reducing citalopram from 40mg to 20mg - very VERY tired - is this normal?

[LaDietrich]

Hi everyone - have been on citalopram about 3 years now, on 40mg for about 18month. Have had shitty time over past year (marriage broke down, exH moved out etc etc etc) but have been feeling gradually better for last couple of months and definately much more able to cope last two or three weeks, even with one major emotional upset in there so at review last friday GP said I could reduce to 20mg if I wanted to try it. I've been on 20mg since last Friday now and I am feeling fine, just absolutely shattered. Slept 10 hours Saturday night then 11 hours last night. Which means going to bed with kids at 8pm! I also had to shut my eyes on the bus into work this morning - even having slept for 11hours.

Is this normal? or have I just been overdoing things?

would love to hear of anyone elses experience

thanks

anyone?

looks like I am alone in this - one final bump in case any of the evening crew have experienced it...before I give in and fall asleep zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

You're not alone! I was absolutely wiped out every time I cut down my dose, also had a headache and a couple of days of feeling sick/sort of hungover. None of these effects lasted long, and as someone who tried and failed to cut down before I think this is where I went wrong previously - I panicked that the effects of cutting down were how I was going to be all the time and were proof I wasn't able to cut down. I've now had to stop citalopram in order to adopt and went went from 25mg to nothing and touch wood am doing fine. Maybe you cut down in too big a step? I cut 5 to 10mg every 2 weeks, and my GP considered that to be going some. Hang in there!

LaDietrich, sorry you've had such a hard time of it. I reduced from 20mg to 10mg after about nine months. I was quite taken aback by the intensity of the withdrawal symptoms, in particular the incredible rage and anger. Luckily it only lasted a couple of days. I would say take it very slowly and good luck.

thanks you both

bananaketchup - well done you coming off altogether in order to adopt - I never realised that would be one of the criteria...wow!

glad to report am far less tired now and otherwise feeling great... I do have a rather nice new man in my life so am suspicious it may well be that buoying my mood sort of unrealistically but I'll keep a close eye and revert back if I have any major dips...I've told a couple of good friends and asked them to let me know if they notice me going all weirdie and not realising it

queenofwhatever (great name btw) I haven't felt any rage or anger (but see above for worries re artifically inflated mood) even when exH has been acting (in my eyes) like an unruly silly bugger

am waiting for the fall though....