Citalopram - coming off

[Glowerglass]

Has anyone come off citalopram? Had any side effects? Some people talk about dizzinness, and "head shocks"?

Yes I had both of these. I tried to come off twice, second time I stuck at it. Both eased in time. My biggest longer term noticeable effect of coming off is anger. I have am trying to find ways to manage it; exercise is probably the way forward.

Can I ask what dose people were on, and for how long? I have started reducing from 30mg to 20, having been started on 20 in June, upped to 30 in Sept. Aiming to be off completely soon as currently TTC but also worried about withdrawal symptoms.

I got this. 5HTP helped with the side effects!

I was on 40mg for quite a while then reduced to 20mg for about a year, then 10mg for around 6 months and 5 for another 6 months.

I had tried coming off before but had BRUTAL headaches and a busy time at work so just continued. However with hindsight I believe the headaches were hormonal/menopause related.

appella what is 5HTP?

Yes, I did a few years ago. It's hard to describe the sensation, but it was almost as if my brain jerked ahead every so often and the rest of me caught up a second later. It took about three months for this to wear off, although the frequency declined all the time. I'd been on 20mg for about 8 months and came off them because they unfortunately had no benefit in my case.

It's a supplement that helps with your serotonin. It really helped me manage side effects and sleep when coming off. You can get it from holland and Barrett :)

I’d been on 20mg and came off by going down to 10mg for a week then 10mg every other day for another week recently, couldn’t tell if I had side effects as was in first trimester so felt awful anyway! Previous times I’ve come off it I’ve had headaches and nausea.

Try to speak to a midwife before coming off to TTC. I came off mine on the advice of my GP and then the midwife has now told me I didn’t need to and should have had better advice from the GP.

appella Thanks I'll look into that.

I have been reducing from 20mg since last summer. Been on it for 3 years. Been doing it very very slowly and use a pill cutter. Have had lots of withdrawal side affects. Head aches, nausea, brain zaps, dizziness, insomnia. I can cope with these but the most difficult things is the low mood and avoidance. After I’ve made a staged drop to the next 5mg I have a week where I don’t want to see anyone and hide away feeling low. I know this is a side affect rather than depression returning. I’m now down to 5mg. I’m determined to get off them by the end of March. I will be cutting them into 2.5mg next and alternating days with 5mg. I also have been taking high dose vitamin D and Turmeric capsules.
Mind has a good section on their website explaining drug withdrawal for different anti depressants.
www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-treatments/antidepressants-a-z/citalopram/#.WlRjkSunyEc

I tried to come off it (by tapering) a few times when I wasn't ready - felt awful within days and straight back on!

Eventually, I went in a week-long sporting/activity holiday and cold-turkeyed it then. Cold-turkey is NOT recommended by professionals, but in this instance, it worked for me. I think being absolutely physically exhausted meant I definitely slept well, and all the fresh air helped too. Then again, I was in a better state to do it at that point too.

I was on 40mg for a year and spent about another year coming off. I alternated 40/30, then when that felt ok went down to 30 & eventually down to 2.5 like Orange,

I didn't have the brain zaps, nausea etc but I could feel my brain changing. The happy pills got me through ending a relationship, starting a new job and two moves - all stuff that should have been far more stressful than it was. It was as if I'd had a thick blanket wrapped round my brain & now it was coming off. CBT techniques were really helpful for dealing with that.

I have used the medication several times (only 20mg) and have had no issues coming off, currently on 40mg and am about ready to wean off shortly with the help of my GP.

I came off these tablets cold turkey and it was awful but so worth it. The head shocks are unpleasant rather than painful but they wear off after a few days. I also had loose bowels for a couple of days. Good Luck and try to persevere.