Citalopram?

[beeefcake]

Have been taking citalopram for nearly two years and it has helped me immensely, however I have decided now is the time to come off of it.

I have heard people have bad experiences from coming off it too abruptly so wondered if anyone had any advice over the best way to do it? Am on 20mg.

Thanks

See your gp

I have been on citalopram 20 mg for a long time. I tried to come off earlier in the year, under my gp. Swapped to 10 mg and took them for 2 months which seemed fine then dropped to every other day. I had noticed that i was becoming unnecessarily angry about things and also felt more emotional (but we had just lost our dog so thought that was why I was crying a lot) but these feelings got worse. I was expecting to feel low mood but didnt so didnt really think these were withdrawal symptoms. Then i had problems with severe indigestion and upset tummy which, again, i didnt link to. Then couldnt sleep no matter how tired i was. Then i googled some more and saw that all of this could be linked to withdrawal. We were on holiday for a week and it spoiled the holiday so when we came back i went straight back on and within 48 hours i felt ‘normal’ again! Dr agreed with me - im not trying it again. If i did have to for some reason i would try to do it a lot more slowly. Ive seen some people on line who grind up their pills and take tiny amounts to avoid withdrawal.

Sorry if this sounds negative but it was my experience and you may not find the same. I would suggest doing it as slowly as you can. I wish you good luck.

After 10 years I came off citalopram slowly over about 6 months, reducing dose from 40, then 30, then alternating days between 30&20 and so on, using a pill cutter to go from 10 to 5. I also had some counselling at the time (refered by GP) which helped. However, within about 2 months of stopping completely, I had a sudden & horrific ‘relapse’ which has me signed off work for a month, barely able to function & overwhelmed by panic attacks, crying, insomnia & crippling anxiety & thoughts of doom. Within a month of the relapse I was back on the Citalopram & it took a few months to properly work which was extremely distressing & unpleasant. A year on I feel back to normal and only slightly disappointed that I’ll probably be taking this drug for the rest of my life. I also slightly resent the NHS as it took me 6 months to get another therapy appointment despite being utterly desperate & begging my GP for help & I think that maybe if I’d had sone good CBT at the start of the relapse it might have been possible to recover without medication. But I’ll necer know & am not planning that experiment again! Good luck , definitely go slow & get support from GP & family/friends who may be able to spot signs of withdrawal or relapse. X