Coming off Citalopram

[shin1]

Hi all, I am after some advice about coming off of Citalopram. I have been on it for about 10 months and although it really helped me through a very tough period I am now beginning to notice other changes in myself that I am not to keen on! I have become quite numb around the edges, my OH says that I don't react appropriately to things. I have also become very quiet and emotionless. I don't sleep very well and my previously happy libido has gone into hibernation. I would like to start 'feeling' again but am worried about the side effects of coming off of Citalopram. Can anyone give me some advice? Many thanks

I've been on it for eight years. I have tried to come off it a couple of times, but I become an over emotional wreck. But it sounds like you are very different - have you spoken to your doctor about coming off it?

Hi, I'm in the process of coming off Citalopram - my 3rd attempt! I've finally figured out the key to coming off successfully ( I hope!), which is reducing the dose very slowly! I was on 20mg this time, although I've been up to 40mg in the past. I too felt very emotionless and completely lost my libido. The first two attempts I cut to 10mg overnight and within days felt pretty horrific, as though I was back to square one. Not a pleasant place to be and I soon went back to my original dose.
After some great advice on here I put together a plan with my doctor of how to reduce. So it's like this:
2 weeks of 20, 20, 10, 20, 20, 10 etc
2 weeks of 20, 10, 20, 10, etc
2 weeks of 20, 10, 10, 20, 10, 10 etc

You get the idea. I'm up to 20, 10, 10 at the moment and feeling fab! I feel as though I have more emotion, I'm calm and content and libido is there just a tiny bit. I feel the best I've felt in years. So it's all good!

You never know, you might be lucky and withdraw from the tabs quickly, but in my experience it's much better to play it safe to avoid a relapse. Good luck x

In coming off citalopram just now my plan is
2 weeks of 40/30
2 weeks of 30
2 weeks of 30/20
2weeks of 20
2 weeks of 20/10
2 weeks of 10
2 weeks of alternate days of 10

So a long process I'm only at the 30 stage just now.

I've had a similar experience - just stopping was a disaster several times in a row. Eventually I weaned myself off very gradually and it worked well. Think in terms of weeks / months as suggested. You're more likely to succeed that way.

Yy to other posts - do it slowly! I tried to come off it when I felt really well but dipped massively to the extent that DH thought I was having an affair because I was so distant - this distance in my mind was awful depression. Glad to hear you are in a good place now, but take your time

I ran out of tablets a month ago and had 3 days cold turkey, I felt like I was on a different plain to everyone else was awful.

Talk to your doctor and come off it VERY gradually. I am impatient and had a few setbacks when I cut the dose or stopped too soon. How much are you taking? I was on 20mg a day, on that dose you could alternate 20/10 for a few weeks, then take 10 every day for another few weeks, then 10/5, then 5, etc.
Good luck!

I did it very very gradually as I was feeling much the same as you. You can get 5mg doses which I started using aftee getting to 10 mg then dropping a 5mg every other day. You can feel really ill if you do it too quickly. I ran out for three days and was very dizzy. Just take it gradually.

Hi
Deffo speak to the doctor so that you can reduce off it . I did it cold turkey as is had enough I felt so lethargic and zombie like but I was on a high dose and had been on it years

Physical withdrawal wasn't to bad but after a couple of weeks I felt very depressed but that gradually lifted and feelin really good now 3 months on

I came off it successfuly. So it can be done.

I can't remember the exact details of whether it was with or without medical supervision, but I simply started taking less a little at a time over about four months.

Citralopram is a "nasty", by which I mean it is one of the more powerful drugs available to medice and should be handled with care.

I now take Valproate semi Sodium... as I am a manic depressive rather than a depressive..

Good luck

I am also in the process of coming off. I have been on 10mg every 2-3 days for about a year now, so decided now was the time. Have been 5 days without any and feeling waves of nausea, dizzyness (bad today especially), bit of brain fog and tearfulness, particularly at night.
That said, it isn't as bad as I thought it would be (unless the worst is yet to come). And certainly nowhere near as bad as starting out on it. I was so sick! I have been able to work thsi week, have managed a bit of exercise, which helps a lot with the nausea if you can get motivated to do it and generally functioned ok.
In researching online, some people say that it's best to expect three months of ups and downs. I find this kind of comforting in a way. I know that it will pass. am looking forward to getting old me back, without the anxiety (hopefully!).
Best of luck. Happy to chat more and support you.

Glad other people have managed to get off... But always remember that for some and I include myself, we only feel good whilst on the medication because we are taking the medication. I know if I come off, the chemical imbalance returns in a short while I begin to go loopy.

Polkadots.. please be careful. You may be avoiding the anxiety because you are drugged up.

The worst of it seems to be that medics don't actually have a chemical test available to know which drugs to prescribe so they use a suck and see approach.