Citalopram Cold Turkey

[GinJeanie]

Apologies if I've posted in the wrong place. I've arrived on a week's holiday (UK based) and realised I've left my Citalopram at home. I've been on 10mg a day for about a year to help with menopause-related anxiety. Just wondered if anyone has knowledge. Might I feel rubbish going cold turkey or could it be ok, given it's a relatively low dose? Oops!

Yes possibly. 1 or 2 days is probably ok. You might have wierd dreams and feel very tired or spaced out, but your mood could also drop. If you call your GP could they arrange something?

I came off 40mg cold turkey, I felt a bit spaced out and had weird 'brain zaps', nothing too bad though.

Could you ring your gp surgery tomorrow and get a prescription sent to a local pharmacy?

I found that if I missed a dose, and when I was coming off them, I felt very dizzy. It was very strange and I couldn’t drive for a week or so at one point. It might be worth seeing if you can get a prescription sent to a pharmacist near where you are staying via GP (although I realise it’s now the weekend). I’m not sure if a walk in clinic would be able to help?

I felt very unwell after about 5 days of withdrawal on 10mg. Constantly crying and generally feeling awful. I’d strongly advise trying to get an emergency prescription some how.

Goodness, thank you so much for your help. I was going to hope for the best but think I'll see if I can sort a emergency prescription. Can't believe I've done this on holiday - what a plonker! 🙄

I would try and get some replacement supplies if you can. You are on holiday and need to feel ok. The local emergency GP may be able to prescribe you enough until you get home,

I tailed off mine very slowly but once I’d completely stopped I felt horrible for about a week. Very dizzy and a bit spaced out.

I used to be on 20 mg, but had weird dizzy spells and hot sweats coming off them, if your in the UK can you get your Gp to send a prescription to a nearby pharmacy?

Don't cold Turkey, you might be absolutely fine but withdrawal is horrendous. Get more.

I wouldn't do it - if none of the above works, I wonder if an online pharmacy could authorise a private prescription? You'll pay the cost of the med (a few £) plus a small charge for the prescribing doctor. Or Lloyds pharmacy might do it? Or one of those private GP offices that used to be in places like railway stations? Not in U.K. so all based on my limited experience of trying to get prescription drugs that aren't available in my own country!

10mg is the lowest possible dose. In fact usually it’s a pre-clinical dose, prescribed to introduce a patient to the drug slowly before it is increased to 20mg or more, so with a bit of luck you won’t have many/any withdrawal effects. If you are in the UK though, go to a pharmacy and explain, they can contact your GP, then dispense what you need. If you are abroad, contact a doctor or your travel insurancer.

Isn’t coming off antidepressants cold turkey supposed to be quite dangerous?

Given that it's the weekend 111 may be your best option. Ask for emergency prescription

I also did this some years ago - I'd definitely try to sort an emergency prescription! 10mg is a low dose, but I read somewhere recently that even with gradual withdrawal, research is showing the last 10mg can be the hardest, so I wouldn't underestimate the impact.

Don’t do it. You would feel really bad. I have been in similar situations when I forgot my 10mg. Not good for more than 3 days

Thank you again . I'd have probably waited until Monday so good job I posted (as no idea what I'm doing). Will ring the Walk-In shortly and hopefully can be sorted. I want to come off them soon but NOT like this - and on holiday!

Isn’t coming off antidepressants cold turkey supposed to be quite dangerous?

In some circumstances yes, but OP is on the lowest dose of Citalopram. People go from 10mg to 0mg as a matter of course. It sometimes causes unfortunate side-effects, but it's not inherently dangerous.

I have the Push Doctor app. You have to pay but you won't have the wait at a Walk In. They send the prescription to the nearest pharmacy to where you're staying.