Cold turkey

[jaydensdaddy232]

Hi I came off citalopram 10mg cold turkey about 3 weeks ago and have had all the rough withdrawals but seem to keep getting panic attacks something I have never suffered with, can I try something natural like calms to help me as I don't and won't ever go back on citalopram firstly diagnosed for anger.

Thanks

You need to wean off citalopram VERY slowly. Doesn’t mean you can’t come off it but it needs to be under medical advice/supervision.

I know that now but I have not touched 1 for 3 weeks so surely I will get better?

I didn't think I needed to wean off them as for a couple of years I haven't been taking them properly anyway (one every two/three days) or when I got a dizzy spell. I went to my doctor and he told me I need to take them properly (I took 30mg by accident and it caused really bad symptoms) so I went on them for 5 days and decided I couldn't take the symptoms anymore so completely came off. 3 weeks in I'm still getting odd things happen to me. Very emotional, light headache that is always there, feeling panicky and very sick. Is this still the Citalopram coming out of my system or is it something else that's happening to me like Panic attacks??

You need to see your GP. I’ve never heard of citalopram for anger. I stopped it very slowly.

Citalopram leaves your system very slowly. I had hallucinations on them and they persisted until about 6 weeks after stopping it. And you've been fucking about with the dosage so it's anyone's guess how long this may persist. I'd see your GP again if it carries on much longer. Panic attacks are awful.

Spoke to Dr and he says get back on the citalopram then in 6 months if I want to come off he will help me very slowly. Do you think this is a good idea?

Yes, I do. You need to get back on them and stay on them consistently. Please don't mess about with doses and cold turkey. It is incredibly serious and can long term, lasting effects on your physical and mental health. You mustn't ever come off antidepressants without medical supervision. EVER.

Absolutely and definitely the best thing to do.

If I start today 10mg how long will it take until I start to feel a bit better? As I'm feeling really rough guys.

Thanks for you advice it's been very helpful.

Yes. You've no idea what arsing about with ADs can do to your brain chemistry. You need to stabilise it then come off properly in 6 months.

Think of it like a diabetic twatting about with their insulin dosage. Their blood sugar would go nuts. Up and down like a seesaw. That's what you're having with your serotonin levels.

Probably about 6 weeksish. Hang in there, you'll be ok. In the meantime I hear chocolate is a natural mood booster.

I did this. I completely stopped my Citalopram... twice in fact. And each and every time, I was back on them within 6 months.

The last time was on them, I gradually weaned myself off with the advice of my GP. Never been back on them since. Been free of ADs for 3 years now after 12 years of depression and anxiety.

Go back on them and do it properly. Don't underestimate the tablets. You need to do it right.
Good luck.

6 weeks to even start feeling better?

Why did you come off it? Why so against going back on it? X

From the start I have been bad at taking them (remembering) and I for got for about a week then started going dizzy so I took 30mg instead of my normal 10mg and went into some panic attack for the very first time and thought screw these tablets. The doctor said because I stopped for a week then threw 30mg at my brain it was too much and that caused the panic attack

I won't be messing with these tablets again I have learnt my lesson!

Right.go back on them. Don't fanny about with them and you'll feel better in next few days x

If your right I love you lol

Well it works for me after a few days when I've been iff them for a while
Hope it works soon for you. This feeling won't last x

Shall I take 10mg per day as advised by my doctor or 10mg every other day as I don't really want anymore side effects?

Follow them as your doctor has instructed.

It's not unusual for symptoms to get worse before they get better, and messing with the dosage will only make that worse.

You need to take them as prescribed. Messing around with dosages is not healthy. See your GP if you get side effects. Don’t stop them or reduce dosage.

Are you going back on them or weaning yourself off them, sorry, not sure which one you're doing?!

Take them as prescribed. If you keep pissing about with them doing this every other day crap, they'll take longer to work.

It took me a good month to feel any effect from them at all but I didn't tolerate them well anyway. You might be faster.

I'm going back on them 10mg per day starting today.