Citalopram

[jaydensdaddy232]

Hi all I'm new to this site so go easy please.

I'm a male of 36 and have been on citalopram for a few years taking it (20mg) as when I remembered which I know is bad.

For the past 12 months I have been on 10mg again every time when I start to get dizzy I think I best take 1 could be up to a week.

A few weeks ago I came home and thought I better take 2 tablets as it's been a while since my last dose and all my citalopram tablet trays are in a spare lunchbox so I took my last 1 in one of the trays and then grabbed another tray which I thought was 10mg and swallow both. Later that evening I felt really weird and my partner looked at what I took and she said it was a 10mg and a 20mg so in total 30mg I had an ambulance out that evening thinking I was going to die but it turned I was okay just maybe a panic attack in which I have never suffered from.

I now won't touch them citalopram at all as they have scared me so I have totally stopped. I have this bloated feeling in my head, mad dreams, dry mouth, upset stomach, mild headaches and heart pulps. Is this normal will this stop??? I have not touched them for 8 days now. Thanks.

Sorry but I think you need to discuss this with a doctor. Some of it may be related to anxiety but you really need to take your medication as prescribed or if just doesn't work. Missing doses and then doubling up means your medication hasn't worked at all while you've been playing around with it

I totally understand what your saying and I have been foolish with it but my doctor will just say keep taking it but I don't want it anymore and now I can't touch it! I just want someone to explain what has happened to me and if I leave it alone will this feeling taper off?

Not a dr but in health care

You're experiencing withdrawal symptoms

See your GP - they can give you advice on how to safely cut down and reduce the amount of the tablets in a safe manner, to the point of not taking them any more.

But I'm 8 days of touching them now surely I will get better.

Your doctor won't say to keep taking it if you state you don't want it. They can't make you take it. Please speak to someone professional.

It's probably time to talk to your GP again about how you are doing and what regular dosage you need. Also they may be interested in the reasons which prevent you taking your medication regularly.

Citalopram is not like Aspirin - you can't just pop a pill when you think you need it. It is carefully managed medication that needs to be ramped up and down in small increments and then maintained at a constant level between any adjustments.

If you need to be on the tablets still, I would work with your GP to create a ramp up plan and then be very disciplined about taking them daily.

If you're taking antidepressants, you need to take them every day. The levels build up slowly in your system over the course of a few weeks. This is why they tell you you need to be taking them for several weeks before they will assess if they are having any effect. All you are doing is repeatedly putting yourself in withdrawal and then taking just enough to stop the symptoms without getting any of the benefits of the medication. You're now going from a medium dosage to nothing cold turkey, which will make the withdrawal worse, and causing yourself more anxiety at the same time because now you're afraid of the medication which is supposed to be helping you. You need to speak to your GP, explain exactly what you've been doing so they can work with you to find a better plan if you won't reliably take your prescribed dosage.

I don't want to be on them anymore I don't need them I want to be drug free. I just want someone to explain to me will this horrible feeling go away.

I'm not a fan of citalopram. It's cheap and the first call for GPS to prescribe it seems but the side effects can be very unpleasant. I couldn't bear them.

I sacked it off and found the side effects did wane within a week or two but be aware that your mood may plummet or depression reappear so go easy on yourself and talk to GP about alternatives. Get your backup plan in place.

Definitely SSRI discontinuation syndrome. Citalopram is a bitch for it unfortunately. I was ill for about 4 weeks after discontinuing it suddenly. You would be far better off tapering it slowly (speaks from bitter experience)

You would be far better off tapering it slowly (speaks from bitter experience)

Yep - been here too, it's tough and not a good idea if you can avoid it.

As @Talith recommends, time to start thinking about your back up plan. That's one way in which you can start to help prepare yourself for a future without them.

I was advised to look at SSRIs as a support structure, and that if you take one support structure away, you need to think ahead about what you can put in its place... examples such as counselling, CBT, exercise, friendships and support, meditation, yoga, whatever you think can help you. But don't just take it away and expect to be feel ok.

Fruitcider thanks for your answer. This was all I needed to know. Like I said in the comments I don't want to see a Dr anymore because they look at you and say go back on the tablets!

Thanks to everyone else too.

22 days cold turkey, why am I still feeling crappy? How long does this take to get out of your system?