Coming off antidepressants

[wonderwoo]

I have been on citalopram for a year. Feeling really good.

GP wants me to try coming off them. I tried reducing by a third and was a blubbering mess a few days later. Awful experience. So i went back up to my usual dose again.

I have now tried reducing much slower (by 1/6 every other day for two weeks, and then every day). However i am now very low again, anxious and having suicidal thoughts.

What I am wondering is this: is this normal withdrawal effects that I have to ride out or is this a sign I am not ready to reduce them yet?

Any experiences of coming off anti depressants are very welcome! Thank you

[NinkyNonk1]

Wonder woo I hope you are okay? I didn't want you to go unanswered. In my experience I didn't feel any changes in mood when I started reducing my tablets, however im on mirtazipine and not citalopram. Maybe best to speak to your doctor to get some clarification x

[Wolfiefan]

I reduced very slowly. So the smallest possible reduction. Then stayed at that for some weeks. Only reducing further when I had been stable for a while.

[wonderwoo]

Thank you both for answering. I am ok ninky thank you. Those thoughts seem to come and go and I have actually been alright this afternoon which is bizarre because last night and this morning were terrible. I will keep an eye on how it goes and I will increase my dose again if I continue to have bad spells where I get that low. Where my thoughts took me really scared me.

I really appreciate your replies. Thank you.