Coming off citalopram after ten years....
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hi,
I hope some of you may be able to offer some advice. I've been on citalopram for ten years, apparently depression runs in my family and for approx five years have always been on a maintenance dosage. Any time I have tried to come off in the past I can barely function and have even walked out of jobs due to the anxiety that I have felt. For the past two years due to a bad divorce my doctor upped my dosage to 40mgs. After amazing counselling, I am now in a stable relationship and job and thinking about trying to have a baby. I would like to attempt to come off the drug but always found it too frightening before...the fear of having to go throught the side effects again if I needed to go back on citalopram always stop me coming off it.
Sorry for the long winded message but I just wanted to know any advice about coming off this as the thought of it frightens me to death. The last thing I want is to come off it and ruin everything I currently have due to anxiety.
Hope you can help x
0 likes, 10 replies
HoHum charlotte1983
Posted
Marie
phillip1977 charlotte1983
Posted
Ms_Mac charlotte1983
Posted
After that, it was downhill all the way. Alomst every day, I cried, had palpitation, anxious - the lot. I, so, tried not to give in but had to admit defeat and go back to the doctor, a wreck.
I am now, back on Prozac and feeling so much better. Some people just need the medication so I am on them for life.
Depression also runs in my family. If you need the medication, you need it.
charlotte1983
Posted
Thank you all for replying to me xx
Ms_Mac charlotte1983
Posted
jessers charlotte1983
Posted
I have been on citalopram for 10 years too (I'm 32) and have recently decided to try and come off. I don't want to ruin things in my life but don't want to be dependant on a drug forever. I sometimes wonder what I'm really like without them.
It's been about 3-4 weeks and I have just been having one tablet every other day. I think I should of cut them down more gradually as my mood has been awful, the headaches are terrible too. Now I have come this far I don't want to start taking more but I will cut it down a lot slower when I decide it's time and I'm doing ok on this dose.
Good luck, take it slow and hopefully we will both have a life after citalopram. x
charlotte1983 jessers
Posted
Wow we sound very similar. Like you say it's a catch 22.. You don't know if it's the right time to come off because things are stable or that you are stable because of the citalopram. In the past I've come off too quickly and it's done more harm than good. I read an article about just dropping by 10% a month, which obviously takes a while but it must be worth it. I want to see how I am without feeling I have a dependency on a medication! I've heard the oral drops are a good way to reduce down more slowly
I hope you are feeling optimistic that you've come off them. Well done xx
jessers charlotte1983
Posted
having headaches. Last week I was such a moody cow, don't know how my husband has put up with it. Not going to cut anymore down for another month or two. I haven't heard of oral drops. Have got a pill cutter for when I cut down the next lot but not easy to do when only taking a small percentage
off lol. Xx
charlotte1983 jessers
Posted
Pill cutter is on the agenda tonight! xx
Ms_Mac charlotte1983
Posted
I was congratulated and evryone was so pleased for me and I felt so strong and positive.
Alas, thaat sstate of euphoria didn't last but I didn't want to start taking them again. I tried every herbal pill and solution going but nothing helped and I had constant palpitations that even beta-blockers didn't help.
Just be very careful. I do hope you caan cope without them but don't try to be brave, like me. Good luck in your journey.