Citalopram - reducing dose question

[SnowballsintheSky]

I've been on 40mg of Citalopram for about 6 months and my GP has recommended that I start to reduce it. Last night I only took 20mg as instructed, the first time I have reduced the dose, and have had a pretty shit day. I have found DD (10.5mo) such hard going and today for the first time since I started the meds I had to leave the room for 5 minutes to calm down because her crying and whinging was getting on my last nerve and I couldn't cope with it. I've also lost it with DH tonight over the state of the kitchen of all things.

I should point out that DD hasn't been very well and still is snotty, tired and has a rotten cough so her whinging etc is totally understandable.

What I don't know is if it is too early to feel any effect of the lower dose, if I feel like this because subconsciously I know part of the safety net has gone or if I would have felt like this anyway today. I haven't felt at the end of my tether like this since she was about 4 months old so it's worrying me a bit.

Any help would be much appreciated.

I had been on 40mg citalopram for almost a year when I accidentally got pregnant last christmas, so I know how shitty you can feel.

When I decided to keep my baby I reduced my dose myself and quite quickly. I did have some really shitty days. It think it is a bit of a subconsious thing as you say - that you feel its the only thing getting you through the day but if your GP has recommended you start reducing your dose I would hope you are feeling much better about things. As much as I wouldn't recommend staying on antidepressents for too long, if you're not ready to come off them, don't. For me, it was just the right time.

If you feel you are struggling speak to your GP, see if they can refer you to a therapist (if you are not already seeing someone). I found it really helpful to talk to someone.

Don't panic just yet, its only day one and I'm sure you'll get through it. Just remember to breathe and try and stay positive and don't forget to talk.

Hope you feel better. x

Thanks My GP is really good and I can talk to her easily. She was fine for me to reduce the dose but wants me to report back as, due to starting back at work in Jan, a shedload of dental treatment pending and a couple of other things, she thinks I'm not totally out of the woods yet. I will just have to see how it goes, I don't want to be on them any longer than necessary but I'll just have to see how 'necessary' they are at the moment.

I broke tablets in half when reducing the dose, so did it in very small steps.
Bad days happen any way, not necessarily because you had taken lower dose.

It could be the reduction in dose, yes, as citalopram has a pretty short half life - it's out of your system quite fast so you may feel the difference very quickly, even if you only miss a day (or in this case just the day after your first smaller dose). You're probably right that there's a psychological element too, feeling a bit insecure without it. Good idea to reduce it quite slowly, split tablets in half, or have a week of alternating between a higher and slightly lower dose before going completely down to the lower one might help?