diary of withdrawal - different perspective

That's wen I went on it...came offin the July and it took me a year to slowly do so. Tnats great if u have no effects but u may also find the down hits u in a few days as it leaves yr system..this is not said to upset u, more be aware..I gave up after 1.25 mg which I thought was doing nothing but after a month free I felt the chemical inbalance  coming back, horrid horrid ...I ordered st johns wort on line but it hadn't arrived so found myself dashing to a local health store for it at twice tne price as I needed to get something back into my system ....good luck anyway.  I do think tne s j w is helping..after 11 days am feeling calmer. 

I recommend not to withdraw like that. I withdrawl in August 2013 after taking it for a year and depression and anxiety hit me back. Now I am taking it again. 

Better way to withdraw slowly. For a month leave one day ina week then sexond month leave two days in a week and on third month leave three day and so on.. But make sure do not leave for consecutive days. Still suggest ask your GP for a better advise looks like 9 months is too early. 

Hi ktkay

i have just sent a message to another member about reducing citalopram (see response to jane70)

firstly, citalopram has a half-life of 35 hours, which means that if you take 20mg now, it will still be in your body at 11am on Friday morning.

citalopram works by increasing the amount of serotonin in your brain. For women, serotonin levels naturally fluctuate during a monthly cycle. Our brains finds it difficult to adapt to sudden changes in serotonin levels. For this reason, when a patient first starts on citalopram - they need to increase the dose steadily over 6 weeks or more - however, this timeframe is dependant on the dose that will provide the best level for you. 'Normal' Serotonin levels are different for every patient - some folks need 20mg, some 30mg and some 40mg or more. 

Citalopram and other SSRI drugs must never be stopped abruptly - this would cause withdrawal symptoms due to the large decrease in your serotonin levels. The best way to reduce this drug is to decrease in very small amounts - 5mg every 2 weeks is ideal. Anything bigger than a 10mg decrease is TOO MUCH. 

Hope this helps. Good luck with everything.

Sleepy Crow x

 

Thanks all for your advice, and I will take it on board - espevially the awareness bit - which is something I am stronger with. If I do decide to withdraw more abruptly (which I have been doing) - I am finding it helpful to document my progress here - and am waiting for the 'I told you so' comments (in jest). So Day 6 - am feeling fine, a little bit motivated today, not tired - although had a long lie in til 10am! (PS - I am 47 and have 3 teenage boys, on annual leave at mo, and off on hols in a week or so - just to add some context). Weight still creeping up! Havent taken a tablet today.

Day 7 - no change from yesterday in terms of mood - feel fine. i had a very slight 'vertigo' tyoe feeling for a few minutes yesterday (which I had experienced before a year ago when I was cutting down) but didnt bother me. I'm not advocating this radical approach for anyone else, as I may be different - feeling very optimistic and enthused at the moment (may be because I'm off on my hols soon) - will be interesteing to see how I feel after my hols but am determined not to let the 'down; feeling creep in again. Again - I am also learning and reflectiing on my past experiences so this has made me more aware and stronger. Perhaps a lesson (for me anyway) is to wirhdrwal through periods where there is little stress in your life. If I ever do relapse - i will pick up this thread and report it.but at the moment feeling fine - one week going from 20mg to zero (except one tablet mid-week) - and like I said _ I dont advocate this approach - this is just me - one case study.