Recurring problems from withdrawal.
Posted , 3 users are following.
So I made a post on here not so long ago saying my withdrawal process wasn't that bad, thinking it was over after 6 weeks when for the last week I'd felt basically fine, but I may have spoken too soon.
It's been over seven weeks without it now and for the last few days I've had a return of some withdrawal symptoms. I do seem to be over the brain shocks/mood swings phase of things but I'm having lots of IBS type symptoms and some really quite bad stress headaches. It's not really worse than it was before but it sucks because I thought I was over it!
I'm determined not to go back on it as I don't want to be doing this all over again from the beginning. But I'd really like to hear from other people who've been through this that it will end eventually...it's so frustrating at the moment because I go through a week or so of having bad symptoms and then I have good week where I feel fine and think I'm better and it all starts again.
0 likes, 2 replies
liz25203 oliver56116
Posted
Hi , I'm four and a half months after my last tablet and I'm still getting brain zaps, memory loss tinnitus and terrible anxiety. I was hoping to be over the worst by now, but it keeps coming. However, I was previously taking citalopram for almost 5 years so my withdrawal is probably taking longer. I've read that withdrawal generally comes in two waves, the second seems to be worse, as I had no problems when I initially stopped. Hopefully it will eventually settle. Remember your brain has been used to that seratonin boost with the citalopram, and now it's having to learn to cope without it.
jo94743 oliver56116
Posted
Did your Dr. give you the schedule to reduce mg/day? If so, call him/her. When I titered up from 5mg, I did it gradually by adding another 5mg every other day for a week, then went on 10 for a week, then titered up to 15mg every other day (symptom free when I hit this level) then went to 20mg /day after a week. I'm doing it in reverse, now. I had terrible IBS starting this drug. I started 15mg/day one week ago (only been on 20mg/day for about 3 months, tops). I noticed IBS symptoms right away, gas pains and diarrhea middle of the night, but they have stopped and Tuesday I'm going to 10mg/day. Plan is to stay there for one week then go to 5mg/day BUT Dr. told me if I had any "mind" problems to call her. Citalopran has a half life of 35 hours so that means if you begin to have serious "mental" interference you can go up 5mg for one day and then go back to titering off slowly. In other words, I would take 10mg Monday, Tuesday, then 15mg wednesday, go back to 10mg Thursday, Friday, see what happens. You can also titer down by doing 10mg one day, 15mg the second, for one week then go to 10mg for two days, 15mg third, for one week, then go to 10mg and start the process to 5mg before getting off altogether. The longer you've been on the med, the more slowly you go. So call your Dr. and find out what to do next.