Citalopram withdrawal side effects

Deedee1980 · 2024-12-06T19:25:48+00:00

Hi, I have been on 30mg citalopram for 14yrs recently been weaning off due to being put on blood thinners. I'm down to 10mg every other day but I'm struggling with anxiety, crying all the time but I also keep feeling breathless , has anyone else experienced this i thought it might linked to the anxiety I'm having right now. Thank you for reading

Sparklytori · 06/12/2024 19:27

Unable to offer a reply but a hand hold. Been on 10mg for 14 years and I don't ever want to come off it xx

sunshineinabag2 · 06/12/2024 19:30

@Deedee1980 I came off after 8 years when pregnant and had really awful withdrawal symptoms as you described. I would advise going to GP. I was advised to start taking again as risk was minimal to the baby. I am still taking 8 years later so not sure what that answer is but GP should help. Just wanted to reassure you this is normal.

Original poster

Deedee1980 · 06/12/2024 19:30

Sparklytori · 06/12/2024 19:27

Unable to offer a reply but a hand hold. Been on 10mg for 14 years and I don't ever want to come off it xx

It's hell... honestly this is the most awful thing I've done ... it's horrendous. But thank you for your response xxx

OP posts:

Original poster

Deedee1980 · 06/12/2024 19:36

sunshineinabag2 · 06/12/2024 19:30

@Deedee1980 I came off after 8 years when pregnant and had really awful withdrawal symptoms as you described. I would advise going to GP. I was advised to start taking again as risk was minimal to the baby. I am still taking 8 years later so not sure what that answer is but GP should help. Just wanted to reassure you this is normal.

Hello,
I have to come off i have suffered blood clots on my brain due to a hole in my heart that's just been discovered and being on blood thinners with citalopram is dangerous. I keep panicking because I feel breathless because no where says its a side effect but it's unnerving me.... the whole experience has been hell.

OP posts:

Ahwig · 06/12/2024 19:59

I managed to come off it gradually and I cut the last lot in half every day and then every other day. It took a few months to do but was the right thing.

letstryagainnow · 13/12/2024 23:35

I listened to a really interesting podcast the other day about AD withdrawal including citalopram. They were basically saying that it's the smaller end of the weaning that is likely to cause the most issues and that ideally you would wean off by 10% of the dosage per month. So if you're on 40mg you would take 36mg for one month then the following month you'd drop by 10% of of the 36mg etc. apparently guidance has recently changed to suggest liquid citalopram is used for the weaning off to allow the gradual weaning to be easier to achieve.

TheOliveFinch · 14/12/2024 09:13

letstryagainnow · 13/12/2024 23:35

I listened to a really interesting podcast the other day about AD withdrawal including citalopram. They were basically saying that it's the smaller end of the weaning that is likely to cause the most issues and that ideally you would wean off by 10% of the dosage per month. So if you're on 40mg you would take 36mg for one month then the following month you'd drop by 10% of of the 36mg etc. apparently guidance has recently changed to suggest liquid citalopram is used for the weaning off to allow the gradual weaning to be easier to achieve.

This is very good advice , most GP’s recommend far too rapid a withdrawal from antidepressants. Have a look at Mark Horowitz who is a psychiatrist who has done a lot of work on AD withdrawal, it should be done very very slowly especially if your anxiety is have taken them for a long time

Gingercatlover · 14/12/2024 10:49

letstryagainnow · 13/12/2024 23:35

I listened to a really interesting podcast the other day about AD withdrawal including citalopram. They were basically saying that it's the smaller end of the weaning that is likely to cause the most issues and that ideally you would wean off by 10% of the dosage per month. So if you're on 40mg you would take 36mg for one month then the following month you'd drop by 10% of of the 36mg etc. apparently guidance has recently changed to suggest liquid citalopram is used for the weaning off to allow the gradual weaning to be easier to achieve.

This is interesting, didn't realise you could get liquid.

I have tried twice to withdraw from 10mg and had to start retaking as the withdrawal symptoms were awful, couldn't do it.

letstryagainnow · 14/12/2024 15:05

It was actually Mark Horowitz speaking to Liz Earle that I was listening to. What he said made complete sense. I'm planning to wean off the 20mg dose I've been on for just over a year after Christmas and will be speaking to my gp about what I've learnt and also asking for liquid as I decrease past where it is easy to manage with tablets.

TheOliveFinch · 14/12/2024 16:13

letstryagainnow · 14/12/2024 15:05

It was actually Mark Horowitz speaking to Liz Earle that I was listening to. What he said made complete sense. I'm planning to wean off the 20mg dose I've been on for just over a year after Christmas and will be speaking to my gp about what I've learnt and also asking for liquid as I decrease past where it is easy to manage with tablets.

Yes it is also good he has personal experience of withdrawing from AD’s , the royal college of psychiatrists have updated their recommendations now and recommend that very gradual tapering may be needed, but my GP earlier this year advised me to just take alternate days for a couple of weeks and then stop and that was awful.