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Original poster

AIBU to ask how long it took for brain zaps to go away during citalopram withdrawal?

27 replies

therocinante · 17/07/2021 21:05

Shamelessly using AIBU for traffic!

Withdrawing off Citalopram for various reasons - been on them 9 years with a couple of previous attempts to wean off which I stopped because SSRI withdrawal is hideous.

Did it the proper way this time, down from 40mg to 2.5mg over several months (still faster than some recommend online, but the nurse prescriber at my GP surgery said a dosage drop every fortnight would be okay so that's what I went with roughly - a few longer periods in between of the same dose if I wasn't tolerating the new lower dosage well).

At 2.5mg they said it was either stop taking altogether, or start a different SSRI on 5mg and then titrate down with liquid medication which is easier to get a very small dose - they said liquid citalopram wasn't an option. I can't tolerate any other SSRIs so I stopped taking the 2.5mg and I'm fine mentally - a bit quicker to cry than my average, but I am notoriously a crier anyway so I'm not especially worried about that.

Buuuut it's been a week since my last tablet and I am still getting the horrendous brain zappy/dizzy feeling whenever I moved my head or eyes too quickly.

Does anyone know how long this takes to go away? Google isn't helping and for various reasons I really need this stopping of meds to stick (unless I completely lose my shit again, in which case then obviously I will go back on them).

Any advice, experience or psych doctors/nurses knocking around with wisdom gratefully welcomed!

OP posts:
EmpressWitchDoesntBurn · 17/07/2021 21:11

When I was coming down from 40mg Citalopram & down to the minimum size tablet I got a pill cutter & took half the tablet. I think that was the lowest I went & I remember feeling as if a blanket had been wrapped around my brain & was slowly coming off, but that was about it. Tbf though I was only on the max for a year or two.

Original poster
therocinante · 17/07/2021 21:21

@EmpressWitchDoesntBurn

When I was coming down from 40mg Citalopram & down to the minimum size tablet I got a pill cutter & took half the tablet. I think that was the lowest I went & I remember feeling as if a blanket had been wrapped around my brain & was slowly coming off, but that was about it. Tbf though I was only on the max for a year or two.
That's the perfect description! Just a weird draggy slow dizzy feeling in my head.

I was using a pill cutter to get down to as low as I can, but I can't reliably get the pills down to any lower a dose than 2.5mg with a pill cutter so I just took the leap and now my head feels wonky except not in the concerning way, just annoying!

OP posts:
wouldthatbeworse · 17/07/2021 21:41

Cut the tablets into smaller and smaller pieces to reduce even the last bit of dose more gradually. Wishing you all the best OP.

mineofuselessinformation · 17/07/2021 21:48

I've always found going on antidepressants makes you feel rubbish for a couple of weeks, and the same for coming off them.
Give it another week. If it's still a problem then, give your GP a call.

Branleuse · 17/07/2021 21:58

If you take a 5htp here and there ut should help the withdrawal

mynameiscalypso · 17/07/2021 21:59

Whenever I've come off them, it's been about two weeks.

Daisychaincarrot · 17/07/2021 22:02

I went cold turkey without planning to, from 40mg. Yes I know that’s awful, it was an accident and by the time I was in a position to fix it I was having the worst symptoms and decided to just stay off them.

After 2 weeks it hit me the hardest. I was constantly sick and dizzy. Like nothing I have ever felt before. It lasted a good 2-3 weeks before easing.

That was roughly six weeks ago now. I still have a lot of brain fog but that’s it. The most amazing orgasms now though, so that’s a plus.

TheProvincialLady · 17/07/2021 22:03

I was the same as mynameiscalypso. It took 2 weeks for me.

CinderFuckingRe11a · 17/07/2021 22:06

I had brain zaps coming off sertraline. I think they lasted a couple of weeks, then went away.

Original poster
therocinante · 17/07/2021 22:11

@Daisychaincarrot

I went cold turkey without planning to, from 40mg. Yes I know that’s awful, it was an accident and by the time I was in a position to fix it I was having the worst symptoms and decided to just stay off them.

After 2 weeks it hit me the hardest. I was constantly sick and dizzy. Like nothing I have ever felt before. It lasted a good 2-3 weeks before easing.

That was roughly six weeks ago now. I still have a lot of brain fog but that’s it. The most amazing orgasms now though, so that’s a plus.

Christ yes, I can't imagine sticking out a 40mg to nothing withdrawal, you absolute trooper! I forgot to pack my meds on holiday once - worst mistake ever, by day 4 I was a sweating dizzy mess. Ended up getting my mum to pick them up from the pharmacy and post them to my hotel so at least the second week wasn't ruined.

And yep, can't wait to be able to orgasm (properly!) in less than 30 minutes again - already can tell the difference there, DH doesn't know what's hit him Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
therocinante · 17/07/2021 22:12

@TheProvincialLady

I was the same as mynameiscalypso. It took 2 weeks for me.
This is encouraging, thank you all! I can handle a couple of weeks of it Smile
OP posts:
Original poster
therocinante · 17/07/2021 22:13

@Branleuse

If you take a 5htp here and there ut should help the withdrawal
Excellent tip, cheers. Going to order some now, might be useful to have in anyway in case my brain still hasn't got the 'sort your serotonin out' message by now...
OP posts:
NeverSurrender · 17/07/2021 22:16

Oh god the brain zaps! I was getting them on the Citalopram after a couple of years on them, they started before my dose was due every day. I came off them and they got worse but I battled through and after a couple of weeks they were gone. My GP said it was strange and he'd never heard that side effect before, but I knew it was them because they'd go after taking my tablet.

Original poster
therocinante · 17/07/2021 22:29

@NeverSurrender

Oh god the brain zaps! I was getting them on the Citalopram after a couple of years on them, they started before my dose was due every day. I came off them and they got worse but I battled through and after a couple of weeks they were gone. My GP said it was strange and he'd never heard that side effect before, but I knew it was them because they'd go after taking my tablet.
Yep it's definitely that - it was the most reliable way I knew I'd forgotten to take them haha. I'm really glad people are saying 2 weeks-ish though, I'll hold on and hopefully it'll go away soon!
OP posts:
Mountainpika · 17/07/2021 22:33

I've been on citalopram since 2005, variable doses according to how I feel. My GP knows me well and trusts me to know what I need.
Last year I tried dropping the dose from 30 to nothing over some weeks. Within a couple of days of going to none, I felt terrible. Put myself back on with GP support. I'm fine when I take them so I shall continue probably for the rest of my life. (I'm 74) I have no problem with that. Citalopram keeps the serotonin at the right level. It's no different from a diabetic taking insulin. GP is of the same view.
Why suffer when it's so easy to control?
Good luck.

irresistibleoverwhelm · 17/07/2021 22:35

Last time I came off citalopram if I remember rightly the brain zaps lasted about two weeks.

Noterook · 17/07/2021 22:36

Around 2 weeks for me as well, fingers crossed it passes for you soon.

DoTheNextRightThing · 17/07/2021 22:44

In general, they say it takes two weeks for your brain to settle when you start taking them and the same when stop.

I don't get what you're describing so much as just sharp painful headaches if I stop taking them. Or start taking them Confused

HowToMurderYourLife · 17/07/2021 22:44

I agree about 2 weeks. I went from 20 to nothing and I had never felt so ill in my entire life. At times I felt like it would never pass but it does.

Remember you are not far from coming out the other side. The alternative is to start taking again and still feel like shit while you adjust to them again!

Noterook · 17/07/2021 22:45

@DoTheNextRightThing

In general, they say it takes two weeks for your brain to settle when you start taking them and the same when stop.

I don't get what you're describing so much as just sharp painful headaches if I stop taking them. Or start taking them Confused

Mine was usually when I lay down, it wasn't painful as such, but felt like a build up of static if that makes sense. I was hesitant to drive for that fortnight just in case, as sometimes they did make me feel a bit dizzy and disorientated. Appreciate its different for everyone, I do find it interesting.
sobercuriouskind · 17/07/2021 22:56

It took 3 weeks for me to feel back to "normal".

Wallpapering · 17/07/2021 23:18

No helpful advice but this has been great info for me as friend has made few attempts to come off them way to fast as ended badly & no one told her about what you described so she gets stressed & anxious. Will let her know.

Wish you well op

Olafthemoth · 17/07/2021 23:24

After tapering and then stopping I had 5 days of brain zaps which drove me mad so I caved and took another half or quarter tablet. I then took the quarter every other says and then every 3 days. This way I didn't get brain zaps.
Hope it goes well for you.

APJ1 · 18/07/2021 01:32

I'm on Citalopram now but when I previously came off Fluoxetine (Prozac), I too had the brain zaps and think it was also for around two weeks.

Lanareyrey · 18/07/2021 01:59

Been on this merry go round a few times, they are so hard to get off and GP’s are pretty ignorant.

What I found helped is omega 3’s, vitamin d, vitamin c and low dose iron supplements. Need to continue these well into coming off them.

Also had a back up of Ativan for the really bad days, but like any benzo have to be very careful of your use of them.

Hope this helps somewhat!