what are the side effects of stopping citalopram and how long does it take after stopping?

[iliketurquoise]

citalopram has helped my anxiety, but it has slowed me down a lot and made me put on lots of weight.
i stopped taking it on 21 august so its been nearly 20 days now (i did stopping gradually).
i felt lighter after i stopped taking it, but feeling depressed for a a while now and slowed down again and feeling spaced out.
i think it has different effects on different people.
i liked it helping my anxiety but depression wise it didnt help me. and weight gain is becoming an uncomfortable issue for me now, so i had to stop taking it.
i am thinking of waiting for a week, than if not getting better i will visit my gp.
when you have dc it is very difficult.
thanks for advices.

[iliketurquoise]

and i am feeling so much tired, too. that upsets me.

[IdrisTheDragon]

How gradually did you cut down? I have been cutting down my dose for maybe about 9 months now - was on 40mg, then 20mg, then 10mg and am having 10mg once every other day or so at the moment.

I have found when I start taking a smaller dose that I get very vivid dreams where really bad things happen and I feel a bit sick and dizzy. Once i've settled to the lower dose it gets better.

Have you been cutting down under doctors advice? I wasn't allowed to until I'd been feeling "better" for a few months - I think if I had cut down sooner the depression would have come back.

I would go and see your doctor now - having withdrawal symptoms for three weeks isn't nice.

[iliketurquoise]

i was on 20 mg for a very long time, mostly i used 20mg. then about 10 days 10mg, 1 week every other day 10mg. then stopped.
i couldnt take more weight gain, as it started disturbing me very much.
i think i've put on 3 stones in about the time 1-1.5 years.
maybe my stopping was a bit sharpish i dont know.
my dreams didnt change much, but i had more nice dreams when i was on it.

[IdrisTheDragon]

I really would go and see your doctor - I only know about my cutting down and a doctor will have more experience. Hope you're feeling better soon.

[iliketurquoise]

thank you IdrisTheDragon