Coming off citalopram - withdrawal symptoms

[IdrisTheDragon]

I have been on 40mg citalopram for about a year and am now reducing it on GP's advice. Went on Tuesday and am having 40mg and 20mg every other day for a week and then down to 20mg for a month and then will see doctor again.

Am having lightheadedness, nausea, slightly dodgy tummy and extreme tiredness. Presume these are all normal but making me feel rather yucky. Depression feelings not there though, which is good .

Who else has done this and when did you come out the other side?

It shouldn't last more than a wekish. Perhaps try 40 for two days and 20 for one day, for a while?

weekish

Agree that it sounds a bit sudden to me 40 to 20 is a big step and there is a school of thought that alternating doses does more harm than good. You can get 10mg doses too - not sure why your GP didn't suggest 40 to 30 to 20 tbh. You shouldn't be feeling that rough if you withdraw properly (although there are exceptions of course).

Sorry that isn't much help is it? I came off way too suddenly and suffered far worse sympoms than those you describe. If things get too bad going back to your usual dose should stop the symptoms immediately.

Hi,
I am in the process of coming off citalopram. this is my second attempt, first time I went from 40 to 20 and was really ill (spent all week crying unable to move) and ended up back on 40mg.
This time I did 40/30 alternately for a week before moving to 30mg. I did that for a month and then moved to 30/20 for a week and am now on 20mg a day.

I had terrible headaches, nausea and wooziness for about a week/10 days when I first started dropping the dose (in August). I got through it by constantly telling myself that as I wasn't feeling depressed again these were withdrawal syptoms and would pass. I also made sure that dh knew how I was feeling so that I could get all the tlc required.

Thanks for all the experiences - I will see how I am next week and may well go along to the doctors and see if I can cut down more gradually.