Hi, I have been on Citalopram for ten years. I am currently going cold turky, I have tried every way prevoisly with no joy. I am in my second week now and I feel very very strange. I have constant electric shock feeling in my head and fuzzyness. I am coaping with the depression however I am very emotional and have angry out bursed. I want to come off the tablets and understand I have to fight the side effect symtoms. My family and friends feel I am being selfish and worrie i may end up taking out my side effect out on them, I am awahere of this and trying my hardest to make sure that dosnt happen.
I am scared off the out come howere I feel I need to do this now at this time in my life and feel strong enough to coap with the side effect. I do not have surport and doing this pritty much on my own. Am I doing the right thing??? how long dose this fuzzyness stay for also Im jumpy parionid and slightly adataded.
Hi Melissa I am on Citalopram low dose I am so sorry you are having a bad time coming off it. I do not think you should do it alone and your GP should be kept informed how you are. The other thing is get your self to a Chinese Acupuncturist as you are going through cold turkey I was on something else I was told was for after flu and it wasn't so acupuncture did me world of good so get your yellow pages and get an appointment they did great work on me. You cannot go through such awful symptoms on your own. Let me know how you get on. It works in time. Best of luck.
Melissa
You must never, ever go cold turkey on these meds. They're serious stuff and you can become very ill indeed. The electric shock feelings are brain zaps. You're going to be feeling like this for quite a long time yet I'm afraid. If you had withdrawn by 5mg at a time a month at a time (so coming off 20mg would take 4 months plus) then you'd have had an easier time. I've just reduced mine and it's taken months and am still on 5mg - I've had no withdrawl symptoms at all (taken them for 15 years). This is my second time coming off them (had to restart due to stress of family illness), and both times have been easy coming off them.
If you don't want to take SSRI's then may I suggest a natural alternative I often tell people about:
When you're off Citalopram try a natural SSRI called 5-HTP which needs to be taken with l-tyrosine. Both can be bought from Holland & Barrett (if you're in the UK) and you need to take them both. Read a book called 5-HTP The Natural Way to Overcome Depression, Obesity by Michael T Murray ........ it's a really interesting read.
You need to be off SSRI's completely before starting 5-HTP as they mustn't be taken together.
If you're really feeling unwell though I'd suggest you see your doctor.
K x
Forgot to say ..... re your family and friends saying you're being selfish due to your reactions from the withdrawal effects, please remember this isn't the real 'you', but your reactions to withdrawal. Please also tell your family and friends that you are ill - you have an actual illness, and though it may seem distressing to them, it's 10 times worse for you. In all honesty I'd say family and friends are selfish for not accepting you are ill and need help and understanding.
K x