I've been on Citalopram (Cipramil) since ds2 was born - 3 and a half years - and it's taken me the last 18 months to wean off, I've found it very hard. I was on 10mgs (original dose 40mgs) every other day and I stopped altogether 5 days ago.

I'm suffering quite badly with feeling very dizzy, light-headed and spaced out. In fact, it seems to be getting worse rather than better. If anyone has experienced this, how long did it last?

I'm also a bit weepy and bad-tempered today but I'm hoping I can just put that down to PMT and school holidays.

I came off a couple of weeks ago, although I hadn't been on them for as long as you, and while I didn't have the withdrawal effects that you've had, I've been weepy, bad-tempered and very snappy ever since - so you probably can't put that down to PMT.

I can't help with the question about how long the symptoms last for, but I hope that it doesn't go on for too much longer for you.

Thanks, wwb. Damn, I was hoping it was just PMT.

Actually, I'm relieved to know that it's withdrawal from the Citalopram and not just me being a snappy old mare! At least if it's just withdrawal then it will eventually go away.

I found this wwb - which is semi-reassuring.

I do think a lot of GPs are unaware of or underestimating how difficult it can be to come off SSRIs. My GP (last time I tried to reduce my dose and couldn't manage it) told me that my withdrawal symptoms were the worst he had heard of. Googling though, it's apparent I'm far from being alone with them. But if no GP ever takes note of problems people are having coming off them (and I've seen 3 GPs over the course of my treatment this time, none of whom have seemed particularly interested) then the withdrawal problems are never going to be widely known.

Good heavens ... and the psychiatrist I saw reckoned I could withdraw in a week with no problems! At least my GP was more sensible in his recommendation.

You're right about GPs not being aware of the problems though; I saw a different GP at one point who recommended Prozac (which I didn't take at the time) and said that it was side-effect free, and could be stopped with no reduction of the dose because it was free from all withdrawal effects.

It's frightening, really.

I've heard of a lot of people being told they can withdraw very quickly then it all going pear-shaped.

I found Prozac much easier to come off (if I can get off this damn drug I am never going on this one again) but it aggravated my...oh heart condition makes it sound far more scary than it is, but I'm predisposed to tachycardia and had some really scary episodes when coming off Prozac. And the cardiac consultant said it was nothing to do with the Prozac withdrawal - yet guess what I've just read on another site?

Oh well, you can tell me when you stop weeping and shouting then I'll know I've got something to look forward to I could cope with all that better if I didn't feel so woozy all the time.

I've been lucky in that I haven't been woozy, but dh isn't impressed with the new, snarling me . What I have noticed though is that I've been having sort of electric shocky feelings when I turn my head, which I thought were part of my tinnitus ... looks from your link as if they might be caused by the withdrawal too.

I'll let you know when (if?) it stops ... I think you'll probably hear the cheer from dh and dd when it does though!

Yes I think my long suffering dh and downtrodden ds's can empathise!

Sorry Marthamoo, could I just hi-jack your thread with a question..?

I'm a bit worried here. Do you all think it was a good thing taking this in the first place though? Don't the symptoms coming off it kind of put you back to square one in the way you are feeling now?

I only ask, because I took my first Citalopram yesterday. Doctor prescribed them for all the usual reasons but I have been so worried that ultimately I'll feel worse again when I try to stop them. I'm new to all this btw, so need a few wise words I think.