Reducing Citalopram- handhold and positive stories please!

[Onewildandpreciouslife]

Hi, I’ve been on 20mg Citalopram for about 18 months now. I gave up alcohol about 3 months ago, and my mental health has improved dramatically, so I want to reduce my dosage.

I’ve just picked up my new prescription and I’m scared! I’m going away on holiday in 4 weeks so I’m hoping any rough spell will be done by then

Any positive stories out there, and if it was rough, how long til you felt better?

DH dropped from 40mg to 30mg without any problems

18 months is really no time at all to be on that sort of medication (says someone who is coming up on 10 years). I would speak to your doctor to be honest for advice. I’ve cut back several times and each time my mental health has nose dived and I’ve ended up back on it but in a much worse place.

Last time I spoke to my doctor his view was we never expect a diabetic to cut back on their insulin so why do we expect it from those will ill mental health.

I agree, when he was first prescribed AD’s DH was told to never come off it.

All I have to offer is that I’ve reduced from 20 to 10 mg. I think I had a few weird days,, just feeling a bit strange, but otherwise ok.

I will stay on 10mg for a while - I’m living in a difficult situation and it is an ongoing stress. So although my mental health is better - I’m not risking it either.

I feel 10 mg is possibly hardly anything, but it helps keep me sane

I don’t know if that helps. Good luck, we’ll done on the alcohol front. X

Looking at the other posts - yes you should speak to your De. But given the change in your circumstance - giving up alcohol (which is a depressant drug) - then maybe you can successfully reduce your citalopram dose

It probably depends what other factors there are going on in your life.

There definitely isn’t any shame in being on antidepressants- I think more people are on them than we realise. They definitely stop my mood from plummeting

Thanks - I’ve discussed this with my doctor and he’s happy for me to drop the dose. The main stressors in my life have now been resolved, and I’ve recently started HRT (which has had a more noticeable positive impact on my MH than Citalopram ever did, to be honest)

Was on 20 for nearly 2 years. Bought a pill cutter and reduced to 15mg for few months then 10 and 5. Did it very slowly and only symptom I noticed was a weird sensation sometimes when I turned my head. Like my brain was trying to catch up with the movement. Lasted only few secs few times a day but nothing else. Now off citalopram for over a month and feeling fine. Good luck!

Day 3 of the lower dose now.

Emotionally I feel fine, but I have the attention span of a gnat. Just occurred to me this might be related. Has anyone had this?