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Coming off Citalopram!

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welshtaffy
welshtaffy

I have been taking Citalopram 20mg for quite a few years now and prior to that 'Seroxat.' I have tried numerous times to come of it completely but without success.I suffer from anxiety, panic, depression, Citalopram has definately helped me.Although if I do get very depressed no one would really notice that, it's not obvious. Since two months I have been cutting down on my intake and am now taking a little leass than 10mg a day(5 a week).Everything seems to be okay except for one thing; I have never been so tired in my life.I am in my sixties but quite fit and not over weight and have never smoked.I can easily sleep anytime of the day and that would've been unheard of before.I am yawning all day and my eyes feel as though I've had a good cry.(which I haven't.Maybe this due to something else? 

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • katecogs
    katecogs welshtaffy

    Posted

    I came off Citalopram over a year ago  and can't really remember being sleepy, though I do know I had much more restful nights.  It could be a withdrawl symptom, because Citalopram does give you insomnia at the beginning, so maybe this is the reverse effect?

    When you're off Citalopram try a natural SSRI called 5-HTP which needs to be taken with l-tyrosine.  Both can be bought from Holland & Barrett (if you're in the UK) and you need to take them both.  Read a book called 5-HTP The Natural Way to Overcome Depression, Obesity by Michael T Murray ........ it's a really interesting read.  These tablets helped me immensely and kept my well being whilst off SSRI's.

    You need to be off SSRI's completely before starting 5-HTP as they mustn't be taken together.Unfortunately I restarted the Citalopram 6 months ago due to family illness which was making me ill, but now feeling better again I'll tail the meds off in a few months I think.

    K x

    • welshtaffy
      welshtaffy katecogs

      Posted

      Thank you so much for replying to my message.I checked the possibility of having taken these tablets over such a long period, and the concensus is that they can very well course tiredness and stress and headaches which has been happening to me.I also read that these syHello Katecogs,mtoms can last up to three months before the brain adjusts!

      Sorry to hear about you illness and having started to take the tablets again.I wish you well in the future.

    • welshtaffy
      welshtaffy

      Posted

      Sorry, but some words I wrote seem to be mixed up!I meant to say 'It can take up to three months before the brain becomes free from the symptoms these tablets can caurse.' Since one week I have developed dry eyes which seem to sting or give a burning affect! In a way, I hope it is due to these tablets!
    • katecogs
      katecogs welshtaffy

      Posted

      :-) I often post here and my words become all jumbled too lol.

      Yes I think it can be about 3 months for everything to settle whether you're starting the medication or coming off it.  I've not heard it causing dry eyes, but we're all different and we all get different symptoms sometimes.  That must be a nuisance having dry eyes .... but would think like all symptoms, it would stop after a while.

      Thanks, I seem to have settled and am feeling well again.  I'm thinking of coming off them later this year.  I'm already reducing them which I'll stick with for some time yet.  It was a huge emotional stress last year that made me decide to take them again - I wanted to before I became ill again and luckily I managed to just ward it off with the help of the medication.

      I hope your tiredness goes away soon ... maybe walks in the fresh air and lots of gentle exercise will help for the time being?

      K x

       

    • welshtaffy
      welshtaffy

      Posted

      Hello again,I just found out Citalopram is  available in liquid form.The only way I managed to come off Seroxat was taking it in liquid form.You order the amount you require and take a teaspoon full each day.You must then replace what you've taken with water.After a certain time, the bottle will only contain water! .I think it must be the safest way to come of it! It should take 4-6 weeks but has to be worth it! I will now order a bottle myself.
    • sue68612
      sue68612 katecogs

      Posted

      Hi katercogs,

       I haven't been on in awhile, but since you have come off citralopan and gone back on them again, I have a question. I went off them for 3 months and my family said I was acting different and wanted me to go back on them. I did, but I have shakes now, especially my head, they noticed it. I was having them before, so it seems to be a side effect. I went off them cold turkey before, but I would like to go off them again. I would like your suggestions what is the best way to do this? I don't like this shaking and thought part of it was I went cold turkey and then just started back on my 20mg that I've always taken.

      Thank you

      Sue 

    • sue68612
      sue68612

      Posted

      I meant I wasn't having the shakes before.

      Sue

    • sue68612
      sue68612

      Posted

      Also, if I do try to go off them how do I take the other 2 pills you suggested and what did it do to help you?
    • katecogs
      katecogs sue68612

      Posted

      Hi Sue

      Yes I came off these meds then restarted again, and I have again come off meds (last year) so am pill free now.

      You should never go cold turkey on these meds.  Firstly you'll become really ill and probably feel worse than when you had anxiety, and secondly doing that is quite a shock for the system and I think will make the anxiety return.  Coming off them real slowly eases the body back down off them and is much kinder to the system.  I bought a pill cutter and I spent a year coming off them by reducing by 5mg each time over 1-2 months each reducing, going from 20 / 15 / 10 / 5 / 2.5 / 1.25 / 0 - the last 2 doses I had to crush to powder as they were too small to cut any further.  I had no withdrawal effects at all doing it this way, unlike the first time I came off them.

      When I restarted them I had a different experience than the first time, plus I had different side effects ..... and it took longer too.

      Last year when I finally came off meds, though I didn't have any withdrawal effects and I've been well ever since, I did notice I didn't feel quite so mellow as I had been when on the meds and I also found myself speaking my mind more and not putting up with things (maybe that because I wasn't so mellow)???  Anyway, I'm feeling fine still.

      The other 2 pills I went onto when I was off the prescriptions meds was 5-HTP and l-tyrosine, both bought in Holland & Barrett (UK) (l-tyrosine ordered online and delivered for pick up at Holland & Barrett).  Any chemist sells them though.  I took them for nearly a year.

      I have only last week stopped these 2 tablets for now because I'd started getting indigestion a lot so am ruling out all things as trying to find out what's bothering me.  I'll restart them again soon.

      These 2 pills I take before a meal (I think).  Instructions are on the labels.  There's no side effects (maybe indigeston mind) ... and you can start these anytine and can stop them anytime too as there's no withdrawal.  They work within a couple of weeks too.

      K x

    • sue68612
      sue68612 katecogs

      Posted

      I also have graves disease, do you know if its ok for me to take the l-tyrosene and th 5-htp?
    • katecogs
      katecogs sue68612

      Posted

      Oooh I'm not sure about that - I looked it up online but wouldn't want to say yes or no.  Best to have a word with the pharmacist as they'll be able to advise.

      K x

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