Has anyone successfully come off citalopram?

[duffybeatmetoit]

My DH has been on it for 3 years but has been wanting to come off it for over a year but not getting much support from GP - think it's all too easy just to issue a repeat prescription. We know several people on it but none have managed to come off it successfully and are beginning to think it will never happen. GP now suggesting I take it for menopausal symptoms but I don't want to end up on them permanently. DH says that one zombie in the family is more than enough. Has anyone got experience of actually getting off it and how did you do it?

[strawberry17]

In general the alternate day thing doesn't work for a lot of people, maybe I was being a bit sweeping, and you are obviously one of the ones it does work for. The reason it doesn't work for a lot of people is the half life of a lot of antidepressants is very short, in other words they wash out of your body within hours and you start getting the effects of withdrawal on the days you are not taking them, then the brain gets confused, withdrawal/not withdrawal/withdrawal/not withdrawal which is where the dizzyness and feeling of depression/anxiety kick in. Not sure I've explained it very well. Prozac actually has a long half life which it means it takes days to wash out of the body rather than a mere few hours which is why it's supposed to be easiest antidepressant to get off.

[Cosmosis]

Yes I have, I was on 20mg. As others have said you do need to wean yourself off gradually or you will get withdrawal. I accidentally went cold turkey for a couple of days and got the electric shocks symptoms people describe, they were horrible.

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

Me too. Was on 40mg and it took me about 6 months to come off them. I dropped the dose till I was on 10mg and then it went to every other day, then every second day. I had previously tried going down to 5mg per day but that didn't work for me. The every other day suited me better.

[KatieScarlett2833]

I'm on 60mg, how long realistically will it take me to come off?

[EldritchCleavage]

I was on 60mg, and took about 6 months to come off if I recall correctly. Fortunately my psychiatrist was very supportive. I went from 60 to 40, stayed there for a while, then 40 to 20, ditto, then 20 to 10 and ended up on half a tablet every day for a while, then every other day, then stopped.

I certainly had the electric shock thing, but don't remember many other difficult symptoms. My libido did come roaring back like a tsunami before settling down again, so beware!

There's no set answer as everyone is different. The one thing I will say is that I think it is really important to stabilise at a dose for a while before going lower. The plateau will vary from person to person and even between reductions-60 down to 40 was easier than 20 down to 10 for me, for example.

I did find daily expercise really helped throughout the process though.

[KatieScarlett2833]

Have gym induction next week for that reason Eldritch. Not starting reduction for another month and want to give it my best shot.

Don't have a psych, just a great GP so fingers crossed.

Thank you so much for telling me how it was for you, I feel a bit less scared now.

[helenhorse2]

any success stories - i am on day 16 after 9 mths on 20mg. first 10 days ok but now truely terrible. much blacker bleaker feelings than the menopausal symptoms i took them for. physically stomach cramps, nausea. hoping that this might be rock bottom and things will improve?

[FruitCider]

Hi OP! I came off citalopram 5 years ago. I reduced quickly down to 20mg, then did 2 weeks of 20mg, 2 weeks alternating 20 and 15, then 2 weeks of 15 etc. That last 5mg was very hard. I had "the zaps" and they lasts for weeks on end. Had some rebound symptoms too, this is very common! Ended up on diazepam for last week of reduction. But I would take citalopram again in a heart beat if I needed to - it saved my life!

[raspberryshake]

Me!!! The withdrawal symptoms are awful, but with the right support from GP (tapered dosage, appts to reassure you when you think you're relapsing) and also from those around you you can come off them. I've been off for 15mths now and it's been a bit of a rollercoaster, but I'm glad to be off them. My DH says he feels like he's got his wife back... citalopram dulled all my emotions including my happiness and my sense of humour. It's taken me a while to remember that emotions are normal and what is normal and not me being depressed. My pmt is back, but that's a small price to pay.... good luck to your DH. Xx

[raspberryshake]

Me!!! The withdrawal symptoms are awful, but with the right support from GP (tapered dosage, appts to reassure you when you think you're relapsing) and also from those around you you can come off them. I've been off for 15mths now and it's been a bit of a rollercoaster, but I'm glad to be off them. My DH says he feels like he's got his wife back... citalopram dulled all my emotions including my happiness and my sense of humour. It's taken me a while to remember that emotions are normal and what is normal and not me being depressed. My pmt is back, but that's a small price to pay.... good luck to your DH. Xx

[dementedma]

I have been on them 3 times in my life, am on them now.
Have had no problems with withdrawal coming off them at any time.

[Babybeesmama]

I successfully came off it after 9 months on it. Found elements of withdrawal difficult.. the weird head zapps & when I stood up I felt like I'd left my head behind. So weird. Think doing it very slowly is best.. emotionally was fine. Went on sertraline a few years later for pnd & I found coming off that physically much easier.

[Banksk]

Good Morning so I have a couple questions I've been on celexa 10mg for a month didnt really do anything so my doctor put me on 20mg did that for a month then had bad brain fog and now he has me on 15 I honestly dont think I have any anxiety anymore I think I'm just running on the side effects the only reason I started taking celexa was cause I had panic attacks and that went away. I do have alot of depersonalization going on right now tho not sure if that will go away after I come off my meds or not it's like I dont feel like myself and it's weird to talk to friends sometimes. I work at a vitaminshoppe store and we carry a bunch of stuff like 5 htp so I really want to try that has anyone had any good benefits from that?