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Original poster

Feeling down, coming off Citrolapram- advice please.

58 replies

Bakeoffcake · 04/04/2015 09:06

I've been on it for 18 months and it has helped me so much, I've felt better than I have for many years. (I was prescribed it for anxiety rather than depression, though it did really lift my mood)

I started coming off it 3 and a half weeks ago. I was on 20mgs so Dr told me to take 10 mgs for 3 weeks then reduce to every other day. I've felt absolutely fine for those three weeks but the last few days I've felt so down. I'm sat in bed now absolutely crying my eyes out and I don't know whySad.

Is this a tempory thing which I should just work through or do you think I should go back to taking the 10mgs everyday?

I do have an appt with Dr on Thursday, but wanted to get some advice from other people too.

OP posts:
MyBeloved · 04/04/2015 10:24

This is exactly what happened to me when I came off fluoxetine.

I ended up back on ADs as I sunk so low. Now on Sertraline and feeling much better.

Think I will always be on medication now.

Thanks
Original poster
Bakeoffcake · 04/04/2015 12:18

Thanks for the reply MyBeloved. I'm going to keep taking the 10mgs until I see the dr on Thursday and see how I feel then.

I managed to stop crying and have been out to buy some plants at the nursery. I now feel like I need to go and have a sleepHmm.
It's so odd as the last 3 weeks I've felt amazing. It's not blooming fair!

OP posts:
MissPricklePants · 04/04/2015 12:21

I came off it after 2 years, felt awful after 3 weeks so I'm.now back on 20mg! I can't see myself coming off them now. Hope you are ok OP.

Original poster
Bakeoffcake · 04/04/2015 12:27

Thanks MrsPickle, did you go straight back on after 3 weeks or did you wait a while?

OP posts:
ProfessorPreciseaBug · 04/04/2015 13:13

I have come off it so it can be done, It is a pretty powerful drug and it does take time to wean yourself away. 20mg to 10 is a 50% reduction so I would expect some reaction. I can't remember, do the tablets have a cut line so you can split them in half? If so I would suggest going onto 15 a day for a while.. 3-4 weeks then trying to cut down another 5.

I am now on Valproate semi sodium as a mood stabiliser for manic depression. It works for me but I think it will be a lifetime medication.

Good luck

NotNob · 04/04/2015 22:14

Hi there OP

18 months is a significant period so I would suggest you weaned too quickly. I have been weaning for approx 4 months and the last drop (5mg to 2.5mg) was too steep so had to up my dose to 5mg every 2 days and 2.5mg every 3rd, which is what I'm currently on. I stay on the lowered dose for 1 month to allow my brain to adjust.

NotNob · 04/04/2015 22:20

Posted too quickly. There are some good forums on managing withdrawal and many suggest you should not drop more than 10% at a time. I've been on citalopram a couple times for PND and each time I've found the initial drop from 20mg to be ok but it gets tougher the lower I go. This is not a return of anxiety for me but withdrawal from a drug my brain has become accustomed to. Unfortunately the symptoms are similar but I find withdrawaltends to manifest as mood swings and tearful periods rather than the hopelessness and terror of the original problem.

Original poster
Bakeoffcake · 05/04/2015 07:56

Thank you Professor and NotNob.

I did do a bit of googling yesterday and think you're right NotNob, I'm coming off far too quickly. As I said I've been fine on 10mgs but the drop to taking them every other day was just too much. I did take one yesterday so hopefully it's back in my system, I'm going to take them everyday and hope my GP agrees with me doing this for a little while longer.

I have woken up feeling much better today. Yesterday was absolutley dreadful though, but like you NotNob it wasn't a return to anxiety, just a reaction to withdrawal. I don't want to experience that again.

OP posts:
violator · 05/04/2015 16:39

Yep, far too quickly.

I took a full six months to wean off 10mgs escitalopram (which is equivalent to 20mgs citalopram)

I had been taking it for just over two years.

This was after a lot of research on my behalf. Both GP and psychiatrist told me to do it in a fortnight Confused but everything else I read said to go SO slowly.
In fact my young, very helpful pharmacist was the only one who seemed to know and acknowledge how powerful these drugs are, and that I should wean slowly.

Bought a pill splitter, took 5mgs for 2 months. Then 2.5mgs for two months. Then cut the 2.5mgs into 'half' and took crumbs for two months.

I still had a few wobbles after stopping completely but am off all meds over a year now.

I did get horrific PMS after stopping, and have subsequently identified that oestrogen fluctuations is my problem, and probably was my problem all along, so got that sorted with a gynae and oestrogen patches.

Original poster
Bakeoffcake · 06/04/2015 09:10

Thanks Violator, the way you came off them sounds much better. Glad you've found the route of the problem too.

I do feel so much better now, but I never want to go though how I felt on Saturday. It really, really frighten me.

OP posts:
Greengardenpixie · 07/04/2015 17:36

I am coming off citalopram too. I have been on 20mg for a year now. I have been taking it 20mg every two days. Will then gradually make it 3 days and see how i get on. I have been ok. My mood has been fine. I have a prescription for 10mg to go and collect. Was advised by the doctor to take 10mg daily for a fortnight then every other day. Apart from headaches i have been ok. A little more tired than usual.
What about weight gain on citalopram. i weighed myself today and have put on a stone :( Hoping to shed it now im weaning myself off. Any experience of weight gain?

Original poster
Bakeoffcake · 07/04/2015 18:41

Hi Green, yes I've put on a stone as well. My appitite just seems to have got much bigger. I do intend to lose it for the summer.

Glad you're doing ok coming off the citrolapram.

OP posts:
Greengardenpixie · 07/04/2015 18:59

Im glad im not the only one. Feel it isnt great for the holidays :( My mission is to lose at least some of it. Its hard though. Hope you feel better too.
I was on it for work related stress. I have since changed my place of work and am feeling better. Have suffered all my life with anxiety though but i went to cbt [ cognitive behavioural therapy] through my GP and its really helped me think of things differently.
Im hoping the weight rolls off fat chance

Original poster
Bakeoffcake · 07/04/2015 19:10

Gosh we sound so similarSmile I too have had anxiety all my life, due to childhood circumstances, them a sudden bereavement sent me over the edge.

I had CBT too and it did really help me look at things differently. It took the ADs to really "cure" me though.

Here's too losing that bit of weight and getting off the ADs, without too many problems!

OP posts:
Greengardenpixie · 07/04/2015 19:15

Oh yes, it would have been way harder without the tablets. Like you, im a bit scared that i feel down but i havent felt that way yet! I suppose it helps having something to look forward too aswell. We are going on a nice holiday in the summer so am focusing on that. Come off gradually. I think that is the answer. Before this 'bout' of citalopram, i was on them previously for a couple of months. Came off them right away...cold turkey and i felt fine!!! But i am aware i have been on them longer this time, so a bit more cautious!

Original poster
Bakeoffcake · 07/04/2015 19:31

Yes something to look forward to is really important. I think this nice weather is helping me too. Long may it last.

OP posts:
hazeyjane · 07/04/2015 19:59

I am trying to come off Citalopram as well, taking it slowly as have been on them for 4 years, but reading this I think I am going too fast, so will slow down, and get a pill splitter.

I started on them becUse of anxiety after having Ds, which became unbearable when combined with pmt which manifested itself as depression whilst premenstrual.

I tried to come off them last year, but did it too quickly and had such an awful bout of pmt I was shaking with anxiety and dh wanted to ring an ambulance.

I hate the weight gain, I have gained about 3 stone since being on them, and feel sluggish.

I have a lot of mental health issues in my immediate family and would love to be able to get on top this.

It would be lovely to have some hands to hold whilst trying to do this. Smile

Original poster
Bakeoffcake · 08/04/2015 07:41

Hi Hazey, yes it is good to have hands to hold.Smile how are you feeling today?

I've had splitting headaches for the past few days but have woken up without one this morning so hope this carries on. I do feel fine emotionally just very tired and a bit "out of it".

How long have you been weaning yourself off them Hazey?

OP posts:
Greengardenpixie · 08/04/2015 09:05

Hello Hazey :)
Well i am going to miss another day today and see how it feels having two days between.
I have had the headaches bakeoff, they havent been splitting mind you, but just there above my eyes. Felt a little light headed for a brief moment last night but it came and went. I do have the tiredness and the feeling that i dont want to do anything right now. Trying to combat that! Tbh, in a way, i quite like being on citalopram. If it hadnt been for my doctor, i would have gone on taking them. I dont like the weight gain, that is bugging me right now as i worked like a dog to take it off when i had my dd 4 years ago.
Did like citalopram i have to say. It was good to be a bit emotionless in some ways. I felt quite indifferent to a lot of things. Things that would consume me and annoy me very often. I am going to miss that!!!!

hazeyjane · 08/04/2015 09:31
Smile

I have been weaning off for the last 6 weeks, but have had some sleepless nights and panics.

The emotionless thing I weird, I still get upset sometimes, but find I feel a bit, 'meh, I'll have another biscuit...' About everything!

They have been a very necessary thing for me, but I don't want to stay on them long-term.

Do you have the support of your Dr wrt coming off them? I am sort of doing it on my own.

Greengardenpixie · 08/04/2015 10:01

Well for me, my doctor said just to come off them gradually. He told me what to do but i cant remember!!! He gave me a prescription for 10mg [ half the amount] but i had just picked up a prescription for 20mg so have kind of done my own thing with them, taking them ever couple of days. Im going to try and stretch the days between them and then take them if i feel a bit shit!!! He said to do that, to eventually just take them every other day and then if i was feelin a bit rubbish to take them as and when until im off them.

Greengardenpixie · 08/04/2015 10:01

My doctor felt i should come off them as i have been feeling better. Nothing to lose really cause if you feel crap after, you just go back on them.

Original poster
Bakeoffcake · 08/04/2015 17:58

Well I've spent most of the day lying in bed, dozing. I feel so tired and can't be bothered to do anything and keep yawning!

Luckily I've got a day off.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bakeoffcake · 09/04/2015 19:05

Well I saw the dr today. She seemed to think I might need to go back up to 20mgs as she said some people "find it very difficult to get used to not having them".

I told her I do want to come off them so she said carry on taking 10mgs for 3 weeks and go back and see her. If I'm ok I can try reducing the dose very slowly, if I've still got symptoms she'd recommend upping the dose.

How is everyone else doing?

OP posts:
Greengardenpixie · 09/04/2015 21:33

Well i took one of my 20mg today after having a really horrible dizzy spell. Its hard to know whether its the tablets or just me thinking about it!!!! Anway, felt good today. The weather was stunning so it does help!!
Glad you went to the doctors and seem to have something sorted out. 10mg sounds like an easier way rather than cutting it out. Not sure what im doing with mine. Seems its a day on, two days off!!! Anway, hope you feel better bakeoff :)