Come off citalopram not long ago - help needed!

Treatment and medication
1

Hi all

I've been on citalopram now for about 3 years. I started off on 30, then moved to 20 and gradually 10. I was on 10 for about the last year.

In those few years my situation has totally changed. I started a new job which I love, met the love of my life (who incidentally proposed a few months ago) and I've been planning my wedding. I've got great friends and have generally never been happier.

Because of this it felt like the right time to come off cit.

I finally did over a month ago and everything was fine. Until now. In the last 4 days I have felt

really low. Very down about nothing in particular, moody, not wanting to socialise with anyone,

and snapping at my loved ones. I've had a really nice weekend, I've done things that usually

would make me so happy. But I just haven't been able to shake the black cloud. Every time I think I'm enjoying myself, the heavy sadness in my body is there to remind me that all is not well. I've

been close to tears a lot and have found sleeping a real struggle. Every time I'm about to drop off I wake with a shock.

This is such bad news for me - I was so excited to come off SSRI's and not feel like I need them.

Now I'm not so sure. I'd just really like some advise. Maybe some success stories? Are there any

of you out there who have come off cit and been through phases? I reckon I can handle it if its few and far between. If not I'll think about going back on them. That is my other question - has anyone

accepted that they need cit long term?

I realise a lot of these questions are best for a doctor to answer btu I don't want to go and see my GP until I've given it some time.

Please help!!

2

I started on 20 last march and it was great, really helped and a few weeks ago I decided to decrease to 10mg. For about 6 weeks it was fine, in that time I went for a new job and after a 4 stage process was given it. Really excited, I celebrated with a bottle of champagne and the next morning, bang had a relapse. Couldn't shake the cloud, loss of hunger, waking early etc. Went back up to 20mg and it's been hard. With time ticking till the new job starts, I'm going to 30 to see if that will get me back on the horse

3

Its so hard isn't it. To be honest I actually had a few drinks on Thursday night and it has been ever since then. Perhaps booze is the culprit all the time?!

4

Tell me about it. I was dehydrated and drank that champagne and when I woke up I was confused and didn't know where I was!? That was Friday 2 weeks ago, by Sunday I was zombie no hunger etc. The headaches last week were the worst I've had, felt like I was disconnected from myself trying to do simple things. Friday just gone and I had a good sleep finally and sat I felt pretty on top sense of humor back etc. Sat night sleep not so good felt so so yesterday, heavy head in the afternoon. Today considering what I felt was a worse sleep I don't have the headache thank god. Just feel down. Maybe it's starting to level out on 20? I'm eating better as well and on sat when I felt good I stuffed myself! The other thing as well is my 'man downstairs' has disappeared which also puts a downer on things.. Excuse the pun.

5

Ugh thats the thing some of the side effects are really not helpful huh!! Its a really tough decision trying to decide between being drug free (side effect free) and happy/feeling normal.

6

Always remember alcohol is a depressant! I have been on citalopram for a number of years now, mainly to help me cope with PMT, but also other factors. Several times I have weaned myself off them and eventually feel so low that I go back to them. I have accepted that there is a chemical imbalance in my brain which requires medication to keep me feeling normal and able to cope with whatever life throws at me! Put it this way, if you have a headache you take a tablet. If you have high blood pressure you have to take tablets. Try not to focus too much on worrying about the citalopram, but on the fact that you can carry on as you want to. Also, who knows, sometimes it could be physcological-am on the tablets-I feel better! Look after yourself.

7

Thanks so much Jennifer <3 its weird, thats exactly what I always say (if you have a headache you take a tablet. If you have high blood pressure you have to take tablets).

I'm going to give myself a few days. I'm already feeling a little better (back at work, focussed etc) so I'll see

how I get on

Thank you!!!

Oh the only thing I wish I could change is the weight gain thing sad definitely struggled with that with cit.

8

I have been on these (20mg) for about 9 years now following a very difficult period and have tried to come off several times without success. I would be ok for about 4 weeks after stopping completely, then really low and anxious like you describe above. So this time I decided with the help of my GP to come off really slow, starting in Oct and dropping 2.5mg every month/six wks. Am now down to 7.5, so far so good except for a few days after dropping each time when I get really ratty and a bit tired.

Have you read about Seratonin withdrawal syndrome? This can mimic the original depression and so it may just be that you have this rather than a return to your original depression? You could always try taking a low dose - 5 or 10 mg and then try dropping really slowly over a few months to see if this helps.

Good luck xx

9

Hi 'beautiful day'

Thanks so very much for your input and I'm sorry to hear you've had some of the same difficulties. I did actually wean myself off very slowly. I went to 5 for a month or so and then 2.5 etc. It was only when I came off

completely that it became a problem (which is odd because i've heard any dose under 10 isn't really a 'dose'wink. I'm also reading up alot about vitamin deficiencies - does anyone know much about the link between vitamin b12 and depression? I'm willing to try all angles really, It would be nice to go the 'natural' route though.

Thanks

10

the vitamans would be good to know about. i went back to the gp today as i have my new job starting on the 6th of may and this relapse couldnt have come at a worse time..he said i had the option to increase to 30mg either now or in a weeks time if i still feel the same to get me over this blip..that being said, i dont feel to bad at the minute, and just had a good lunch where i actually felt hungry!

11

That's great, it feels so good when there are positive moments, even if they are few and far between and may seem small!

This is VERY insightful and helpful. Obviously won't necessarily count for everyone but I'm going to give it a

go...

http://depression.about.com/cs/diet/a/vitamin.htm

12

Hi Holly,

It could still be withdrawal rather than the original depression returning, I would give it a bit longer if you can stand it to see if it gets any better. Am trying the vitamin route myself too, as well as omega 3's and trying to eat healthily/not having too much alcohol. For me, alcohol really sets me off sometimes, so I try and keep to a couple of bottles of lager or 2 wines if I can.

13

mixing drinks can be really bad, my sister is on 10mg and noticed it really affected her so she now just sticks to wine. ive got a big work show on this week, so the temptation is there to spend the bosses money in the bar which i will unfortunately have to refrain from

14

Its annoying my other comment is waiting to be approved its just because I added a link - lots of interesting

info on B vitamins and the link to anxiety/panic/depression if you have a deficiency.

Yes I enjoy having a drink which is the bad thing! Not over the top but when I do go out I like to let my hair

down, but then I'll self punish etc for days for no reason. I actually recently read an article about B vitamins

combatting 'emotional' hangovers. All very interesting!

15

ive been out and had a few drinks on it and as long as you don't mix them up i think you will be fine. if i felt that i had a lot, then i would miss the evening dose to avoid any issues.....

16

Dont think skipping a dose is a very good idea - alcohol is a depressant and you could be doubly compounding the issue by skipping a dose. I do think that the effects of alcohol are made worse with citalopram though and thats why I dont overdo it. When I have overdone it, I have really paid the next couple of days and also felt the alcohol more.

17

certainly in the beginning when i started on cit i didn't drink on them as i wanted them to work properly. sometimes i missed a dose because i had totally forgotten to take it....always tried to drink plenty of water though

18

Yes I totally agree with you beautiful day, sometimes I would be out with friends and have a few drinks, maybe one too many which was find before citalopram, but during citalopram I would feel the effects very quickly and have some 'blackout' nights where I wouldn't remember anything. It was very scary and I don't wish to repeat it. i'm no binge drinker so I do believe the effects of alcohol are pretty much doubled on citalopram!

19

my sister experienced the black outs you described and shes only on 10mg cit. she couldnt remeber anything and acted completely out of character. shes very careful now of what and how much she has.

20

Hi everybody. So nice to meet others on here with the same " problem ". I´ve been on Citalopram, 20mgs, for about 2 years.

I´ve suffered from anxiety all my adult life, starting at about 16..........I´m now 60 ! It´s really debilitating, to say the least. After reading about a doctor who used Citalopram to deal with his own anxiety and depression, I decided I´d give them a go.......They worked for me, allowing me to get on with life. 6 weeks ago I ran out of the tabs when on holiday, I´d previously missed a day, here and there, with no problems. I know, I thought, I´ll see how things go without them.........Initially a good move.......but once again I´m up and down with mood swings that are driving me nuts..........I´m going back on them ! I´d love to be able to cope without medical help, but find it so hard to function. Side effects ? Tiredness, sometimes, but I can still swim a kilometre and play singles tennis. I think a lot of us feel that somehow we´ve failed when we need tablets to get us through, but, I think we´re lucky to have the possibility to access them. Good Luck to everybody on this forum and I hope things work out for you all.