hang in there Jim ... U can do this. Remember this is not the real u getting paranoid but symptoms rather. the real u is just around the corner when withdrawals will become less. Bananas and the walnuts is a good choice ...

Jim, you've been through a lot worse than this so they are trivialities compared to cancer. You can do it!

I'm just on day 7 and feel the difference. Just not sure I feel them cuz I know it might happen, or that they r really there.... Either way, I. Sticking to it this time to free myself from Cit.

I'm a bit on edge, headache, nervous , impatience. ... The whole enchilada lol.... It just has to pass !

Don't forget to Smile everyone