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Mental health

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Original poster

Has anybody come off Citalopram with no problems?

14 replies

PassTheTwiglets · 14/03/2011 16:22

I'm starting to come off Citalopram and haven't experienced any sides effects so far but am very nervous about it, having read what awful things a lot of people go through when withdrawing! Has anybody here come off them easily, without any side effects? I'm not sure if a bad withdrawal experience is a given or just unlucky?

OP posts:

MadMommaMemoo · 14/03/2011 19:16

I was on 60mg at one point and came off it quite quickly over a few weeks, had no side affects really apart from slight head zaps if you know what I mean?

On Venlafaxine now and if I'm even a few hours late with my dose I feel like crap.

Original poster

PassTheTwiglets · 15/03/2011 08:04

The head zaps is what scares me - I've never had one and they sound horrible!!

OP posts:

MadMommaMemoo · 15/03/2011 08:11

It's not as bad as they sound honestly, it's more like a wooshing feeling than a zap. It doesn't hurt it just feels really strange. I came off mine quite quickly do it was probably worse.

Are you coming off them with help from your doctor? You've not just stopped taking them have you?

Original poster

PassTheTwiglets · 15/03/2011 09:43

No, I'm comign off them slowly, as my GP advises. I've been on 20mg for 2 years and have just gone down to 10mg and will stay on that for a month. Not sure what happens after that, will have to go back and ask. I feel ok so far, just a bit lightheaded but I'm nervous 'cos I've heard people say that going from 20 to 10 is easy, it's the going from 10 to nothing that's hard.

OP posts:

Stac2011 · 15/03/2011 22:48

i came off it gradually and was fine went from 40 to 20 to ten then ten every 2nd day for 2wks and stopped no zaps, anxiety or anything.

Sorry to hijack but anyone gain weight on it?

Original poster

PassTheTwiglets · 16/03/2011 06:45

Stac, that's good to know - thank you!

I have gained a fair bit of weight but that's probably due to the inordinate amount of chocolate I have been eating :) I'm 90% sure it's my own fault, rather than the drug.

OP posts:

thenamesjane · 16/03/2011 14:22

Hi - i don't believe there is any hard and fast rules on withdrawal - it's what works for you. I was advised by a therapist that when coming off citalopram I ought to listen to what the GP said and then double the timescale and cut down the dosage by half of what she or he suggested. That's what I'm doing and it means if I get the odd "funny" day or moment I feel more in control and don't believe it's down to withdrawing from the drug
I've been on 20mg for just over a year. My doc suggested coming down to 10mg - so, based on my friend's advice, I've cut down to 15mg a day (I cut one tab in half). I'm in the second month at 15mg, and will then cut down to 10 for two more months, then 5...and so on. It is working out so far for me. I don't want to "blame" withdrawal if I have the occasional down day or anxious moment.
Btw, I had real difficulty accepting the need for medication at all, despite two years of stress, anxiety and panic attacks, and when i did take it I had two weeks of hell. Thankfully the drug did eventually work for me and has been enormously helpful in giving me the space to get help and work through some issues and learn how to control my anxiety, so life is good. I'd like to now become drug free, but I don't see any rush. Slowly slowly is my approach. I hope it works out for you.

Original poster

PassTheTwiglets · 16/03/2011 15:57

Thanks thenamesjane, so glad it's working for you! I also felt terrible for 2 weeks when I started taking it but it soon settled down. Thanks for your advice!

OP posts:

LawrieMarlow · 16/03/2011 16:07

I came off it very slowly and was fine. Have also lost weight since stopping although did also start running then too.

Original poster

PassTheTwiglets · 16/03/2011 16:44

I wonder if I could lose the weight without the running? :) Lovely to hear of another problem-free withdrawal! It was beginning to feel like it was inevitable so I'm pleased to hear that it isn't.

OP posts:

EldritchCleavage · 16/03/2011 16:57

I weaned off from 60 mg slowly. I did get the head zaps, quite often in the first fortnight, then they faded. I didn't find them all that bad once I got used to it and I really welcomed losing the slight grogginess/heavy feeling I had had. I think I took about 6 months to come off having taken the medication for two years. It was painless, overall so I don't think problems are anything like inevitable. They key is finding a pace of withdrawal that suits you.

bookmark · 16/03/2011 21:40

I was on it for a year and came off by the book, can't remember exactly how but it was done gradually and i was fine, best of luck

tigana · 16/03/2011 21:47

I have!
Was on for about a year. Came off v slowly, like over a months plus, slowly reducing dosage/frequency. 20 to 10 for coupel weeks then one every other night etc . No head zaps or anything.
Been off a few months now. All good!

tigana · 16/03/2011 21:49

oh yeah, I did get a 'wobbly' few days after each reduction...where my mood would wobble... but because I was 'expecting it' I could deal with it and not dwell on it as a bad sign etc. It was just 2 or 3 days.

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