Stopping Citalopram

[Snowfire]

I have been taking citalopram 20mg for around 4 years, starting during a time of serious stress when I just couldn't cope.
Over the last couple of years my life has changed significantly. I have lost weight and got fit, I have found a wonderful man who I have a great relationship with, a new job I really enjoy, no money problems.... everything is good!
I decided I would like to stop taking the citalopram as I feel like I should be ok without it as everything is stable. I initially cut the dose to 10mg and took that for 2 months. Then for another month I took 10mg on alternate days then just every few days until I stopped altogether about 3 weeks ago. Initially I didn't have any problems but then I had really crazy/scary dreams and woke multiple times during the night. I was horrendously tired but this has settled a bit and now I just feel totally flat. I've been trying to exercise as I know this usually makes me feel good but it isn't helping. I suppose it distracts me from feeling down but I keep having really negative thoughts and am losing my temper over nothing.
How long should this continue? DP says I should just continue as I am and hopefully it will get better. I nearly turned to drink last night but I know that's not the answer.
Has anyone else had this? I still have some tablets so I'm tempted to start taking them again :(

Hi snowfire. I didn't want to read and run. I was on citalopram for about 4 years like you. I stopped taking it last August after getting out of a bad relationship, finding my own place and getting a job I love. Unfortunately I don't really have any advice about your experience as I didn't have any negative effects when I stopped taking it. I do know that it can take 4-6 weeks for your hormones to get back into balance though so don't be discouraged just yet. Keep focussing on the good things in your life and the reasons you don't need the tablets anymore. I hope it all evens out for you soon

Thank you :) I do really want to get through this but I'm finding it such a struggle. It's good to hear it all worked out for you!

I am withdrawing in a similar way to you. I am now on10mg alternate days and feel terrible; anxious, emotional and moments where I either cry or go into a slow motion kind of trance.
Sorry to hear that you're suffering too. What I don't know is how to tell the difference between withdrawal symptoms and relapse into depression and anxiety? Did your GP give you any guidance as to what to do if you felt like this?

I am so glad I found this post! I'm not overly familiar with netmums but if anyone wants to swap numbers during this process I would be happy to. I feel like I need a buddy going through the same thing!
I have been on citalapram 4 years and I am coming off it to try for another baby.
I cut 30mg to 20mg about ten days ago and on day 4-5 started with insomnia bad dreams and loss of appetite as well as a little anxiety.
It only lasted two days so I have cut it down again tonight to 10mg!

I feel like this change maybe a big one to my body and mind!
So would love some support and to offer support to others going through the same thing xx

Also replying to temp
The side effects coming off this drug are awful! You can watch a lot of video diaries on YouTube which might reassure you it's the withdrawal not the anxiety coming back.

Apparently you will feel worse than when your anxiety was at its peak but it WILL subside. However any suicidal thoughts or harmful worries make sure you contact your GP asap x

Hi, I was on 40mg for about 3 years. I came off very slowly - shaving little bits off my tablet over a long period. So alternating a whole tablet (40mg) with approx 37.5mg (I estimated where this was and scraped a bit of tablet away with a knife to leave how much I wanted) for 1 week; then 37.5mg everyday for a week, then alternating 35mg and 37.5mg per day for a week then a week of 35 etc until I got down to alternating a tiny bit of tablet which I hoped was about 2.5mg with no citalopram for a week, and finally no tablet at all. Took a long time and patience and when I started I felt about scared but I was tired of that numb emotionless state which didn't seem to be me.

Been citalopram free now for about a month, and today I was thinking about how I now feel like I have emotions but I can stand back and look at these more objectively than before and do something about them.

So, my advice for what it's worth is slow and steady, there may be some wobbly days but I kept in mind I got these on 40mg as well so didn't give up, it didn't turn out as bad as I thought it would be/others said it would be and I'm glad I did it.

I meant to add - I had no side effects/withdrawal symptoms unlike when I started taking citalopram when I felt awful for about 6 to 8 weeks.

Anna how long did you take to go from 40mg to 0 x

I can't remember exactly - it too weeks and weeks but so satisfying when I got to the end knowing I'd stuck it out.

I had tried before a couple of times but cutting down bigger chunks - 40 to 30 to 20 but the side effects were bad and I ended up giving up. So this time I decided that I would shave tiny bits off my tablets - as you can imagine it probably wasn't very accurate, what I thought was 37.5mg may have been a little bit bigger or a little bit smaller, but as I was cutting down over a long period I though a couple of mg here or there wouldn't make a difference.

I can't remember exactly - it took weeks and weeks but so satisfying when I got to the end knowing I'd stuck it out.

I had tried before a couple of times but cutting down bigger chunks - 40 to 30 to 20 but the side effects were bad and I ended up giving up. So this time I decided that I would shave tiny bits off my tablets - as you can imagine it probably wasn't very accurate, what I thought was 37.5mg may have been a little bit bigger or a little bit smaller, but as I was cutting down over a long period I though a couple of mg here or there wouldn't make a difference.

I'm down to 0 last tablet taken on the 29th and I'm not too bad just like on have moments where everything seems in slow motion and a whooshy head! X