Hello,
I have been taking citalopram 20mg for a year now and decided enough is enough as they are making me terribly fatigued. My doctor told me to alternate the dose so I take 20mg for one day then the next 20mg and repeat it like that for a few weeks then it's going down to 10mg then hopefully i can slowly come off them for good. I have been experiencing tiredness and feeling spaced out and seem to have a lower appetite. Is this normal and the right way to come off them
Tbh I wouldn't alternate days, you're better off reducing slowly, I was only on 10mg but for 6 years, I reduced by 50 percent then 60 and all hell broke out so I updosed and barely functioning, please go slowly xx
Hi Marie
There's plenty of evidence here to show that reducing gradually is the way to go. I had terrible withdrawal effects reducing from 10 to 5. I went back up to 7.5 but now on 10. Still getting withdrawal and start up symptoms going on at least 12 weeks. I would definitely not go from 20 to 10, that's a huge reduction. Believe me, the withdrawal symptoms on your plan will be a lot worse than the symptoms you have now, unless you are one of the lucky ones. Hope all goes well for you ☺
Hi
Don't do alternate days - your brain will miss that in between dose and will make you feel even more spaced out. I spent a whole year coming off 20mg Citalopram and did it by 5mg each time with each reduction lasting around 4-6 weeks. Your body / brain needs time to readjust slowly. If however you have symptoms from a 5mg reduction then just wait until you level out before reducing again (4-6 weeks is just a guide). Miss out doses and it'll cry out for it.
My last 5mg I then further crushed and took 2.5mg and then finally 1.25mg which ended up being a few grains on my finger. I had no withdrawal symptoms at all doing it this slow.
You can even reduce less than 5mg and know some people do it by 2.5mg.
Buy yourself a pill cutter / crusher.
You might find though that simply reducing your dose to a lower one will sort out the fatigue for good. It just might be the dose it too high for you.
Anyway - hope this helps.
K x
Hi Kate, did you go directly from 10 mg to 5 mg? I have not had any big issues doing a very slow taper from 20 to 15 to 10. (took 6 months) Now ready to take the next jump to 5 mg but a little aprehensive. From what I have read on this forum this is when the gates of hell open.
Any advise most appreciated. Thanks Shana
Hi Shane
Yes I did - first I went from 20 to 15, then 10, 5, 2.5, 1.25 then 0.
You could first go to 7.5mg before you try 5mg? Some people prefer 2.5mg reductions. But personally I didn't notice anything from 10 to 5. My thoughts throughout withdrawal was that if I ever felt uncomfortable or anxious at any stage then I'd stay there for as long as was needed. If it didn't change then I'd simply go back up to the previous dose.
For some people yes maybe the jump to 5mg was opening the gates of hell, but you are you and it might well be different. We've all got different body's, different tolerances so what works for one could be different for another. Don't forget that if you don't feel good on 5mg then just go back to the 10mg. Its not a huge jump.
K x
hi marie266,like the other have said you need to reduce slower than what you want too do,if you try too reduce too fast you will get redraw-al symptoms and they can be worse than staying on your medication which you are on.,so if you want too come of them,then you will go down slower and each level you should stay on them for at least 2/3 weeks
Do u feel better being off them now? They are causing me to be constantly drained and so tired!
Yes I feel ok off the medicine - though when I was on the meds I felt ok too. I do remember feeling tired at the beginning of taking the meds but after some years I reduced to a maintenance dose and found that suited me well.
What dose are you on? Sometimes adjusting the dose can help.
Just a thought - I believe some people find Escitalopram easier to take.
K x
I am was on 20mg but I started to alternate the dose 20 one day 20mg the next and repeat but it was making me feel odd so now I'm just taking 15mg for a few weeks then go down to 10 to see if it helps with the tiredness
Hi everyone,
I’ve been on citalopram for around 5 years starting on 20mg then reducing eventually 5mg this last year. I kept forgetting to take my dose for the past week so thought I was doing ok and would stay off it (which is my aim) but today find myself feeling really tearful, anxious and low. I’m not sure whether to take 5mg now as I don’t like these withdrawal symptoms. Any advice please?
Hey Marie. When I came off two years ago I did it really really slowly and have a very smooth transition.
I was on 20mg. I went to 15mg every day for 12 weeks, then 10mg every day for 8 weeks, then 5mg for 8 weeks.
There's no rush to come off so you may as well just take it as slow as poss, then you will not feel the bad side effects. But it also helps to supplement with things like fish oil, and also making sure you have a good therapist to support you and that you are in a good space in your life (good friends, family, parter, living arrangement, house).
Just remember you will be OK. Its very normal and this happens with any medication (not just anxiety medication!) your body just needs to adjust. Be kind to yourself and be positive. The feelings aren't forever. It will pass!
Hey Marie. When I came off two years ago I did it really really slowly and have a very smooth transition.
I was on 20mg. I went to 15mg every day for 12 weeks, then 10mg every day for 8 weeks, then 5mg for 8 weeks.
There's no rush to come off so you may as well just take it as slow as poss, then you will not feel the bad side effects. But it also helps to supplement with things like fish oil, and also making sure you have a good therapist to support you and that you are in a good space in your life (good friends, family, parter, living arrangement, house).
Just remember you will be OK. Its very normal and this happens with any medication (not just anxiety medication!) your body just needs to adjust. Be kind to yourself and be positive. The feelings aren't forever. It will pass!
Go back on 5mg until you stabilise xx
Hi Marie
Yes it will make you feel odd if you skip doses.
Reducing for a few weeks only may still be too quick. I'd suggest a 5mg reduction for 4-6 weeks each time. Your brain needs to get used to each dose slowly - you really can't hurry it. Go as slow as your body allows.
K x
hello Kate cogs are you still on this site please ? I reduced my citalopram 40mg 3 weeks ago to 30mg but still feeling anxious heart palpitations can't sleep ect. I thought I'd be feeling OK by now but still suffering. Is this normal for it to take this long to adjust to 30mg . I'm also taking pregabalin 150mg aday which I've only taken for 2 weeks now. I just want to feel normal again. 😕 thank you I hope you get this 💓
thats a massive drop, could take 3-6 months to settle xx
oh no I hope not 😔
everyone is different lovely, im extremely sensitive to meds xx