What to do?

Treatment and medication
1

Hi everyone I’m at my wits end I have now been on 20mg of Citalopram for 4 months , my fatigue , dry mouth and now I’ve had constant headaches for two weeks plus my jerking and jolting is getting worse , I feel that all of this is now the cause of my anxiety so I feel I have to make the decision whether to come off of it , if I decide to do this is dropping to 15 mg to dramatic in one go., if so what should i do .. if it has to be less than 5mg at a time how do I go about dividing up the tablet to get accurate amounts ..what are your thoughts.... anybody coming off at the moment

thanks again

steve 

2

Hi steve,you can get liquid form,which is simple to divide, I'm trying to come of also 'once more', it is a terrible drug for getting a 'grip' on you, i have halved from 10 to 5 the last couple of months & slowly feeling human again & not a well programned robot !

3

Hi Mike thanks for replying.Did you get liquid form from your doctor?How long were you on it and did it help you?The only benefit I’ve found from them is I don’t 

get full on panic attacks but the side effects are killing me.I never know that you can feel this ill . I just prey im making the right decisions 

4

I definitely think you should give it another month..and ask your doctor for xanex to control those hideous side effects..

5

Yes Steve, I get mine on prescription, it is a drug you have to experiment with , so it definitely is worth your while taking 5mg less for a week or two, I’m sure you will feel a lot better, it’s a lot stronger drug than doctors make out it is!

6

I'm coming off at the moment after 6 plus years, I was an idiot and dropped too fast, went from 10 to 5 then 2 weeks later got liquid and dropped to 4, shortly after felt ill but updosed too late to 6, been trying to stabilise for nearly 16 weeks, have every symptom possible, praying I can stabilise its horrendous xx

7

I agree, also the liquid is more potent xx

8

Iam curious why you want to come off..

9

Hi Steve, do not listen to any suggestion regarding taking xanex or any benzo type drug to help with side effects. This is bad advise. The consequences of taking any benzodepine are dire.

Tapering of Citalopram takes patience but it is achievable. Similar to you I was at 20 mg for a number of months and just could not settle. Side effects were numerous. I slowly dropped from 20 to 10 mg over about 15 weeks. I just kept chipping away at the tab until I was at 10 mg. Not a very exact science! Now I am working my way down to 5 mg. Same way. Not sure what my reduction technique will be at 5 mg. Likely crush to powder and divide.

Citalopram may be a solution for some but not for me. Never will I take an AD of any type again. Anxiety and side effects are horrible.

Take care and best of luck. You can do this. Day at a time.

Shana

10

Citalopram is not a solution for some your right about that.is a solution for millions!and as far as benzo they may be dire for you but they are also a life saving solution for millions .

11

Steve,

I had dry mouth real bad for about 5-6 months. It has dissipatedafter 6 months. I’m on 10mg in my 8thmonth. I did take Xanax to help with the side effects. My dr agrees the 2 drugs work well together. I still take Xanax if I need to sleep well. Hang in there. You are real close to the time when the side effects subside. 

12

Do your research before you promote benzo's.

13

I have never tried to reduce from this medication, but have so years ago with celexa. I was very careful to reduce 5mg at a time, giving at least a month before reducing another 5mg, then stayed on 10 for a couple months before reducing again by 5mg again sticking with that dose for a couple months and then skipping a days dose, then 2 days, then 3 days . It's best to take your time. At first I got the pins and needles feeling in the head so I took Advil. As far as the comments about benzo I was very careful to use a very small dose when I was starting citalapram as the anxiety was dreadful. Just don't make a habit of taking that drug as it us very addictive and he'll to get off. Always discuss with your doctor

14

Because I want to be drug free I'm sick of doctors throwing drugs at me

15

I took diazepam for 5 days and felt horrendous for months

16

I have done my homework but I also don't believe everything I read on the internet .I go by my doctor's knowledge is that simple.whats good for the goose is good for the gander.i took xanex for one whole year and had no problem. came off with no weaning.i know you folks in the UK.are a bit dramatic with meds.

Lol.

17

I have done my homework but I also don't believe everything I read on the internet .I go by my doctor's knowledge is that simple.whats good for the goose is good for the gander.i took xanex for one whole year and had no problem. came off with no weaning.i know you folks in the UK.are a bit dramatic with meds.

Lol.

18

The doctors don't force you to take meds is your choice for crying out loud..

19

I was put on one antidepressant for headaches hmmm

20

Hi Shana

thank you so much for your helpful response this is exactly how I feel....could I just ask you if you dropped from 20mg to 15 mg in one go or is this too much ..... do you still think coming off it was the right decision for you and how have your side effects been since dropping ...

i just seem to get used to one problem and then comes another one , like the headaches now....... would you say you are starting to feel any better on the low amounts ..... I haven’t been able to work since this all started and although impatient to get my life back accept that withdrawal is a long term thing.

thanks again and I look forward to hearing from you

steve