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Withdrawal duration?

Posted , 5 users are following.

pat80430
pat80430

J posted before about my short time spent on citalopram, 4 weeks in total. I am now completely off it for 3 weeks. By and large things have improved for me.  Since citalopram I have been taking some ambien to help with sleep and it has helped move me in the right directions.i haven’t taken any ambien for 4 nights now as I’ve been getting about 5 hours sleep, still not enough but better. 

I think I am still experiencing some withdrawal symptoms.  I have increased tinnitus, lot of muscle pains particularly in calf muscle.  Tightness around my mouth that seems to affect my speech a bit, seems to be worse in morning and wear off during the day and also tingling throughout the body from time to time. 

My question is on average how long are these symptoms likely to persist. I find the tingling the worse as I get it in the morning and it normally prevents me from getting back to sleep if I wake up early.  I also get some zombie like feelings at times typically around 5pm. They usually pass within an hour or so. 

Thankfully my anxiety has weaned a lot and a good part of the time I am feeling normal. I also am no longer obsessing over my health. 

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • moomoomin
    moomoomin pat80430

    Posted

    Hi there

    I took Citalopram 10mg for 17 days and had to stop abruptly on the advice of my doctor as I developed full blown tinnitus amongst other awful symptoms. It's now nine months later and unfortunately still suffering some mild withdrawal symptoms. It can take a very long time for the body to readjust in some people. Hopefully you'll recover a lot quicker, fingers crossed for you.

  • Guest
    Guest pat80430

    Posted

    Hi Pat

    I am currently withdrawing but unlike you have been on 10mg years rather than weeks. I too am no longer obsessing about my health and the advice I have received here has helped me with that undoubtedly.

    Fortunately for you, you have only been taking 10mg for four weeks so the withdrawal process could be easier than for someone who has taken them for years and on a higher dose or both.

    I came across a great site yesterday that answers the very question you are asking.

    I just typed in 'celexa withdrawal mental health daily' and all the information is there, withdrawal symptoms, timescales. All the withdrawal symptoms that I experienced were there. There is also a forum.

    Very interesting to read what people have experienced too. I hope they do not block this post because I am certain you will find it useful.

    Best wishes

    • pat80430
      pat80430 Guest

      Posted

      Hi Lina,

      Thanks for the link. It is very useful.  My latest thing is tinnitus in the right ear, an absolute delight. The laughable thing is that the anxiety that was the reason I took the drug in the first place has long gone.  I exchanged it for tinnitus, all over body tingling, headaches, dizziness and anhost of other things. Good deal?

    • Paula2019
      Paula2019 pat80430

      Posted

      Hi Pat the symptoms you are getting are withdrawal symptoms and side effects that I have experienced and still getting side effects.

      Give yourself at least another 3 weeks as your brain and nervous system need adjust.

    • Guest
      Guest pat80430

      Posted

      Hi Pat

      Glad to hear the site was useful for you. I keep going back to it now and again for reassurance.

      I've had tinnitus for a long time, since I started celexa, and I have all the other withdrawn symptoms you describe. I'm still on 5mgs, had two really good days, no lightheadedness, felt a bit like my old self. Today however I've had a migraine type headache all day and a little lightheadedness. I overindulged on a curry and ice cream (because I was feeling better) so it is probably down to that. I can definitely feel myself slowly getting better though.

      Hopefully your withdrawal symptoms won't last too long seen as if you were on celexa for a short time. It's so different for everyone so fingers crossed for you.

      Best wishes

    • pat80430
      pat80430 Paula2019

      Posted

      Paula,  sometimes it’s hard to see the woods from the trees. After coming if citalopriam I took ambien for about two weeks to try to help with sleep. I would say relatively low dose, no more than 5mg a night and sometimes just half of that.  It helped get sleep back on track.  Stopped using it over a week ago and the last week had been pretty good up until yesterday whe. Tinnitus seemed to have taken a hike.  Struggled to sleep last night so took a half an ambien to try to salvage something out of the night. It’s hard to know whether what I am experiencing is withdrawal from citalopram or possibly the ambien or maybe just stress remaining in body.
    • Paula2019
      Paula2019 pat80430

      Posted

      Hi Pat its probably all that you have described. I take magnesium to help me sleep, I know it works because I tested it and didnt take one night and struggled to get to sleep and stay asleep and I still take citalopram, which until recently knocked me out.

      All this is tough, I hear what you are saying, hang in there!

    • Paula2019
      Paula2019 pat80430

      Posted

      Pat did you say your tinnitus has gone? If it has thats fantastic for you and gives me hope, my head sounds like a windy day.
    • lois95799
      lois95799 Paula2019

      Posted

      Hello Paula hope all is well ..which magnesium tablets do you take..?there's so many different ones and how many milligrams..?

    • Paula2019
      Paula2019 lois95799

      Posted

      Hello Lois, am ok thanks, hope all good with you. Magnesium - if you google Osteocare, its the blue and white box, and includes calcium, vit d and zinc. I take 300mg of magnesium every night. Shouldnt really take on an empty stomach apparently but it doesnt affect mine.
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