I’m not sure what I’m asking for really, maybe just someone to tell me they’ve felt what I’ve felt.
I was on citalopram for 5 and a half years, increasing to 40mg just over a year ago. Originally it was for anxiety, then depression aswell. I decided that this increase had severely impacted on my ability to function in life, particularly at work. I resigned from my job 6 months ago and haven’t been able to find a job since. I don’t even know what I want to do. I don’t feel capable because my mind hasn’t felt right for so long. I agreed with my doctor that I’d reduce and come off the tablets, and had my last tablet 5 days ago.
The last 3 days have been a fuzzy dizzy blur. My head feels like there is a clamp inside it behind my eyes, I can’t focus on anything, I need to nap a lot, and getting out of bed feels almost impossible. Aside from random crying for no particular reason, I haven’t had any noteable emotional reactions, no more than when I was taking the tablets. The only thing I do feel is guilt because I can’t spend time looking for a job and I can’t see friends because my head is spinning so badly.
Can anyone tell me this won’t last?
hi im tapering off but i have to do it super slowly, 2mgs a year or i cant function, my symptoms dont seem to hit for 8-12 weeks, really hope you dont get any additional symptoms x
How long did you spent withdrawing?
40mg is the maximum dose you can take and lots of people struggle on it - wondering why you increased to that dose?
My guess is that you’ve withdrawn too quickly hence the fuzzy blur, clamped head etc etc which are withdrawal effects.
Don’t feel guilty not looking for a job - focus on yourself first.
No it won’t last.
Wow that’s super slow compared to what I did. I’ve gone to nothing in 4 weeks. That’s what I’m worried about now, what happens next. I cant remember what I was like before them
I did what the doctor said, but it’s only been 4 weeks since I started reducing. I increased from 10mg for 4 years to 20mg for a couple of weeks because of depression, and then up again after that because there didn’t seem to be a change. I actually don’t think there was any positive to increasing again, and just sort of got on with life again thinking there was nothing else I could do.
I wish I could not feel guilty, but I’ve been without income for 6 months which is a major struggle financially, but also people just don’t understand why I’m struggling with life.
Thankyou for replying, it makes me feel more crazy not having anyone to talk to about it. Mostly I just get told to go for a walk or try looking at things differently. I wish it were that easy.
we are all here for you its sad and i feel sorry for you but we gotta try be positive i guess right my pill isnt working fully yet either
Thanks James. Yea, got to think of the positives definitely. What dose are you on?
You do have to be careful coming off medication like this. With Paxil (?) I did it in liquid form, reducing by one mg a day.
I’ve been on Citalapram 20 mg for years and every so often I ask my GP about coming off them but he always recommends staying on them.
hi, it took me 8 mths to reduce from 20mg. I was terrified that I would have withdrawals but as it happened, it went pretty good. i think you withdrew too quickly in the same way that you probably increased up to 40mg too quickly. i think perhaps you had some poor advice from your GP which has left you in this awful position. you will get right again so try and hang on in there, itll just take time. could you not have had sick leave rather than quit, it sounds like its put you under enormous pressure which wont be helping. Hope each day is a little easier for you.
dont worry im unfortunately in the 5 percent group that gets hit with hundreds of symptoms
Have you gone from 40mg to 0 in 4 weeks?
Ok so what might have happened is that the 2nd increase was too much for your body as people think a higher dose is better, but the meds don’t work like that. People often think when they’re on meds and aren’t feeling great that an increase will sort it - but its often your body complaining about too much meds and its usually a reduction that might fix it. Often ‘less is more’.
Also you can’t withdraw quickly as it’ll make you worse than before - when I came off these meds I spent a year withdrawing from 20mg at 5mg each reduction.
You can’t help being ill and your health is more important at the mo. Would you go looking for a job if you had a broken leg or busted arm?
I’m sorry to say but lots of Doctors don’t seem to understand the meds fully, and get their patients to either increase or decrease too quick and cause them issues.
You have a couple of choices - carry on as you are and in time your body will slowly adjust to having no meds in your system - or, you could ask your Doctor about reinstating a small amount of meds, 5mg or 10mg, which will help alleviate some of the side effects. Stay on that dose for a few months to stabilise and when you’re ready only then withdraw at a safe and slower rate.
hey lisa im only on 10mg but im going through a rough time and its not nice but everything gets better its just life i guess. stay strong as i need to tell myself 
You’re right about increasing unnecessarily, I shouldn’t have gone past 20mg I don’t think.
It makes sense after seeing my doctor today, she’s prescribed sertralone. The reason I was reduced so quickly was to try something else. We did discuss another possible medication but I hadn’t realised it would change how quickly I’d come of this one vs if I was coming off tablets for good. I like this doctor, she wasn’t the one who increased it, I saw a different doctor every time, but now I’m just seeing her which makes such a difference.
Fingers crossed the sertraline is better for me, and if I come off them, the reduction is slower!
Think Kate is right i was on 10mg just started withdrawing and finding it very hard does seem a slow taper is the way to go. Ifound sertraline awful but hope it works for you. Can be trial and error and what works for one doesn’t for another. I Iwas surprised how quickly withdrawal kicked in. Kate is very knowledgable and well worth lustening to. Hope you soon improve
I tried sertraline for couple months but swapped to citalopram as made me feel worse. But of course we all react differently to these meds.
or maybe that was citalopram withdrawal?
No definitely the sertraline, although still had symptoms switching to citalopram nowhere near as bad as on sertraline. What suits one person doesnt suit another it wasn’t for me but hopefully lisa will be OK if she tries it I have friend found it worked really well, we are all different how we react to things.
alot of people dont get hit with withdrawal for many weeks and the more changes the more confusing
hi lisa
wow 4 weeks!
bless you no wonder you feel awful
ive reduced from 20mg to 10 mg and its taken me 7 months…nice & slow, take your time.
Listen to katecogs, her advice is spot on!
hope you feel better soon
Hi Lisa, stay the course. Prepare yourself for some rough days, maybe even weeks ahead but know you will survive. One day at a time. I promise you will come thru this. Just except it. Some coping skills I used;
Sleep if you can, as much as possible.
Practise yoga breathing techniques.
Hot bath with Epsom salts.
Walk. Even around the block. Good weather, bad weather just walk.
Talk about it - reach out here or to a friend, spouse whomever.
Take magnesium and fish oil supplements. Good for the brain.
Know that as bad as you feel this is just for now not for ever.
I survived and you will too. Promise.