Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Mental health

Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention.

Flip

Original poster

Stopping taking Citalopram

7 replies

Teleaddict · 12/08/2012 20:13

Hi, I have been taking 20mg of citalopram for the past 12 months after being diagnosed with depression. I went to see my GP and we agreed that it was the right time for me to stop taking them. So took 10mg a day for 1 week and then 10mg every other day for 2 weeks. That was 1 week ago and over the last couple of days I've started to feel pretty terrible. I'm having thoughts and feelings again that I haven't experienced for the last year.
Is this normal and should I expect to feel like this? I'm just really worried that I'm not ready to stop taking them.

OP posts:

5madthings · 12/08/2012 20:20

i think you have maybe cut down too fast, when i stopped i took 10mg for a couple of months and then a few weeks of everyday and then every third day before stopping them.

i started on 40mg and then went down to 30mg then 20mg then 10 and then every other day.

another thing i noticed was my mood and feelings were a bit funny when i was just about to get my period, so it may be worth noting that as well.

i think some thoughts and feelings can be expected but if they are too much, overwhelming and concerning go back to your gp, i did find that i had a tendency to over analyse my mood/thoughts etc as i was coming off meds and could make too much of having a bad day if that makes sense?

DontSweatTheSmallStuff · 12/08/2012 20:34

I tried coming off citalopram a couple of times a while ago and it was hard. Each time, I did it a similar way to you and felt horrendous, and often felt worse than i did before I started taking them. Each time I started taking them again, felt instantly better and just assumed it was because I wasn't ready to come off.

The most recent time I tried I dropped down to 10 from 20 but stayed on 10 for quite a while as I didn't want to feel so bad again. But coming off the last 10 was still horrendous. I googled 'citalopram withdrawal' expecting to find that pages saying it was hard to come off but I found lots of stuff about withdrawal symptoms which described pretty much how I was feeling.

Anyway I stayed off it hoping it was just withdrawal symptoms and after 2-3 weeks started to feel much better.

Have you spoken to your doctor about you feel. You may be coming off it too fast, or it may just be withdrawal symptoms.

Shybairns · 12/08/2012 20:38

Definitely take the 10mg for at least 6mths. Its such a low dose you could stay on it for life. When you do come off the 10mg you shouldn't crash.

Original poster

Teleaddict · 12/08/2012 20:47

Thank you everyone for replying. Having read the posts it does seem that I have stopped taking them pretty quickly. I think I will go back and speak to my GP about a more gradual reduction.
I was prescribed the AD due to depression after the death of my son and I am so worried that I'll never be able to enjoy my life again without taking them.
It's just so hard x

OP posts:

DP44 · 20/08/2012 11:49

I have been taking citalopram for 7 months now, going from 20-30mg and than back down to 10mg. I reduced my dosage to 10 mg every other day for two weeks as part of withdrawal from this drug. Since stopping the drug 7 days ago I have felt weepy and tired with flu like symptoms and have dizziness and nausea on and off. My husband says I should be taking them again as he 'can't cope' with the weeping and mood swings. The only issue I have is a lack of mental support at home - my husband has clinical depression and he can't cope with any level of unbalance in me. My preganancy was a nightmare as my hormones triggered off his depression and neither could support the other and my husband recently had a break down. I can't convince my husband that I am happy and feel well but the symptoms are not in my control - does anyone recognise this? I know I am ready to come off the drug put my husband thinks otherwise. I have read other peoples stories and realise I do have withdrawal symptoms and will stick with it despite my husbands request. I don't usually write to these forums but I hope others have the strength to go through this even if things are stacked against them to gradually come off the drug and I will keep you posted. I would interested in other people's withdrawal journey too x

NeverKnowinglyUnderstood · 20/08/2012 11:57

I am interested to nkow if you have had any berevement counselling?

For ME, citalopram was prescribed to give me the space to deal with stuff.
if you haven't yet managed to begin to process the terribly sad loss of your son then all the grief and pain has been put on hold and will still be there.

Perhaps have another chat with your gp (or a different one if they aren't veyr understanding) and see if you can get a few sessions with a grief counsellor to begin the process??

I am so sorry you are goign through this,

2dolly2 · 20/08/2012 12:30

Hello... i am new to Mumsnet... I decided to join as i was looking at some information on coming off Citrapram, i have come off a few weeks ago after being on it for about 18moths due to having PND after having my second child. - i was also diagnosed with having 'prenatal' depression, but didn't start medication until after she was born. I have now been off it for 2 weeks and am feeling incredibly emotional and on 'edge' all the time... i am just not sure if i am ready or not, and dont know how to know if i am ready or not, I would appreciate any advice,... i dont really want to be on medication long term....

Flip