Effects of stopping Citalopram abruptly?

Hi, can you get a repeat prescription for him?  If they're starting to work it would be a real shame for him to stop.  Also he has got through the first 2 weeks so he's through the worst bit.

Hi Honeybee

I know exactly how you're feeling - my 20 year old son went through the same and I found it to be the most distressing time all round.  I was on these meds years ago and when he became ill I had to return to the meds too because it stressed me out so much and I didn't want to become ill too - I needed to stay strong for him.  I was on Citalopram and my son Fluoxetine (both SSRI's).

You say you don't understand why he doesn't want to help himself, trouble is its not that he doesn't want to but I expect he doesn't know how to and feels lost, overwhelmed and probably feels apathetic.  This illness / condition just zaps everything from you and you just want to run away and hide from it and do nothing.

So ..... stopping medication might unfortunately hit him hard soon.  These meds need to be weaned off, just as they are weaned onto.  Sudden withdrawl will cause sickness, headaches, heightened anxiety, brain zaps (little pings ... nothing dangerous but feels weird) which could all seem frightening.  I came off these last year which took a year to withdraw.

6-7 weeks on Sertraline and then 3 weeks on these isn't long enough on either to show any results.  These meds often take around 3-4 months before seeing the slightest signs of improvement - it needs a lot of patience and perseverance.  You don't see progress that's true ..... but your body is beginning to heal - just that you don't feel it.  If you had a broken leg you wouldn't put it in a cast and expect it to be better next week ..... these meds are the same.  Healing takes a long time ..... but the wait is well worth it.

Often what happens it someone will start meds and after a few weeks (or months) see no sign of improvement so swap to another meds.  So they've just got through the start up side effects and then swapping meds can cause withdrawl from one and side effects from another making you feel worse.  The patient then thinks they're really not well and so again swaps medicine or increases their dose (increasing also causes side effects).  You need to stay on one medication for a long, long time and if increasing a dose then do it slowly with little increments to avoid side effects.  Your body then doesn't know if its coming or going.  Lots of people end up chasing recovery instead of letting it come to you.

My son had a breakdown 2 1/2 years ago and he went to hell and back.  I was lucky in that he just listened to everything I said, and we spent many evenings just talking. He didn't know what had hit him - and It took 9 months for him to fully recover - and he's stayed well ever since and off medication now.  Some people recover after a few months but I'd say generally most take longer than that.  When I was ill eons ago it took me 6 months recover.

During recovery I got my son interested in music and went with him to a group (my son struggled with socialising).  He went but did everything on automatic pilot, but over the months he decided to go alone and today he still plays guitar and African drum for 2 groups and performs too.  Whilst recovering its good to have an interest - even if its done half heartedly.  We also went walking everyday with him - exercise is good for anxiety.

Try and explain to your son that persistence will really help him.  Some people have to take meds for diabetes or epilepsy and they HAVE to take their meds.  These aren't much different.

I'll private message you with a link - its about a book that explains all about each symptom, why you're suffering, takes all the mystery out of it and shows you the way to recovery too.  Fix the anxiety and all the other symptoms will disappear too - because they're just side effects of anxiety.

K x

can you show him all these replies? It might help him to realise he's not alone with this crappy illness and that things do get better. It's a damn hard slog but he will get there but he must stay on those meds!, x