Weaning off citalopram?

[1ditzymare]

I have been on citalopram 40mg since not long after my DS who is 2 was born. I have been recently getting strange heart palpitations so I went to my GP who said it could be my meds as I was also taking amitriptyline for a bad shoulder and he said they can interact and cause heart issues.
He advised I weaned off the citalopram and just took the amitriptyline as that is also a mild antidepressant.
I’m currently weaning off cit and I’ve been getting constant upset stomachs, can’t sleep well and some days I can barely bring myself to do anything as I just want to cry. Everything is getting to me, I’m paranoid DP isn’t happy with me and that I have no mates. I’m just not able to see the positive right now.
Anyone been through this? On the plus side my heart palpitations have reduced massively!

Sounds very familiar. I weaned off citalopram over about 4 months although I stayed on propanolol during that time (eventually weaned off that too).

There were good days and bad days - the withdrawal palpitations were pretty unnerving at times although my GP told me to expect them. Worse than everything else was the sheer irritability I suffered, at least for the first three or four weeks - not unlike what I encountered when I started taking citalopram in the first place. Some splitting headaches too.

It was hard work but I've been off for a year. Quite proud of that, although I've been feeling lower than I have done for a long time over the past few weeks. Absolutely do not want to go back on them if I can help it.

Sound like your symptoms are pretty standard and it'll take some resolve to manage and tolerate them but they should gradually improve with time. And I'm sure your DP will be far more supportive than you could imagine about this, weaning off antidepressants is not incomparable to giving up smoking - I'm sure he must appreciate that.

Thanks Meow.
How did you find was the best way to wean off? My GP recommend taking one every other day but then what after that?
DP is quite understanding (he’s used to me being miserable anyway!) but I just feel stuff I would normally let go over my head is getting to me and I’m have a shorter patience with DS which I hate! Even at work if someone isn’t including me in a conversation or something I’m taking it personally which isn’t me at all!
I definitely feel irritable, it’s almost like a constant PMS. I was happy on them but if it’s not good for my heart then I suppose I have no choice.
Did you find your weight was affected at all?

Hi, I came off citalopram about 3 years ago. I weaned myself off very gradually. I kept getting a funny head doing every other day as I got further on so that really didn't work for me. I can't remember the other symptoms but I do remember getting the liquid form from my GP in a low dose. This helped as I could take something every day and drop it right down to get to the end. Ask your GP if they can prescribe the drops if you're struggling weaning off. I believe they might have been about 5mg equivalent. I also combined coming off it with exercise which really helped me stay on a good level mentally. It is hard so it felt like a real achievement getting off them. It's worth persevering once you've started x

I started every other day and now I’m taking them when I start to get that dizzy feeling. So maybe every 4th day.
I’m struggling today though. To the point where I feel a bit suicidal. I wouldn’t but the thoughts are there.
Just feel so sick of my life. Never get a break (I know I won’t be the only one) but I never get so much as an hour to myself and by the time DS goes to bed I’m too tired and I’m asleep within an hour. I feel like I spend my life picking up after everyone, DP never helps me round the house or with DIY, but no one helps me. He never says I’ll take DS out for an hour you do something for yourself. Football comes first. And he’s always on at me that he wants sex, we don’t do it enough etc to the point it is driving me mad cos at the end of a day of having a toddler practically sat on my head sex is the last thing on my mind.
Sorry for the rant - bad day!

Ditzy I was given a strict timetable to stick to over around 3 months, starting with missing every 4th day's dose for a fortnight, followed by missing every third day's dose for 3 weeks, then every other day for four weeks and finishing with 1 tablet every three days.

It was my decision to come off citalopram and propanolol as I didn't feel they were having much of a positive effect on my wellbeing. IT was hard work but I was pretty proud of myself to achieve it. I have really struggled over the past few months though and a recent personal event is forcing me to re-evaluate things. I'm desperate not to go back on those things but I'm having to accept that I might have to bite the bullet...