Coming Off Citalopram - Is this Normal?

[Elk]

I have been on citalopram since last June. I have been on 40mg. 10 days ago my GP reduced me to 20mg as I had been great for about six months.
For 2.5 days now I have been feeling more and more tired - I have gone back to having naps in the afternoon with the dd's. I have stomach ache and feel sick. I am also starting to be really tearful, I cried once yesterday and twice today (and am near tears as I type this - Eurovision can't be that bad can it?). I am curling up into a ball with tension and anxiety.
Is this normal? will it get better? I can't seem to think and I am terrified of getting depressed again.

Elk - i found this when i started taking Citalopram! i never found it much use as it increased suicidal tendencies and compulsion to self-harm. however, i think what you're going through is pretty normal - you'll probably have to ride it out. after all, what you're doing is altering the chemical balance in your brain, and it will take time to adjust. if i were you, i would sleep as much as possible, make sure you're drinking plenty of fresh water and eating lots of fruit and veg. if you can't do that, at least take multi-vits or something. also, try to get some fresh air once a day.

hope you soon feel better.

maybe you are not ready to come off them ? have you had counselling and support in addition to medication?

When I came off them I was ready to, and didn't have any problems.

Sounds to me as if you still need them, and shouldn't be decreasing your dose yet.

My GP told me I shouldn't come off them until I had been feeling "well" for nine months - maybe you're just a bit too soon.

Elk, I dont think thats right tbh.
Your either not quite ready or you've dropped too much.
Maybe just down to 30mg might have been better?

I stupidly stopped taking them cold turkey and I became really dizzy after about 3 days. It wasnt nice.

I'd suggest going back to your gp and discussing it again.

Thanks,

I am feeling less tearful today. I have done half an hours relaxation with a CD my yoga teacher recommended and that seems to have calmed me down a lot. I am really tired though (had two naps already today!) and dh is doing most of the childcare.
I think I will try to get a phone consultation with my GP tomorrow to see what he says.

Agree withnbg.
40 mgs is the max dose and to half it is quite drastic.
I reduced by 10 mgs every other day down to 30 for a month or so, then 20 but still 30 every other day ect .I was a little over cautious but slowly reduced over a few months.
Hope you feel better soon.
Perhaps ring gp and try 30 for a while.