I have been on Citalopram for 5 years 20mg a day. At the time I was going through a divorce. I was crying at the least thing and depressed. Since then I have met someone else and remarried a year ago. I am very happy and it seemed the right time to come off Cit. my dr said do 2 months at 20mg then 2 months 10mg and stop. This was a week ago. I am 58 and menopausal! Hot sweats etc. Have felt so sick this week and irritable. Twice I have thought the tears will start but not sure what is what. Advice please. Thanks
Congratulations on your new and happy life!! Your GP is correct over the time it takes to wean off but not the method. Sooooo, I'd have only 15 mg twice a week spaced evenly between the 20s, then 15 x3 times a week, etc.....then 15 mg for a few weeks. Then start weaning again in the same way by havin only 10mg few days a week spaced evenly between the 15s etc etc etc. DO NOT STOP ABRUPTLY!!!!! You can then go down to 5's for a few weeks, and then start cutting those to a few times a week. You've spent a lot of time and effort getting well, let's not ruin it....
Hi Patricia95172!
I feel I can relate a bit to what you're going through. I had been on Cit. for years following a family break up. I have been trying to wean myself off them over the last six months or so, doing what you were doing, even coming down to only 5mg (quarter of a tablet) every second day for about three weeks.
This is my third week of having none at all. I found that I was OK week 1, but it got worse the following week. I think that I'm now post-menopausal (I'm 60), but like you I am still experiencing sweats, which I put down to coming off the drug. Over these last two weeks, I have also had feelings of dizziness, weakness, shakiness and extreme fatigue. I also have 'unreal' and different perceptions of my environment (hard to explain), have gushing in my head and ringing in my ears. I don't think I'm necessarily depressed, but I'm finding myself feeling really short-tempered. I'm determined to keep going, as I don't want to go back on them again. I put all these feelings down to coming off Cit. because I've read so many people's accounts of this, so feel it's not unusual for me to feel like this. I'm quite prepared to feel like this for another few weeks. Don't give up, persevere. This forum is a great help.
Hi Iris do you think I can do what you said and start today? I am away but have a new pack here. Need to do what you said hopefully. Thank you so much.
Hi wr40 I think I have come off too quickly 😕 I too feel like you. My feeling if surroundings are strange. I couldn't sleep one night this week and the dark was really unnerving me. I have never worried about the dark. I feel anxious and panic stricken. This is not me I am usually confident and the soul of the party!! I have just taken a 10mg tab. It's been a week without any hope this is ok?
Try it Patricia........slowly like I suggested......please let me know. As I've said, there's no point in spoiling a good thing x
You've tried to do too much too soon.....try it sloooowwwllllyyyyy. Would you have taken a child off the breast or bottle too quickly?
I cannot advise Pat however, there will be someone along soon that can help! She has the mark of 'K'
Good advice so far though!
All the best,
David
Hi Patricia
Oooh that is a bit too quick to come off Citalopram - you will get withdrawal symptoms. I'd reintroduce 5mg or 10mg again so your body can right itself and when its settled try again - much slower.
I've been withdrawing from these meds for 8 months (maybe a year, I forget). I've gone from 20mg, 15mg, 10mg, 5mg and am currently on 2.5mg. Each reduction should last at least 1-2 months so your body levels out before starting the next reduction. The drop from 10mg to nothing will make you sick.
I'm always puzzled why a lot of doctors don't know how to do withdrawl ...... they should try it to see how it feels.
So ...... I first bought a pill cutter and then cut my 20mg's into 1/4's, making each one 5mg. Take 15mg for 1-2 months or until your body doesn't feel any symptoms, then do 10mg, then 5mg and then the last little 1/4 I've used a pill crusher and take half that amount (bit tricky, but is ok). So far I've had no withdrawal effects at all .... nothing, not even nausea. I withdrew from these meds some years ago and did it at 20mg, 10mg, 5mg and stopped and I still got withdrawal which wasn't very pleasant.
Congratulations for getting remarried by the way!! Exciting times!!
So it may be best to reintroduce 5 or 10mg as it should stop the withdrawal symptoms. Only when you've then settled, should be start withdrawl again - much slower. Do chat with your doctor though too as its best to keep him in the loop.
Hope all goes well.
K xx
If you are going to remain off the Citalopram.
I just want you to know that many of the discontinuation symptoms will pass at the 2 week mark.
I know this because I stopped Citalopram cold turkey after 8 years.
I was feeling anxious, sweaty, frustrated, snappy, not sleeping well...and when I talked to my Dr...she said none of these symptoms (if from the withdrawal)...would continue past 2 weeks.
Hope that helps.
HI Patricia95172,
I've tried twice before to come off citalopram. Realising that the method of withdrawl favoured by doctors (who are not in the know), doing the for e.g 20/10/20/10 then 10/0/10/0/10 alternate days etc over a few weeks doesn't work. (too severe and too quick) What I have learnt is unlike other ssri, citlopram is very powerful and very, very difficult to come off when you have been on longer than a year or more. I approached a charity that used to specialise only in citalopram withdrawl, they sent me a booklet which made it quite clear that if you are struggling to get off citalopram, then you need to be using the drops and coming off by e.g 10% per month. For me that has meant going from 20mg down to 0, by reducing by 2mg per month over almost a year. Each drop of the citalopram drops is dosed at 2mg per drop. I am currently down to 15mg using a 10mg tablet and 2.5 drops of citalopram (5mg). I get the half a drop by putting a drop in a glass and emptying out half the cup. I'm reducing by 1mg every two weeks. I can honestly say this is the first time I feel that I've got a good chance of finally getting off citalopram. I've had a bit of a lowish mood and some flu like symptoms, but very managable and it hasn't stopped me working. If your doctor, like mine wouldn't prescribe them (becasue they know best) change your doctor to one that has some idea about citalopram withdrawl.