Citalopram Withdrawl

[sheridanlouise]

I do see a lot of posts about things like that but I'm just looking for some advice from people going through the same thing.

I’ve been struggling with anxiety and depression for the last five/six years and I’m so proud to say that I took my last anti-depressant 2 week ago today.

I've initially started on Citalopram then went on to Fluoxetine then Sertaline but about two and half years ago I just stopped them completely and did cold turkey.

Jan 2017 I ended up having abit of a mental break down and going back to the doctors because I was having the worst panic attack's I've ever had. I was put back on Citalopram and was up to 40mg but I always felt flat, and low and felt no emotion.
I'd had enough of this so in Jan this year I decided to come off them again but did it very slowly with the help of my GP.

It started off not too bad coming off them, I was starting to feel like 'me' again.. happy, giddy, the 'loud one' at work but this past two week where I haven't been on any meds have been awful.
I've felt so up and down and I'm getting so agitated with EVERYTHING.
I'm fed up of having to explain myself to people by saying 'oh I'm sorry I've been a temperamental bitch today but I've recently come off AD so it's abit hard at the moment'

About a week after I had come off them, when I was laid in bed, and having suicidal thoughts.. well not thoughts but scenarios that could happen and having panic attacks.

I'm really sorry for the long post but I just wanted to know if anybody else has felt the same when coming off them?

Hi I have felt like that before with a couple of anti d’s. Fluoxetine and imipramine. It does balance out eventually and takes different amounts of time for everyone. Some people feel nothing at all lucky things!
How long did it take to wean off from 40mg? X

I started coming off them in January.. so about 10 weeks ish.
I'm just feeling so down again and I don't want to end up back on them

I am ultra sensitive to anti d’s so I really sympathise. Apparently takes a while for brain chemistry to re adjust after being on them. I remember being so full of rage when I came off imipramine and crying all the time and also suicidal thoughts. Took a few weeks until things felt like they were improving. My friend who is a mental health nurse said to me that you need to remember it’s not the illness it’s withdrawal even though it’s same symptoms.
I am on 10mg citalopram at mo and looking to wean off in next few months but because of sensitivities have to use the liquid version where you can drop 2mg at a time.
See how things go and if they don’t improve over next couple of weeks maybe go back to gp and go on 10mg and then wean off slowly using liquid? Just an idea if things don’t improve but hopefully they will soon. X

I am one month off citalopram right now. I feel awful I am just going past the agitated/snappy/angry phase but now starting to feel really low and hopeless. I have been on and off them for years. I really, really want to try and stay off them this time round. Previously I have always given up and gone back on them.
I am trying really hard to find other ways to look after my mental health and boost my mood. I am eating better and trying to loose weight ( I have lost one stone, need to loose another 3 ) I am going running 2 or 3 times a week and I have just decided to give up alcohol all together for a while.
I am trying to find some hobbies that will get me out of the house and help me meet new people. I have literally no friends which I think makes me fed up, but I find it a real effort to go out and be around people...
It's hard though. I am going to give it at least 6 months and see how it goes.
Are there things you could try and do to look after yourself for a while?

Thanks Ceetee.
Yeah it's only been 2 weeks so I'm hoping it will get better!

Applelolly, I feel the same. I'm tempted whether to go back on 10mg but then I'm back at square one.. having to depend on them, which I don't want to be doing.

I always think I don't have any friends other than my BF - yes, I talk to a lot of people but they're not necessarily people I would ask to do things with, if you know what I mean.

I need to start finding things to do after work, at the moment, I'm coming home and just laying on my bed with dogs cos I feel so shit.. which isn't good at all!

Hopefully we'll get there soon anyway

Sheridan it's so hard isn't it
could you maybe go out for a walk with the dogs for a bit ? I find I do feel better for getting out for a bit, but I really have to force myself to go. I am trying to set small goals each day. This evening I went and joined a local slimming world group. Partly cause I have loads of weight to lose, and partly to do something which got me out of the house and interacting with other people.I am stupidly proud of myself!
What do you, or did you enjoy doing? Maybe just pick one really small thing to try at first. Hang in there. I am sure things will get better , at least that's what I'm telling myself!

On my days off I usually do take the dogs out for a nice long walk which does help.

I'm looking to start Zumba as well as I have some weight that deffo needs shifting!

I'm starting to make more plans with friends now though I've noticed, rather than saying no, and feeling sorry for myself which does seem to be helping as well xx

I am withdrawing right now. I've tried before but the physical withdrawal armouring were so bad I couldn't continue. 8 years later I am trying again. I'm down from 20mg a day to 5. I was at this stage last time so I'm dreading the next stage before I got bad. All I can suggest is cbd oil. I couldn't have got this far without it.

I've been coming off sertraline for the last 5 weeks.
I felt so positive about doing it after being on it for just under a year. I did almost 4 weeks (ran out of pills a few days short of four weeks) of half a dose and
Then stopped completely. That was two weeks ago and today I've admitted defeat and called the doctor as all the old feelings are back and I feel utterly hopeless. Getting up this morning was so hard and I've cancelled every single meet up I'd organised over the holidays. I'm still getting the kids out but I just can't face other grown ups and sitting having a conversation.
Feel gutted that I can't that I'm can't even manage day to day stuff without medication.

I really really hope you manage to come off them, I always feel if I can meet up with other people it's a really positive sign

Keep going pickleface!
It's so hard but we've just gotta keep strong through it all, even though it's so much easier said than done!

Where have you got the CBD oil from?
I vape and they've started getting it in the shop where I go into so I might have to try some of that!

Aw no! Holycityzoo but if you feel that's the best thing to do then maybe you wasn't ready to come off them?

I was so fed up of feeling 'empty' and 'emotionless' on them and my other half hated it when I was on them..
Serious lack of sex drive was/is just awful!

My main reason for becoming a hermit was just not drinking I think.. when we used to go out for meals, rather than us spending a fortune on a taxi, I used to say that I would drive and not have a drink and then it just became the norm.. so in the past 18months I think I've only been on 2/3 nights out with friends.. and even then it was only to the local pub.

Oh well.. I suppose things can only get better!

Op

I'm in second week of withdrawal Been on 20 mg for 2 years.

I'm getting these awful brain zap type sensations and split second dizziness. Thought I was doing too well.

Hoping they start to abate

Good luck

Im about to start coming off 20mg citalopram. Have dropped to 10mg per day to see how i feel. Ill let you know how it goes.

Thank you!
I always feel like my head is fuzzy all the time... probably the brain zaps that you're on about.

I sometimes go dizzy when going into a different room that has more light in, like when I go on the office floor from getting out of the lift, lately I'm feeling really dizzy as though I could pass out.. never had that feeling before.

And good luck bilbodo

how is everyone doing today?
I am feeling slightly better . I am 5 weeks off it now.
The things I am doing to try and help myself are definitely helping! (although I am having to force myself to do them!)

Hi Op and all

Hope you are all doing ok

My strange head sensations haven't been as bad last few days but I'm tearful and snappy now

I'm not doing too bad today - other than a slight 2 day hangover hahah!

I hadn't been socialising and always make excuses when it's something to do with alcohol as I wasn't drinking and always felt awkward.
I went to a gig on Saturday night with the other half and really enjoyed myself!

Paying for it now though!

Nothing to report so far but early days here - day 5 of 10mg.

I'm still getting the 'brain zaps' but I feel like they are not going to go away anytime soon!

I think i just experienced my first brain zap! How long have you guys been having these?

I've been having them a long time! When I first started on them years ago.

Then a lot lately.. I feel like I'm getting body zaps though.. like my whole body feels out of sorts

2 weeks on 10 mg and only the one brain zap. So far so good.

Oh good!
I'm on 4 and half weeks now with out anything and I'm starting to feel abit better than I was but I've had an awful earache for the past few weeks.. whether or not that's anything to do with it, I don't know!
Booked in at doctors tomorrow morning so hopefully they'll be able to help!