Hi all so I have been on citalopram for about a year just 20mg for anxiety and it helped a lot. But I have been slowly tapering off still on 20mg but taking one every 3 days instead of everyday, my dilemma is I realised yesterday I have run out and didn't get chance to get anymore today. My last dose was Monday and the withdrawal side effects are killing me right now headache dizziness brain zaps the works. I can't get anymore until Tuesday and I don't think il make the weekend. My mum's boyfriend takes fluxotine (paxil) 20mg I was wondering if I could maybe take one of them or even half of one to kill the withdrawal until Tues? Help appreciated and I do apologise English is not my first language sorry
Hi. I really don't think it would be a good idea to take meds that are prescribed for someone else. They could react badly and you could feel worse.
I stopped my 10mg of citalopram just over a week ago. It was unintentional as I couldn't get to GP to pick up prescription before a bank holiday. I decided to go cold turkey and just see how it goes. Ive experienced side effects which now a week later seem to be worse. Mainly irritability and over heating with also tingling in my face.
Keep posting how you get on
Fluoxetine is also an SSRI so the same class of drug and often used as a stepping stone from Citalopram so it should help with the side effects. I'd be getting back on the Cit ASAP though
After re-reading, Paxil is also an SSRI so also the same class of drug and it should get you through as a short term measure to reduce the side effects
Also taking 20mg every 3 days seems strange as it has a 35hr half life. By the 3rd day you'd be very low on it and then be giving yourself a massive boost from the 20mg. That doesn't seem like a good strategy, I expect you'd be feeling all over the place between the 2 doses.
I'm not a doctor but I've done enough research into what I'm taking that to keep yourself level you should be taking the same amount each day and reducing that over time rather than the up/down levels of the serotonin.
Hi Dewsy201000 I really wouldnt reccommend taking anything which has been prescribed for someone else regardless of whether they are an ssri or not. you could react badly to them and experience worse than what you are now. Can you get an emergency appointment with your doctor?