can any of you kind readers give me some advice I want to reduce my dose (20mg on doctors suggestion). Last time I tried I had nasty side effect. Any help would be very much appreciated
Hi
Do you want to reduce to come off completely, or just reduce to a lower dose?
I came off these many years ago and had withdrawal, had to restart a year later (family illness caused me stress) and then came off Citalopram last year after spending a year withdrawing and had no withdrawal effects at all because I did it more gradual. I went from 20 / 15 / 10 / 5 / 2.5 / 1.25 / 0 spending about 1-2 months on each reduced dose. I bought a pill cutter and cut the meds up, then the last 2 doses I crushed because they were too small to cut any further.
The smaller the reduction and the longer you take is the best way.
K x
Thank you, I want the reduce gradually. I was originally on 10 went up to 20 after the loss of my husband now feel ready to reduce down. Should I go to 15 for a while then down back to 10?
hi last year i tried to reduce my dose from 20mg to 10mg without sucsess i found it too hard after christmas i had to up my dose again as i found it hard to cope my advice would be if you feel ok on the dose your on stick on it reducing your dose could add to your problems sometimes if you feel ok in yourself it could be that the dose your on is keeping you on an even keel doctors cant get in your head and it could do more harm than good hope you make the dissiscion which you think will help you best regards al
i agree with that method if your dead set to get off them then reduce them very slowly to reduce withdrawal
Yes I'd go to 15 first - reducing by 5mg each time is better, and stay on the reduced at least a month before reducing again. Doing it gradually is kinder to the body.
I am sorry for your loss xxx
Yes it really was a good way to reduce when I did it - I had no withdrawal effects at all this time around. The first time I came off I just halved my meds each time and had side effects. 5mg is better ..... and if that is still a bit tough then crush it and take even less.
I have just reposted on Stopping Citalopram feedto someone
I was on Cit 6 months 2013. 20mg dose
Took a year with a pill cutter and 10 mg tablets reducing very very very slowly Much slower than my GP suggested even
E.g.
20/17.5/20/17.5
Usually a month at a time on each change
Stopping and going back to the last ok dose if I felt rough for maybe a week then tried again
I was very boringly medically focussed! And I had a chart with all the doses I crossed off each night
Ending up on1.25mg daily
Had no side effects at all
Bar needing to go back on it again thus January!
I shall stay on it Now!
I should never have stopped taking it
I think I am seratonin deficient
Knowing what I do and feel now , I shall stick on it
It may not work for you to reduce or stop altogether
The reason I feel good is because I AM on it!
Like thyroxine or insulin it may be just a needed drug...
Thank you Gillian, this is exactly what I am starting to do. I hope it works and I'm so pleased it has worked for you,