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Stopping Citalopram - Feeling weird

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Lostprophet22
Lostprophet22

Hi all,

Sorry this might be a similar post/topic to others but just need someone to talk to/reassure me.

I'll try to keep this as simple as possible.

Long term OCD and Anxiety sufferer who has just been re referred for Talking Therapies and there going to carry out step 3 (whatever that is).

Been on a long term prescription for Fluoxetine for about 15 years, but mainly on a maintenace dose and doctor's have been aware that i weened myself off of it at the beginning of the year (was always quite bad at remembering to take it if i'm honest).

Around beginning of October, I'd been working a 6 and half day week, lots of Overtime, 2 young children, mortgage, cost of living crisis, etc. I was getting more aware that my OCD was getting quite bad, so thought i'll start the Fluoxetine again on the 20mg dose to help get it under control. About 10 days in, Suffered what i would call a bad case of being Spaced out (like seriously couldn't concentrate on a thing). Put up with it for a few days, and then basically broke down as i couldn't work or do anything. Went sick from work and signed off for two weeks. Spoke to the Docs on the phone, agreed to carry on the Fluoxetine.

Fast forward two weeks, and feeling still spaced out, not with it, can't concentrate to drive (Never had these side effects ever, even on a 40 mg dose of Flux for 2 years at one point). Spoke to the docs again and put 2 + 2 together and realised it was possibly the Flux making me feel so weird. Doc said to stop it cold turkey and start taking 10mg Citalopram after 7 days. 7 days of hell persisted, and started on the Cit.

Felt okay and normal for about 5 days then started suffering unrelenting fatigue, again effecting my ability to drive and stay awake during the day.

Spoke to the Docs on Monday, about day 17 of Cit and asked if this side effect would disappear (and advised him that i hadn't felt normal since staring all the medications). We came to the agreement to stop the Cit to see if the tiredness would disappear.

Fastforward 5 days and i'm now hit with this lightheaded feeling that comes and goes and just kind of feel like i'm never going to feel human again, and had been hoping to return to work Monday, but depends how the weekend goes.

For anyone who's stopped Citalopram, does this sound normal? A lot of the posts i've read seem to be for people who've stopped after months of use, so just wanted peoples opinion/reassurance i guess?

I've managed to live with the OCD for a long time without the meds (Yes, i have some bad compulsions but use what i've learnt in previous CBT to keep it managable) and i just want to go back to work/normality.

So hard to stay positive when it feels like 1 step forwards, 3 steps backwards at the min.

Thanks in advance 😃

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • jazmin86904
    jazmin86904 Lostprophet22

    Edited

    Hey Lostprophet,

    I am no expert but can relate to being spaced out the point of not being able to drive. I got to 7.5 mg and thats what it did to me. Ive been tapering down slowly because my nervous system is extremely sensitized. I too experience lightheadedness along with many other debilitating symptoms. It is all withdrawal. I suggest joing a fb group for antidepressant withdrawal. They seem to be more active and helpful.

    good luck

    • Lostprophet22
      Lostprophet22 jazmin86904

      Posted

      Hey Jazmin,

      Thanks for the reply.

      It is reassuring to know that others experience the lightheaded feeling (Hope yours gets better soon).

      I had been hoping to go back to work today, but didn't feel quite right yesterday, and today have felt a bit spaced out and lightheaded. Am waiting for an appointment with the Doctors today (if they get back to me) so that i can actually talk to someone in person rather than over the phone.

      I'll take a look at the fb group thanks.

      All the best 😃

  • babs92428
    babs92428 Lostprophet22

    Posted

    Hi,

    I was weaning myself from Citalopram for months, it took me almost a year to come off it. I was reducing the pill very slowly. I was on it for about 15 years, if I remember. We are all different so possibly your reactions to antidepressants are different to other users.

    I started on a completely new antidepressant recently, by cutting it in four and seeing first, how my body reacts. I could do that, my issue is mostly anxiety and endless thinking things over.

    You need to be a bit kinder to yourself and have a serious conversation with you GP.

    Do not panic, things will work out, we cannot control everything in life.

    • Lostprophet22
      Lostprophet22 babs92428

      Posted

      Hi Babs,

      Thanks for replying.

      It's just been such a rough 6 weeks, went from working full time to signed off, never missed a day of work in the past 19 years apart from one case of the flu.

      I think maybe hopping on the citalopram after stopping the Fluxoetine was probably not the best choice, but i felt so under the weather that i just took what i thought was the easiest option (Live and Learn).

      My OCD has comeback to play, so that's been fun to deal with, but would rather put up with that rather than feeling lightheaded.

      I am awaiting to see a Doctor later on today (if they get back to me) as just want to talk to someone face to face and want to make sure there's nothing else wrong with me.

      It's just a bit hard accepting how to feel at the min, but am trying to stay positive 😃

    • babs92428
      babs92428 Lostprophet22

      Posted

      Focus on positive.

      After many years of work, I also found myself out of work. I could not believe that it happened to me, a perfect worker. I remember I felt very depressed because I felt like a failure, which I know I was not. After a couple of weeks or so, I had an interview for a new job and ... I got the best job ever!

      Also, I recently realised that if I listen to my "mind" I am going nowhere. This helped me so much in understanding the process of anxiety.

      Good luck with the doctor and I hope you find the right medication for you.

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