Citalopram - when are you ready to come off it?

[OrmIrian]

Started taking it back in Sept due to crippling anxiety. GP suggested 6m and then see how I was. Initially I felt 100% better and still do feel much better than I did, but sill get days when I can't cope. How do I know when I am ready to stop? I dread going back to how I was.

If I don't stop taking them because I'm scared does that mean I should stop because I'm getting dependent iyswim?

Anyone?

Please can someone advise me. I have to go to see my GP soon to get some more and I don't know what to tell her. She will want me to stop I think.

I took it for a year before I stopped and did it VERY VERY slowly

I wasn't having any bad days though when I stopped. SOunds to me like you still need it and maybe you could ask to up your dose slightly to see if that helps.

6 months isn't that long to have been on them IMO

I had very bad anxiety too and it's normal to worry about it returning. However when I came to stop I really felt ready and it was my request to stop them not the DR.

You are unlikely to become dependant on them. My anxiety was triggered by PND. Have you had any other counselling?

Thanks connor. I will suggest that to my GP - another few months at least.

I just don't want to end up unable to cope without them because I was too scared to try.

YOu will cope when the time is right. I'm much better now.

6 months is really the minimum amount of time you should expect to be on ad's for in order for them to be effective. It all depends on how long you were suffering with anxiety before you started the tablets as to how long they take to be effective.

In your shoes I would discuss tweaking your dose slightly and perhaps give it another 3-6 months and then think about whether you want to come off them

Don't put yourself under pressure though you aren't harming yourself by continuing to take them. Rememeber to take it very slowly though when you come off them. I did it gradually over months rather than weeks.

Thankyou.

I suspect that it's a symptom of still present anxiety that the thought of coming off fills me with such dread.