Withdrawal From Citalopram

hi yes I have been experiancing the same, another thing I get is like firworks going of in my head, like electronic messages that go nowhere and terminate in mid air. I am not a crankpot but I definatly know what you mean. I have gone back on them at just 10 mg and it has all stopped. I am going to try again at a later date.

You two people have made me feel much better, as I know now I’m not alone. I also have experienced both the ‘brain moving’ and the ‘fireworks’. And the most unnerving little ’sounds’ to go with the above.

It might help to know that I was on 60mg of Citalopram for 2 years. In January 2006, I reduced to 40mg without problems, and in March I reduced to 20mg without problem. However in May I tried to stop altogether and BANG… I crashed BADLY today (hence I searched and found this), one week after stopping.

I would urge anyone trying to get off this stuff to PLEASE do so REALLY slowly. I’ve now started retaking 20mg after one of the worst days of my life as a result of withdrawal. It’s really bad.

Thanks guys for posting your comments on here. As I say, it’s made me feel better to not be alone. Good luck to you both.

hi all,wow thank god im not alone,i have been in hospital with servere dizzyness,when i move my head i feel like im falling etc the slightest movement and i go dizzyalso headaches and like you all say feels like my brain is moveing and no one knows what the problem is but looking at what you all had to say it looks like withdrawl which i was also told there are no affects from citalopram but how wrong are they…!im am pregnant and cant go back on the drug althought my gp says there will be no harm to my baby butif its anything like the so called none withdrawls i will suffer the dizzyness for my baby.i have been off the drug for 2 weeks know and still no signs of me felling better”how long does it last? hope you all feel better soon,im off to see my gp for more answers and will let you know how i get on. bye for know.good luck

Hi Linda. Just read your post and I’m really sorry to see that you’ve been suffering the same as me (mine was the post immediately before yours). I said earlier that I had started retaking at 20mg, and it has stopped all the side effects.

My reason for posting back here was wondering whether I could be of any help. It has helped me immensely to see that I wasn’t alone.

Linda if you, or anyone else reading this, would like to get in touch and just email-chat stuff through, you’d be really welcome. My email is jonkeen71@btinternet.com

If I can be any help at all, please don’t hesitate. I so hope you feel better really soon.

hi jon thx for replying to my comment,i was also on 20mg of citalopram and boy does it make you feel rough.i lapsed the other day and had to take half of a citalopram and it made me fell so good but now the withdrawl is back again,i was hopeing to reduce the dose myself and wean of it but its not working so im at a loss what to do now,its bad enough with morning sickness and all the other unwell feelings being pregnant without being in withdrawl from this drug.any advised would be most welcome.once again thx jon and take care all.

Hi, seems like I’m having similar withdrawal symptoms. The wierd brain swivel thing. I’m determined not to go back on medication so I am putting up with it but just wondered for how long? It’s been 3 weeks since I stopped.

Hi all,

I am on this shit for over 8 years
I stopped for one year and I had exactly the same symptoms (for example a noise , like someone was shaking a box filled with rice in my head lol).
Those weird symptoms do go away after several weeks; they become less and less frequent,and then disappear completely. Unfortunately the depression often comes back, and then You have to take the drug again, although its effect diminishes a lot when You have to take it for a long time.It also kills your libido completely after several years, although one might consider this side-effect as handy

Greetz, Patrick from Belgium

Hi all, I was on 30mg citalopram for about 9 months and then quickly reduced the dosage to nothing within a week or so. I experienced all the symptoms described above, but they were never very severe and were all gone after about 2 weeks. In addition, I had a few days where I felt very unhappy after stopping the medication, but knowing that this was just a result of the withdrawl and would soon be gone was comforting.

Your brain will eventually adjust to the absence of citalopram. The length of time it takes will vary from person to person and will depend on your dosage and how long you were on it.

Hope everyone feels better soon!

Hi everyone,

I’ve been on different types of antidepressents for about 8 years the last 3 of which I have been taking Citalopram. I’ve decided I feel ready to come off them, my GP has cut my doseage on half. I feel awful! My head feels as it would if I was really drunk and not in control. Its worse when I move! I feel depressed again and want to sleep all the time but when I do, which isent often I have nightmares.

I also have a cold and cough which I can’t shake. It might just be a coincidence that this has happened at the same time I have lowered my doseage.

Although I wouldn’t wish this feeling on anyone, it has been reasuring to know that i’m not the only person feeling like this.

Please any tips,or promises that this will get better would be warmly welcomed.

Hi all,

Thank you so much for all being so brave and open to share your experiences.

My wife has been taking Citalopram for about a year now (40mg), and has been off of them for 9 days and the symptoms really hit her Saturday morning (The ironic thing is she saw her doctor Friday (one week after stopping) and he said all would be well).

It’s pretty scary to see someone you love suffering with the symptoms you all know to well, and I thought I would do a search to see if there were any withdrawl symptoms known, and we are both glad to have found this thread.

I printed off the comments and just read them to her and she is feeling relieved to know that she isn’t sliding back, but going through withdrawl.

She is going to take the comments into her GP tomorrow to see about either halving the dosage or what else he recommends.

We will let you know…

Anyway, thanks again all for being so candid, it’s good to see people talking about what is often something not spoken about, and as someone with a loved one suffering, I want to say a big thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I am so glad I’m not the only one! I stopped taking Citalopram a week ago after being on them for 9 months and it’s been the worse week of my life! I can identify with all of your symptoms, the way I describe it is that when I move, my head seems to be about half a second behind me. Sounds crazy to anyone who hasn’t experienced it! I also feel sick and keep having palpitations…I don’t want to go back on them so will try to cope with it and hope it doesn’t last much longer. Good luck to everyone going through similar.

I’m going though the dizzy’s as well and mate it sucks. I’m pregnant and found this on a google trip, So hey and I send you the best

Good luck all,

My missus is now on 20mg every other day and after a day is already feeling better.

I am happy there is a resource like this, as she said, like many others here, just knowing the cause helped so much.

All the best,

Scott

I have been on 60mg of Citalopram for 12 months and lower doses for a previous 18 months.

Due to other changes in my medication (coming off atenalol), about 4 weeks ago my GP decided to reduce the dosage to 40mg for 1 week, then 20mg for another week and then nothing.

I was fine for the first 2 weeks (just some minor dizzyness when standing etc – assumed to be caused by coming off the beta blocker) but during the 3rd week on no citalopram, I started feeling like I was getting explosions in my head accompanied by a load whoosh/buzz sound in my ears.

Every day they start of during the morning with one or two occurances per hour, during the day they occure more and more often during the day and by the evening I’m getting them just about every minute or more often with many off them occuring as multiples. Fireworks and lightning is a good description. I go to bed and eventualy get to sleep only to have the most vivid, realistic nightmares – so much so I am woring about going to sleep, afraid about what I might dream.

My GP thinks I might need to go back on to beta-blockers but I’m not convinced at did a search for similar symptoms.

It is a releif to find these posts.

I dont want to back on citalopram, but I need to go back to work.

Any advice?

thanks

Col

It seems like there are lots of us going through the same thing. Colin, there isn’t really any advice to give other than to try and see it through. I also find that my symptoms get worse as the day goes on, I put it down to tiredness but may not be the case. We just need to hang on in there!

Once again, good luck to you all, especially those of you who are trying to cope with pregnancy on top of this! x

Anyone out there taken Citalopram for M.E.Symptoms?

I’ve been on it at 20mg for 3 years and decided I wanted to see what my M.E.is like without it. I have been reducing it for six weeks and took my last one 6days ago.

I am feeling rubbish, dizzy disorientated head, exhausted and nauseous coming and going in waves throughout the day. Its a relief in one way to see others have similar symptoms from Citalopram withdrawal as I am nervous its my M.E. relapsing.

hope it goes soon for me and everyoen suffering!! I say pants to the G.P. who says there is no withdrawal!!

Hi all,

I’ve just come off 20mg a day of Citalapram after about 18 months. I’m having the brain-lag problem. It’s a bit like being slightly drunk all the time. I only stopped completely a week ago. At least it’s not been making me feel sick(at least no yet).

I’ve been feelig particularly odd today so thought I’d do a quick search and found this. At least I know I’m not imagining it now!

Best of luck all,

Lee

Hi everyone. I decided to cut back on citalopram just recently as well. I know you are supposed to taper slowly, but I am eager to be done with this drug. I’ve been on 20 MG for about 5 months now. Anyway, today was the first day I had none, and I’ve been rapidly tapering down from 20 MG for about 4 days now. So far no bad symptoms from it… I guess I am curious about something you all seem to be saying. Do the withdrawals kick in a week or two after stopping, or did it start more rapidly? I guess I am bracing myself for something bad now… I thought that since it has been easy so far it would be no big deal, as citalopram is supposed to leave the body very quickly… Anyway, best of luck to all of you. Wish me luck as well!

Same feelings here – “brain whooshes” and dizziness when I try to come off them. I am down to 20mg every other day and REALLY struggling to keep it up. May have to go back on 20mg a day.

What is annoying is that these withdrawal affects were not explained at the start!

I’m so relieved to have found your comments – I thought I was losing my mind! I tapered down from 40mg over a period of two months and only got side effects when I stopped them completely three weeks ago. I got the fireworks in the head thing alternating with feeling like my head was full of cotton wool and the feeling that when I turned my head my brain took a while to catch up (I still have these sensations, but not as bad). After a week I was having incredibly vivid, disturbing nightmares that have only just started to subside. What’s just started to happen now is that for the past three days I’ve been feeling incredibly tearful and angry (alternately). Has anyone else felt this way and if so, how long has it lasted for?

I’ve been taking 20mg of Cytalopram (UK name for Celexa) and stopped ‘cold turkey’ a two weeks ago. I am sleeping fourteen hours a day, and by the time I get home I’m too exhausted to do anything but climb into bed. The reason I came off the tablets is because I put on 12kg while I was on them. I’m eating a salad for lunch, and pita bread for dinner, but I have put on an extra 4kg this week alone. I feel really low, but I know I have to be antidepressant free for the future. I have now ordered vitamin supplements 5HTP and L-Phen after reading that they have a positive affect on serotonin levels. I hope they work. All the best, J

Hi JL,

Sorry to hear you are struggling…

You may want to check into the vitamin supplements, from what I can gather from Citalopram it works as a Serotonin Re-uptake inhibitor, so I wonder if it’s correcting a low level of serotonin per se or is it allowing the seotonin to stay in your brain longer to get picked up by other receptors.

If it’s the latter, boosting the serotonin levels by vitamins may not do the trick completely…

Just something to look into…

Either way all the best

Scott

Hi there every1. I have been on Citalopram for a few years and decided i do not want to be on any medication for anxiety for a bit to see if i feel any better as some of the side effects make you feel worse!!! I am having funny movements in my head and in my body I do not think any1 else can see them but it is like i am juddering inside and it makes me feel a little breathless. I am also feeling really agitated and angry i am hoping this will all pass. I think the side effects of this tablet being on it and stopping it has just magnified my problem and when out of the system will hopefully be better. I also have terrible jealousy and anger issues which i am going to try and deal with and hopefully not being on it will help!!

Speak soon

J

hi clair i also have m.e which i take citalopram for i have been weaning my self of it for weeks as the doc thinks im ready to come of it,and i fill crap with dizzines i fell misreable and i cant sleep which is making me really tierd. like you i thought my m.e was geeting worse but thanks to this website i know its withdrawal symptoms

Hi hello.

I too experienced brain shakes a few times, but when getting used to taking citalopram, also some nausea and a little dizzyness.
The symptoms eased after a couple of weeks, and I was supposed to go up to 40mg, but cut it to 10mg instead after noticing the severe reduction of libido. 10mg is half the pill, so I’ve been wrapping the other half in clingfilm for the next day.

The reduction is going fine, although I was snappy and suffered a return of stress for a week. I would carry the other half of the pill with me to work, so that if stress got to bad I could take it, and did a few times. Drugs seem to work pretty quickly and well for me.

The break from stress symptoms and the clarity of mind the stuff is giving me is very worthwhile. My work performance, alertness, confidence and assertiveness have improved dramatically – probably mostly due to not being depressed any more.

There are relaxation, goal setting , assertiveness training and other techniques, (like practising breathing control) that have helped me make the adjustment to lower dose. I think mostly I just needed a break from the constant grinding stress..

Knowing that this was normal side effect of reducing dose helped me ride that out. Will be breaking the pills into quarters next – 5 mg.

Changing swing shifts from night to day work and back is also difficult. I’ve been delaying taking the next pill at the changeover time for about 12 hours. That way it doesnt interupt my sleep as much. Other ppls reactions to being 12 hours late may not be so good as mine, as everyone is different in how they react to medicines.

Hi all,
my twenty-two year old daughter has been on Citalopram for about three years, and has managed to reduce her dose down gradually to the point that she usually only has to take one every three or four days. However, if she tries to come off them, she describes her withdrawal symptoms as ‘flickering in her eyes’ and feeling really ill. I wondered whether anyone else has experienced these visual disturbances. She also experiences palpitations at times, regardless of whether or not she is taking them. Is this another side effect of the drug? She has been checked out and doesn’t seem to have any heart problems.

Hi everyone,
I have had M.E. for over 20 years and thought I would give Citalopram a go following a consultant’s advice. (Although I didn’t like the idea)

I’ve been taking 10mg a day for about 8 months.

It did help with the associated depression and did make me a bit more lively and even with the ME symptoms (muscle aches etc) – coming off even this low dosage was initially difficult. I tried a few times but went back on – this time I have not been taking any for over a week and I seem to be aware of the odd feeling of my brain being present – I liked the analogy of ‘the rice in the box’ which almost describes it. Also not sleeping very well at moment. This seems so common I don’t know how doctors have the nerve to say there are no side effects.

Andrew

I stopped taking 20mg 9 days ago and boy do I feel crap. Please can someone give me hope that theses dizzy symptons will subside. I am not going back on citalopram, as I am reclaiming my life.
Jacqueline

I have come to the conclusion this is a terrible antidepressant to presribe in terms of its withdrawal symptoms. I had post partum depression and was on this drug on a 20mg dose for over six months. On the way “up” (when you start on 10mg and increase over a few weeks) it wasn’t the greatest feeling either, but once established in my system I began to get strange dizzy feelings if I was so much as an hour “late” taking my pill. My doctor made out I was mad saying that he doubted something which takes a month to reach full effect could engender such immediate withdrawals but it does. I fell pregnant and had a nightmare time withdrawing cold turkey from these pills. Anxiety, shaking, nausea and that feeling that you are leaving your head behind took a long time to leave me. I am happy to report that I have no further withdrawals although I did read somewhere that someone who had been on this drug long term took a long time to get past it. Hang in there people, it does get better, you have to ride it through, but i would definitely speak to a dr, one with slightly better bedside manner than mine.

I am so pleased to have found a thread where we can discuss symptoms that I know I didn’t think anyone would understand!

I have been on citalopram for over 4 years. Initially it was prescribed for severe panic attacks, but over the years I have reduced the dosage from 20mg a day to 10mg and then recently to 2.5mg over about 3 months and 10 days ago I stopped completely.

I had tried to stop several times previously, but took the leap at too high a dose (5mg). Having dropped to 2.5mg made the difference in being able to cope with the withdrawal whilst holding down my management job (at least so far)!

I too had researched the ‘half life’ of the drug and thought that the withdrawal symptoms would be over quite quickly. However, it seems that the drug leaving your system is only half the story. The receptors in the brain apparently need to adjust, even after the drug has gone.

My doctor seemed almost slightly amused at my suggestion that I couldn’t ‘just stop’ at 5mg. He said that the minimum suggested dose was 20mg and that 5mg was so low that I shouldn’t experience any problems. How wrong he was (and is)!

I have struggled to explain to my partner and friends what I am experiencing. Tiredness, wooly-headedness, dizziness, the time-lag feeling of my brain inside my skull when I turn my head, the visual flickering effect, and muscle spasms (although mild).

I am yet to look forward to the ‘fireworks’ effect! Although I am experiencing some vivid dreams, they are not too bad so far.

I hope that they will begin to wear off soon rather than get worse. I do carry some tablets to work with me just in case I can’t handle it. I am determined to finally be free of this drug. It did help me out through rather a bad time, but I am through the other side now and my biggest problem these days is the withrawal itself!

I empathise with everyone who is going through the same thing and I wish you all the strength and stamina to make it through to the other side. I’ll post again if things change (for better or worse!)

Keep posting to this thread – it really helped me, and hopefully it will help others. Thanks.

Hi everyone, well thank god I am not alone, although I am so sorry you are all going through this too!
I have been on citalopram for 9 months now and have been trying to quit for the last 3! After going cold turkey and becoming so ill I thought I had flu my doctor advised me to go back on them at the original dose of 40 mg per day and slowly wean myself off, he suggested I did 2 weeks of 40mg 1 week of 40mg 1 day and 20mg the next, then 1 week of 20mg, then 1 week of 20mg 1 day and 10mg the next, finishing with a week of 10 mg. I tried this and finished my last tablet 10 days ago, and I feel terrible!
I too have the brain shakes, the wooly head, eyes that judder like electric shocks, I feel dizzy and sick, headaches are something else! sleeping is a major problem due to twitching all night like I am on a sugar rush, dreams aren’t a problem yet, boy something to look forward to i can’t wait!! Why isn’t there more info about all this?? Trying to hold down a job and keep 2 children happy whilst being a single parent is not good!.
I hope I get through this as I want to be me again, although the urge to turn the house upside down looking for another packet of tablets is overwhelming.

Helppppppppp!

I have been searching all day for a thread like this one and feel a kinship with you all! I am 5 weeks pregnant and have been trying to come off citalopram for four months now. Originally on 20mg for anxiety for 1.5 years, i tapered to 10mg each day, then eventually to 10mg every four days to curb the withdrawals. Now that I have found that I am preg, I have come off them altogether and am finding it very tough one week down the track…..dizzyness, cotton wool mouth, heaviness in my head, zaps and spaced out feeling, pins and needles, you name it, i think i’ve felt it! I don’t think it matters how long you try to taper off, when you actually stop you will still feel the withdrawals. I have another child and was taking citalopram during that pregnancy as I was informed it was safe….maybe it is…maybe it’s coincidence, but my beautiful and much loved baby was born missing a bone in her arm and only has a thumb and forefinger, so I’m not taking any chances……best of luck to all….hang in there – it can only get better!

Hi Nicola, congrats on the pregnancy hope all is going well. If it means anything I am 100% positive you are doing the right thing by giving up, hang in there with the rest of us, it can only get better right? As for your other child , maybe you should dig deeper on the effects of citalopram in pregnancy it needs looking at I am sure.
As for me…well another sleepless night and yet another dizzy, wooly, brain juddering day.

I’ve been on citalopram since October – initially just 10, and then up to 20. It didn’t start working till Christmas, but by about May I felt ready to try coming off them and the doc put me down to 10 again ‘for a month’. Unfortunately, this coincided with my deciding to take grapefruit juice first thing in the morning to help me get out of bed, not knowing that this interfered with the absorption of many drugs, so I’ve had to extend it for a month; but now I’ve stopped I feel so dizzy! All the side effects I had in the Autumn are back and I’m so fed up that all the benefit I had from it has just evaporated. Maybe I should go back and get a smaller dose – I thought the month on the lower dose was it.

Wow, what a site of knowledge, and im so glad im not on my own, i thought i was going mad. i to have been on citalapram for approx 2 years 10 mg a day, this was px for anxiety as previos to that i was considered i may have ms but this was never concluded. I dont know whats worse the symptoms of comming off the citalapram or the symptoms which i had before the citalapram was px, which ever way i feel absolutely lousey,but im going to persevere and put up with it, i cant believe that im reading all this , this is so not good, does any one no how long before you actually start feeling your self again . thanks

Hiya, well it’s been 8 weeks since i started weaning myself off these horrible little pills, and its been 2 weeks since my last tablet and like i mentioned on an earlier post the dizzyness and brain shuddering is a nightmare, but i think its getting better…today the dizzyness didn’t start till almost dinnertime although i really do feel ill. driving is a hazard which i try to avoid if i can, my new partner says i have been distant and pre occupied i am sure its the pills i have no idea i am being like that! fingers crossed the road to recovery isn’t much longer i will never ever go back on these things again they have messed up my life completely.

Hi guys. I’m probably a lot younger than you all – I’m 15. I was prescribed cipramil by a doctor when I was 14, even though it wasn’t a wise choice of anti-depressant for someone my age. Being younger, I’ve had a tough time stopping taking cipramil. I’ve experienced convulsions, hallucinations, changes in appetite and all sorts of things including tinitus like some of you mentioned earlier in the discussion. It makes me feel more comfortable knowing that there are people out there who have experienced the same thing, and are willing to share their experiences. I have to say from personal experience – If you are under 18 years old I don’t think you should take this drug no matter what a doctor tells you; It can wreck your health!!

Hi again, after one of my worst nights ever i went to the drs today, he says i am suffering from vertigo probably due to withdrawel of citalopram, so now am on anti sickness drugs 3x a day, nice huh.

I’ve been off these drugs for 44 days now, and I feel sick. I decided cold turkey was the way, and now the symptoms are there regarding withdrawl. I’m getting tingly feelings in the hand and fingers. I feel like I’m ill…dizzy, and get hit with anxiety…after awhile it all goes away…how long does this last?

So sorry to hear what you all going through but so relieved to know I’m not imagining what’s happening to me. Have been on these things for couple of years, only 20mcg a day, reducing over past three weeks, stopped completely 8 days ago. Have had dreadful headaches, dizzyness, appalling nightmares and spend all day in tears – it’s a wonder my partner hasn’t just left as all I do is scream and shout.

Hope it doesn’t last too long but I’m damned if I’m going to let coming off these things ruin my life.

Good luck to everyone else – hang in there.

Waaahaayyy, i feel soooo much better i can’t begin to tell you! Ifyou are suffering, please go to your doctor and tell him/her, get them to prescribe you some anti-sickness tablets,they are great! i wasnt feeling sick, just dizzy etc after 2 days on these i am starting to fel like myself again. yayyyy thank god.

Thanks for the comments everyone. I’ve been on Citalopram for 8 years with dosages between 20mg and 50mg. My GP is shifting me over to something else called Mirtazapine for my depression. He advised me to cutdown 10mg a day on the Citalopram and start on 15mg of Mirtazapine immediately after I finished the Citalopram and I feel like crap. I was expecting the dizziness and the “brain whooshes” (great description whoever came up with that) from the times when I accidentally missed a couple of days on the Citalopram, but the vivid dreams and the irritability are something else again. I’m thankful that so far I haven’t had any other side-effects but it worries me how some people have reported the symptoms going on for weeks and months. I’m a teacher and its really hard to do my job feeling like this. Thanks for everyone’s comments. I feel better knowing that I’m not the only one going through this. By the way, just for your information, the first day I took the Mirtazapine I couldn’t stand up from headspins after 20mins. I then crawled into bed and fell asleep for 16 hours straight. I was groggy for a day or two after that, but then settled down. Make sure you have someone around when you take it and that you have some time off too.

i stopped taking citalopram 5 days ago and today feel very strange. I can’t think straight and feel i can hear the blood going round my head. I would be interested to know if anyone put weight on whilst taking this drug. over 9 months i have put on one stone!

I have been on Citalopram for 2 years at 20mg per day…I was put on for Anxiety because my heartrate was 120bpm when sitting down…had ECG etc nothing wrong with heart. I have mixed feelings about the drug, it certainly has made me happy, to much so sometimes, but it comes at a price…2 stone in weight to be precise…

I discussed things with my doctor and I have been cutting down…10mg for 4 weeks, then 5mg for 4 weeks then on Sunday I stopped altogether…Monday was hell on toast…mood swings from one extreme to the other, irritable, tired and by the end of the day tears…for no reason at all. It is now day 4 and the mood swings have stopped but now I have the strangest feeling in my head…can’t describe it…but I don’t like it at all !!!

I am strong mentally and don’t really believe that I ever really needed the drug…but I am not going back…I am determined to get through this and kick the drug forever !!!

It is nice to see that I am not the only one going through this…we should all be strong and work through it !!!

I have been off citalopram (20mg) for about a week and feel so horrible, I have none of the dizziness or strange fireworks in the head but I am so unbeleivably irratable and tearful. I feel like my mind is trapped in my body and wants to escape. All the smallest things like a small bit of mess or an unhoovered carpet in my house makes my cry and feel like I want to smash everything up including myself!. I just want to drink but that is obviously not a good answer to it. Is anyone else feeling like this? I feel as though I am being pathetic as I have only been on a low dose.

Hey holly, ur not alone its horrible, feels like yr more depressed than ever. Good news you can and ill get through it. If you read my previous posts u will see how much better i am now.
keep going don’t give up, definately don’t drink, try to smile, know its withdrawel and everything will get better.

Sorry to know that hell on earth is still out there for some of you, but wanted to let you know how much better I am feeling. Have been off these things for 18 days now and my body (and head) is starting to get sorted out now – yippee.

Still have a problem with lousy sleeping but the nightmares have calmed down, irritability and mood swings are much less extreme and the dizziness has almost gone – I almost feel like a member of the human race again.

My partner has been brilliant and it helps so much if you can get some support from those you love whilst you are going through this.

Once again, hang on in there, I promise you that it does get better, honestly.

I’ve been taking Citalopram for 18 months, and have been trying to come off it for the past 6. Each time i drop the dose down, i’ve been getting anxiety and panic. I’d finally gotten down to 10mg, and was trying to take one every other day, but i felt sooooo ill! Like i had flu, or some sort of virus. My doctor said it was due to the withdrawal, and that i’d tried cutting down too quickly. I should have missed one dose on one day of the week, then miss two days of the following week, etc. My doctor has now prescribed prozac for me to take for a month, and then come off, as it’s easier to withdraw from (i’ve taken prozac before with no withdrawal problems) Apparently, Citalopram only stays in your system for 24 hours, so once you miss a dose your body is crying out for it, whereas prozac lingers around for 3 weeks. I’ve now been on the prozac for 2 weeks, and i’ve been having the worst panic attacks and constant symptoms of anxitey, it’s been hell. i’ve been back to see my gp today, and i can choose whether to go back onto the Citalopram and steady myself on a 20mg dose, and stay on it for a while, or continue with the prozac. I’m going to stick with the prozac, i’ll never go back on citalopram. it took me weeks (with the aid of valium) to get on it in the first place, and i’m back on valium again now coping with the withdrawal. I would suggest that anyone who is suffering with bad withdrawal ask their doctor for a valium-type drug, it will help see you through the worst symptoms.

Hi.

Reading these comments is interetsting, I started on Citalopram last December (05) 20mg per day. It was prescribed for depression. It seemed to nothing for the first 6 weeks or so, and i brought this up with my GP. She suggested that i try CBT with the A/D’s. I started to feel better little by little. However i was still getting side effects of the citalpram, and that was puting a little downer on my recovery. The CBT was then starting to help me, by giving the skills needed to help tackle this horrible illness. Then at the end of April i decided i wanted to reduce my dose, so i started 20mg every other day. This seemed to make no difference some days i felt a little weird but i coped and worked through. At other times i felt OK. I must say at this point that even ppl who DO NOT suffer with depression will get off days etc. I beleive its how you handle these ‘bad’ days is important to your recovery. Anyway i told my GP that i had reduced and she was a little concerned about the half etc and suggested i went down to 10mg daily. I went along with this and for 1 month followed her plan. Again felt mostly OK, with some bad days in there, but i could mainly put my finger on why i didnt feel to good, EG a hangover, a little flu like etc etc. Anyway i then reduced to 10mg every other day, and after a few days of this felt weird again, negative thoughts, dwelling etc im sure you know what i mean. But again this did pass after a couple of days, I just tried to keep busy and enjoy myself. I must admit that the World CUp did help me in this.

2 weeks ago i decided to go on to 10mg every 3 days, and last week (thur) i took the last one. Im not sure if im suffering withdrawal, but sleeping has become a little more difficyult, and in the mornings i feel a little tingly in my stomach. I am certainly not anxious about it

I am putting all of this down to withdrawal. I am determined to beat this and will try to continue to ride it out and confident that i will !

to all of you try remain positive and give your self time.

Stay Strong and look forward.

Hi again, just wanted to put in an update…3 months after begining to wean myself off these horrible tablets I am almost feeling like myself again, the vertigo has almost gone and I am feeling better than I have done in over a year. I am regaining control f my life and starting to feel positive. We all have bad days but we get through them.
My advice to everyone is to try to focus on whats important in your life, where you want to be and what you want to achieve and it can only get better from there.
Good luck,
Julia

It’s over, it’s finally over. NO more out of body feelings, no more drunk feeling, no more mood swings, no more crying spells, no more pins and needles in my hands or legs….after two and a half months of withdrawals it’s over…you do get past it…..hang in there. I was on them for four months…went cold turkey when I stopped taking them….had flu like symptoms for a week…than on and off for three weeks…but I’ve been not feeling any withdrawal symptoms for 7 days now….I wanted to share that you’ll get throught them….it was scary thinking it’ll never end….it was scary feeling like nobody understands….it was this site that eased my mind….so hang in there people…..love and prayers sw

Thank goodness I have found this site! You are all describing the sort of symptoms I’ve been suffering from since I had a full fortnight without Citalopram.

I’ve been on it for a year, only a low dose of 10mg because I’ve been breastfeeding. I have to give the drug credit, it has worked miracles for me in terms of getting rid of my depression and anxiety.

I’ve been cutting back as instructed, fewer pills each week, but I’ve finally been pill-free for a fortnight and every day I’ve been getting dizzier and dizzier! The last few days I’ve started feeling like I’ve got very mild flu, and I’ve definitely got that weird “my brain’s taking half a second to catch up” whenever I turn my head. With a sort of electric shock jolty feeling too.

I’ve been really worried that the tearfulness and irritability and tiredness were signs that my depression was coming back and I should stay on the drugs but perhaps it’s withdrawal instead.

I really hope these symptoms go away soon, it is really hard work coping wiht the dizziness and fatigue while looking after two toddlers.

Hello all! I am about 5 days off Citalopram and I feel ISHY! If I stay super busy, I am okay, I feel absolutely manic, dizzy, odd vision, body is “floaty” when I sit still (like at work!) I have been taking lots of Vitamin B complex, Benedryl helps to sleep (ALOT!) Also, try Detox Tea, and fish oil….any other natural/herbal ideas would be appreciated!

I decided to quit Citalopram because I could not sleep without some type of “helper” anymore….meaning either I took the Rx Trazadone (ish) or drank too much (becoming a problem) or suffered….

I have also been on Depakote, which the doc swore would have no side effects, yet made me psychotic for the first time Ever.

Don’t believe the alleged side-effects or lack there of, listen to your own body.

Thanks and good luck to all!

Sarah

Also, I have this vision thing, seems like there are shadows over my eyes, honestly, feels like an acid flashback, haven’t done acid in 10 years and never had a flashback, but I feel trippy……well, I should try to work! Good luck!

Sarah

ive been of citalopram for about three months iam still getting thease side effects feeling dizzy my head feeling num my brain being a couple of seconds behind my vision its nasty going threw it i cant work or exercise for that matter iam having problems doing anything and no one including my thick gp understands what iam going threw this is the first time after reading thease comments that i now there people out going threw the same promblems and that iam not imagening it iam feeling badly depressad becuase of all this going back to the gp in a few days to see if can get some help going to take some of thease comments as amonission if theres any body out there who has had theases symptoms for this period of time would like to hear from you or if any body can tell how long this will go on for please let me know hope every body gets better from this crap sorry about spellings

Since I last posted a couple of days ago I am feeling worse and worse, major psychological symptoms kicking in, I am very angry and having very depressive thoughts. I have been doing some reading and found a couple of sites where doctors talk of giving people Prozac during this time, to reduce what they call ‘SSRI discontinuation syndrome’ because apparently Prozac has a much longer half life in the body and therefore you don’t get any of these bizarre symptoms when you come off it. Has anybody got experience of using Prozac to help during withdrawal from another SSRI? If so, did it help?

Teresa

Sorry to do this, but when I last posted 10 days ago, I felt really good. Am now sitting here ate 5:30 in the morning having had 45 mins sleep and am wondering how long it really takes to go away. Or is the depression coming back? Maybe I’m just going quietly mad.

I am currently on a withdrawal plan from citalopram. I am doing it very slowly with the help of my GP (who has been fantastic and really understanding) I have Betablockers and small doses of Amitriptyline (to help sleep) to take as and when I feel really bad. Both are non addictive (as I have been on them before full time and had no problems getting off them)I hope this helps any one else.

wow! i also am so glad to hear that it’s not just me going through all of these withdrawal symptoms. i am up still at 2 a.m. because i felt like i was going to have a panic attack if i stayed in bed and tossed and turned any longer. i have these funny feelings, sort of stifflike, in my hands and feet, in addition to the dizziness, headaches, mood swings, etc. i am supposed to start a new job (teaching high school) in a few weeks so now i am really worried that these symptoms won’t be gone by then because it has only been a few weeks and many of you are saying 2-3 months. i hope i can do it! thanks to all of you for making me feel like it’s not just me going crazy! i feel so bad for my kids. i feel like i am always on edge with them and they are too little to understand that i am tying to stop taking these meds. i hope they forgive and forget since they are so little still! take care.

has anybody had these withdrawal symptoms for a long period of time meaning sevaral months if so when do the symptoms start calming down. i would like to hear from someone who has got threw this to give my self some hope

Iève been on 10mg of citalophram for a year and a half now. Iève tried to go off the mediction twice. After the first time I went back on it after a week. After dealing with some personal issues my gp said I should increase my dose to 20mg. I did for a couple of weeks and then reduced to 10. Ièm trying to come off it now. I take 10mg every 3 days or so when the dizziness and neediness become too overwhelming. Iève had a severe case of vertigo and had a CAT scan. No one mentioned withdrawl from the drug. Thanks for posting your experiences, I thought I was going crazy! Ièm going to try cold turkey now as no one seems to get off this stuff easily.Has anyone experienced a tingling under the ears.

I have been on Citalopram for 3 years, had little trouble cutting gradually from 40mg to 20mg over 4 months but when I tried to go further I felt like about 200 years old, weird nightmares etc. etc. I left it for a while and now am trying again…I have cut back to 10mg every other day for about a week now – effects: disturbed sleep, vivid dreams, feeling a bit manic and “speedy”, irritable, aggressive, and gradually worsening “wobbly brain”. On the positive side I feel I have had more energy and am feeling less “dulled down”…I am going to persist. Haven’t had the flu type symptoms yet…I think exercising has helped.

Hang in there folks…you are not alone!

Karl

i have just been taken off my citalopram cold turkey after suffering a manic episode,and hence there is no way i can go back on it. if i ever forgot to take a dose before,i got this wierd tingly sensation and the brain somersaults everyone else seems to be experiencing too,but it is getting much worse now, and is coupled with palpitations and buzzing noises. it is starting to get really annoying and interfering with my day to day life: I just wondered if anyone knows any way i can subdue the symptoms,as my psychiatrist seems ambivalent to the fat i have withdrawal symptoms, and certainly won’t advocate me going back on them due to my bipolar. and it’s HORRIBLE!!!!! any suggestions? or do i just have to sit it out (and for how long…?!!)

It’s just over two weeks since I last posted and my symptoms are getting much better – the dizziness is nowhere near as bad, fatigue much better and my mood more stable – I actually felt cheerful this morning! It is about a month since I took my last tablet. I have hope now that I might feel back to normal in a couple more weeks. I’m just posting this to give people some more feedback on the timeline of these discontinuation symptoms. I was so close to giving in about a week ago because I was so down, but it’s getting better. Good luck to everybody else.

i have Bipolar disorder and due to oncoming manic attack my pdoc stopped my citalapram. three wekks on and i feel dreadful, headaches. nausea, perception problems irritabilty an dth emost awful migraines. not withstanding th efeelings of impending doom, eventually thought i was going off my nut. saw pdoc today who stated oh its normal just withdrawal. AHHHHHH , Just put onto lamotrigine which is likely to caue heap of side effects. doc also said withdrawal symptoms should las another 14 days whoopee!.. love to fellow sufferers

Hi people, came of citalopram 5 days age (only taken 1 tablet in last 8 days) have been experiencing “flashes/jolts” 1/4 sec in length for the last few days….anybody else had these? anybody know how long it takes until symptoms stop??

thanks in advance for any help!!!

shaz x

Hey all.
Was told by my GP that side effects will last from 1-10 days and from what ive read above, thats a bit optimistic. Im on day 5 of my ‘cold-turkey’ stage, it aint much fun. Im having most of the symptons listed above and day by day they are getting worse, i simply dont feel myself.
The above comments have made me feel much better though, knowing that if i stick at it, these side effects will bugger off. I know that these posts can help people though this awful time, so i’ll try my best to update my own mini journey of hell

Hello to all,
My partner is going through similar symtoms listed above, anger, snappy, no patience, generally very agitated.

Is there anything that the partner of people going through this, like I am, can do?

I am trying to be very supportive of my partner, talking and just trying to be a comfort but I feel that, that isn’t enough.

Please help! Linda

Hiya all
Thank you all for posting your comments, I have only been taking Citalopram for about 8 months 20mg then started 10 mg for one month and stopped just a couple of days ago. I never realised withdrawals came so quick my GP said i should not suffer any but as I started getting the most strange sensations that feel a bit like nerve spasms and as described above my brain taking a second to catch up, I also have flu like feelings. I was so pleased when taking the tablets I felt like normal?! I cant beleive how i feel now I want to cry.

Your comments have made me realise that this is probably due to withdrawals and not my depression returning and made me more determined to stay off them, although the time to get over them is a bit worrying.

Good luck to you all and thanks again
Stacey

I am just about to come off citalopram for the second time. The first time was as you have all described – the head flashes, and I had flu /virus symptoms and I eventually took a week off work which helped a great deal. I’m going to wean myself off it really gradual – like at least 3 months if not longer and I’ll not be afraid to tell my doctor what I want – it’s my body after all! If anyone has any advice re alternative treatments that help ease the symptoms whilst going through withdrawal please let me know.

Wow, how lovely it was to read all of your comments and know I’m not alone or mad, I was on 20mg for 2 and a half years following the death of my father and have just recently gone down to 10mg. I have also had the fuzzy ‘brain wobbly’ head and had heart flutters. I also have had stabbing pains in my lower leg muscles!! I am determined to get off them altogether eventually but I agree that it is going to be a very long process. I hope you all are feeling a lot better soon and if anyone wants to discuss, my email is eloise.bulmer@chemdry.co.uk.
My GP has been very understanding about my symptoms and has given me the encouragment to perservere
Be strong! xx

dose any body know how long thease withdrawal symptoms last would be a big help ive had them for at least three months and still have them

I took myself off Citalopram 2 weeks ago, my doctor isn’t aware and I’ve been getting dizzy spells and a fuzzy head even when sat which I expected. But after reading about the ‘little sounds’…….I though OH MY GOD….that’s what they are. I thuoght I was going mad, because I keep hearing things, mainly whistles and blips. Do you think it’s related?

I’m sinking back into my depression I think. I’m aggitated, angry, short of temper, apathetic and I’ve started cutting again. But I don’t want to rely on them anymore. I feel out of control and I gained 16lbs……!!!

What would you advise?

Hey, all you guys who are thinking of giving up weaning yourself off – DON”T DO IT! After 2 and a bit months I feel GREAT – still get a bit snappy, but can put that done to being a woman, and the flashes are still there but that apart I’m back to being me again, taking decisions, sleeping properly and really in control of myself.

So .. from one who seems to be out the other side, be strong and stick with it – you can beat this.

Thinking of you (and all your partners who are suffering with you but are too afraid to say anything).

Hi all

It’s about a month since my last post. I was down to 10mg every 4 days and feeling OK so I thought I would scrap it from there. That was just over a week ago now and I am getting major wobbly brain, feel extremely irritable, angry, weepy etc etc. I am getting really sick of this but after reading some more of whay you guys have posted I’ll stick it out a bit longer. I don’t recall feeling this bad before starting citaloprom! I can’t believe such a small dose can have such a dramatic effect…although I guess it is more that the neural receptors have to readjust as others have said.

Good luck to one and all and thanks for the support.

Karl

I`v been on this stuff for a looong time now, this is the second time I`v havnt been able to pick up my prescrition. I hate the feeling it gives, the buzzing in the head and the rest of the body.

I also get a feeling of a feaver with head aches which as someone aboved described as coming and going in waves. The nausia and muscle aches really gets to me too.

One thing I think they should put on the box is the side affects of withdrawral. I think its awful that we all have to come online to see whats wrong with us.

Anyone that has any connection with this drug please consider adding the symptoms of withdrawral on the leflet inside.

I found that some paracetamol took care of the aches and pains. This may sound strange but it seems to work, i sit in my underwear and wrap myself up in a blanket, for some reason it seems to really help. Not sure if its just phycological but it seems to work for me.

Well good luck to you all that are trying to get off it. =]

ive been taking citalopram now for since september 04 20mg a day ive finally had enough and decided to go cold turkey, previously when ive forgotten to take them or not taken them with me when ive gone on short trips ive had the extreme dizzy spells and felt like theres the time lag between my eyes and my brain.

I decided that ive had enough and that i really don’t need them unfortunately my body still wants me to take them!! Ive but on weight that i just cant shift my breasts have grown by 3 bra sizes. just reading these threads have made me feel like im not alone but scares the hell out of me as i really dont know if i can cope coming off them as the side effects are so extreme.

Im off work at the moment with acute tonsillitus and a couple of weeks ago i had acute broncitus so my body has been pumped with so many other drugs i don’t know whether im coming or going!! and having been sick my body hasn’t really had citalopram constantly since the end of august. the side effects of withdrawel is mainly the dizzyness and the brain eye lag it was so bad earlier today i had to take half a tablet i felt like id been at sea for a week! my hearing is also screwy but im not sure if that has anything to do with the citalopram or my other illness!

i to have been told there are no side effects coming off the drugs both my gp and my therapist have just looked at me as though im a loon when ive said about how i feel when ive not took them, so im hoping cold turkey will work and i wont have to sneak to many half tabs to stop the feeling ive taking a trip!

what a sanity-saver it is to come across this site! i’ve been on 40mg citalopram for 7 years, and started weaning myself off about 6 weeks ago. since i cut the daily dose to 10mg, i’v noticed a drop in my mood, and a week after stopping altogether i have all the vertigo, nausea, etc that most of you are enduring.

i’ve come off an ssri abruptly in the past and had severe flu-like symptoms, which my gp dismissed as “imaginary”.

i’m having a lot of problems at night, with snoring, twitching, and disturbed sleep.

my best wishes to you all, hang in there and ride it out. and thank you all for shring this information – it rocks to know that i’m alone.

doh! that last line should read “it rocks to know that i’m NOT alone”!

Hi all.

This is an update from my first post.

I have now been off them for almost a month. I took 10mg for around 3 years. The first week was hell, i had the majority of the symptons listed above. After the first week, these symptons started to slowly fade and by the thrid week, id say im about 90% “better”. Still get the odd palputation, but ive just learnt to ignore it.

I have found this site SOOO helpful during the crappy time in my life and i thank each and everyone one of you, it would have been much harder without finding this site.

The most common sentance here (besides my doctor sucks) is “hang in there” and its true. It will get better, some people have long side effects, some get lucky like me and have them for a few weeks.

During the first hell like week, i found the best thing to do is a hobby that requires 100% of your attention. For me this is video gaming (much to my GF’s delight). Keep your mind ocupied and its much easier.

Anyway, thank you all for your comments and i’ll try to come back every now and then. But for now, im gonna go and enjoy life, its short, it smells a bit, but its fun

Tom

I’ve been on 20mg of Citalpram for about 12 months now and have been thinking about coming off it for a month or so now. Fills me with dread as about 5 years ago I had a really nasty time coming off Seroxat.

Anyway, I forgot to pick up my prescription on Friday so have been off it for 3 days now, and already I feel awful. Got the electric shock brain thing and aches, pains, tingles and dizzyness. My Dr assured me that it was much easier to withdraw from than Seroxat, methinks she was misinformed! I’m in two minds about picking up the prescription, not sure whether to wean myself off it or just go cold turkey, as from reading all your comments either way you get all the symptoms

Like so many others I’ve found this thread so helpful and informative. It’s wrong that we should have to get our information this way but at least we can get it. I’ve been on 20mg for just under 12 months and cut back to 10mg 6 weeks ago. Then 3 weeks ago I cut back to one 10mg every other day then tried to stop altogether. I managed 1 week but the symptoms became so severe I had to take a tablet again. As soon as I’d taken it I had such a rush of energy and such a high. I was up until 2:30am cleaning my house from top to bottom. Ever since I’ve been wondering how I am ever going to get off these tablets but reading the messages on here it seems the only way is to just take the plunge and go through it. I’ve had all the symptoms described, headaches, dizzyness, nausea, brain lapses which are the weirdest feeling, tiredness and palpatations.

My main reason for quitting is the weight gain – i’ve put on at least 1 1/2 stone. That’s a real help with depression – not.

Apart from anything I don’t think these tablets have done any good anyway. I was one them for depression but I don’t think they helped at all. I wish I’d had some idea how bad withdrawal had been – I never would have taken them if I’d been told.

I seems the longest time for the withdrawals to last according to the messages on here is 3 months – has anybody had them for longer than that?

oh my god ive been on antidepressants for 10 years and im only 28. im waiting for a doctor to ring me now. i lived in london with my boyfriend and ran out then we split up. i couldnt leave the flat for over a week as my docs wasnt in london so couldnt help. i went violent, crying, shaking, sweating, weird head feelings, couldnt sleep, horrible, suicidle. my horrid ex was no help but eventually brought me bavk to my mums. im allown and waiting for doctors call. i cant cope and i feel sorry with anyone who suffers from depression. all my relationships end, im nasty and all i want is love. i hope someone comes soon.

OMG! I’m really glad to have stumbled upon this site! A year ago, after my grandfather’s sudden death, I developed anxiety/panic disorder and, although I have NEVER wanted to go on drugs for these issues, my doctor urged me to go on citalopram for my anxiety. I started at 40 mg a day and reduced it to 20 mg a day about half way through. I have been on it for about a year. About a month ago, I realized that much of my weight gain (20 lbs in the past year!!) is due to the citalopram (it always made me really tired/lethargic, and a lack of energy to exercise, and I believe it also made me more hungry), and so…having overcome an overweight issue as a teen and then anorexia later on, I decided I never wanted to go back to being overweight (and getting over my anorexia didn’t mean that I wanted to gain more than what would be healthy for me!) Anyway, to make the long story short, I ended up being DEPRESSED (something I have never experienced) towards the end of my time on citalopram, because of the weight gain it had caused me. A month ago, I reduced to 10 mg a day and 5 days ago, I stopped all together. I am trying to make it through, although I now feel a little anxious again (probably because my ENERGY levels have returned!!)…and I just wanted to say, that I am really feeling quite dizzy/lightheaded/and a little spacey. It’s the weirdest feeling: I went for a jog today, and the whole time, I felt like I’d end up fainting by the side of the road, and I also felt like my eyes were kind of ’super-sensitive’ to the light outside. I’m getting a kind of unusual “unreal” feeling nowadays. I’m really glad I’m not the only one. I never want to go back on the citalopram because it made me too tired and I hate the thought of fiddling with my brain chemistry! Anyway, good luck to all getting off of it! I assume these DIZZY feelings will subside after a few weeks. WISH ME LUCK!!!

Thsi is my first posting as I have only just found the site.
I am currently working offshore in Africa and forgot to take my citalopram with me before I left the UK! I have found that I’m experiencing the same symtoms as the rest of you but I’m trying to hide it because of the job I do.
At the moment I’m super light headed and have started sleeping much more than is normal for me. I’m glad I found this site and can definately put this down to withdrawal from citalopram. For a while I thought I maybe had a brain tumor or something!
Maybe this forced withdrawal is worthwhile as anyhthing that makes you feel like this can’t be a good thing. I’ve also learned from this site about the weight gain factor of the drug. I’ve been a constant weight since I was a teen but have noticed over the last year that my weight has continually risen month on month. I think I can now put this down to the drug although it hadn’t occured to me before that citalopram may have been contributing.
God knows hows long the dizzyness is going to last for but after reading the other postings I am now more confident that at least it’s normal for people withdrawing from citalopram and not likely to be permanent.
Thanks everyone for their postings, reading similar accounts has really made me feel much better about the situation. Now I intend to “ride the storm” (because I have to) and not to go back to the drug when I get home.
Cheers
Steven

I have been on a 20 mg dose of Citalopram for a couple of years now to treat mild depression. Citalopram had been substituted for Celaxa. Like many of the posters on this site (glad to have found it!) I have experienced the energy rush, strange dreams, food cravings, weight gain, etc. The withdrawal issue began for me this last weekend as a result of not renewing a prescription in time and was out of town. By the fifth day, I had flu-like symptoms, nausea-like motion sickness, extremely tired, even difficulty in typing letters on the keyboard in correct order–requires a lot of concentration, just really lousy.
There has got to be a better way to combat depression than having to take these drugs. I am in the Pacific Northwest and we are heading into the dark days of winter….those have been an issue with me…. time to get the special lights!
My wife says I am much better to be around when I take the meds but it didn’t always used to be like that. Ah, for the good old days!!!
So….I pick up my new prescription today…had a couple of pills in my desk at work…took those yesterday and the day before…feel much better now. I am 56.
Life is precious, prostate cancer survivor———-Roger

hi, i really want to come off citalopram but am dreading the side effects, please leave a note if anybody has been through it and is now free of this horrible medication. all the best of luck to you all ann. good luck angie.

This posting is a bit more hopefull since my first on 29th August when i first came off Citalopram. My first few weeks was awfull, muscle spasms, flu symptoms nausea and sickness then i had a short time of feeling quite irritable but after that the symptoms gradually got better each day.

Now I feel OK I get the odd muscle spasm but I can cope with that as they are very occasional. Although I would probably not take that drug again it still has worked in curing my depression. My mood is not as good as when i was taking the tablets but it is not too bad i would probably say this is ‘normal’ mood.

For anyone coming off Citalopram id say it is not too good but stick with it as it does get easier.
Good Luck to all, Take Care.

I like everyone else on this site am very relieved to know why I feel like I have the flu and my brain is slow to move with my head. I have been off it (cold turkey) for 4 days now and cannot get enough sleep. I work in a prekinder and have 2 ch’n myself (one with autism) and I really don’t know how I will get through the next 24hrs. My partner is great and is also relieved it is withdrawal and not sickness. I have Graves Disease also and am not well with this so it was hard to tell what was happenning – my symptoms are so exact to what I am reading on this site that I know it must be withdrawal. I went on this drug to help with anxiety that is a symptom of Graves Disease (an autoimmune overactive thyroid disease)however even though it dulled it, I lost all libido and gained 10 kgs in 4mths. I also found I felt a bit numb on it – like I wasn’t really me. Anyway thanks for all the great support – I am going to hang in there and focus on Staceys comment that it does get easier. I am looking forward to withdrawing from this and then having my thyroid fixed over the next few months. Hopefully a fresh start for next year. I will stay in touch with how I am going and will be reading this with great interest for more support. Thankyou everyone – you are all very brave.

Hi everyone,
firstly, thank you everyone. It feels like Ive been welcomed into a new family (albeit a weird dizzy, jittery family!!).
I cried my eyes out after work today. I had felt terrible all day. Came off 10mg’s a week ago and I feel awful this week. First thing in the morning I feel “wow, the feelings are gone” but within an hour they are back. I was gritting my teeth from an awful feeling of restlessness and desperation earlier too. I hate these body jolts i get too. I feel so alone but for what i read here everyday. I read the same comments over and over just to put my mind at ease for another few hours. I have been so tempted to go back up to 10mgs a day. But something is stopping me. Thank you all. Lets do it together.
Eoin (NYC)

I feel like you Eoin, it really is a welcoming and comforting feeling to be a part of this family. I have just arrived home from work and cried my eyes out too – I have never been so close to tears so often. I also have feelings like ‘wow it has gone’ only to find it is back stronger than before. I am into my 5th day now. I had my first feelings of panic with it today. I think this site is really helping me not to give in. There is something about knowing so many other people are going through it as well.
Rach (Australia) 6.40pm

Hey guys – just to let you all know, its been 3 months now and I can definitely say I AM OUT THE OTHER SIDE (cheers wildly and dances like a maniac – normal behaviour at last!). So, don’t give up, it will happen, just be patient and remember that this site (as one of the earlier posters said) is your family to help you get through the withdrawal. (By the way Rach, I also had Graves disease but had my thyroid removed 16 years ago, my depression started following my daughter’s birth 3 years ago, but having a hormonal imbalance certainly doesn’t make you feel any better – just stay with it).

Thinking of you all

I’m about to leave for work and all i want to do is cry uncontrollably. Physically this second im not dizzy but I know i will be in the next hour, and for the rest of the day. Thats whats killing me. I waited in the ER for 3 hours last night. I just needed help, someone to tell me it will all be okay. But i had to leave because I needed to go to bed. Oh god, I hate this. 9 hour work day ahead of me and all I want is to cry and sleep.
Eoin,

Hi everyone,

Thanks Mandy – oh to be normal!Congratulations!! You must be thrilled!

I am up to day 7 now. The dizziness, brain lag and crying are getting worse and the flu symptoms are still strong. How long until your symptoms started decreasing Mandy? I would be really interested to hear others comments too. It seems 2-3mths sounds normal for it to continue but does it stay this bad the whole time? Also does it keep getting worse for a while?

Hang in there Eoin – whenever I am crying I have been thinking of you and knowing there is someone else going through it at the same time as me who is probably crying too. We will get there it is just going to be a hard journey. Isn’t it hard to work whilst going through this? I thought about taking some leave but then there is the financial side of things as well as I wouldn’t know how long I would need.

A friend told me about Bach Bush Flowers and in particular the Rescue Remedy in this range. It was cheap and I have found it has been good to take. Just all natural and 4 drops on the tongue when it all feels too much. It seemed like a better alternative than going back on the medication.

I have embarrassed myself crying in front of people I would never normally do that with so many times this week. What a stress!
Rach

Hi,
well Rach I am here for you. I am ALWAYS here for you. Don’t ever feel like youre crying alone because youre not. Somewhere half way accross the world there is a 24 y/o boy crying in the bathroom of his place of work! So remember that if you ever feel alone.
Today at work I was so so dizzy and out of it. I describe it as disorientation, although you might have a better word for it.
Anyway, the tears havent come today but they im not counting my chickens yet! I just want to feel physically normal again, I hate being dizzy and out of it.
Talk soon guys,
day 9 of withdrawal,
Eoin.

Hi there,
Thanks Eoin. How are you now? How is day 11? Thanks for your kind words. Have you found that it has started to ease at all yet? I think the dizziness is getting worse for me. I think disorientation is a great word for it.

I am looking forward to hearing from people about when it all started to ease. I don’t think I can bear 2-3mths of it at this level.

Day nine today and counting (and trying really hard not to go to the doctor and get another script!!)

Rach

I am soooo glad to have come across this page. I have been on 20mgs of Citalopram for 6 months and decided to go ‘cold turkey’ a few weeks ago and I have never felt so ill in my whole life. My doctor diagnosed me with an inner-ear infection (???) but after reading all your comments I now know it’s the withdrawal symptoms.
I’ve felt dizzy/floaty, been throwing up, had massive headaches and when i’m talking I keep saying the wrong words, like my brain is on a go-slow.
I’m currently on 10mgs a day and I am petrified of cutting them down any further, although I know i’ve got to if I want to cut them out all together.
Seeing my doctor next week – going to show him this page and see what he says.
I’m interested in how people cut down? Did you start missing out tablets or cut them down further and further i.e. 10mgs to 5mgs etc.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks

Hi everyone,
I have been diagnosed with ear infections too Carole! I suppose because of the dizziness and the fluey feelings. Saying the wrong words is on my list too. I feel very go-slow. I actually went cold turkey although now I wish I had come down really slowly. Although some people seem to think it doesn’t matter how you do it you still get the effects??
Anyway hang in there and know there are lots of people around feeling the same.
How are you Eoin?
I am still keen to hear from others when the withdrawal symptoms started to decrease – I just need to know to give me some hope.
Rach

Hi guys,
well the flu symptoms are completely gone for me. Im still very, very dizzy and full of tears and all sorts of regrets about life however.
I live in NYC but Im from Ireland so I have no family here at all. I spent alot of the day in work texting my parents for support. I promised myself I would come home tonight and go back on at 10mgs like i was before. I thought “i just dont have the support network to come off these at the moment” but now that im home and laying in bed, i dont want to take one. Its very tough because i know tomorrow i will again want to take one to make this all go away, but i just dont want to give in. If this goes away after a month or even two, and i have come this far (13 days) why shouldnt i just go the rest of the way. Of course its easy to say now because im in bed and im not dizzy or disorientated or even sad. The TV is on distracting me, I have my two mini-dachshunds cuddled into me and in a while ill get some ice cream – life seems okay at this moment in time. But come tomorrow, the hell will begin again and ill cry, and ill feel dizzy and ill promise to give in.
You know what scares me most? What if i do give in and go back on the 10mgs and the dizziness doesnt go away? I am a huge “what if” person so maybe im not the best person to listen to, however!
So for now i shall enter day 14 in approximately 12 hours when i wake up for another day in this cruel, ‘take no prisoners’ world. i will wake up, and i will face my fears and do it all over again.
I love you all and ill see you on the other side,
Eoin (NYC).

Hi all.

I first posted here 2months ago (posts 67 and 80) and i promised to give an update. So, here i am, feeling better than ever. After about a month, most of the side effects went, i know a month can sound like a long time, but looking back, i aint . The only side effect i had from after the first month period was sligh palputations, but they have gone as well.

Been reading up on some of the posts since my last post and people are going through exactly the same as what i went through. Trust me, it will get better. This site gave me great strength through a crappy time in my life, but finnaly, its over and someday it will be for you.

Good luck everyone, i’ll be coming back every once and a while to check on you!

I’m at day 9, and still hanging on. I have suffered the same sorts of symptoms, ranging from dizziness, diarrhoea and vomiting at first to huge panic attacks more recently. I got to the stage last week that I could only calm down if I was holding a knife, and therefore had the choice to kill myself if it got any worse. Looking back that sounds silly, but I nearly did do it. Instead, I called the Samaritans (I am currently living alone for five months) then NHS 24 and managed to see a doc. I was terified I’d be sectioned, as I’d had never felt like this before. Luckily managed to get my partner up to stay with me for a few days, and was put on beta blockers to stop the panick. Seems to be working enough for me to cope with life again. Never been panicky like this before!!! Doc wanted to put me back on citalopram, but having read this board previously I refused as I’d only have to do it all again (and I reduced my dose v slowly like advised). Still got poor memory, and variable mood, but am feeling mroe myself in several ways. Things smell better, and feelings seem stronger. I can see the end, even though it sometimes seems to hover out of reach.

I would suggest anyone having probs asks their doc for meds to take for a few weeks to dull the withdrawal effects. If they say there aren’t such effects, ask for a second opinion. Or print some of this out. Oh, and my other advice is to prepare before stopping if you can. Get in lots of food that can be nibbled, take last dose a couple days before days off/weekend and don’t be scared to take some time off work (I told boss change of meds making me dizzy/sick and no Q’s asked!).

Good luck everyone

Oh yeah, forgot to mention that a few days ago I walked home crying the whole way. And I NEVER cry in public!!! Happened a few days in a row before went on the beta blockers. And for anyone who does go on beta blockers, don’t worry if it makes you feel a bit unfit – they keep your blood pressure lower and heart rate down so you don’t panic (used for other med probs too, obviously). So, can make you a bit breathless or dizzy if you do too much exercise. Other than that, I’d really recommend them for panic.

Hi everyone,
well the dizziness is definitely getting better. The tiredness is beginning to sort itself out too. My body physically is beginning to realise that no matter how much it begs and pleads for one more little 10mg pill of celexa, I just wont give it to it. So i think its starting to give up and deal with it.
I’m on day 16 now without celexa/citalopram/cipramil so it will take longer for my mood to change. I am still teary and anything sets me into tears but at least I am beginning to see a physical change.
Hang in there folks. Everyones withdrawal time is different and i know i have longer to go still, but the only reason i have stuck to it is because of this website.
Eoin.

We are all very brave to be treating ourselves as best as we can, and good to read we are all in this same strange boat of dizzy withdrawals. Yuk. We are not going mad at all; it is simply this dam drug leaving our systems. So here is my story (so far)- it’ll sound familiar if you’ve read these 100 or so comments… I have been suffering this past week with an awfully disturbing, bloody weird noise in my head, sort of like crickets chirping, or rattling, or clicking. Specially if I shake my head. If I lay still, (like when I wake up) there is nothing. Reading all the comments has been a godsend., and I am pleased to contribute as writing about it is a release for the writer, and an assurance to the reader. I took 10 mg of citalopram for three years., and I increased it to 20mg per day about 10 months ago when I went through another very tough personal callenge. That was ok, it certainly helped me cope better altho I felt like I was in a daze or a haze, much of the time. Then 2 weeks ago I explained to my doctor I was worried, feeling dizzy a lot of the time, dopey at work, hard to concentrate on my stressful job, cannot sleep, and soooo tired. She suggested I try, for just two weeks, Lexapro, 10 mgs. One per day. I did this for 10 days, and it didnt seem to do much for me – So I decided to just stop taking all this crap, I am not a drugs person anyway. This is where it gets to you – right? First week of cold turkey is unfolding like this….. so everyone, watch out. – you will relate. Day One – fine. Next day, had some energy back.,yeah, great! Felt more ‘on to it’., more energetic. Third day – aware that I have these weird clicks in my head. Fourth day – crash… my god, just like that (and these things arent addictive?) feeling very weepy, feel hopeless, unloved, useless, clicking in the head is worse. Day Five – disaster… today has been an absolutely crappy day of real dizziness, feeling extremely light headed, very spacey, crying off and on much of today, head clicking and weird feelings. So I have now taken 20mg of citalopram., and know its the sensible thing to do. I found this site by trying to find out whats the main features between Lexapro and Citalopram. Having read and thought about it all, I have decided to take the citalopram daily again, and see how that goes for a week then cut it down to half. Its time I am recharged, I want to feel I am operating on 8 cylinders instead of four. Oh yes the weight gain, thats true it’s just dawned on me. The sooner I am off this antidepressant altogether, the better. I wonder how long it will take. We’ll all be OK, we’re only human, doing our best to be happy, motivated and feel good about ourselves and our life.

Yeah! that’s a huge relief to know that you are not alone in this crap.Now after i read all the previous comments i am gonna prepare myself psychologically to what will happen during with withdrawal> It’s much coforting to know what will happen before it kicks. So whenever the symptoms start you will say ; yeah I know this will happen, but i am sure it will last for ever.
Thank you guys for your participation and i wish all of best luck.

Hi there everyone,

Well it’s been over 2 weeks for me now after going off citalopram. My comments were numbers 89, 91,94,96 and 98. I now only get the symptoms every now and then – eg dizziness when going up stairs or bending down, fluey aches when tired like at the end of the day, teary when tired rather than all the time. I don’t get the brain lag much at all anymore.

I think it peaked at 5-7 days and then started to get a little easier after about day 12 and each day after that became easier. It was quicker than I thought it would be.

I found some organic sleep herbal tea with peppermint, valarian and chamomile and I really think this stopped the nightmares and insomnia. I would really recommend this! It was great to drink 10 mins before bed – sooooooooo relaxing and such relief. I also would recommend some detox bush flowers or rescue remedy bach flowers. I think these two things really helped support me. I also took some B6 vitamin for the nervous system on the advice of my pharmacist. I must admit I also took paracetamol every 4-6hrs for the first week – 11days and that was the only way I could go to work.

I am so relieved to be coming out the other end. It felt like one of the longest fortnights of my life. It almost feels like years ago now. I knew I was starting to get better when I stopped checking this site twice a day.

I will keep visiting this site to encourage others that it will end and I wish all of you the best.

What a great inspiration these comments have been – thankyou to all who contribute.

A special thanks to Eion in NYC who was withdrawing when I was in Australia – Thankyou Eion for your kindred support.

I feel things are starting to become well in my world and now I wish you all well…

ps sorry Eoin, I just realised I spelt your name wrong! Take care. x

Reading all these comments has really helped. I’ve started getting the giddies today as I’m down to one every 4 days and withdrawing. I have put on 3 stone since being on these darn things (in 4 years) and am determined to stay off this time. I know there are places I can turn to when I feel the panic rise and I don’t want to run back to the medication. Fingers crossed the wobbly head is the only sympton from now on. I’ve come off slowly before and had this so I know what’s coming I just didn’t know it was so common – you always assume you’re the only one!

iv only stopped taking them for 3 days and im getting the same thing. its like ur brain twitches inside your head its really wierd and at the same time i get a twitch im my chest and dizzyness. its horrible.

i’ve been trying to “taper” for six months. i’ve succeeded in going from 20mg to 10mg. When i took the plunge to 5mg the shit hit the fan (like it did from 20 to 15–that took many months), this time really horribly. For me it’s not the brain shivers anymore (though I’ve had those too), but the fucking mood swings. The shadow side that comes to dominate. Major self-loathing. I thought I was doing well before and that’s why I wanted to get off this shit. Really, I have absolutely NOTHING to complain about in my life. Before I used to be relatively stable in my moods, a stable and subtle melancholic albeit, but stable nonetheless. Now I’m volitile. I teach and last week, for the first time in my life, I blew up at my class and walked out. I am NOT someone prone to hysterics or Wagnerieran drama. I just can’t believe this shit.

hi all. thank god i found this website. i thought i was cracking up.i have been on 40mg for the last 18mnth.tried to cut down to half with dr approval. experienced all above fireworks in head, dizziness, fatigue, etc it took me to get up for kids for school.i felt so horrible decided to go back on them till i seen my dr.seen dr today she made excuse saying that was my body telling me i wasn’t ready to come of them.she obviously didn’t read this website. i would love to wean myself off them but i am to scared. since starting citalopram i was 8 half stone since then went up 2 12stone. im dwn to 11 but cant shift anymore. i dint know so much people had put on weight with this drug.i couldnt cope with the withdrawl looking after my 3 kids and husband working i felt so alone but reading this is giving me the encouragement to do so. knowing that i am not going mad and other people are feeling and have felt what im feeling. good luck to every1 and congrats to any1 who has beaten this horrible drug x

Hi
I’ve been on Citaolopram for about 10 months now, and over the past few weeks, I felt like I wasn’t getting any benefit from it at all. Saw my GP who decided that I should stop the citalopram straight away and start Mirtazapine. I took one of the new tablets and it made me sleep as though I were unconcious, and I felt awful the next day. I decided not to take the new tablets, but I’m now getting severe withdrawal from the citalopram….dizziness, feeling sick, feel like im drunk most of the time and I’m seeing flashing lights whenever I stand up. I chickened out and took a 10mg tablet – I just can’t bear the withdrawal effects. I feel so fed up with this and I can’t see an end to it. I want to stop taking the citalopram, but I’m just too scared of the withdrawal. I also have a phobia of being/feeling sick which isn’t helping matters! Please someone tell me there’s a light at the end of the tunnel!!

Blimey, I’m so pleased to have found an explanation for this wierdness I’m experiencing. I feel like i can hardly keep my eyes open, and keep getting the feeling that I’m about to fall into a deep deep sleep. Since coming of Citalopram a week ago (I was weaned off over a 1 month period) I’ve needed about 10 hours sleep per night. I normally only need 7. I’m getting headaches and nausea too. I was begining to get paranoid, thinking I was going to have to add another illness to my ever growing catalogue of maladies!

hi all. me again.stopped the citalopram on the 4th by that night i had to give in and take one even taking just20mg is making a bad withdrawl.is it meant to do that. i feel like i will never be able to get off them.i dont have much will power when it comes to feeling like this.i will have to get my head round it and put my mind to it. it’s just so scary and the mood swings i feel they are twice as bad as before i started taking the citalopram.can any one who is going through this or has been through this offer me some tips to try and beat it….PLEASE!!!!!! x

Holy crap am I ever glad to have found this site. For those of you in week one or starting your scale back program – YOU WILL BE OKAY! You will not feel like it, but you will – just breathe. Here is my story….

I was prescribed Celexa (Citalopram) for acute anxiety; started on 10mg (half a pill) and did that for about 2 years. Then something happened (can’t remember what exactly) and I went to 20mg (full pill). All was ducky except for the 10+ pounds I have piled on over the 4 years. Then I read this book about the Pharmaceutical industry and that it is in bed with the FDA and many of these drugs are poorly researched and are VERY mis-leading (i.e. they fail to tell you that getting off the stuff will bring you to your knees).
So I had a month off from work to restore our house and decided I was going to give it a go; I went from 10mg to 5mg each day; not too bad. I had about a weeks worth of the “brain shakes”, vertigo, nausea and fatigue – but I sucked it up and forged onward – it was bad, but not tragic. Then I went to 5mg every day and a half and gradually stretched that out over 3 weeks to where I had gone without for 4 days and I pulled the plug then thinking it would be like the first ramp down……could not have been further from the truth.
Week 1 – The brain shakes are back with a veangance, along with all the other fun visual flaoties etcetera.
Week 2 – Brain shakes subsiding; but add on mood swings; allbeit rather mild.
Week 3 – I am in hell; I feel like I will never be happy again (bear in mind I did not suffer from depression, I was wound a little too tight . I could cry at the drop of a hat; add on that it is the rainy season here in Seattle – just fricking perfect! I even had to change what music I was cycling through on my iPod; if it is too emotional my eyes water – !@#$%

The good news is that I have had some success in dealing with this in the form of Acupuncture – it is not bullet proof and does not “cure” your symptoms – but it sure helps me to feel a little normal like I am fighting back and that there is hope.

You do not have to lie there and take it – sometimes doing anything to combat it empowers you. I have been doing Pilates more regularly as well. My best advice? DISTRACT YOUR SELF – do not allow your self to just sit there and bathe in these feelings – try something simple (crosswords, Sudoku, read a book, take a walk if you have the energy, find people on the internet who could be helped by your story and talk it out

I am here for anyone who needs it – you are not imagining what you are going through, just speak up.

hi cleep.just read your story there.im thinking of stopping the citalopram again? (well giving it another go)
im sick of going to doctor and them telling me that im not putting on the weight because of the tab and that aint the reason for me feeling so crap when i stop them.
im just a bit scared to do it. i have 3 kids and getting them up int the morning and out to school is really hard when i tried to stop them the last time.i found it hard to walk to school to pick them up as i felt faint and tired and the brain shakes! wow wot a horrible feeling.
can you help with a pew questions i have as.. how long does these feelings last so strong and do the start to ease of abit as each day passes.
it’s just the thought of going through it you feel so alone. i feel like no one would understand or even believe me that it feels like this. if my doctor wont even believe me it feels like you have no where else to turn.
any help you could give me would be very much appreciated

Hi Kerry! Sounds like a new doctor might be a good option to evaluate – finding someone who you feel believes you and is genuinely interested in your well-being is important (both mentally and physically).
I understand your trepedation (especially after reading through this thread), but here is what I took out of it…please bear in mind I am not part of the medical community and these thoughts are merely my opinions:

1. Lay out a schedule of how you will do this; if you are taking one pill a day now, go to 3/4 of a pill for say 6 to 8 weeks and then to half a pill for 6 to 8 weeks and so on and so forth – GO VERY SLOWLY and remind yourself that this is a process and that it will take time but you are committed and CAN DO THIS.

2. Try a simple diary; maybe just a few notes about how you felt and what you felt. These feelings are REAL – there are a couple hundred other people on this thread who felt it or are feeling it now. If you are dealing with someone who does not believe you, perhaps a little distance there is an option – you need support, not skepticism.

As far as the withdrawal symptoms and the severity….Well, it is different for everyone and I did not taper as slowly as I should have – in retrospect, I would have done it differently….MUCH longer

I tapered from 20mg to 10mg over a 4 week period; some brain shakes and queasiness, but tolerable. October 11th was the last 10mg pill I took.

Weeks 1 & 2 were “okay”; the brain shakes which were significantly worse if I was in motion (walking, driving). My feeling is that the brain shakes actually trigger a motion sickness effect in me and that is what made me queasy and then tired – so I tried to be more still whenever possible and take a nap if you can – and be prepared for a headache now and again.

Weeks 3 & 4 – early in week 3, the brain shakes started to decline; still a little queasy though. But in the middle of week 3, I started to notice feeling a little “blue” and being on the verge of tears for absolutly no apparent reason – very weird for me. I am in week 4 now and although the waves of emotion seem farther apart, they can be intense if I do not stay busy.

Exercise seems to help, but nothing strenuous – a good time to try a little yoga with your kids or by yourself. Drink plenty of water and avoid refined sugars (soda, candy etc.)

Last night was one of the first times I really felt held hostage by the “blues” and I did not like it. So I made some Tea and watched a low-key movie – nothing with too much emotion or drama. If you knit or crochet, that would probably be perfect.

I think it would be good to include a friend in your plans so they are aare of what you plan to do, what the risks are. Have an agreement that if you feel yourself taking a dive, call this person and they can help you calm down and be rational – this person should have a lot of patience and be prepared to handle whatever comes; if this is not an option, you might research local 24 hour helplines and keep those numbers close by. I know this seems like over-kill, but being prepared can reduce the anxiety of a scenario if it happens. Also bear in mind that I tapered in 10mg increments, if your plan is to do it by 5mg increments (like I should have done), then you may have a more comfortable array of withdrawals.

Here is an email address to contact me at if you want to continue a dialogue – I am happy to help anyone I can get through this – udmiou1@yahoo.com – I check it generally once per day.

Good luck Kerry and hang in there – you have several hundred people silently cheering for you – you are not alone.

hi cleep. thanks for replying to me so quickly. your opinion has really helped and from today i am goin to start taking the 3/4 of the pill. im so glad i have finally found some1 who unerstands what it’s like.
it’s amazing how many people who are going through the same feelings.
i know it’s going to take quite alot of time and willpower when i get further down the scale to stick to it. im so determined now. i just hope i eventually get to see the light at the end of this nightmare. i don’t want to depend on these for the rest of my life and being on them will make me think twice before starting any other medication i may ever need to take in the future.
i will email you soon and let you know how it’s going. you can tell me how you are coping or even if you need some1 to chat to.
you can get me at kerry-duffy1@hotmail.co.uk and to any1 else who ever needs some1 to talk to that is fine as well. speak soon

Found this site after searching for some advice on why I am feeling so strange. Have been taking citalopram for 8 months, and have decided, with my GP to stop taking them completely. Like most others on this site, my GP said there would be no side effects, but I too have started to get the ‘brain behind the head’ feeling and dizziness. Its just been 2 days now and it’s getting worse. But I’m determined to regain control of my body and never to take the little pills again. I’ve put on almost 2 stone in weight- doesn’t help when you’re depressed does it. Reading eveyones comments has reassured me that I have made the right decision, even if I will feel bad for a while. I will persevere, and hope that my three lovely children and husband can bear with me until I reach the other end of the tunnel !

melanie.i am actually going through the same i have 3 young kids and it is like living a nightmare.i was on 40mg but after speaking on this site as you would have probably read i have now cut myself down to 30mg.
i tried just cold turkey but after 3 day the feeling got worse i was taking my mood out on everybody i couldn’t handle the feeling anymore but since i have bben doing it gradual even tho it has only been 3 day or so i feel great i get the odd shake maybe twice a day and tingling round my mouth now and then. i don’t know if it will get worse it’s the first time i’ve tried it this way all thanks to cleep on this site whom i am know in contact with and who offered me advice.
it’s early on for me but the withdrawl is alot easier to cope with if you do it slowly and wean yourself off rather than go cold turkey. as yourself i have gained 3 stone in weight lost 1 but can’t shift anymore so i am determined for that as well if not just for my kids sake. if you ever need a chat my email is just a couple of lines up. all the best melanie

Hi there. came across this site as I feel Im ready to come off citalopram. I have been on 20ml for 18mnths. Must say Im abit reluctant after reading what Im heading for. But at least I will know Im not going crazy!! I am interested in other people who have noticed major weight gain I have put on nearly 20kilo since being on these tablets. I didn’t think my diet had changed so much and beleive you are what you eat but this is extreme.Anyone noticed that their weight has balanced back to normal after finishing these pills
Hey wish me luck with the withdrawl!!!
I’ll come back and keep you posted.
Alfie New Zealand

I am inthe end of week 4 (after cutting completely from the 10mg) and I “think” I am out the other end! But let me tell you, that last week was a killer. Becaaus the other symptoms had declined, I got a little excited because I thought that it might be over but then there were two evenings where I was relaxing and started to slip in to a scary depression. I called a friend and just chatted for a while and then went to bed – otherwise I am fairly certain I would have flipped out; very intense and scary. What I have noticed is that I have more energy and feel like exercising and actually DOING something.
I had a long discussion with a friend at work and feel that the drug paralyzes not only the negative feelings you have (the stuff you are trying to forget about), but it also dulls the side that is positive and motivates you to do healthy things like exercise – hence the weight gain.
Something to think about when discussing with a doctor; if they have never been on this medication before, then how would they know what the withdrawals feel like? It pisses me off that they continually tell patients that there are no withdrawal symptoms when in fact they do not truly know. I blame the pharmaceutical industry for hiding it from the public; they are making millions so I am sure it is not a priority.

Kerry – sounds like you are in control and doing great! Hang in there; if you can raise 3 kids, you can do this!

Alfie – I provide some advice further up the thread that you may find useful, as well as my email address if want support. I too packed on weight (10 pounds) and have already lost 2.5 pounds in the first 4 weeks (I have been exercising a little but still noteworthy).

Thank god I found this site! I thought I was truly going nuts or had a major brain tumour etc and was going to die.I have been on cipramil for 4 years and have spent the last 11 months slowly reducing my dosage under my doctors supervision. Finally stopped 2 weeks ago after being on 10mg for 4 months. Have had every symptom described by everyone else. Am feeling constantly sick, dizzy and foggy. Today has been horrible. Am not depressed or anxious, just so “not with it,” tired and sick. I need to get it together to be able to work and look after my 3 young children on my own. How long does this last???? Not sure if I should go back to my doctor, start taking a small dose again etc? Help! Help! Help!

Jo – You mentioned you were cutting over from 10mg? You might try ramping down to 3/4 of that for 6 – 8 weeks and then down to 5mg for 6 – 8 weeks and so on and so forth. I cut over from 10 mg (it says 5 above but that is a typo) and it was pretty intense – in hindsight, I would not recommend it – bear in mind, I am not a doctor (I think most doctors are all full of crap after what I have been through )

The only thing I can recommend for the dizzy/sick/foggy, is to try and sit still whenever you can (nearly impossible with 3 kids I am sure) and get as much rest as you can; try some peppermint tea, that seemed to settle my stomach a little but these are merely coping mechanisms. My story is above beginning at comment 115; it details the general length of my withdrawal symptoms, but remember that everyone is different. My email is also up there if you want to correspond on the side. There is another person on here (Kerry) who also has 3 kids and is taking a try at ramping off – perhaps you guys could trade secrets about how to do this while caring for little ones? I do not have children so I can not truly understand what you are going through, but I will certainly try

Keep telling yourself that “I will be okay” and keep repeating it – there were moments that I was quite literally mumbling this to myself for most of the day. You are not losing your mind – you are taking it back!

I posted here a couple of months ago when I was forced to come off citalopram because I’d gone to work in Africa and forgot to take my prescription with me. At the time I felt like was going to die and didn’t know if the withdrawal symptoms would ever pass.

I haven’t had a citalopram tablet for over two months now and I can genuinely say that I’m completely free of the effects of the drug.

The first month was absolute torture but after that the withdrawal effects became so slight that I hardly noticed I was experiencing them except when I suddenly remembered that I was meant to be withdrawing!

The second month was much better and now I’m probably cured and have no intention of ever going back, even if the depression hits hard again.

If I can do it, you all can do it. Stick in there, it will get better.

Steven

jo. hi doll. kerry here.im going through the same. i have 3 kids and i was on 40mg i have now cut it down to 30mg for 4 or 5 wks then to 20mg. so on. it is hard to start with just dont do it on your own people do care and know what yoou are you are going through.i didn’t think that at first but after speaking to cleep (and you are my saviour) thank you. i feel so great . compared to what i felt like stopping the whole pill
i feeel greaT
THANKS CLEEP SPEAK SOON ON YOUR WEB JUST BEEN BUSY DOLL X

im glad every1 has found this site and is getting tips on how to beat this horrible drug.it does feel horrible to start with but if you speak onthis web it gives you all the support u will need.i have found it very helpfull. thanks every1 xx and you cleep speak to you soon xxxxx

Well thank God for you lot. I’ve been off the citalopram for about 3 months now. I never experienced any of the awful dizziness and inability to sleep that you all describe, but oh boy, in the last month or so I’ve turned into an intolerant, short-fused weepy person. It’s like having permanent PMT, except when I get PMT on top of it. I’m not depressed again, because I’ve got lots of creative things going on in my head and I’m putting my ideas into action, which I couldn’t do before (if I had an idea at all which I didn’t) but all this anger is starting to get me down. Is there anyone out there who’s been off citalopram for longer than 3 months who can give me some hope that it will get better? I like the Rescue Remedy idea, and will give it a go.

Been off cit for just over a week , still a bit of a weeping mess crossed with a prizefighter! Did cut down gradually. You have to keep busy.. walking , music , reading if you can. Paracetamol also very good as are magnesuim supplements. You can do this, this will pass.

Hang in there Cath – I have found that an excercise that allows you to beat the crap out of something is helpful in releasing the pent up angry feelings – mostly becasue you are too tired to give a damn when you are done – I used to take an aerobic kickboxing class twice a week – also taught me some self-defense that I hope I never need to use.

Sane – you crack me up! (weeping mess crossed with prize fighter…) I completely agree on the staying busy; once I got over the brain shakes, that is the only thing that kept me in one piece.

I have been off for 5 weeks now and I feel pretty darn good. I have been walking on weekends and am so much more motivated to do things. I do not feel weepy or depressed or wacko any longer; but I am still waiting to see how I respond to a high stress situation (that is why I went on the stuff in the first place). I have lost 5 of the 10 I packed on courtesy of Citalopram – whoohoo!

I see a post or two from Kerry – I am SO happy to hear that you are having success – very liberating isn’t it? . I think the timing is good because you should be stabilized on your 3/4 dose through the holidays which can be hard on everyone. I also think that helping others on this thread kind of pays it forward – even if it is just some words of encouragement.

Hang in there everyone!!!

I too am grateful to find this site. I had a very hard time yesterday, cramps, dizziness, nausea, aching joints, permanent headache and the rattling brain syndrome. Also sensitivity to light, shivers, sweats and chills. I couldnt do anything, it totally floored me.
I’ve gone from 40mg to 20 in just over a month, having been advised by a neurologist to get off it asap following a seisure (fit) I had just over a month after my GP blithely doubled the dose.
The siezure made me unconcious and broke my jaw leaving three teeth loose. My dentist has braced them pending my jaw mending. I hope they can be saved.

No-one tells you this when they put you on it. Nor was I monitored at anytime (blood pressure etc.) I’ve been on it just over 2 years.

Nightmare! (Literally)!

Sam

Has anyone experienced the hyper sexuality side effects ie become a weeping , prize fighting sex crazed ass ????? This is a very common side effect of withdrawal also.
At least if you know that these feelings are part of withdrawal you can keep a lid on them. We can all do it. Hang on in there.

Sam – 20mg is a pretty big jump in 4 weeks; any chance your neuro would support a slower ramp down? This might make things a little more tolerable for you and it sounds like you have enough to deal with already given the injuries from your seizure.

I am not going to lie, there will be some bad days – just keep telling yourself that you will be okay and that this too shall pass. You may want to prepare a few friends to help you should you feel like you need to have support if you feel like you are near the edge; I spent the better part of an evening one night on the phone because I thought I was losing it.

Thankgod i have found this web site.. I came of 20 mg of citalopram after 6 years of the filth a10 days ago and trying to explain to your boyfriend that you get jolts in your head everytime you move makes you feel like a bit of an idiot. thought i was going crazy, will this hell ever end, i can cope with the depression but feeling like no’one understands just how weird you feel is the hard bit, you have all saved my life, its great when you wake up and think its gone but as soon as you sit up and move you eyes you realise your not that lucky!! it gets worse when i’m stressed and it stresses me when it gets worse, i feel clumsy and almost like living in a cloud.. but have to say the one benefit so far is mr libido had returned..yey!!! thanks so much and if anyone wants to go through it together pls email me on Nina_c_hanson@hotmail.com.xx

I was on 30mg of cipramil and cut it down by 10mg a week then stopped. I have the head thing that feels like electric shocks like my head is being shaken, I have been trying to explain it to my husband. I have M.E. anyway which has got worse since I went from 20mg to 30mg and has got even worse since coming of cipramil. My sex drive has come back as well, which is the only good thing. I am going to start taking 10mg for a while I think, cos I can’t handle this head thing.

Hello everybody. I have been on Citalopram for about 5 years, mainly for OCD as opposed to depresion. I made the decision to come off a few months back, mainly beacuse I was fed up with the sexual dysfunction side effects and a lot of tiredness. I was on 40 mg for 4 years and now down to 10mg every few days after gradually reducing my intake over the last few months. I’m getting a lot of “numbness” in my head and sort of “feverish” feelings too. Of course, if I start taking the tablets again these symptoms disapear. I’m now trying to go “cold turkey” and just not take them anymore and get this whole thing over with as quickly as possible. Any thoughts from anybody would be welcome. Graham

Graham , you can do this . We functioned before this drug and we will function afterwards. I’ve gone from 60mg – 0mg over a few months. Feel the fear and do it anyway! Keep busy, explain to loved ones whats going on and enjoy the lttle good bits they increase as time goes by.

Well it has been 4 weeks and 5 days since I stopped taking cipramil. I wrote before about the chronic dizziness and sickness, foggy and brain shocks that were just so debilitating. In the last 5 days I have no longer felt sick 24 hours a day. The foggy feeling has improved dramatically and the brain shocks have gone. Sleep patterns are returning to normal. Sex drive is up and I feel fantastic!!!! No depression, anxiety and boy does that feel good. I still have a slight ” lag ” when I turn my head but that is improving every day. I felt so damn horrible when withdrawing that I thought about going back on just to feel physically better. Those horrendous physical symptoms do pass!!!!! Get lots of rest where possible, eat small, frequent meals to help with the nausea ( I also found that ginger such as in ginger beer, ginger travel sick pills and chrystalized ginger really helped with the nausea.)It does get better. Hang in there.

Hi Guys (and Gals) – my last post was October 19 and i just wanted to let you all know that life is still GOOD – been off these thing for over 4 months now, and in retrospect, the really bad stuff “only” lasted for 4-6 weeks, after that I felt like I was in control of myself again.

Yes, i still get irritable over pathetic things but I reckon everybody loses their rag occasionally over petty stuff, so I’m not going to stress about that too much. Yes, looking after a 3 year old can try your patience to its limits but show me the parent of any 3 year old who doesn’t breathe an enormous sigh of relief at bedtime!

So, I think I can safely say that I (luckily) am back to being a member of the human race – you guys will get through this as well, remember we know what you’re going through, we are all thinking of you and we all know that you can beat this stuff and “just be yourselves” again.

With my love

xxx

Hello I’ve been taking these damn things for past 3 or 4 years previously it was seroxat (work of the devil) I’ve been reducing the dose over months but have ran out now and have decided to face the deaded withdrawal day four – weeping, strange physical feelings – heart palpitations and really pronounced ’sweats’but the comments here have given me the strength/hope to carry on with it and see it through to the bitter end especially from those who’ve come through the other side, good luck all and thanks to everyone who have posted words of encouragement

I’ve been on 10mg citalopram for around 12 months and have now stopped as I want to see how I cope without them – been “on the wagon” for 5 days now. Feeling a bit dizzy and just really, really sleepy. It’s good to know that this is probably down to withdrawal and not some other unknown problem! Good luck to all other waggoners

Just a quick tip, drinking vast amounts of chamomile tea helps

Sunday again folks almost another day under our belt without mind altering drugs , keep the faith you can all do it – I am and I’m a wimp !!!!!

apart from not being able to sleep – and some weeping I think I’m going ok, so yes heres to another day (I’m a bit of a wimp myself!)

For any of you who are open to Eastern medecine, I found acupuncture to have a calming effect on me which I beleive reduced the weepy outbreaks and low feelings.
I forget how many weeks out I am from taking any of the citalopram (maybe 8 or 10) and there are still some moments where I feel a little strange, but those a few and far between – you will be so glad you did this – HANG IN THERE!!!!

After reading several of these I realize that my doctors are all ignorant to the fact that medicines like this are so risky. I always hear “tell your doctor about other side effects”, well obviously that does no good, especially since none of them know about these similar feelings we all have! I’ve been tired, angry, crying, anxious, unable to sleep through a night (and the nightmares are awful), my sociability has decreased and I can’t cheer myself up no matter what I do. I’ve tried to wean off of this for months but I can’t stand the feelings you get. If I had only known about the terrible effects it has I would have never started it. Now I’m sure I’m just going to have to deal with the side effects of withdrawal for a couple weeks, but I don’t know how I’ll be able to work when I constantly feel like I’m shaking and dizzy and I can’t focus on anything at all, I feel like my eyes are jumping around in my head. Can’t wait till it’s out of my system.

Hello,

I have been taking 40mg Citalopram for 8 months. I had a friend from overseas stay for a few days who was also on Citalopram 40mg and had run out – she was off travelling again and couldn’t register with a GP so I gave her a weeks worth of mine. I didn’t give it a second thought to being without for a week. I’m glad to have helped a friend out of a tight spot but I won’t do it again in a hurry!

The last 5 days or so I thought I was going crazy. I’ve been nauseous and dizzy and unable to focus on any one thing for too long without stumbling around or falling over. The weird part is my brain only following suit with the rest of me a second or two late. I also get this funny feeling in my body that I interpret as it blinking as if it was an eyelash. It doesn’t hurt it just feels bizarre.

I’ve just spent the last couple of hours on the net trying to figure out what was wrong with me… I did one search and found a site where you can enter sypmtoms and it gives you possible matches which told me I could be Schizophrenic. Yikes.
I am extremely pleased to have found this and that I’m not crazy at all! Thank heavens for the internet : )

All the best to you all and thank you for sharing what you’re going through because it really helps.

Melissa x

Happy holidays fellow waggoners. NO more electric shocks dowm my legs at night, the ability to sleep a whole night , no more sight and sound effects , things are still improving day by day. Stick with it and be good to yourselves , take life a day at a time the good and the bad. I prefer life without this lifesaving but at the same time hellish drug. x

I’ve been off the citalopram for about a week now. Getting the dizziness thing, and feeling so low today! I end up really disappointed with myself when I cry in front of people. They think I’m better, and then this. And it’s almost Xmas, and everyone’s excited, and I really have NO reason to feel sad. Everything in my life is good, so come on, what’s the problem?

Oh dear, isn’t the brain the weirdest thing? Anyway, I’m gonna try to grin and bear it – at least I’m off work for a week now.

A big THANK YOU to all of you for these posts – it’s the most useful site I’ve found on the topic. I haven’t read all your comments, but I’m going to print it all out and keep it close at hand for the coming days. I have a feeling things might get worse before they get better.

Merry Christmas all, and take care xx

Well. I’ve been on Citalopram for a little over five years now. I tried to come off once – suffered all the associated horrible side effects, etc.

Well, a few days before christmas, I decided it was time once again.

My reason, well, over the past five years I have gained about 40 pounds, I have suffered hair loss, my face has aged, I am always tired. In addition, I no longer cry or laugh — my emotions are always in check. When I saw recent pictures of myself from five years ago, I couldn’t believe how much I had changed — no one should age that much in such a short period of time. This is a bad drug.

I am in a high level management position at a health care facility. The Citalopram helped with the stress levels that go with the job, but it has done so at a cost.

Coming off of this crap, I feel drugged, hungover, dizzy, nauseaus, etc. I even awoke on Christmas morning with overwhelming nausea and vommiting — while my two young children opened the gifts that Santa left.

You may feel like Crap for a little while getting off of this drug — but, it is a bad drug to be on. Please take my advice. The withdrawal symptoms will go away after a couple of weeks. Best of luck and Happy New Year!

Hi there. I stopped taking 10mg citalopram (having been on it for a couple of years) when I went away for a few days and forgot my tablets. I stayed off it because my libido (which had been gone for so long that I had forgotten it ever existed)returned. Hooray! However, a month on, the dizzy, fizzy head stuff has gone, but I find that I am really irritable and angry a lot of the time, which I have never really been before(either on or off anti-depressants). This has been quite challenging in work situations (I actually hear myself banging on about people not respecting me, in a way that sounds completely mad even to me) and at home over Christmas (just managed not to say anything completely unforgiveable over the old Christmas dinner. Has anyone else experienced this, and how long does it last? Am I doomed to being angry forever?!

I posted a couple of days before Xmas. The holiday period was hard work, but I’m back at work now, and less dizzy and fuzzy

Regarding Sarah’s question above, maybe this time of year is just a bit difficult for most of us – I know I’ve been dead irritable and angry a lot of the time. Also, I’m sure there are better ways of controlling our emotions than popping pills. We need to work out some coping and calming mechanisms to use when we feel like this. Sometimes, simple as it may sound, just a bit of counting, breathing and imagining “happy” thoughts can help. Sorry, hope this doesn’t sound condescending, it’s certainly not meant to be. This kind of simple technique helps me sometimes.

And also, just an afterthought, I’d rather feel the anger in order that I can also feel the joy and other positives, than have all my senses and feelings numbed! Good luck with it.

Hello All, I stopped taking citalopram sometime in November. Its been a rocky road so far, but all in all one I feel better for taking – the one thing that struck me here is Sarahs question regarding anger, as I’ve realised that has been my biggest concern. In response I’d like to say that for myself, I’m experiencing a big rush of feelings on all levels, and this does include the ‘negative’? ones, ie anger and sadness, but I’m starting to laugh like I haven’t laughed in years (when I’m not internally combusting that is )
its just a bit of a balancing act that will take time. So Sarah and All, just hang in there and see how it goes…from what I’m reading it does get better and in my five or so weeks I’m already seeing improvement

Take Care All
xx

hi everyone ,this forum is a godsend ,i too was wandering what was up with me ,i had enough of the devils drug on xmas day an went off cold turkey,not advised i know but couldnt stand being a zombie no more,well 8 days on its been hell ,from nausia to suicidal thoughts to irritable all the time and also nightmares .i am also getting a lot of dizzyness and lightheadedness ,which i find the worse ,i am gonna see this out and get back to the happy person i once was before being given the drugs ,and also told that there is no side effects and no withdrawal symptoms,total lies. can anyone please advise me on how long it takes to get back to yourself and your own head again,anyone with views or support ,or going through the same things as me can gladly email me,an well fight this evil drug together,email; paularmy@blueyonder.co.uk,i look forward to hearing off you ,an keep your heads up an get off this evildrug,paul.

Hmm, the question of how long it takes to get back to your own head again is probably a bit like how long is a piece of string. It’s probably different for all of us. It’s been about 3 weeks off them for me now, although I did reduce gradually over several months. I’m feeling a lot better than during the first couple of weeks, but I don’t feel like “me”. But then, what is “me”? I think the citalopram or the depression has played real havoc with my memory. I was a bridesmaid 2 years ago, and don’t recall anything about it, even the venue! So, if my memory’s gone to pot, how can I know what I was like before the depression and the drugs??

So my view is to find ways of dealing with who I am now. Eating good stuff, exercising, and spending time with positive people, etc.

I dunno, what does anyone else think?

hi kasia,what symtoms of withdrawal have you been having,mine are awful ,foggy head, lightheaded,long dizzyspells,feel worthless ,and very moody,as if i could explode at any time i also just want to lie down all the time ,i just cant wait to get back to the person i was before going on the evil drug ,ive vowed i wont take another one ,even though its so hard ,ive goto stick to it an get back to being me instead of an emotionless zombie.

Hello to everyone…Although I was told that there would be no withdrawal I knew differently. When I cut down from 20mg to 10mg I occasionally had attacks where I suddenly felt like I was going to cry for no apparent reason. I also had lightheadedness and the wierd brain symptoms when I missed a dose (I did not experience this until I had cut down to 10mg). I took my last pill on Dec. 30th. I have not had any mood problems but the weird head feelings are getting more severe and lasting longer. I am glad to know that I am not alone and I want to add my presence to those who felt alone. I conquered my depression. I can and will conquer this. I will not be ruled by a drug.

Stay strong. Life is worth living.

keep going scott ,we are in this together ,im having a really hard time ,im on day 11 of withdrawal ,and i was only on them for 3 months,and its a nightmare ,but am staying off the evil pills ,can anyone tell me how long does it take for the fuzzyhead and dizzyness an lack of energy last .as im finding it so frustrating .keep going scott an lets get rid of this evil together.

scott what are the weird head symptoms you describe ,are they the lightheadedness and feeling like theres fog in your head.

Hi Paul. Symptoms were mostly feeling very dizzy for much of the time. That lasted about 2 weeks I would say. I can also relate to your fogginess, and the moods and irritability. But it does get better, so please bear with it and stay strong. Thinking of you!

I just stopped 20 mg completely. Been on them for 8 months. I feel like I am thawing out. Lights seem brighter and I feel a bit disconnected.

It also feels like my eyes are floating in my head. I feel weird, this is day 1. My tongue is also weird feeling.

thanks for the support kazia ,its really appreciated,so kasia ,do you get back to relatively normal once the evildrug is out your system,and does the dizzy lightheadedness dissaper fully ,keep going everyone ,we will come out of this alot stronger .take care,and keep posting as it keeps us all hanging in there to conquer this,paul

The wierd brain symptoms are shocklike feelings that come from the base of my skull and shoot through my head and down my spine (especially if I move my head suddenly). I also have dizziness, vertigo and difficulty concentrating. At times there is also a totally disconnected feeling. Today I had an emotional attack that made me feel like I wanted to cry. I managed to fight it off though. Overall I just feel lousy…kind of like having the flu. My therapist and I agree that I no longer need the pills for depression and so I will be damned if I am going to go back on them just to avoid this. It may still get worse for me, but it will get better again. I believe that. I know that. I truly hope that the rest of you can believe it too.

Thanks for the words of encouragement.

Keep fighting.

can someone who has experienced the fuzzyhead ,lack of concentration,and dizzyness and vertigo please assure me that these symptoms do dissapear ,as they are really bugging me ,im on day day 12 of withrawal from the evildrug,and would just like reassurance that there is light at the end of the tunnel ,cos im certainly not going to take another zombiepill.

Good Luck all , i have been on ciprimil 10mg for over 2 years, and recetly found out i was pregnant and was told by my doctor to just stop , which i did and have been feeling more and more anxious by the week , nightmares not sleeping well sadness , i am now 5 months pregnant and am having a racing heart all the time , the doctor has given me valium 5mg one a night for 5 days , hope this eases as i don,t feel i can enjoy my pregnancy with this hanging over me .best wishes lorraine

good luck lorraine .we are all in this awful predicament together ,but we will get rid of the nasty pill and reclaim our lives .im finding withdrawal a nightmare.i made a point of flushing my remaining pills down the toilet ,so theres no turning back for me now. i just wish i could shake the dizzyness and foggyhead then id feel like im getting somewhere.be strong everyone and we will get there. take care.

Paul – for the dizziness, I found motion-sickness tablets quite helpful. I used “Kwells” from any chemist (in UK). Maybe this would help you. Keep with it!

Thanks to all for their comments here – particularly Kasia and Amanda. Once you realise that the unwelcome feelings are normal and common withdrawal side effects, they are so much easier to deal with. I have stopped being so angry, but am doing my very best to hang onto the good feelings that have come back after being on citalopram in different doses for a few years. Like Amanda, I find myself laughing a lot more (in a quite normal, non-maniacal way, in case you were wondering!) as well as feeling excited about things – I think I used to be a bit flat. There are definitely high notes among the low notes!

Hi Paul , thanks and good luck , i have been off these tablets for 4 months and all dizziness and foggyness has gone along with the other feelings that go with it , i think that my anxiety is prob a mix of withdrawls and pregnancy , i know i will beat this and am sure you all will too .!!
bestwishes lorraine

thanks lorraine ,can you tell me how long it took for the dizzyness ,lightheaded and foggy head to go ,does it go gradually ,or just go,thanks,paul.

I have been off 20mg. Citalopram since 12/22. Stopped cold turkey. It has been a funky couple of weeks. Dizzyness, almost like an out of body experience. I have had to work full time plus take care of two active kids. I am finally feeling like the side effects are starting to dwindle.

Something funny — people at work have been joking with me about how happy I have been and want to know what I am taking! I had been on that evil drug for over five years and although it kept my emotions in check…it masked the true me. I am happy to be back again. I am hoping now I can shed the 40 lbs. I gained since going on the drug.

Stick with it guys…I cannot believe how much happier I feel already. — Arleen

hi arleen ,how long did it take for the dizzyness to go and the lightheadedness ,and do you start feeling back to yourself ,im on day 13 an im still quite dizzy and just dont feel me .does this feeling lift and stay away ,please reply ,thanks,paul

Hi there. I am day 12 off Citalopram, and am feeling awful. The dizzyness and the feeling of detatchment from my brain are less now. I’ve had terrible headaches, to the point I nearly called the hospital ’cause I thought I was having a stroke!

I am just feeling very angry and weepy! The kids are getting on my nerves with the slightest thing and I have been irrationally jealous too.

My husband thinks I should go back on them, but I’ve had enough, and want to stick it out.

Thanks for sharing your feelings, as it has given me some light at the end of the tunnel.

I’m back to work on Monday – fingers crossed I can cope.

Michelle x

Meant to say – I have gained about 3 stones since going on this drug (great for your depression!) and my libido has been rock bottom…

Anyone else experienced these too?

If so, did the weight come off easily after the withdrawal? And what about the desire?

Hi Paul and Michelle — hang in there. Where I once felt dizzy 24/7 and my eyes floating in my head with every footstep — I am now getting the occasional dizzy spell – usually with going from a sitting to standing or bending over and standing up. They are getting less and less. My mood is lightening every day as well. I feel as though I have more energy.

Michelle — I hope you are getting the support you need from your family. Right now is the most important time to take care of yourself. Perhaps your husband can pick up the slack a little bit more with your children and cut you some slack when you get a little irritable. Your once numbed emotions are now coming back and it is going to take a little time to get them in balance again. During the five years I was on them, I tried to come off for a few months, but after being just like you, my husband convinced me and I believed him that I needed to be back on. What I really needed at that time was loving support and time to rest and heal — and yes, some slack when cranky.

Hang in there — your ultimate happiness depends on it.

Paul, hang in there, each person withdraws a little differently and your body may be just taking a little longer. It will be worth it in the end.

Take care — Arleen

Thanks Arleen.

I do feel better today, just knowing that I’m not the only one going through this, and I’m actually quite normal.

That’s a great way to put it, my once-numb emotions are coming back! I should actually celebrate each one that returns!

Keep going everyone, together we can beat this monster!

Michelle x

im on day 15 an its still a nightmare ,the dizzyhead and now im feeling severe anxiety ,irritable ,i think its my body getting desperate for its next pill ,im glad i flushed away my remaining pills because i think id have gave in by now ,this is so damn hard ,i just hope that its all worth it and i can get some relief and my head back to normal as soon as possible .please someone give me some positive replies that im hopefully over the worst and it can only get better.

Hi Paul, well done for getting to day 15 without going to the doc for another script!

I am on day 15 too, and I can honestly say that I am feeling a lot better. the dizzyness and nausea have subsided, and I only get the occasional spell when I get up or turn my head too quickly. Still having trouble finding words mid-sentence, but I think that my short term memory is improving!

I was only on 20mg, so perhaps that’s why the symptoms are alleviating quicker for me.

There is light at the end of the tunnel. Hang on in there, I’m sure you will feel better before you know it.

hi michelle ,well yesterday day 16 was a bit better ,dizzyness went after an hour or so ,i still feel a bit giddy,and not myself ,my head still needs a bit of rebalancing but hopefully each day will get a bit easier and the memory will come back to normal,im so glad im off the damn evil drug ,i was only on 20mg aswell ,and only for 10 weeks or so ,but it was long enough to know that they just make you like a zombie ,good luck michelle and look forward to reclaiming yourself back in the very near future.paul

Hi there
I am now 6 days off cipramil and I am a mess. I do not feel depressed at all but feel like I am off the planet. I am dizzy, not focused, feeling like i have to blink all the time, does anyone know how long this lasts and is it dangerous. Eileen

Hi to all
I had my last cipramil tablet on 15 December, so that’s 27 days ago now. Things were really tough over Xmas (see above) but things are improving daily. Dizziness only occasionally hits me now, and although I don’t really feel like “myself”, whatever that is, I feel quite good. I just wanted to check in with you guys who are still going through it, and assure you that it does improve. Hang on in there, and remember, spring is only just round the corner

I’ve been on Citalopram for a number of years (six?) and had to quit cold turkey because I lost my job and therefore my health insurance. I was also taking Trazodone for insomnia, and had to stop that as well. I am having so many of the symptoms you all have written about, except that I have been having to interview for jobs whilst going through this. How do you explain to someone that if they’d just hire you you’d be mentally “with it” in a matter of hours, once the insurnace kicks in? It’s been about three weeks of withdrawal symptoms for me so far, most noticeably the sort of seizure-like head feelings, feeling of it being difficult sometimes to concentrate…and the dizziness, and wondering as I’m walking down the street if I’m going to suddenly seize up and trip and fall. It;s embarassing. I’m a smart person who is definitely not feeling smart and doubts she is appearing at all smart. I’m feeling almost suicidal and worried I won;t get a job without being on the meds but can’t get the meds without having a job. THANK GOODNESS FOR ALL OF YOU HERE! I am so relieved to know it’s not just me going completely insane…honestly, I am in tears as I thank you. THANK YOU.

Susan,
Well done for getting yourself the interviews in the first place. I’ve asked my husband, and he did not notice my spaced out moments that were so bad at the beginning, so I dount that your interviewers will! They expect people to be nervous, and will probably put it down to that. Is there no health provision for low income families that would enable you to get some – although, you are definitely better off without it.
Take care, and I’ll keep you in my prayers,
Michelle

Hi there, I have been on Citalopram for about 18mnths for a severe episode of anxiety at a time of stress. I feel the stress is well behind me, not only that I have put on 15 kilos which seemed to just appear from nowhere which I want to shift (so would appreciate any feed back to whether it leaves as quickly as it arrived!!!!)
I am now 5 days cold Turkey, feel as if I have the flu, very dizzy, have a twitch in my left eye. I to am wondering how long it will take to subside??? I do fear that I may have picked a bad time to stop these pills as we have school holidays in NZ and are off for a family holiday but I guess I have started now. Good luck to all other ‘withdrawlers’ and I will watch your progress with interest. I will keep you posted with my progress (makes you anxious just thinking about it!!!!) and I look forward to hear how others are going. Good luck to all and have enjoyed reading your progress Kaisa am looking forward to getting to your stage.

I am so glad to read all these comments. I was doing great trying to withdraw by taking 10mg. every 4 days, but suddenly my body has decided to reject citalopram and now when I take it I get a horrible anxiety attack and feel extremely ill with all the other side effects that go with it. So I have had to quit cold turkey. Because my body is used to the every 4 day thing I am sure I will begin experiencing bad side effects on the 5th day. Has anyone else experienced that their body suddenly rejects the drug? Good luck everyone! I would appreciate any response! Thanks!

PS…and yes everyone, I have gained about 15 lbs., mainly around my middle since being on citalopram (celexa), in just four months.

Good day all — I have been off since 12/22 after having been on for five years. This week I have had no dizzy spells at all. My mood is great. I am experiencing all normal emotions. I am craving sweets where I never really had a sweet tooth — I will occasionally indulge but I am looking forward to losing the 40 pounds I packed on while on the med. I commend those of you who are staying commited to getting off this evil drug. There is a light at the end of the tunnel — for some it may be a little longer or shorter. Good luck and stick with it — each day it will get better — Arleen

HI EVERYONE,I HAVE BEEN OFF CITTALOPRAM NOW SINCE THE 29 TH OF DECEMBER (5 MG).
FEEL VERY UP AND DOWN, NO FLU LIKE SYMPTOMS BUT SOME ANXIETY AND UPSET TUMMY.TH E ANXIETY SEEMS TO COME IN WAVES , I CAN FEEL FINE THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT KICK’S IN IS THIS JUST THE WITHDRAWL. HAVING VERY VIVID DREAMS , NOT NIGHTMARES JUST GREAT DREAMS THAT I CAN REMEMBER. DOES ANYONE THINK THAT COMMING OFF CITTALOPRAM IS LIKE THE FEELING YOU GET WHEN YOU FIRST GO ON IT , I FELT ROUGH FOR ABOUT A MONTH WHEN GOING ON CITTALOPRAM DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE THE SAME BEING OFF THEM ?.
I HAVE BEEN TAKING VITAMIN B COMPLEX AND LEMON BALM TABLETS FOR ANXIETY FROM THE HEALTH SHOP , AND I HAVE BEEN GOING ON MY EXERCISE BIKE .THE ONE THING I HATE ABOUT BEING OFF THEM IS MY RED BLOTCHY NECK I GET WHEN STRESSED , THIS WENT WHEN ON CITTALOPRAM DOES ANYONE NO OF ANY NATURAL REMEDY FOR THIS .
GOOD LUCK ,
JULESXX.

HI crazy gang,

what am I missing? I have been on this stuff (20mg) for 4 months to treat severe freaky suicidal depression and overwhelming anxiety after kicking a ’skunk’ marijuana habit and I feel great. I feel like I’m 10 years old again (I’m 31). I now have no regrets (where before i was totally messed up from all my regrets) and have no fear about the future although I know that everyone I know and love will die one day. Today I got stopped walking down the street by a total stranger who couldn’t understand why I was so happy.
My sex drive is back, my music is back, I can relax without drugs alcohol food etc.

I have found that swimming running and cycling helps keep the weight off ( I put on 2 stone or 14kg on Olanzapine before…i’ve kicked that bad boy aswell).

Why are people coming off this stuff?

All my love

Michael

Hoorayy, i’m not alone and there is hope.

I had no idea that this drug is attributed to weight gain. Having previously always been slender, over the last 5 years I have been on it I have put on 4 stone and now pretty overweight!!!

5 days I have been off of the drug now, and I think I will continue, although from what I have read it will be a tough few months. Already I feel terrible and contemplating going home sick from work for the day.

As one person pointed out, it is probably a case of the brain having to literally rewire itself over a period of months, to cope with the sudden lack of the drug.

One thing.. I drive an hour to work and then back again every day. I don’t have much choice, but surely it can’t be that safe as my head is always ‘whooshing’ and my vision feels cloudy at times! Will have to be careful. Why is there so little official text written about the withdrawal from this drug??

Good luck all!

wow – thought i was alone – my symptoms are worse at night and also i have been mis pronouncing my words a lot – does anyone else get this?

cant believe that bit about the weight gain either – was on these tablets on and off for last 6 years and solid for last 12-18 months – i have moved house and got a new job and love my life and decided time was right to get off them so i just cut back to every other day every three days etc until i ran out as have had the withdrawal before and thought it wouldnt happen this time but it has – doing your hair is the worst thing! i feel like my brain is trying to squeeze down my neck! also i am very very short tempered but hope i can control that over time – deep breaths!!
i will stick at it now and i know that others feel the same

good luck to all of you
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
emma

hi all,
ive been on these pills at 30 mg just over 6 months,ive reduced them to 20 mg for past 3 weeks,
i used to get demititis on my hands,and it has recently flared up and also my skin all over seems sensitive!!!anyone else had rashes from these pills when reducing them?
also put on a stone!!!which i cant seem to lose,
reading through the posts on withdrawing from it is really worring

any advise would be great
ta all
x

Thank God! I’m so relieved to have read all your comments. I’m trying to come off 20mg citalopram that I’ve been taking for last year and am feeling so rough. Am writing this at 5a.m. after lying awake for last few hours feeling the weird drunken wooshy brain thing and finally decided to look up google for any advice. I stopped taking the pills 3 days ago because I want some control of my life back. Whilst I was on it I put on about a stone and a half and had constant neck rashes and generally itchy skin. I also identify with the problem of mispronouncing words or just not being able to get the right word out at all. It feels like my brain is wired up all wrong. This happened to me when I was withdrawing from venlafaxine (Effexor) a few years ago too. Am just going to take it one day at a time but am completely terrified of the withdrawal symptoms getting worse or slipping back into the hellhole of depression. Anyway, thanks for all your comments, and good luck
x

totally relate with you lost mitten,
just tryed to reduce to 10 mg,my brain and body isnt havent any of it!!!
been really ratty at kids and myself,i know im not needing these pills no more,
think they are so hard to come off due to serotin in them that changes the brain,
still gonna try again soon,think il seek medical advise from doctors
take care all

Hi, I came off citalapram in the last 4 months. I followed doctor’s orders of reducing my dose over a 4 week period. It was way too fast I have experienced all of the withdrawal symptoms that you guys have described. The “brain shifting” was the worst. I have also gained about 20 pounds. Since coming off this drug, I am also experincing some symptoms that may be Multiple Sclerosis. I am in the process of testing for MS. Finally, most of the symptoms seems to have stopped. But I’m wondering about the weight gain. As anyone managed to lose the weight? And as any one experienced MS like symptoms?

Take care everyone,
Kim

Hi all
Good luck
Well i was on ciprimil 10mg for 3 years the when was 7 weeks pregnant i stopped had struggles cold turkey am nown 5 and a half months and the doc had put me back on them , feel so upset wwith myself and worry about what i am doing to my child inside me , buy the doc said it is safe to take than not too due to my anxiety , hasbeen 8 days back on them now and the side effects of starting again have been really bad but are getting better , i will try again once baby is born . well done everyone ! lORRAINE

ive been off the evil drug for 4 weeks today cold turkey after 11 weeks on them ,ive had an awful 4 weeks ,fromm brain wooshes tobreaking down ,tosevere anxiety to ,poor memory ,even had to stay off work for the 4 weeks.starting to feel a bit better ,but still got very poor concentration ,also just dont feel like me ,and quite aggrivated easily ,does your head go back to full normality ,as i just dont seem upto speed ,any replies would be greatful.

Hi Paul, you should not have come off them cold turkey. I can just imagine how miserable you must be feeling!! Even when I was weaning myself off of them (I started at 20 mg a day, went to 10 mg for a week, 5 mg for a week and then nothing). If you take half your dose when you are feeling really bad, it will help. I was doing that for a while. Then it was less and less and now I don’t even think about them!! Thank GOD!! It all does eventually go away. So hang in there!! I’d say it took me 3 full months to get over the awful dizziness and brain shifting. Plus the anxiety settles down as well. Good luck and remember it’s something that will get better.. and you are not alone.

Kim

hi kim ,thanks for the reply ,when im concentrating and with someone the head thing doesnt bother me ,but when im alone and trying to relax it just seems to foggy up a bit ,it does seem to be the last thing i just cant shake off from the withdrawal,does it just gradually go away .please reply ,thanks again,paul

Hi Again, That’s a hard one for me to answer. I’m thinking yes, it does eventurally go away. I am still have a bit of that though. It has only been 4 months for me, so I’m hoping it will soon disappear. I continuted to work (and drive!) through this whole ordeal but definititely should have taken some sick time.

Take Care,
Kim

hi again kim,what exactly does your head thing feel like ,mine is like ,stops me from getting deep into concentration ,and leaves me a little irritable ,just stops me thinking as clearly as i used to ,take care ,paul

Hi Paul, I have had a very hard year and I attributed the lack of concentration more so on my situation and not a withdrawal symptom from the pills. I think I may have felt the lack of concentration more so when I was taking the pills. But now I am very anxious all the time. I thought that my hectic life of a very stressful job and a single mom of 2 kids was what was making me feel so overwhelmed. I have days when I don’t think I can actually do my job (which I have had for a good few years). I sure if you just hang in there it will disappear, just like the other symptoms.. I know one thing. If I had done any research on this drug, I would never have taken it. My doctor told me it wasn’t addictive.. He was wrong…

Kim

hi kim ,i was told there was no withdrawal aswell ,i would never have took it if i too knew the withdrawal ,they are a nightmare to get on and even worse to get off ,totally mix you up .am glad im off them now ,just wish the withdrawal symptoms would completley go , i just want to return the the person i once was ,before taking the evil thing.

Hello guys. Thought I’d check in with you all as it’s been a couple of weeks since I last wrote. Paul – hang in there mate, you’re doing brilliantly. As I said, I’m really not sure what “me” is, but I’m trying to just accept how I am now. Dizziness is gone now, finally, but the foggy feelings come and go, and concentration is sometimes difficult. My worst symptom is my memory issues. I really am struggling, but hey, I made a decision to just get on with it, so that’s what I’m trying to do!!

So , just to say, take care all, and keep up the good work!

Hi all,
Been reading through there comments since I first went cold turkey 2 weeks ago and it has helped me cope with withdrawal a hell of alot. I was on 60mg Citalopram for about 4 months (started on 10g like most people 12 months ago and my doc has been increasing my dose ever since) and 200mg Carbomezapine the last 2 months on top of the citalopram. I was going completely crazy on the drugs even tried to kill myself 2 months ago. I decided enough, that the drugs were making me worse and went cold turkey. I wouldn’t suggest this to most anyone reading this by the way. I have had the most severe withdrwal. Some days I can’t even stand without wanting to pass out. This week has been worse than the first week I quit. Severe muscle cramps, dizzyness, feeling very surreal, terrible headaches. I haven’t told my doc that I’m off them yet, he’ll probably freak when I do, but despite the withdrawal I actually feel better! I still have massive mood swings from very high to low but at least I’m not like a zombie that sleeps all the time anymore. I’m determined to stay off these tablets and I’ll wait to see what the psych doc says when I see him (I’ve been waiting 8 months now to see one). My doc told me I need to go onto lithium but from what I’ve read elsewhere there’s no way I’m taking that either. I wish all of you luck quitting these evil drugs and I hope you have an easier time than what I’m going through. All the best. Jacqui (UK).

Hello
I gained a ton of weight and had NO sex-drive, but kept refilling the rx due to “whoo whoo” in brain, horific nightmares, dizzyness ,etc. I went off of it and am now on Wellbutrin. I don’t have the terrible dreams, but I am tired and all the other symptoms are still there. This is day 20 and just when it seems it’s over the pulsing dizziness comes back. I feel good that I am going to make it, but it is going to take longer than I thought it would.

hi kasia ,thanks for your asking how i was ,im still in the middle of hell ,and im 30 days without the evil drug ,dizzyness has gone ,but im left with spaced out feeling ,and carnt concentrate at all ,my memory is really poor now aswell and my mood is all over the place,im determined to beat the thing though ,even though its so damn hard ,feel like am losing my mind at times ,does this happen to you kasia, hi there to jaquie ,im also in the uk .strap yourself in jaquie cos it gets tougher ,im cold turkey aswell ,and its a rocky road ,never have i felt so many ups and mainly downs and emotions,and scatty head in my life .hang on in there ,paul

Hi Paul – I’m in the UK as well. I can completely understand your memory issues. My memory has deteriorated drastically over the last year or so. It was one of the main things that lead to me being so determined to come off citalopram. My GP was adament that the memory probs were down to the depression rather than the drug, but I wasn’t so sure. Now that I’m off the drug, I don’t actually feel depressed. My mood is up and down, but then who’s isn’t? But my memory is still atrocious. It’s particularly hard at work, but I’ve just had to be honest with people and ask them to bear with me, and try to find coping mechanisms.

I know what you mean about your mood being all over the place. One good thing about this is that if you’re having a crap day, you can tell yourself that tomorrow might be better! I’ve also recently joined a gym, cos they say exercise can really help.

So, that’s about it from me for now. Take care all, and Paul – stick with it, we’re rooting for you

Hi-Just to correct my post #206–I am only on day 14, not 20. Things are better today–no brain zaps. Took a dramamine for the dizziness-seemed to help. I flushed that Wellbutrin garbage down the toilet yesterday after I read on line about how evil it is. So now I am wondering if I will have any withdrawal ( excuse, “discontinuation” lol) discomforts. I will say that I didn’t get the nightmares-although I thought I might last night but I just tried to keep something positive in my head as I drifted to sleep-even if was just how nice it will be to lose the 35 pounds I put on on this drug.

Hi, just wondering if anyone reading who put on weight on this drug have actually lost it. And when does it start to come off? The weight gain has depressed me more than why I went on this stupid drug in the first place!! And Paul, glad to hear your dizziness is gone. I’ve been reading the comments since I posted (# 195 was my first). I’m amazed you managed to go cold turkey and not given in and taken a pill. I did a few times. You are definitely a strong guy, Hang in there..it all gets better with time.
Take care,
Kim

hi kim ,i probably would have given in to another pill ,but i fushed them down the toilet on about day 12 .i feel like ringing the neck of the doctor who put e on them drugs and toldme there is no withdrawal.pitty we couldnt put him on them for a few months ,then cold turkey him off them ,i think his answer would be a little different then .i long to beback to the person i was before the damn things .hang in there everyone ,we will all get there .kasia,how long have you been off them now, paul.

Hi everyone,

My story is documented on comments 89, 91,94,96,98 and finally 106. If you want some hope and some tips read these. It was much quicker than I thought it would be – a big relief. Kim – once the withdrawals finished the weight dropped off with walking 45 mins each day. There is hope and it does end quicker than you would think when you are in the thick of it.

Hang in there everyone – you are all very brave. It is worth every bit of the pain.

Rach – Australia

hi rach ,just read your october posts,can you please tell me how long did it take you to fully regain your head and body ,im one month on from cold turkey ,and its been hell ,think im seeing a bit of light now ,just cant think as good as i used to ,and my head foggys upat times ,when does this go away fully ,paul

Hi Everyone, you know it is amazing we are all pulling for each other and we live in all the four corners of the world (I’m in Canada). Thank goodness for the internet. We have such a LARGE circle of support. It makes me feel so much better. I’m going to continue to check this thread. It has brought an awful lot of people together who have experienced the same terrible withdrawal. I hate to think of those out there who haven’t found the support we have. I just wish I had searched earlier when I was first experiencing the withdrawal. Even knowing that the weight gain is part of it makes me feel a little better.. I couldn’t understand why I was gaining. (it’s a big issue with me if you haven’t gathered). Keep going Paul.. and everyone out there wondering if it will ever get better..time is what heals. Chat soon…
Kim

Hi Paul,
I think the first fortnight was definately the worst. The next month was hard and then it really was only every now and then that I became really teary over something small that wouldn’t have normally upset me. So I would say 6wks until all the physical withdrawal symptoms left altogether.
Good luck – hang in there. Get lots of rest and drink lots of water. It will all be over soon. Well done for sticking it out.

Paul – I took my last citalopram on 15 December, so it’s about 6 weeks now. I’d been on 40mg for about a year, but I gradually reduced over about 2 months, first dropping to 20mg, then to 10mg, then to every other day till they ran out. Bit different to your cold turkey approach But however we stop, we just gotta deal with it. And you’ve come this far, so you gotta keep with it. It just may take you a few more weeks than me. As I’ve mentioned earlier, my current “method” is to try and relax about the whole thing, and take it as it comes, and not worry too much. I can be a real worrier, and it never got me anywhere, so it’s time to stop!!

Anyway, I’m about to go to bed in this neck of the woods, so sweet dreams all and cheers for listening x

Hello All-if I had known about this thread I would have gone off them sooner-I am on day 15 and it is getting better. I started taking a multi-vitamin on the the same day I last took cita and I think it has really helped to preventnightmares. I haven’t had any this time.
I started taking a tsp of fish oil-thanks to this thread so thank you all and it can be done.

Dear all, it was a big relief to find this thread and to realise that I am not alone in experiencing withdrawal symptoms. I have been trying to cut down from 20mg – which seemed to go ok, then to 10mg and then to 10mg every other day. I stopped completely a few days ago and today I feel awful, its like the depression is back again – but its har to know whether it is or its just part of the cold turkey process (which is seems it is). I have been trying to avoid too much stress recently as well, but a recent car accident and hating my job haven’t helped. I am going to see the dr today. I think I may have to go back to 10mg every other day for a while – but who knows. Anti-depressants are a miracle but coming off them is no fun. I didn’t have this problem at all with Prozac in the past.
Good luck to everyone – i am not sure if its a worry or a relief to see there are so many of us!!

Hi Adrian,
I read on line that prozac leaves your brain slowly (over weeks) and thats why the discontinuation syndrome (supposedly the name of what we go through) doesn’t happen with it?? It’s like this drug leaves your brain instantly and the brain goes into shock – hence the withdrawals (probably a very simplistic laymans explanation!). I went off cold turkey but I wonder if cutting back to half then a quarter and then a quarter of a quarter over weeks would help (maybe it would then leave the body slowly – like prozac). I found paracetamol really helped with symptoms and I also felt real depression too after coming off them but I thought you might like to know that in my case it went when the withdrawals stopped. Good luck Adrian and eveyone else,
rach

I guess I’m just going to reitterate what everyone else is saying, but finding these comments has been really helpful to me. I took citalopram for the past 12 months and was taking 40mg for the past 6 months or so. I weened myself off it over the course of a week and haven’t had any for 3 days. Now I feel like I have the flu but I don’t want to go back on it for fear of drawing out the process. I’m extremely dizzy, alternately cold and hot sweats and really tired and achy. Also I’ve been sneezing a lot and feel tingly all over. I feel pretty much more depressed than ever and now I feel resentful that doctors act like it’s no big deal to go on medication. I didn’t notice any drastic change in my moods while I was on the stuff and now I needlessly feel physically unwell. I’m so sorry all of you are going through similar things and I hope you feel better soon. good luck,
-caitlin

what a crock of a drug, didn’t help my depression thought the side effects kept me occupied to much to think anout anything moods, and now after 5 days of no citlopram i’m getting the brain moving dizziness like coming of a waltzer, gone cold turkey and will keep it so and keep posted of how long it takes, for a depression treatment the withdrawl physically should be addressed, came off flouxentine (prozac) as caused serious heart burn of all things but came off without probs, wish i’d have left it at that but my doctor doesn’t keep an eye on things so have to self assess all the time if thinking of using this drug, have a good think about it and talk to people here who have used it for symptons like yours, so prefer prozac as anti of choice but here goes ay..

Hi all ,
Just following up from my last comment back in January 18, 194.

finally down from 30 ,to 20 ,now on 10 mg a day for the past 2 weeks,can honestly say,apart from my hands bright red and itchy,head aches,manic-ness,irriatable,dizzy spells,OMG THE AWFUL DREAMS THAT SEEM SO REAL!
im proud of everyone on this site getting off this evil drug,
these doctors have alot to answer to…
im just wondering why my doctor said no matter what i had to stay on this citlopram at least a year,anyone else told they would have to be on this a set period of time at least….
would really like to know
many thanx

bars.girl

I was prescribed the drug at 20mg just over a year ago for anxiety and decided to stop it after Christmas. After discussing the matter with my GP he gave me a prescription for 10mg to be taken once a day for a fortnight and then one every other day for a fornight. The supply finished last week. I am so relieved to read of other people’s problems with the awful withdrawal from this drug. The giddiness is awful and I have had an incessant twitch beneath my eye for the last few weeks, which is driving my around the bend, especially as people are commenting on it. I don’t know if anyone out there has experienced anything similar. I am very snappy to my nearest and dearest, irritable, feelings of despair etc. etc and I am finding it very difficult coping at work particularly as I have never confided in colleagues that I was on antidepressants in the first place. I would never have taken this drug if I had known about the withdrawal problems.

Will keep you posted and let you know in 2 weeks how I am getting on.

Good luck to us all.

Trish

I’ve been reading this thread prior to going to my GP today. I’ve been on Citalopram close to a year, it helped a lot, and now my body is saying “enough”. My GP recommended dropping my dose from 20 mg to 15mg per day for 2 weeks, and then decreasing it by 5 mg (a quarter pill) every 2 weeks – so a 2 month process to wean myself off. I had some nausea and fluctuations in feelings when I went on, so I hope the withdrawal is slow and mild.
I appreciate all the comments I’ve read.

Am I glad I found this site too!! I thought I was going mad with the ‘brain flashes’ and dizziness. I expected it was withdrawal symptoms but to know they’re extremely common is so helpful. The info about the weight gain is also a blessing. I couldn’t work out how I kept putting on weight when I was eating less… and now it makes total sense. I just never thought Citalopram was the culprit! It’s strange how the side-effects of taking the drug are well explained, but not the side-effects of coming off…

I’ve been on a course for 6 months, and then weaned off one every two days over two weeks. I stopped altogether on Monday. These side effects are horrible but I hope they’ll go fairly soon…

Hi Paul,
Thanks for your reply to me. I’ve just reached week 4 today and It’s so hard. I find myself thinking about the tablets I still have in my medicine cupboard and wondering if I’ve done the right thing going cold turkey. I’ve been in a solid low depression for over a week now and I can feel myself slipping deeper down the rabbit hole. I’m not sure if i’m still suffering withdrawal or what. Added to the fact I haven’t slept at all for 3 days so I think my judgement may be a little clouded right now. GL to all of you hanging in there.

Jacqui

keep goin jaquie ,im in week 6 ,gettin better some days ,still a rocky road though ,has been the most difficult thing ive ever done ,still get the foggy head at times and my concentration isnt too good ,hopefully it will pass though ,take care and good luck,paul

Having just spent the last month following my doctor’s advice and slowly weening myself off celexa week by week, and feeling the rather severe withdrawal effects, permit me to disagree a bit with those who are trying to buck up the people who decided to go cold turkey. I think you’re making a big mistake. And your doctor does too. Why would you want to disagree with your doctor, and the advice of the overwhelming majority of people who have taken this drug? Yes, withdrawal is REALLY REALLY REALLY bad when you go cold turkey – that’s why you’ve been told not to do it. Yet you’ve chosen to do it anyway, and now you seek our support.

Well, I can’t in good conscience enable this kind of behavior by saying “hang in there.” It’s reckless behavior, and probably kind of dangerous too, in terms of what you’re doing to your mental well-being while going through the withdrawal. And the worst part: you know all of this, yet you’ve chosen to do it anyway.

Call your doctor. Or get ready for one hell of a nasty ride, and the real possibility of messing with your mental state pretty severely, and whatever that might eventually entail. But please don’t expect us all to enable what you’re doing. I think it’s reckless and harmful. A better friend will tell you just that

I think people are just trying their best with the info they have Jack – not trying to be reckless or dangerous. It is such a hard time for people – a time where compassion is needed. I don’t think there is a sense on this site that people are ignoring doctors or encouraging others to go cold turkey.Sometimes when you are on a low dose the doctor may not recommend going off them slowly – as we know though, the discontinuation syndrome (withdrawals) seems to come for some of us even when we come off a small dose. If you read my threads at numbers 98 and 219 you will see that even though I came off cold turkey I wished I had come off my very small dose slowly.Good luck Jack with your journey. Best wishes to everyone else – my thoughts are with you all.

Hi there guys. Well I said I’d come back and let you know how I got on. I cam off citrolpram after 18 months. I was on 20mg then 10 then 5mg. I came off on 5th January. I had the following withdrawal symptoms – twitch in eye, flu type feeling, brain lagging behind when I moved eyes, vivid dreams and ears ringing – the symptoms seemed to last about two rotten weeks for me then I started to feel heaps better just a bit of brain lag. My advice would be to take a couple of weeks off work or any pressure situation that needs concentration. I know it seems like a waste of annual leave but I think its worth it. Mums save hard for abit of child care for young kids and try and give yourself some time to withdrawal and take a nana nap if needed I had kids home with summer holidays but just went to the river where they swam and were happy so I could just sit and read, stare into space just chill really I know its not always possible but ask friends etc for some help with child minding etc just to make it easier on yourself. After finding this site and realising what I was feeling is normal side effects from withdrawal I think it is less frightening so try and ride the storm the suns not that far away…. So take good care of yourselves guys and gals Im thinking of you. I will log on if anyone wants to ask me any questions or just need reassurance – Look after yourself and if you feel your mental health is slipping toooooo bad get back to your Doc it might not be your time to finish yet but if you feel you can cope go for it I am now a month down the track and feel fine Take Care Alfie

I’m trying to come off citalopram. I have been on them for nearly a year, at a low dose. I have tried to come off them before, but I get feverish and a sort of salty/bitter taste in my mouth that just gets intolerable. Also the dizziness that is mentioned, and ‘head shocks,’ and I get very angry or sad and frustrated.

I really want to be rid of these tablets, but I am scared I won’t be able to stop them. Has anyone else had any fever-like symptoms, or the taste alterations I mention?

I’m going to try and see my doctor tommorow.. if I am not in too much of a state.

Another thing, is that I keep needing to take more of my tablet to stop these withdrawal symptoms. My psychiatrist said take them two times a day… but it seems like an addiction to me.. No one listens when I tell them this.

Thank goodness for everyones comments. I thought I was going crazy….been trying to get off citalopram for a few days now and I am experiencing all the symptoms that everyone has listed. I am even having trouble typing this response because of the dizziness and “brain farts.”
Thanks for letting me know I am not alone in this.
Ann

Yep! got the weird brain bouncing thing. Feels strange,almost like you’re drunk when you turn to one side sharply or stand up quickly. Almost feels like lightening or your vision skips. Good news is it goes away (or it did for me). Really pleased so far as this tablet gave me a strange taste in my mouth like breathing through wool along with a wicked sense of smell. Fortunately everything is gradually going back to normal.Plus the brain bounce is gone. Also since I’ve very gradually come off (I’m down from 40mg a day to 5mg every 2 days – now thats slow) I seem to have a sharper persepctive on life. Less fuzzy and dull. Anyway this stuff got me out of my depression and gave me massive confidence so I’m grateful. Everyone keep your chin up, it doesn’t last forever.

This is my first day lowering my dose of Citalopram. Have been taking 60mgs a day for 2 years. Today I tried 40mgs. Was ok until about 4pm then anxiety set in. Lasted until 7.30m and had to give in and take another 20mgs. Its nice to know that there are people out there who have been through withdrawal. At least I know that there will be an end to it and know what to expect.

Amands

I have read many of the concerns about withdrawing from citalopram. Many people are trying to wean off of it themselves. It is unwise–and must be done under the care of a physician. Also, citalopram is meant to be used for the short term (6-9 months according to my doctor)–so maybe the symptoms are severe because people are staying on it for so long. I was on it for 4 months, then was weaned off of it. I had some “brain shakes” but nothing too severe, and did not last more than a few days. the severity of the withdrawl is associated with length on the medication.

Hi all

Came across this thread on google, i have been on Citalopram for about 4 months now and decided last week to come off the tablets. I have been taking 20Mg everyday and decided to quit last wednesday when my last prescription ran out. up until yesterday (monday) everything was fine, but today i am feeling jittery and i have really bad palpitations, to the point were i can count to five between the beats when i have one, at a bad time during today i had about 15 palpitations one after the other and it made me feel a bit light headed. i don’t want to be dependant on them and having to pay for the medication every time isn’t helping. i’m gonna wait till the end of the week to see if they die down before i go back to the doc’s.

I started to take citalopram ten years ago when the menopause started and for SAD in the winter months. I have tried to come off it 3 times now. I have been on a 10mg tablet a day now for almost a year. Nobody suggested i stop it until i changed my doctor. Both times i tried it before i got such anger and nausea that i couldn’t stand it and each time i told my doctor about the nausea she just laughed and said she’d never heard of that before…..This time i’m doing it very slowly and down to 10 mg every 3 days, but the symptoms aren’t lessening. I have awful nightmares involving strange sounds and terrible fear. When i read this site i cried; i thought i was just being weak. I’m so angry that doctors denied any withdrawal symptoms (other than returning anxiety), and so glad that my new doctor in the same practice understands the difficulty. He was a psychiatrist who went back to general practice. Maybe that’s what it takes to understand the potency of this drug.
I’ll stick with the weaning off, but i’d like to be sure i’ve not inflicted any permanent damage from taking this monstrous drug. Glad to hear i’m not alone, – hope we all recover soon.

Hi all
I’m on citalopram’s ’sister’ drug, escitalopram, and am really worried about the side effects when i try to stop. i used to take citalopram and once ran out of pills. within days i had started to vomit and have really severe diarrhoea, and i ended up in casualty hooked up to an ECG machine cos my heart kept missing beats. the palpitations were terrifying.
the troube is im emetophobic (have a severe fear of vomiting) so now i’m scared stiff to wean myself off my escitalopram incase they make me sick too.
it’s a relief to see i’m not the only one whose system went mental when i stopped citalopram – but it’s a bit freaky that they seem to make everyone so ill.
love gx

Hi everyone,
Like most of you I am so glad to have found this thread. I have been on anti depressants on and off for about 5 years. I was on Zoloft for along time and had no trouble coming off when things were good then had a relapse and doc recommended citalopram as it was supposedly less of a libido inhibitor than the other. I have been on it now for about 8 months. I have been feeling good and have life back on track so decided to slowly drop my dose. I was taking 20mg a day and just went to half and like most of you thought it was easy for the first few days then started with the sweats, dizzyness, trouble sleeping, headaches and extremely moody… Snapping at my husband & kids ….. feeling very low at times. At first I thought I must be tired and coming down with some kind of virus as I was told this drug has no withdrawal…… then I even thought it might have been hormonal with the sweats and all. It has been 2 weeks on 10mg now and I have had some really bad days this week. Today the sweats seem to have stopped but have massive headaches and i just feel like I want to cry. I am so glad to have found that there is a reason for this and that I am not going downhill again and that it is common and will get better with time. I have decided to go see doc next week before I drop my dose to 5mgs and see what she recommends. I will certainly be looking in here each day as it is nice to read the support offered here. I have an supportive partner but it is hard for someone who has never had these troubles to understand whats going on in your body and mind at this time..
Thanks for sharing your experiences …

Hi Lisa,
I am in Australia too. I really feel for you and hope you feel better soon. I have threads earlier on this site and am now over the withdrawals. Sounds crazy but paracetamol really seemed to help me and drinking lots of water. Take care of yourself – lots of rest if you can. xx Take care everyone else too!

Hi everyone,
I have been on citalopram for 14 months now after suffering with panic disorder and panic attacks 1 after the other. The drug did make me feel better and I have managed to keep the attacks at bay now before they happen. However 2 weeks ago I decided to come off them after speaking to my doc. I have gone from 14 months on 20mg to 10mg for the last 2 weeks…first week was ok but OMG the sweats, vomiting, dizzy spells and the visible twitching on either side of my mouth are driving me insane plus the flu symptoms and sharp pains in my head have left me in tears. And yes u guessed it the bloody panic attacks are back. I would like to say thanx to the doc who said I would not suffer any withdrawal…are these people for real!!!!
Im contemplating reducing to 5mg next week but dreading the thought…..?

I wish everyone good luck xx

HI everyone,
WEll its saturday morning here and everyone in my house is still sleeping …….its so not fair …why can’t I ????? I have been up and down most of the night and its driving me crazy. Trouble is when you can’t sleep there is too much time to think and I am like Tammy thinking or should I say dreading droping my dose again next week. Wondering what little surprises my body & brain will bring…. I am scared at the thought but determined to get off this drug and get myself back to “NORMAL” whatever that may be. I was so tempted to just up my dose again this morning then looked in here again and have strengthened my resolve not to let it beat me.
Thanks so much for your kind thoughts & support Rach. I have read back over your posts and will try your advice. Off to get some recue remedy, B6 & panadol when the shops open…. Hmmm stop taking one tiny pill and replace it with a load of others….but willing to try anything to ease this journey…. Take care everyone Hugz

Thank you so much,all of you for your comments.i feel so much better after reading them.ive been taking citalopram for 8 months and experienced all of these things every time ive tried to cut down !thank god im not going mad .bless you all and good luck.REMEMBER yesterday is gone and today is a BRAND NEW DAY . from robert

Hi there,
Lisa – if you are struggling with sleep I would strongly suggest a sleep herbal tea with valarian in it or blackmores valarian tablets. It really made all the difference coping with the children once I was getting a better sleep. Be assured once the hard withdrawing was over (2wks of acute symptoms) I stopped all of the natural stuff and didn’t have any problems coming off them!!
good luck,
rach

I was on one 20 mg Cipramil a day for 3 years – post marriage break up. I have always been a slim person until this last 2 yrs I realised I was piling on weight (after seeing a photograph!) I decided maybe it was time to kiss these tablets goodbye. Slowly I cut down about 6 weeks ago, then ceased all tablets about 3 / 4 weeks ago. Thought I was doing ok but I feel awful this week, weepy angry sad confused tired lost shaky, weird tightness in throat, feel like taking a half dose
I know that’s giving in. Starting to wonder if it’s worth going through these withdrawals. If a 20 mg tablet is going to keep me sane well … Oh I don’t know.
I’ll keep trying as long as I can, I’ve never had to take pills in my life until these things :/
sorry I’m so negative
Thanks for listening xx

Hi Sheesh, don’t be sorry you are so negative. I’m the same way. I want to have better outlook but I wonder if it is still the withdrawal? I have been off these awful pills for about 2 months now and I think I should be ok by now. But I’m not. I want to crawl away sometimes. Maybe the long cold winter with all the snow is getting me down too. I wish I never, ever took those pills. I check this site every day, looking for someone to tell me when all this will go away….

Hi there guys I have been off cipramil since 5 January like Sheesh I too have piled on the weight within 18 months I have put on about 15 kilos UNBELIEVABLE the withdrawals do go away and although I felt my personality did not change when I was on these tablets I do find my emotions seem to be more extreme, when I get angry I feel very angry when I watch a sad movie I cry but it has been so long since I felt this way so maybe these are normal feelings. I personally feel that the withdrawals were worth it as I feel 100% fine except my emotions seem stronger, as for the weight I just don’t feel as hungry as I did before and also feel alittle more motivated to go walking so I am hopeful the weight will drop.
Anyway guys and gals thinking of you all. If you really feel you can’ cope with the withdrawal don’t beat yourself up it may not be the right time for YOU just try again another time the important thing is to feel well enough to enjoy life. Good Luck

Hi everyone-
Well, i was slowly cutting down form 10 mg per day to every third day…….and then i got the worst flu i’ve had in my life – been in bed 4 days and it’s still not feeling much better. The pains in my head have been apalling. Today i started to feel a bit beter adn i’ve been hit by the worst nausea….sweats, prickly skin, wanting to vomit, shaking legs..I think i’ll have to go back to maybe 5 mg a day and see if that straightens out a bit. I feel so confused today, what with the flu aswell and very weepy.
Things i want to know are – ar ethe pains in my head from the Ciotalopram? How long does the nausea last? I’ve only had migraines in the last five years and the pains ar ethe same pains i get then as i have now……..were they migraines? or was it the citalopram? My doctor was useless regarding any of these questions. I have a new doctor – i think i’ll have to go back and ask. It’s so difficult to get an appointment.
Does anybody ever get clear of this stuff?

I was presribed Citalopram 2 years ago at the age of 37 after being suicidal due to severe chronic pain caused by a lower back injury. I initially took 40 mg and then last october weaned myself down to 30 then 20mg.

Each back opration i have had has decreased rather than increased my mobility and life seemed to be a futile struggle of drugs (morphine etc. etc.) and pain. The citalopram did the trick, and with counselling life seemed to be on track and i accepted the disability and pain as being part of me.

Just before xmas i had a car accident which caused whiplash and left me unable to use my crutches and more or less housebound for 3 weeks. just after this time i forgot to refil my prescription and late on a wednesday night realised i only had enough tablets to take half a dose (10mg) until i could get more on the Monday morning. The reduction was no problem and by monday i had decided that i wasn’t going to go back on the tablets.

that was about 3 weeks ago.

I then had ‘Flu’, then electric shocks in my tongue. i mentioned it to the GP in passing who shrugged it off. slowly these shocks, which for those of you who remember it are like eating ’space dust’ seemed to spread and by the end of each day i am left with them shocking my head and arms.

I panicked last night convinced the pains were as a result of the car accident and that i was going to be left with neck problems as well as the lower back.

it was all too much and the tears and tantrums reared their ugly head along with panic. i was up early again today waiting for the GP to open and get in there.

I was seen by a different dr today who said she didn’t have any idea why i had these symptoms and to go back to my spinal specialist. My heart sank and i sobbed.

Tonight i found your messages and i sobbed again. this time tears of joy. thank you all for letting me know i’m not falling apart ( even more! ).

The weight gain , exhaustion, mental numbness, caused by these drugs are warned about, so why could no one explain the withdrawal effects.

at least tonight i am smiling. lets hope this natural, non drug induced smile lasts.

good luck to you all.

Hello all.

This is my first day of taking a reduced dosage. I’ve been on 20mg of citalopram for about 5-6 weeks but due to side effects (sexual disfunction) I have decided to come off them. My mood has been so much better since taking the drug and things in my life are going great at the moment. I hope I can use all the possitive things I have to get me off the drug.. I’m now on 10mg and will take this doseage for 5 days, then it will be further reduced to 10mg every other day.

After reading all the above threads I hope I don’t experience severe witdrawl symptoms. The fact that I’ve only been on them for a short period hopefully means it’s not going to be as bad as what I’ve read above.

Goodluck to you all and I’ll let you know how I get on. Stay safe and keep positive x

Hi all,
with ref to thread 249, Can anyone tell me when the jumping/fireworks effects stop?? I am 3 weeks into this.

hi, ihave been off cittalopram for 8 weeks now. i have had a really bad week with anciety , all of a sudden. i will be starting a new job so maybe that is on my mind. i do not want to go back on the tablets as i feel i am doing really well, but can anyone tell me that this is normal feeling great for a cople of days and then bad, it is like a rollercoaster ride.

Hi Julie (252) even in the last 3 week i have been roller-coastering… Had a great day yesterday despite still having the jumps. Couldn’t sleep then, so i was worried i was sick again and needed to go back on the tablets. I don’t think my husband liked me asking him at 3.45am either. Oh well !!. Today i feel fine again . I am sure that other people who have been off this longer will be able to reassure you more but already the good times seem to be lasting for longer periods than the bad. Try to reflect and i am sure you will see how much you have acheived. Good luck with your new job, maybe it will help distract you while your symptoms pass.

Hi, I’ve been on 20mg citalopram since November 2006, they have really worked for me and I feel back to normal now. My doctor says to wean myself off them now by gradually cutting down the doseage. I’m going on a carribean cruise in 3 and a half week and have cut down to 10mg a day but am concerned as my doctor says to carry on taking 10mg a day until I go on holiday and then just stop. I am very concerned about this after reading this website, can anyone give me any advice? I really don’t want to ruin my holiday as its a special holiday for me and my partner and we’ve been saving for it for nearly 2 years

Thanks

Relieved to have found this site.My GP was very dismissive when I told her I was having withdrawal symptoms. I was on 20mg for 4 years and have been reducing the dose very slowly over the last year. I’d stabilised on 10mg a day but cut it to 10mg every other day about 10 days ago.I feel disorientated and trippy and have that thing other people described of turning my head and it taking a while for my brain to catch up.I also feel weepy,anxious, jumpy and hyper-sensitive to everything around me.Today I had a panic attack.The doc seems to think that because 10mg is a “sub-therapeutic” dose I shouldn’t have withdrawal symptoms from cutting down to 5mg. It’s bad enough trying to cope with the symptoms without the GP implying that I’m imagining the whole thing.I wish I knew how long this would go on for. If it’s only a couple more weeks then I’ll grit my teeth and push on through.Does anyone know if it makes a difference how long you’ve been on it for? I’ve been on it altogether for 5 years. Thanks and good luck to anyone else going through this.

Hi there

I was wondering if someone could help me. I have recently come off Citalopram on a very slow process. Everything was fine but I have been off it for nearly 2 weeks completely and I have ( what I can only describe ) as heart fluttering sensations. It is nearly like a strong pulse coming from my heart that travels up my neck.

It is horrible but I think if others have had similiar experiences I would feel better and not as if something is seriously wrong with me.

Anyone help?

Kelly

Hi all

I am so glad to have found this thread with all you people giving your version of withdrawal events! However it also scares me reading about how long some people’s side affects last, but we just have to remain positive I guess.

My psych specialist told me to go on reduced dosage of half a tablet for a month, then stop altogether. I have the utmost respect for my psychiatrist, but I think maybe I didn’t listen close enough to the withdrawal sideaffects. I have been cold since the 19th after having taken half for a month as directed, but have suffered from tingling, dizzy ‘twinges’ and severe vomiting on two occasions (today, for instance, I have spent most of my afternoon staring at the porcelain of the toilet bowl). I don’t know when I’ll be able to go back to work, but have been told the withdrawal should have now peaked. I started to feel ‘weird’ about three days after going off citalopram as prescribed.

I am thinking perhaps healthcare professionals don’t tell you the full withdrawal details as this would probably put us off taking it in the first place! However, I have to say, I am able to rationalise this whole process much better than I could ratinalise life when I was depressed. For that I am grateful – the days of getting out of bed at noon feeling depressed I hope to never return to. Although i feel like crap right now on day 8, i know that by hanging in there and making sure my GP sees me and knows what’s going on, things have to improve!

I have complete empathy for all the people sufering above!

Helen

Angela – I personally would suggest you withdraw off citalopram after your cruise – the side affects clearly differ from person to person and you never know, you might spend your holiday rugged up in bed like i am right now – that or reschedule the holiday for after you have come off citalopram and the side affects have stabilised. But remember, stay positive. You will get through it!

Angela I too would definetly advise you to keep going with the 10mg until you return from your holiday after all whats another 3 weeks I fortunately only had side affects for 2 weeks but they weren’t that pleasant and basically felt like crap I just think that the whole idea of being here is to enjoy life so don’t jepodise your holiday. Have a wonderful time – look at it as the end of your time on these pills happily throw them away but do it after – but your choice . have FUN

Thanks so much for your comments, I really appreciate it. Think I will stay on 10mg until after my cruise. One reason I really wanted to come off citalopram before was so that I could have a few drinks on holiday. My doctor told me I couldn’t drink of citalopram and I haven’t had a drink since November, has anyone else been drinking alcohol? Maybe I’d be ok drinking on the reduced 10mg doseage

Angela
I have been drinking wine whilst on citalopram and to be honest it makes no difference to the tablets or the way I feel, just take it easy, try and see how it goes before your cruise. I stopped the pills last thursday and feel really strange. My doctor said to just stop and if I get bad side effects to take half a pill. I was on 20mg. I am so dizzy, haven’t had the brain zaps as yet. Dreams are so vivid that sometimes I wake in the morning and find it hard to seperate reality from the dreams. I want to come off them as I want to reclaim my emotions and empathy. The pills made me emotionally dead. I know I will have ups as well as downs but I want to feel human again! So glad I found this site, it’s good to know I’m not alone!

Just realised in my last post I sound so anti citalopram, I’m not, they really helped me over a tough spell and I am glad that I took them, however short term was right for me. Another reason for stopping them is that I have put on over 2 stone, even
though I have been watching my diet. I assume that maybe they decrease your metabolic rate? just hope it comes off as quickly as it went on. Also hoping for an improvement in my love life! (mind you being so overweight won’t help me even if my libido does come back,) Can anyone who has come off cipramil tell me how long before I feel like my old self?

Angela have a knees up I have drunk alcohol the whole time and I was on 20mg pills I felt no different to prior. My doctor said it was fine to drink but she said some people said to her that the effects were quicker!! However because you haven’t drunk for a while take it easy because the ill effects are more likely to do with your abstinence than the pills. Go have a great time enjoy the ‘champers darling’ Don’t let these little white pills handicap your holiday at all!!!!!

Oh thank goodness i found you guys!! I stopped 40mg of citalopram 7 days ago and the symptoms seem to be getting worse. I have had the brain shakes, feeling about 2 seconds behind, headaches, fatique and now nausea. I am determined to just be done with citalopram but this is brutal.

Thanks so much for your comments! Going to have a test run of alcohol this weekend – can’t wait to have a drink or two! Will deal with completely stopping citalopram after my cruise. After reading this website I am really shocked at the withdrawal symptons, really do think we should have been warned about them before starting the tablets in the first place

Angela, make sure you send us some details of your holiday so we can all enjoy it with you. don’t worry about the side affects til they happen, as you can see some people have no or little withdrawal. don’t let the anxiety of stopping ruin your fun. Sitting here in nice cold england i wish i was going with you. ENJOY IT ALL.

Hello!

I see a few people have given Angela feedback – it’s great to see that although we have taken citalopram to stabilish our life, (and maybe a little negative about it in our response to withdrawal issues), we all seem pretty level headed with advice for others! For me, I think I have to thank citalpram at least a little for helping me stabilish my thought processes in a level-headed enough way to post suggestions and responses on this thread!!

As for the alcohol issue, my specialist never advised me against drinking it and to be honest, he is a professor in his field (that isn’t supposed to sound snobbish, more to put you at ease). I think some health professionals would like to wrap people up in cotton wool, but there’s nothing wrong with having a glass or two – as long as it’s not something too pathological of course as a hangover can easily turn into a depressant in itself….

My update: it’s 12 days now since I stopped taking citalopram after being taken off them slowly by my specialist. I can honestley say I’ve turned the corner – third day without vomiting! Admittedly I do have the shocks and dizziness, which tend to be there or not there at different times of the day, but I am happy to report you get through the really bads bits. I can now cope pretty well with the dizziness now that the other big problem of vomiting/nausea has disaapated. Other symptoms still include feeling a bit teary when someone asks how I am etc, vivid dreams (I woke myself from one last night!), pins and needles and incoherance to some degree – but in no way are things as bad as I had it a a fee days ago. I feel semi ‘normal’ after what my GP told me I had had a more strong withdrawal than most patients she’d seen.

I have been taking homeobotanical drops for the nausea, dizziness, stomach pain etc and these remedies have so far done wonders in the two days I have been taking them. If you can find a GP specialising in homeopathy or a naturopath etc who knows what to prescribe and who you can get to quick enough, then homeobotanicals specifically for things such as dizzines/motion sickness/vomiting etc and ones to calm an active mind/restlessness, definitely help. Of course these remedies haven’t got rid of everything, but in two days, I certainly feel like being a bit more social and am upbeat about the future.

Hang in there – it definitely passes.

Cheers!
Helen

It’s only 2 day since i wished Angela good luck on her holidays but what a 2 days. I hit rock botom after 26 days citalopram free and called the crisis care team.
i have had a huge amount of help over the past 48 hours and have had to finally accept that my symptoms are not only withdrawal but also the return of my depression. Seeing psych consultant for a full overhaul next week. we can’t all make it drug free and it took more guts to admit i’m ill than it did to deal with the ongoing withdrawal.
found a great quote that has helped me by Le Rochefoucauld, ‘The defects & faults of the mind are like wounds in the body, even when every imaginable care has been taken to heal them up , still there will be a scar left behind, and the are in continual danger of breaking the skin and bursting out again.
to all those managing-keep at it, to all those struggling-don’t go it alone.
Good Luck

im 6 days into withdrawal ,after taking cipramil for 7 years at 60mg a day, i dropped down to 40mg for 6months then 20mg for 3 months now having shocks in hands terrible headache to the front of myhead and face, really angry feeling and absolutely everything is playing on my nerves, i have 3 kids and got soo wound up earlier that i took half a tablet and feel ive already failed to come off the cipramil!! im scared to drive incase i go dizzy ,i feel like ive got sinusitus is this normal? IVE ALSO PUT WEIGHT ON ABOUT 3+ stone my doctor reckons cipramil isnt addictive but within a hour of taking half a tablet my withdrawel symptoms got a bit better so i rest my case,will drop to quarter of a tablet for a week or so and see how i go ,didnt realise how numb these pills kept me till now!!!!!!

Hey. None of us are alone it seems! Its interesting to see how we’ve all described the weird dizziness. I stood in front of a local pharmacist yesterday and told her I had “Star Trek” sound effects in my head and once I mentioned citalopram, she pretty much knew what I meant! I stopped a week ago after coming down from 20 to 5 in about 3 weeks and I’m still feeling rubbish. I guess we just have to give it time but its frustrating isn’t it? !! Keep going is my message to anyone going through the same feelings. Its got to stop soon! Good luck xx

Hello all,
I just wanted to say how great it is to read this website, i told the doctors that after 10yrs i want off this tablets and that i need help with the withdrawal symptoms, – well 3 psychiatrists decided that i was just a depressed person underneath the tablets and that the tablets are stopping me from being depressed so i should stay on them for the rest of my life – has anyone else experienced this with their doctor?
Well i have tried to come off these tablets a number of times, last year i got down to 2mg – but i was told to go back to 20/10mg alternate days as my parents thought i was getting depressed again.
Its been 6 days now since i have taken my 10mg tablets, today has been the worse, iam currently having headaches and what i can describe as body judders – a bit like when your shaking from the cold. went shopping today and walking downstairs was a nightmare – thought i was going to fall down with the dizziness, also had aches and pains at back of neck – fell asleep for 2 hrs too.
the previous comment about keeping yourself occupied seems to work as it was only after stopping playing a computer game that the body judders started?

I hope everyone the best with getting off this citalopram x

I was just wondering if anyone has used a SAD lamp to help with depressive symptoms? i bought one 5 days ago and the 2 days that i used it – i actually felt positive, will let you know if it was a passing phase or if it is useful.
Please let me know if there are other things i could be doing to help manage withdrawal symptoms.

Hi all
Thank you so much for wishing me well on my holidays, its not long now! Can’t wait! Had my test run of alcohol on saturday night after not drinking since November, think I went a bit mad, as ended up having 6 glasses of wine, then was extremely sick! Probably because I hadn’t drunk for so long. Am feeling positive though today as having felt quite depressed for the last couple of weeks when I cut down from 20mg to 10mg, that depression seems to have passed now so think I’ve just successfully completed my first stage of withdrawal. Going to stay on 10mg for another5 weeks til after my hols then cut down to 5mg.

Funny you should all mention weight gain as I put a stone on in the first 5 weeks of taking citalopram, since then I’ve been exercising a lot which definately helps with the weight issue and makes you feel a lot more positive. For the last 8 weeks I’ve been dieting and lost half a stone, it really has been a struggle as I’ve gone to bed hungry most nights, but am desparate to lose weight for my hols.

I so feel for Sarah-Jane, really wish I could help you in some way. Think its a good thing to stay on the tablets though, after all if you have diabetes you wouldn’t think twice about staying on tablets for the rest of your life! As long as the tablets make you feel better keep taking them. Good luck to you

Angela, thank you …. don’t know what else i can say to you, but i mean it . we are here & all able to support each other, remember that we need to be selfish in our approach to our health. Safety is my most important priority right now rather than worrying about failure or acheivement, as far withdrawal goes. maybe there is something out there to help me that wont give me the side effects while i’m taking it that citalopram did and mean that i wont be as determined to need to stop taking it. it seems my depression ”is for life, not just for christmas”.

hi all, not glad but relieved to see its not me going completly isane with these really nasty tablets ive been on 40mg for about a month after increasing from 20mg for 3 months, the strange thing is i was getting these horrible effects while taking these things so decided to go cold turkey off the 40mg with a srtaight cut off point,a week later and i have my brain in a gold fish bowl and as for the the nightmares which were bad allready have moved into the absoloutely rediculous catergary as not noing what is fact from fiction, dont know how long this will go on for but cant take much more, i would never ever taken these things if i had known about this, from now on i will check all my medication online before taking anything and make my own decisions, sadest of all was realising that due to chronic 24/7 pain which is still undiagnosed my doctor put me on apache which is its street name which is 80 times more powerfull than morphine, so here i am trapped incredably unhappy and not noing what to do,what a great life! hope you all do better than me gl everyone..:(

despite my entry 2 days ago i feel i have turned a huge corner. saw a great consultant today who said even the suicidal feelings are as a result of withdrawal. It may be that i will always have a pre-disposition towards depression but he thinks that right now i am safe and well and will manage.

SIDE EFFECTS DAY 30. the tongue fireworks, brain mush, odd stuff etc all seem to reduced to late evening now and are not exhausting like they were before.He said i should not have been on them 3 years. i am taking a low dose of st. johns wort to get me through the last of the side effects and out the other side.

DARRYN check entry 249 I also have chronic pain syndrome . cope with one thing at a time.. be gentle with yourself and take time out when you need it. try being in a place with less noise or stimulation. Rest as much as you can and keep in touch.. good luck

Hi all, just a quick update and thanks for the reference sarah-jane,if anyone is thinking of coming off these tablets what ever you do i would not advise a straight cold turkey aproach unless there is a specific reason like apparent conflict with the other drugs so really i had little choice when it came to my decision , went to funeral yesterday of my mums sister and seeing my parents in so much distress i was completely useless and fell apart like a hopeless human being ,was supposed to be there to support, being of a fragile metal nature or wreck as i call it i was a passenger, but i suppose these things happen, hoping soon i can stand on my own without falling over like a drunk and stop being sick being off food completely for ages and lost over 3 stone also concerns me tired, weak, but still cant sleep for more than 2 hours this is so annoying trying to think of good things….c-ya and gl all..

hi all ,day 13 had 20 mg tablet last sunday felt like id failed but am trying not to give in and take another one ,feel really ill ive got this weird feeling when i walk , its like head to toe tingling and i feel like im walking like a spaceman if anyone else has experienced this please let me know as im freaking out a bit about this!!!!

I have been on Celexa for over 6 years. Recently (about 3 months) I have been experiencing extreme fatigue. I couild sleep 14 hours a day easily. My Doctor said it was an effect of Celexa because I have been on it so long. Has anyone else experienced the fatigue after long term use? I am weaning myself of now and I feel pretty bad. My worse symptom is the dizziness. I feel like I am floating 2 feet above my head and if I move my head to quickly I get a vertigo sensation. I am determined to get off this med as I have been on so long. I have put on 20+ lbs and my libido is nearly non-existant. I am sorry others are going through bad times with this drug but I am glad to hear I am not crazy! Good luch and God bless to all.

AMANDA – don’t feel you have failed at all, failing would be being beaten by the depression and not being here to read our odd little notes to each other.the tingling gets worse with movement and tiredness in my experience . I am day 35 now and only getting it when i’m really tired.
KAT- i was sleeping 16 hours & awake 8 and then every 8-10days or so i would wake up have a drink take tablets and go back to sleep for up to 28 hours at a time. didn’t matter what was happening around me or how much noise etc i still couldn’t stay awake. vertigo and head rushes have all more or less passed in me now and despite being suicidal and going to mental health unit last week, they are convinced this is all withdrawal.
Consultanat told me in Germany and many other European countries St Johns Wort is the 1st drug prescribed to help with depression and also with withdrawal syndrome. but when you want to stop taking this even though it is a herbal remedy a slow withdrawal is still best.

DARRYN sorry for your bereavement but at least you attended the funeral which is an acheivment for someone in a fragile state. staying at home would have been not showing or offering any support, i’m sure your family appreciated it. pat yourself on the back for what you did acheive. Apache is Fentanyl which can have deppresive side efects (it is used as an anaesthetic) maybe a total drug review, some TLC and time out would still do you good.

Feeling really upbeat about withdrawal now, its that making me mad not me.Hang in there those of you at the start you’lll get there, but ask for help..I have learn’t to ask when i need it, family, friends, not just doctors, use other people , because if the roles were reversed we’d do it for them

Please help me – I am with someone who has come off antidepressants (Cipramil) after 18 months of taking 2 pills per day. He’s been off them for around 3 months, cold turkey

He’s experiencing nausea, dry-wretching vomiting, and feels like he wants to cry all the time.

The pills were originally prescribed for anxiety, not depression, but these pills have MADE him depressed and sick coming off them. I feel like they are making his life horrible and it is heartbreaking for me.

I want to hear, PLEASE, from anyone who has had withdrawals go on for 2-3 months or more, and when can he expect this to end? He’s at the end of his rope and it breaks my heart to see him so sad and unwell.

The sickness (dry-wretching) isn’t as bad as when he first came off them, but its still there.

It would be of comfort to know other people who’ve had long withdrawals.

Please help me, I love this person. HOW LONG DOES THIS GO ON FOR?

LAURA- THERE IS NO DEFINATE ANSWER. get your friend some help from a professional. anti reflux tablets are available (Nexium). the withdrawal symptoms can last a long time and i was told by the hospital last week that after 3 years on drugs it could take me months and even then the symptoms could recur. Don’t forget we have been messing with the brains chemical balance. that is why it affects each person differently. you sound desperate yourself.. get some help for both of you before you fall apart. well done for being so supportive , going through withdrawal with support is much easier.
Good Luck to both of you

thanx sarah-jane i really appreciate your comment, took 10mg cipramil on saturday night because i could’nt stop shivering, as usual symptoms improved !!im trying not to be negative about taking the odd pill by telling myself that 30mg in 15 days is nothing compared to my original 60mg per day,SIDE EFFECTS SO FAR ARE-crampy feeling in my neck, tingling mostly in my hands, really bad headaches which at the moment are constant ,extreme tiredness, breathless and suffocating feeling,very agitated,wierd shivering feeling, IMPROVEMENTS SO FAR- return of sex drive ,take care everyone write again soon xx

Amanda – well done.. day 36 for me today and its headaches, disturbed sleep and nausea. there doesn’t seem to be one lot of side effects to just get used to.
maybe it would be good if you tried to reduce the wa the hospital told me to. take a low dose maybe 5 or 10mg for six days, then miss a day. do the same the next week, theen take it for 5 days and miss a day. do this for two weeks. and keep going reducing by one day every other week. research from them seems to be that this way there is less withdrawal reducing frequency than reducing milligrams
It seems like it will take for ever but at least you can get on and have a life and some fun while stopping. St Johns Wort may be helping me but who knows how nutty i’d be without it!!

Amanda stay positive and stay in touch.

It may not be an original comment but hey what a relief to know the ‘brain whooshes’ are normal.
I’m 5 days off it now and struggling. Although the drug did stabilize my mood I am certain it was not dealing with the underlying cause of my depression. Anyone out there got any experience of talking therapies that have helped – my gp seems very pro medication and hasn’t discussed the alternatives in much depth. Any suggestions?

PIP – i have worked in the mental health field for about 10 years but haven’t worked for 5 now because of my back injury, but i would definatley try cognitive behaviour therapy. i have taugt the technique and undergone some treatment for myself in the past and will be restarting again soon.
CBT basically tries to get us to look at things from another angle. Negative thinking lowers pain thresholds so for me it is looking at my pain and saying i can do x y or z and its going to hurt but thats ok.
its worth a try and its got a good long term track record, and unlike some other things it gives good practical coping stratagies rather than trying to decide wether you should or shouldn’t have been breast fed as a baby.
persevere you’ll get there and the fact that you want help is a great step forward.

Hi and thanks to everyone for their comments. I feel much better now. I was prescribed citalopram for anxiety and depression I was experiencing after 20 years of active alcoholism. They were a great help and I didn’t experience too many side effects while I was on them. They helped me cope with work and address many of my issues.
6 months ago I started working out and felt my mood and confidence improving. So I decided to kick the citalopram cold turkey. That was a big mistake. I never realised how powerful this drug was until I stopped taking them. I had dreadful headaches and whenever I turned to look at something, it felt as though electric shocks were passing through my brain. I went back to my doctor and he put me on 10mg. It took a couple of weeks for my system to accept them again, causing me more headaches and depression. But after that I was fine. I eventually cut down to 5mg and now I’m nearly 3 weeks off them. I’m still experiencing headaches, dry mouth and sensitivity, but after reading these comments I can see that I’m still experiencing withdrawals and they will pass eventually. Thanks to all. Spirituality is helping me with many of my life issues. I have a higher power in my life.

cant even remember how many days ive been off pills starting to get things mixed up very bad headaches ,neck hurting, crying ,feel like ive got a cold im shivering and really worn out finding it hard to cope with normal daily activities,total lack of concentration which seems worse in the evening has anyone experienced breathlesness ? this is still concerning me !!!hi sarah jane thanx again x

Amanda – all of your symptoms are the same as i have been through. some of the breathlessness seemed to be linked in my case to increased activity when i had severe brain shake / head shocks and think it could have been like mild panic attacks, which don’t forget these tablets have also been supressing.
DAY 41 TODAY most symptoms going or gone and its not until i go back over previous entries i realise how well i am now.
TODAY I HAVE DECIDED THAT I AM NOT GOING THROUGH WITHDRAWAL BUT AM IN RECOVERY.
The change of mindset over just one small thing is really helping me. Ican finally live day to day reasonaly normally and feel positive its all getting better,. good luck

well done sarah jane!!!!!!! ive looked through my comments and im on day 20..cant believe ive got this far ive been on anti depressants for 13 yrs altogether but only on cipramil for around 8 yrs ,when i look back to the early days i realise how far ive come along and i know ive got a long way to go but im determined to get through this oh well talk soon take care everyone xx

For those of you going through this withdrawl, I sooooo feel for you. I have been going through the same thing, but I was on effexor and stumbled upon this page to research Citalopram, to see if it did the same thing and apparently does! It’s awful & just so you know Effexor does the same thing. Those wierd brain “zaps” and the dissiness is absolutely horrible. My doctor told me the way to get rid of that is to give me a one time does of Prozac at 90mg and this works because Prozac has a half life of about a week and no withdrawl symtoms, where Effexor and Citralopram have a half life of only 48 hours. So take the prozac so you feel normal again, (within about 3 hours) and the prozac will stay longer in you and your symptoms of the withdrawl of the other med is gone.—Does that make sense??I know what to think, it’s just hard to type it into words. I now feel completely normal, so hopefully you can talk to your doctor and see if a big one time dose of Prozac will work for you!
Best of luck to everyone who is going through this hell, it will go away!

i feel i’m going crazy.
i stopped taking generic celexa about a week ago.. have been sleeping alot and then snapped today. snapped. took off in my car.. can’t stop crying. feel sick to my stomach.. like i have vertigo or something. constant aches. is this going to end? is this going to end? i feel like i’m in a black tunnel. i was on the meds for about a year.. came off slowly.. my parents and boyfriend are trying to understand.. but i feel very aggressive, angry.. and ready to throw my future away. is this normal ? will this end ? ??????

hi makalou, tell me about it !!!!! went shopping yesterday and had to phone my husband to come and get me as i couldnt drive cause i felt so ill, im off cipramil for 22 days now and can say im now having a really bad time coming off i thought id got thruogh the worst of it already but now im not so sure, DONT GIVE UP take it a day at a time at the mo i feel like giving up but i got 3 kids and dont want to be a zombie anymore its not fair to feel so low !!! write back will check in this evening . amanda x.

MAKALOU – don’t worry your not on your own, i’m now 6 weeks drug free if you read back to my previous entries started at number 249 and basically every 2 or 3 numbers since then you can see i have been high and very low, almost commiting suicide and wanting the drugs again, then within a couple of days feeling better about my mood. If you are in the UK phone your local hospital and ask for the mental health crisis team. this sounds drastic but they are so used to people going through withdrawal that they can help within hours. stick in there and look at the conversations above with amanda as well, she is a few weeks ahead of you and a few behind me so we are all following the same road and here to offer support with what limited info we have.
six weeks on it has been, hard work for me and my whole family but it is paying off now. Just be Safe and stay calm & positive.

hi sarah jane, can you make sense of this i felt so ill today yet by late afternoon i was with my middle child at school in a parents evening and not a shake or tingle to be seen whats going on? i feel a bit sick and the loo’s been my best friend today but im fine at the mo, i just cant make sense of it..one minute my heads exploding with pain the next its gone..you just dont know what to expect next, ……makalou take care we’re all here in the same shitty situation just tell us whats going on with you and 9 out of 10 times i bet we can say ” been there done that” speak again soon amanda xx

hi sarah jane, worst day so far or so i thought then this afternoon went to my sons parents evening and there wernt a symptom in sight WHATS GOING ON!! i was ready to throw the towel in and give up at around midday now i feel ok and quite possitive, god knows what tommorrow will bring, a yoh yoh’s got nothing on me !! up down up down , …MAKALOU stay strong we’re all here for the same thing if we can help we will take care all talk soon amanda xx.

Amanda- distraction is probably the answer, while your brain has got other stuff going on it doesn’t have time to react to withdrawal. just keep going your almost there.

This is the greatest thing I’ve found on the Web. We are not alone! They are right. Don’t give up. I was on 40mg/day for 4 years. I started while recovering from alcohol and drug addiction. Lost the craving for the stuff but started feeling a lot of depression and anxiety last fall. Decided to taper off over 4 weeks. Felt lousy, edgy, restless, less patient, electric like shocks and a swoosh sound when I moved my eyes. It’s been almost 2 months since I quit and now and I feel great. I have much more energy. Lobito has revived. (I’m a 54 year old male). I obviously never really needed it once I got past the alcohol and drugs which probably caused my depressions and mainly anxiety. It’s a lifesaver if you need it but TAKE CARE WITH WITHDRAWING!

Love you all
Allen

hi ,me again day 23!! good day today a few shakes, a headache but nothing too horrendous, thanks for writing back sarah jane r u ok if every day was like today i could sail through this withdrawal but im not counting on it one thing i noticed today was that i was short tempered with everyone if its not one thing its another ,but atleast i did’nt feel as bad as yesterday morning, well done allen take care to u all speak tommorrow amanda xx.

Just quit after 3 months into a 6 month stint on Citalopram for acute anxiety. The anxiety was gone but I was experiencing a plethora of strange and indescribable side affects, the most unpleasant of these was a twitchiness and loss of coordination. When brought to the attention of my Dr, he casually stated that these were par for the course.

I am experiencing many of the withdrawal symtoms that have been previously indicated. Getting off this awful drug is motivation enough to put up with these symptoms. Despite the claims, citalopram did not restore my “normal” self. I am closer to my normal self each day since I have stopped swallowing that ugly little pill.

Brain chemistry is not yet even close to being understood, so I don’t think we should be so cavalier about manipulating it. Take an SSRI as a last resort and make sure you understand the ride you are getting on.

I’ve been suffering from severe depression for the last three years, and have never had much luck with anti-depressants. I have been on Prozac for just over a year, and it’s just not seemed to have a postive effect. I really wanted my doctors to refer me to a mental-health community care centre, so I could concentrate on getting better through counselling, but they wouldn’t do it because apparently, I am not in sufficient danger to myself. This is a ridiculous statement for them to make considering I have three suicide attempts on my medical records; the most recent of which was just last week.

Anyway. All that aside, my GP diagnosed me Citalopram earlier today, and as I always do before taking a medicine, I Googled its side effects, long term implications, and withdrawal symptoms. After reading this page, and empathising a great deal with all of you, I am worried about beginning to take the tablets. I am still only 18, and feel I shouldn’t be taking drugs at such an early age. Would you recommend going back to my doctor and asking for a different medication? I don’t really know what I should do. I’m a massive worrier, and I also suck at taking medication regularly. If it’s going to seriously affect me, I don’t think I should do it. What do you all suggest

P.S. Sorry for my incoherence. My head is a little messed up right now.

LIBERTY – by pass your GP and contact the crisis team at the mental health unit yourself, if you are that suicidal they will not turn you away, look for alternatives to the drugs which will just mask your problems rather than find their cause . there are many different therapies out there. your gp has just gone the cheapest route. hold out and be strong for what you feel you want . You are young & you have a long and happy life ahead of you and i am sure a good diagnosis and therapy will see you through. take care of yourself..
AMANDA hope you are doing ok today. i have had no symptoms for about 3 days now !!!! its only taken 7 weeks to get here. not so long considering how long we have been medicated for.
I got signed off by the mental health unit today who say i am through withdrawaal, not depressed and on a good road to recovery. i wonder how long ago i could have done this, but i have never felt strong enough before, so maybe just listening to our bodies is the right thing to do. feel like patting myself on the back. all i have to do now is lose weight, quit smoking, resolve to be tidier blah blah blah, by then i should be really boring. life is fun today though.
i hope it will be for all of you soon ..
i will keep in touch & amanda keep writing so i now you are getting there too.

hi liberty,your doctor sucks “big time” you need to see a pshyciatrist they would be the ones to refer you to stress management coarses etc.i cant believe your doctors lack of concern and can tell u now that you should be a priority case and be admitted for help my brother worked in mental health for 11 years and he’s dissgusted with your doctor!!!I’d insist on getting a referral to a mental health team and play hell until you get it !! as for taking cipramil it helps but id try an alternative first p.s you dont want seroxat either cause they’re the same as cipramil.. take care liberty write again soon and let us know whats happening ..be strong..amanda xx

hi sarah jane , we must of been writing our notes the same time, but it took me forever to concentrate on mine!! I had a not bad day until about 5 oclock then things got bad the headaches from hell were first to appear then electric shocks,followed closely by what i think was a sort of mild panic attack then came the wierdest thing i went cold and shivering and my toes turned blue !!which scared the shit out of me ,i walked to the kitchen and my toes returned to normal then i forced a sandwich down and now ifeel better than i have all day but im scared that those feelings i had earlier are my panic attacks coming back! anyway enough of me ..CONGRATULATIONS Im so proud of you !! I hope this is the beginning of a new life for you from the bottom of my heart i really mean it , oh god im crying now, when is this ever gonna stop? look after yourself and write again soon i’ll keep trying as hard as ever its been 24 long days i hope i can make it .love amanda xx

CONGRATULATIONS SARAH JANE!!!! left comment earlier but didnt get printed for some reason…had good day until 5 oclock then the headache from hell arrived followed by what i think was a mild sort of panic attack..then the weirdest thing i went cold and shivvering and my toes turned blue!!!! which terrified me.. so i got up and walked about and they returned to normal i ate something and hey presto i feel good again ,im a bit scared cause i keep thinking that my panic attacks are coming back, but am still determined to be free from the pills talk again tommorrow love to all amanda xx

DAY26. i feel really good today a bit irritable but thats it nothing else!!!!!! I dont know what to do with myself, i feel like jumping for joy cause ive got no horrible withdrawal symptoms BUT dont want to count my chickens before they hatch either, anyway ive decided to go and watch my hubby playing rugby and get some of this lovely spring sunshine at the same time will let u all now what happens in the next few days (fingers crossed this could be the turning point for me) love amanda xxx

AMANDA – well done , knew you were strong enough to do it, hope that other people reading these threads back track on them to see where we have come from and finally gotten too.
I have almost forgoten how dark and hard it has been and am enjoying my new found freedom, laughing till i cry type of stuff. stay strong and positive for your man and your kids, they have been through hell and back with us, we must be special!!!.
Keep in touch
PS Did his team win

hi sarah jane, his team lost but i still enjoyed being out of the house and getting a bit of sun , been feeling good all day but started feeling shakey at about 9 oclock ,now thats gone and i cant sleep now!!!so decided to browse the net , its like being super alert,oh well its 3.20 in the morning and im knackered so im gonna just lie down even if i dont go to sleep, amanda xxx write again soon love amanda xxxxx

blimey… im just rattling from tramadol withdrawal and citalopram withdrawal is just topping it off with the brain shakes, thoughtr i can just stop these things and concentrate on my tramadol…… got that well wrong! good to see there are others feeling the same

Paul – welcome to the weird and wonderful world of withdrawal. its crap it takes ages and its hard work, but it is worth it in the end.
Amanda – Funny you should say that i was reading at half 3 this morning
WEEK 9 ( i think) withdrawal has been back to get me big time. felt for the last 48 hours like i was starting again. electric shocks, sickness, brain shakes, vertigo, knackered etc etc. got so bad saw gp who gave me some tablets to stick to my gum to stop the sickness, they are working. the penny has dropped!! its Hormones. yes you guessed it its that time of the month. does anyone else react differently during periods(sorry about this lads), and does it happen for long. at least i can type today, yesterday i couldn’t even see the screen. god why can’t you spell check these entries. stay focused to all of you on the road to recovery, in case you hit a speed bump!!

WHERE’S ANGELA- she went on her cruise ages ago,hope shes havin fun. when you get back get in touch and let us all know how your doing

PAUL _ Why are you doing both withdrawals together and making it harder on yourself..

Sorry SARAH JANE..cant help with period advice had hysterectomy 3 yrs ago so im post menapausal but can give u a insite on whats to come AH! AH! you really dont wanna know! coming to think of it when i was due on i used to get really breathless and panicky oh well at least my ops stopped that it has’nt done much else good! I had 2 hrs sleep last night im super knackered today,god if its not one thing its another feeling a lot better though but got a strange wobbly feeling in my head ,think i’ll try and have a kip this afternoon.

PAUL, I cant find my pill pack but are you supposed to take tramadol with cipramil when i read your post ‘alarm bells started to ring ‘ read up on it but im almost sure they advise against taking that combination, i may be wrong but double check (just incase) let me know, getting the withdrawel of these tablets over and done with in one go might be tempting but it could end up being a bit much for u to do all at once,and you could end up failing so take your time and think about it a bit more, but if you decide to continue we’ll be here for u.

just in now from docs he say 4 days and morphine is out my systm NOW ok i not really feeling anything all day (im in UK)and off cipramill too was taking 60mg daily but said i want to wean off what you do for me ??? so now on Mirtazapine….mmmmmmm you are so right i know it say on pack about the contra stuff from different drugs i looked and its there not with not to mix them ……. so we will see ive been on tramadol for 10yrs and cit.. for 9 months over to you truth speakers ….

Paul- i have also taken both together. didnt mean you shouldn’t be taking them , just maybe not stopping them at the same time.
I take Morphine, diclofenac, pregablin (Lyrica) plus the usual diazepam etc all for severe chronic pain syndrome from a lower back injury. i have come off of tramadol in the past to change drugs and seem to remember it wasn’t a long process but did have side effects like not sleeping, anxiety etc . as Citalopram withdrawal can also cause similar things you could be doubling your trouble. we aren’t your doctors though and as long as they are supportive and you trust them and have a good network of help around you i am sure you can do whatever you decide. you have already done the hard part and that was deciding you didn’t need the drugs. I was on them 4 years not three as i thought ( must have slept through one of them) and no one thought to tell me to stop i just felt i was better and strong enough to do it. So far, apart from minor glitches ( & a major hiccup week 3/4 ) I am 9 weeks out. so keep going and use everyone here to shout and rant at, ask the silly questions and we’ll probably give you silly answers (only messing) .
good night to you all.sleep well and write tommorow
oh and AMANDA Ta For that just waiting to go in to gynea myself!!

I stopped taking Citalopram about a week or two ago. I was taking 40 mg but it left me absolutely unable to sleep and I thought I would go crazy! The last few days though, I have been getting these little dizzy flashes. Very quick and not really obvious but still, I knew something was wrong. I visited the mighty internet to see what I could find and lo and behold! It must be the withdrawal from this drug. There’s no other explanation. Unbelievable. Citalopram is horrible. When I’m on it I can’t sleep, my palms are sweaty, and I felt like a zombie at my boss’s funeral a few weeks ago. Now going off of it I’m getting the nausea and dizzy flashes. Fun! Thank you guys so much for making me realize I’m not going crazy (Depressed, yes. Crazy, no.)

hi everyone, day 30 been a very good day so far,few brain zaps and thats about it,MICHELLE…WITHDRAWAL… whatever way it goes expect the unexpected…keep using this site and posting your comments ,questions or general grumps and we will all try to help and advise as best we can PAUL.. stay in touch and let us know how ur doing take care,SARAH JANE…much love 2 u look after yourself talk soon Amanda xxx.

WOW! I thought I was the only one. I had no way of describing the feeling. It feel s like a short circuit in my head every once in a while. I have been taking just 20mg for about 6 months and stopped a couple weeks ago. I would rather deal with the anxiety than deal with this stuff. It sure is nice to know I am not the only one, cold turkey how long will it take to stop?

Amanda am sorting out a hotmail address, let me know if you want it then we can chat without clogging up this site. Cognitive Therapy!! found a great web site that is really helping and good fun,part of an australian university site, try it see if you like it.
http://www.moodgym.anu.edu.au.
Love to all of you S.
MATT – no answer to that one, some people only have a few weeks, average seems to be about a month, but its not full on all of that time, symptoms decrease in frequency and strength and get less bothersome. dont be suprised if when they have gone one day they come back again. thats just what this stuff does. stick with it life is far better 9 weeks out than it was with the drug. good luck be strong

Hi Ive been on citalopram for 7yrs and have put on 3 stone in weight.managed to come off it for 6months in 2005 but got really depressed again when I found out my sister had a brain tumour.The first time I reduced slowly from 20mg and took fish oil.I want to try to come off thm again.So far have gone 4 days cold turkey as ran out and didnt get another prescription.I doubt this will work and will probably have to wean off slowly.The withdrawal symptoms usually take about a week to affect me.Have 3 weeks off work over Easter and am temted to go cold turkey.Any suggestions would be welcomed!

DAWN you’ve already started so why not try to keep going. ST JOHNS WORT will lessen side effects. from my own experience (10 weeks without) and many of the other threads on here, there seems to be different reactions in each person regardlesss of the speed at which you withdraw. I did the same as you and lost the plot completely for a while but came out the other side.we all log on regularly and can be your screaming post and answer questions when we can. your body and brain has obviuosly told you already enough is enough. So plan ahead, lots of support, lots of water and sleep as much as you can. keep in touch and stay strong.

Thanks Sarah-Jane it’s great to hear from others in the same boat!Tried St Johns Wort years ago and unfortunately it gave me stomach problems.Will keep trying and with support hope to succeed.You have done fantastically,well done you have inspired me to keep trying.Dawn

hi day 33!!! a heady feeling and weak feeling today, cant sleep ! its 3.10 and im wide awake but really shattered feeling, but lifes good ,still scared my panic attacks will come back but only time will tell,SARAH JANE ill have your hotmail address and we’ll chat on that then talk soon Amanda xx

DAWN- GO GIRL you’ve started so you CAN finish. keep in touch remember you are recovering now which is great
AMANDA – I’M SHOUTING in email AT YOU NOW.
W.U.T.I.W.U.F. —What U think is what U Feel !! rule number one.
think panic attack – panic attack happens – think recovered and calm guess what may happen. Have you had one yet, if not then maybe your old Amanda had them not my new friend Amanda, who is fun and happy, confident and brave ( and Knackered). Started that therapy course yet. it will help. When barry is back from watching footie i will get him to tell me my hotmail thingy. Behave yourself or next time i’ll email even louder at you !!!!!

well here again another early hours blog but not cos im down with this withdrawl, but cos i just finished talking with my girlfriend and am now going to sleep after a busy day of completely cleaning my flat today 14hrs ago !!!!!!!! im super and want you to know it CAN be beaten and IT DOES GO and YOU WILL GET UP AND DO THE HOOVERING… 7 days ago i wasnt even sure what day it was now i know i will be married in 18 months on the beach in lima …. paul

Hi all 6 days since I took a pill and dont feel too bad.Had a bad night last night,mind racing,shaky brain,numb leg&strange dreams but ok 2day and feeling positive!Going on a 5 day break to Poole 2mrw so hope Ill feel ok.paul glad to hear ur feeling good.Thanks for your encouragement SJ and hope you are feeling ok.I just hope I lose the weight Ive put on once off these pills.i know they ‘ re referred to as evil on here but I couldn’t have survived without them when i needed them…just hope I don’t need them anymore.Good luck to you all!!Speak when I’m back from my break.

me again, feeling depressed and panicky oh god is this ever gonna stop!!!! whats happening to me i was so happy last week and now im feeling crap, sorry to be so negative but it seems like u lot are the only ones that understands,sarah jane, i will try to be more possitive but at the moment im struggling.take care love amanda xx

Amanda – While you are feeling this bad its ok to be self indulgant. read back to your first entry and see how far you have come. It will stop, it has to, this chemical has affected our brains for a long time and is going to take a long time to let our brains cope normally, evenly and positiveley. you have already had these little glimmers of the real you (watching rugby) I have had the most extreme a low can get and needed professional help to get me back and you are being soooo good and managing without this help. think positive. eat junk. watch your kids. look at you hubby . one of them will make ou pull through and fight just enough to get yourself the rest of the way. will sort out hotmail in morning and post on here for you. have a good nights rest and wait for the sun in the morning. s.
Paul – congratulations on the forthcoming wedding it is great to have something that you can plan to keep your mind busy..do you want to hoover my lounge its a mess!!

Amanda my hotmail address as promised is s-j.house@hotmail.co.uk
contact me there and we’ll chat about other stuff. Take care Love S

Hey everyone glad to find a thread with so many similar posts. I wish I could bring you all to my doctor’s office so we could line up and tell them our stories. I’m a 25/m taking hypertension medications (10mg lisinopril and 360mg verapamil) and quit my dosage of 20mg of citalopram a few days ago, after having been on it for approximately 7 months. I have the cotton/wool feeling in my head moreso now than I did while I was on the medication, and feel like my head is caving in while having the drunk and dizzy feeling and feeling like my brain can’t keep up with my eyes. When I get jittery I take a small dose (12.5mg) of xanax (alzaprazolam) which helps with the nerves but not necessarily with the dizziness. Last night I slept pretty well, yet I still feel exhausted and draggy today. Its making it very difficult to work and concentrate. I also have intermittent palpitations which may or may not be related to the citalopram withdrawl. Some nausea as well. I took citalopram b/c I had a few panic attacks which got worse after I was diagnosed with hypertension that I inherited from my mom’s side of the family. I’d never wish panic attacks on anyone!

Anyhow, sorry for the long post – hang in there everyone, for together we shall overcome. Or just remain sleepy and draggy, but at least we have pillows to fall back on!

hi John! sounds like your caving in head may be the same as my head with an axe stuck in it!!!(thats what i used to tell my family when i was about 6-7 days into withdrawel)but hey youv’e just entered what could be the wierdest time of your life…I felt like I was walking like a spaceman for about 2 wks,im on day 37 and its all good now, but if u feel any wierd feelings just look through these comments and youll find someone else has ‘been there done that’ if u need us we’r always checkin in to see whats going on take care x

Hi there all. This is my second time viewing this site. I had previously beaten the dreaded withdrawal symptoms in August of last year and have recently lost all the weight I gain whilst on Citalopram. Over the last 3 weeks, however, the same symptoms have reared their ugly head. That is a whole 7/8 months since I stopped taking the drug. Has anyone ever experienced such a delay in the side effects of withdrawal? I’m half hoping its something different as I don’t want to go back on them but I’d happily get rid of the tremors and palpitations, etc. Please get in touch.

hi jonathan,id get it checked out with the doctor it may be a bit of anxiety but that does’nt mean youv’e got to go back on the pills again,your doc will run some tests to make sure ur ok and theres no other why your feeling like this, take care amanda xx

Iam SO relieved to hear it’s not just me. My GP told me the side effects of brain lag/extreme tiredness/weight gain/crying and mood swings , was the depression coming back and told me i migh be on 10mg for the rest of my life. This thread has given me the hope that i can do it – i already tried relly slowly over 2 months to come down from 20mg, but by the time i was on 5Mg every other day i was a mess and am now back on 10mg daily. Am going to have nominates day – end of June when work isn’t as stressfull – to give up. After my last experience of citalopram withdrawal, i’m scared. Is there anyone out there who’s lived through this and is ok now – i’m scared of the suicidal feelings i had during withdrawal. I’ve lost track of what’s me and what’s the drugs.

jane- i am 3 months out and won’t say its easy,it wasn’t for me anyway. i had suicidal feelings and became very desperate and had to phone the mental health crisis team late one sunday evening because i didn’t think i could make it through til the next day without trying to OD. i had sicknesss, nausea and brain lagg but worst of all were the ‘electric shocks’ in my tongue and head. all of these symptoms hit me after a rapid withdrawal, but only two weeks later, so the penny didn’t drop, nor did 3 GP’s get the hint either. As soon as i phoned the mental health team they knew and were great in their support. If you have time now to do it get reffered so that you are are under their care and they can get to know you. don’t be worried about asking for a refferal to them they don’t treat you like your ‘mad’.but prevention is easier than cure.we are all here but only as friends not as professionals. also rememeber that you can be prescribed anti sickness tablets etc and also maybe try ST JOHNS WORT which the hospital recommended once i was off the citalopram as it is a natural non synthetic anti depressant and really doesn’t have the associated side effects. make use of us all even in the lead up to coming off as the decision to do so can be frightening as well.
3 months on and life is NORMAL. all the regular mood swings a woman has and the ability to laugh til i cry and cry when i want to. life hasn’t been so much fun for years. the extra energy is weird, don’t know what to do with it and the fact that i don’t think about being ill every day is a novelty. i hope that life remains this good.
good luck stay in touch

Hi all – in final week of withdrawel – been reducing from 2 years at 60 (then 50 as too many side effects). Very reassuring to read others experiences – i’ve had flu-like symptoms, fear, panic, nausea, headaches, cotton wool head, tiredness, dizziness (partic ehen turn around quickly) and weight gain! So one more week at 10mg then hopefully not too long to be free from weird feelings!! Erica

hi me again DAY 44…its 4.55 in the morning and ive been awake 2 hrs,woke up feeling breathless and panicky, got a really tight chest and quite congested feeling,a little depressed but nothing compared to what i used to be,also had tummy upset last 2 days and ireally think normal illness seems magnified by about 1 zillion!! when your in withdrawel ,or at least im hoping thats why i feel like this,take care everyone check in again soon xx

Hi everyone, got back from cruise on saturday, first day back at work today unfortunately! Had fantastic holiday, would definately recommend a cruise to anyone, put a stone on in weight though!

Well, I’d been cutting down citalopram for a few weeks before cruise and really did feel like I didn’t need it whilst I was away so I cut down again to 5mg every other day. I then decided to stop altogether last thursday, feel really off now, can’t concentrate, head is all muzzy. Not sure if its all withdrawal or jet lag aswell, felt that “wobbly” last night that I ended up taking 5mg, probably becuase I was dreading work, feel v disappointed in myself now though.

Other thing is I haven’t been able to sleep properly since my holiday (again not sure if jet lag or withdrawal). Think I could possibly cope without taking citalopram if I could take something to help me sleep, does anyone know if it would be ok for me to take a nytol tonight. Also I notice that a lot of people take St Johns Wort whilst withdrawing? Is that safe to do as I though you couldn’t take citalopram and st johns wort at the same time?
Angela
P.S. Sarah Jane you seem to be doing really well, am v pleased for you!

Hi everyone, new here after googling withdrawal – wondering if anyone has had what seems like a delayed withdrawal reaction? I’d been on 20mg Cipramil for nearly two years, and did a fairly gradual tapering off. Thing is I felt pretty damn good for a couple of weeks after I stopped, I only really noticed my emotions were a bit wobbly. But three weeks on I am feeling worse, foggy, woozy, exhausted, apathetic, mood up and down and very tearful. I don’t feel depressed, if that makes sense?! Just all this other stuff. I didn’t think it would take this long to withdraw?

hi everyone its me again! follow up from comment no 338. feeling good today was terrible last night nothing seems straight forward when your in withdrawel, ANGELA.. glad to hear you enjoyed yourself,dont diss yourself about taking 5mg,read my comments i had to do the same !!LUCY…i had bad symptoms within a few days but it does sound very much like withdrawel that your having, im on day 44 and still getting them but only now and then, thats why i was surprised when i woke up at 2 oclock this morning feeling panicky and sick just take it a day at a time no 2 days are the same!!

I was on this drug for about 4 years while I was going through hormonal depression linked with menopause. As I am through menopause now I didn’t see the need to continue with this medication and for the last year I have been weaning myself off it. One tablet, then 1/2 for six moths until finally 1/4 daily. My depression has not returned due to the fact that menopause caused the imbalance but what a time I am having from a drug that my Dr said was not addictive! I have just started the dizziness after being off my 1/4 tablet for 3 weeks. I thought it was just vertigo but reading everyone’s comments I see it has a more sinister root. Has anyone been having sleep problems? I had NO problem sleeping…ever in my life. I could sleep anywhere and any time. But since being off this medication I can NOT sleep…I have a feeling in my body and legs at night that is hard to explain. It’s like they are full of pent up energy and if I don’t move them it feels like they will explode. I have never had anything like this before. I will certainly be telling my Dr that there ARE withdrawals so that he is aware and can warn others. Thanks everyone for giving me some inner peace about what has been going on. I thought it was just all in my head!!

I took 20mg of citalopram for depression for 1 year, and quit cold turkey 5 days ago. I have been very irratable for the past 3 days — like the depression, exept not hopeless or unreasonable, just really irratable.

I haven’t had the weird dizziness lately, but I did get that if I skipped more than two days of citalopram.

Thanks for all of the posts — I had thought that the nasty mood was just my depression coming back, but I’ll stick it out if it may actually be withdrawal.

Well. Never was an evening’s surfing better spent. Been on Citalopram for almost 7 years now, starting straight in at 40mg after a bout of severe depression. I have to admit that I felt wonderful when I first went on it, but began to get fed up with the walking around in a bubble feeling – which is very much the same as depression anyway! Have tried to reduce and then come off every year for the last four, very, very slowly. Always got scuppered by the shortening days in about November though. Sounds like I’m a SAD case!

However, now been off the darn things completely for seven days – only suffering mild dizziness and brain pings, but compared to many of you, pretty mild. I have a cold as well and am finding that the aspirin I’m taking for the sore throat is helping the pings.

Incidentally, I have had these brain pings before, years before I ever took an antidepressant, but only very occasionally and usually at night or in a dark place. Perhaps the symptoms are perfectly normally, but the Citalopram has been supressing them.

I am SOOOOOO glad to find I am not alone – but SOOOOOO mad to find so many people being made to suffer by something that was supposed to make them feel better!

Good luck to all of you!!

Angela – welcome home. well done girl, as you’ve probably worked it out i’ve done it !! 3 months out.
the hospital told me to take st johns wort and yes you can take nytol as its also herbal. do what you need don’t struggle. your gp can get you stuff for antisickness, giddiness, not sleeping all sorts. heroine addicts have a shit time for 5 days and are knocked out yet we seem to be so stoic and try to go it alone with no physical or emotional backup and this stuff can stay in your system for months. despite my 3 months my gp is still checking me again in 2 weeks because of monthly hormones etc so even i’m not out of the woods yet nor have i had to deal with a major event, like family visiting or going away so who knows how i will react then. heres looking forward though
to all of you at the begining keep going you’ve forgotten what a real life is like, it’s great.

ANGELA – welcome home & well done. Glad you got your money’s worth!! You’ve got the hardest part, the mental seperation done. the hospital advised me to take st johns wort to lessen the withdrawal side effects and yes you can take nytol as its also herbal. there are lots of things your gp can do for you aside from the mental support there are anti sickness drugs, vertigo tablets etc so don’t suffer any side effects without asking for help.
i’m 13 weeks out now and loving being a real person again. more energy, real emotions, just normality i’d forgotten how suppresssed this drug made me feel.
Lucy my symptoms started witht the flu then everything else kicked in two weeks later as well.
Good luck to all of you who are just starting you can do it and we are all here to suppport you

Hi everyone. I visited this site 4 weeks ago and was comforted by the support from everyone. This has got to be the weirdest wthdrawal. I’m 7 weeks off citalopram now. The good spells are getting longer. I had about 4 days there where I felt great and thought I was over it, but for 2 days the headaches were back. Feeling a bit better today. Thought I would check into this site and remind myself that I’m still suffering withdrawals and not losing it. This is one hell of a drug to shake off. Thanks to all for the support.

Having really bad day today, it does help to know I’m not alone. Thought things were going to be ok until today, just felt dizzy and had funny brain zap type things. Unfortunately things getting a lot worse, feel very sick, confused and brain zaps getting v bad – feel almost like I’m losing consciousness for a couple of seconds with each one now.
Been reading everyones comments on this site and can only hope tomorrow is a better day!! At least I don’t feel anxious or depressed at the moment!

Oh boy – what a find this site is. I’ve been off, after a 4 week decrease, for 2 weeks now. Have taken before and had no side effects when withdrawing but this time my head feels like it belongs to someone else. Electric pulses, brain lag, nausea, soooo sleepy. Am off to see GP tomorrow – don’t know wether to go back on until later date. Hard to cope with day to day like this and a young family to ferry around and look after. I will never take them again once I’m clear of these symptoms. Hope you (we) all feel better soon.
Lindy

Hey, I am down to 5mg after decreasing over the last 2months. Have been on this stuff for 2 years after suffering with terrible panic attacks after witnessing traumatic things in my job as a police officer. I thought I was on top of it but the fuzzy head and balance problems along with the fact that I feel like I may fall asleep standing up is getting to much. Does anyone else feel like they are going to suddenly collapse when walking along quite normally???? My anxiety is back with tight chest and rapid heartbeats…I am trying to cope with this in a job that is very demanding and to show weakness is frowned upon. Maybe I should just go back on this stuff because I don’t think I can cope with reducing to nothing…the thought is terrifying!!!

I’m glad I found this site! I’ve been taking 20mg Citalopram for the last four months but wasn’t convinced I needed it in the first place. In that time i’ve already gained more than a stone in weight and feel worse than I did to start with. My doctor increased the dosage to 40mg which I tried but went back to 20mg. I now think that I would be better off without it and decided to have a look for advice on withdrawal. The sooner I get off it the better!

My wife suffered a broken elbow in October 2005. She couldn’t sleep because of the pain. We went to our X GP for help. She prescribed citalopram. We were told it was totaly safe and no side effects. HA HA. My wife took 20 mg. for a couple of weeks. Not wanting to be on a drug she stopped. When the side effects started discribed on this sight + more, she thought it was from the broken elbow or other antibotics she was given. So we went back to the X GP totaly trusting her. She put her back on. My wife took 1 20 mg pill and all symptoms left right away. To me she seemed to be a little distant while on it. Not normal. So after the one pill she knew what was causing her symtoms and stopped again. It’s been over a year and last night was one of the worst. Some of her symptoms are lightheaded, feeling like she is going to die, her heart races, mussels ache in her back and neck, gets chills and shakes when trying to sleep. We found about 40 side effects and she experences about 20 of them. It still continues. It puts a strain on our marriage as well. This drug needs to be pulled off the market after everyone gets off it. What a big mistake for her to take it in the first place. We didn’t know, now we suffer. It is so wrong. It’s will be 2 years in October and it still continues. Is there anyone out there who has gotten off it? How long will it this continue? The drug company who made my wifes is Dr. Reddy’s. I hope this testimony helps someone before they take cilalopram. It has totalty messed up our life.

Just to let you all know that there is a real light at the end of the tunnel. I have been off the drugs now for about 7 months (can’t remember when my last post was and now, sadly, so many that I can’t easily find it). What I can say is please don’t go cold turkey – even if our doctors say there are no side-effects from withdrawing they still recommend a gradual decrease so I guess they are aware that perhaps strange things to do happen. My initial symptoms lasted about 6-8 weeks (had been on 40mg for 2 yrs), then just faded away completely. I have to admit I had some depressive like tendencies over the first couple of months this year but have discovered that was only because my self-confidence was still so low – once I identified my problem, I fixed it and all without the help of drugs (I am so proud of myself).

Would just like to say one more thing which is I couldn’t have done any of this without the love and understanding of my partner & our daughter.

I hope all of you can get to feel as good about yourself and life again as I do right now.

Thinking of you all

I’m feeling like a total failure, as after a month being off the pills, I started back on 10mg yesterday I HATE putting this thing in my system. But I was feeling like I couldn’t function properly, and I had to function because I’m self-employed. I’ve also recently been diagnosed with Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome – so turns out I probably shouldn’t have been put on the bloody antidepressants in the first place…but now I just can’t seem to come off them…vicious circle.

I have been tapering myself of citalopram over the last few months by 5mg incremenets. Usually a week after a dose reduction I get those electric shock feelings you describe, they last a day or two. Finally I got down to 5mg and went of it this week and owwww my head. Its worse then when I tapered of it. Withdrawals happened 2 days after commencing and are better for sleeping and walking and worse for sitting at the computer!

Now if I had money I would buy B6 (as recommended earlier) as it converts tryptophan to serotonin. I would also take St Johns Wort as it is a mild SSRI. Hell, Id even take panadol! All I got tho is a good quality lavender oil and that helps when I rub it on my poor head.

Since my brain hurts after coming of 5mg, I would hate to think what it would be like coming of 20mg! (I had to cut the tablets into quarters with a knife) Also citalopram has a short half life so taking it every other day will not do any good. Will just make the serotonin levels yoyo. I think prozac is the one with the long half life so you can do it with that, but I could stand corrected.

I know what is happening, but it is nice to hear over people have sore brains like me. Hold tight kids! we will get through it

Hello people – you have made my day. I have just seached the net, thinking i had some horrible disease….I came off citalopram three weeks ago, but have been feeling wierd for the last two weeks – drunk, electric shocks, brain two secs behind head, awful dreams, and serious lack of concentration – some of my spoonerism are fab. Also though about going back on the pills to cope with the angry/emotional yo yo. Reading all your postings has given me the confidence to persevere – i really want to be off these tablets, as after 18 month sof them being my best friend, I want to enjoy my life for lifes sake. Hopefully my depression wont return. Good luck to all of you, and please keep posting, as it gives so many of us out here hope, especially when you here about people getting over these awful withdrawal symptoms!

Vx

i’m with you all! lets hang in there, if i have to push through this than i’m taking everybody else along for the crazy, brain-swooshing ride!

Hi there, this is for Sarah- Jane – after my last post i battled woth nominating a day to start the nightmare withdrawl again, i’m on day 7 of no tablets now. Was fine days 1-3, then on day 4 the brain whooshing and nightmares started. I know i just have to get through this, but as my GP denies any citalopram withdrawal symptoms there’s not much help for me. Can’t remember the start of the sentencfe by the end. Short term memory is sudfenly attrocious. I woiuld love to get a referral to a crisis team, but even when i was having a breakdown a year ago, hospital/GP wouldn’t do anything unless i attempted suicide. I’m in the process of becoming a foster parent and really don’t want to spoil my chances just because of citalporam wirthdrawal. Thanks for all your help and support. Can anyone tell me how long the worst of the syptoms are going to last for?

You guys after reading all these posts I am brought to tears – how nice to read that I am not alone. I was on zoloft for 9 years and celexa for 3 – and i was at 80mg towards the end. i ran out and was sick and just decided to go cold turkey. The only symptoms i’ve had is being extra teary at anything, but today at work i kept feeling like i was going to fall over – so dizzy and just felt like i was going to faint all the time, especially when i stood up, bent down or reached up for a few seconds. When it finally dawned on me that it was probably withdrawal it was such a relief! Any insight as to how long this will go on – any other symptoms? How long does it take to leave your body completely. And oh man the sex is already 50 times better! I wish I could take this stuff and still orgasm like i do off of it. haha. Thanks for all your comments – it’s nice to know i’m not alone!

S

thank goodness you are all there. here is my assessment. i stopped 20mg a day three days ago and the dizzy thing with the brain lag started this afternoon, getting the screaming heeby jeebies with the kids started last night, loss of concentration ability started today, nausea just started tonight. put on 6kgs in 8 months despite eating healthily and regular exercise. probably have drunk more alcohol than ever before, could that stack the weight on? anyway, worst feeling is lak of faith that i am palettable to be let out in public and fear of how long that will last. i have heard some people have had to get down to scrapings of the drug to wean off it. is it possible to swap to another anti-d and avoid the symptoms of coming off this, then go off the new one that might not give the same symptoms?

JANE – well done girl. i’m still here watching you all and can confirm there is life afterwards.
i am 4 months out, happy helthy and completely symptom free. you ca access the crisis team yourself if you really need to by phoning your local hospital and just ask to be put through. also dont forget the goos oold samaritans. at 2am in suicidal moments they are there to listen in confidence, so nothing on your medical records etc.
Good luck to you all it can be done and please ask your GP to get a drug adverse reation form filled in so that the mislabelling of ‘NO WITHDRAWAL’ is altered

lots of love

I am so relieved. Thought I was going nuts. Finally stopped taking citalopram a week ago and having reduced my intake to half a tablet every other day and I’m getting brain shivers/aches/dizzieness. I have been taking citalopram overall for just a year. How long does this last for?

Hi everyone,
Thought I’d write in to reassure people out there that the withdrawal symptons do go away. I stopped taking citalopram very gradually, my last tablet was 4 weeks ago and I’ve been fine for the last week. No sign of anxiety and the funny electric shocks have complete gone now. The first 3 weeks coming off citalopram weren’t pleasant but feel great now, even lost a few pounds in weight without trying (had put a stone on since taking citalopram). Am so relieved its finally over and I can get on with my life!!

Ive been on cipramil for 3 years. I got a bout of really bad labyrinthitis (vertigo) 4 weeks ago and the meds the doc gave me for the vertigo stopped the cipramil from wrking so in effect ive been in cold turkey for a week or so from the cipramil. doctor has now stopped the vertigo meds and cipramil altogether and started me on Lexapro. I had on of the worst days today – can anyone help me. Im having th brain shivers the dizzyness has been unreal im in bed most of the time i just dont know whether its the vertigo or the withdrawl or side effects from Lexapro. can anyone help me?

OMG I’m not getting ill again after all! So glad to see my symptoms of withdrawal aren’t unique (though none of us should have to suffer this, dammit).

I’ve weaned off 40mg Citalopram in 20mg increments and just a day after my first day of 0mg the drunken dizziness hit. Oh, and the tiredness, the feeling that I could close my eyes and sleep where I stand. I’m experiencing other milder symptoms but the one that’s the most intense and unbearable is the uncontrollable anger I’m feeling at silly stuff, or sometimes even at nothing. I’m currently a seething, boiling wreck. I’m not giving up though, and if I can really help it, I’m never going on these bloody pills again. Oh, and while I’m in a bad mood, I’m gonna go kick in the doctor who said Citalopram was withdrawal effects neutral and that it’s even possible to go from 40mg to 0mg in one go. What a load of crap.

Good luck everyone! Hope to be able to report back soon that I’m feeling more chilled!

Well, reading all these posts has been an eye-opener. My doctors informed me that there would be few or no side-effects to gradual withdrawal from citalopram. Clearly this is not the case. However, I am determined to persevere as the only “true” symptoms I now suffer from (having made some dramatic lifestyle changes to help me with my depression/CFS) are the ones listed as side-effects of taking citalopram in the first place! Make sense of that! Taking the drug as a treatment for taking the drug??? I’ll be on vitamins and anything else I can trust as a substitute for this invidious medication. Wish me luck.

Good Luck Mick. Im off cipramil now nearly a week. so im right there with you

Been taking citalopram for about 6 months- finally felt well enough to come off it about a month ago. Was adviced to got from 20mg a day to 20mg every 2nd day for about 3 weeks -to 20mg every 3rd day for about 3 weeks to eventually stopping.
So far- i’ve been stopped for about 2 weeks and i’m still getting the dizzy head and feeling a bit lower than usual. -Should I just keep going? -tempted to go back to my doctor to suggest 10mg every second day just to try and lift my mood and get rid of the dizzyness. -Would appreciate any helpful suggestions from others who have been in similar situations.

Hi Vince in the same situation as you. Im into my second week of withdrawal now of citalopram now. What happened to me was I had a but of Labyrnithits (vertigo) and the meds for that effectvely stopped the cipramil working properly. So my doc and I deceided to keep going and stop taking cipramil altogether. What I found is that the dizziness was the same as vertigo but not as bad. What sort of dizziness is it you have? I noticed geetting quite low also and crying a lot but remembering that its withdrawal and a release of emotion has helped.

Hi! What a relief to see so many people have the same problems–it’s rough going off anti-d’s, but at least we’re not alone! I have been completely off citalopram for about a month (and spent a month before that gradually reducing the dose). The first two weeks were hell, but things are getting better. I had terrible dizziness accompanied by a swooshing sound in my ears (especially when moving, even just moving my eyes), and was often overcome by a strange, detached feeling. I also felt emotionally over-sensitive, cried easily and got very frustrated very easily. The dizziness and detached feeling went away after about two weeks, but now–a month after stopping the citalopram–I still feel over-sensitive and easily annoyed. Hopefully that will even out as time goes by!

Two super-positive things since stopping: sex is a thousand times better, and I can also sleep through the night without having to get up to pee! Did anyone else experience “frequent urination” while on citalopram?

Hello there wil- thanks for your support- actually feeling a lot better today- i’ve decided to bear with the side effects- also been out doing some running- to try and naturally lift my mood- really want to get back to normal.
The dizzyness i had was the kind of- when you shut your eyes or moved your head- or even turned my head- i felt my head go sort of whoosh- more like vertigo really.
Mood wise- i feel ok- just know that when i feel low- it passes.
Thanks for your support.

hi all
just thought id share my experience with you
i have been on 2omg of cipramil for 8 months, for anxiety, dropped down gradually to 10mg, then 5mg gradually,
about 4 days after stopping completly, felt dizzy and lightheaded and got electric shock type feelings in my head and left leg, that is easing now, but today, day 7ish i feel sick and dizzy and very weak, how much longer willthis go on?? feel very close to going back to gp, but dont ever want to go back on tablets and this withdrwal again..
i suppose i have just got to keep on going and hopefully i will get over this. i just hope it stops soon
stay strong
jo

Hi Jo
Dont give up. In the same boat as you. off citalopram a week or so now, electric shocks and brain judders and skipped heart beats etcetc. stay strong. w

thanks wil
feel a bit better today, not quite so dizzy but still feel sick and soooo tired, lets hope each day gets better
x

Hi Jo
Glad you are feeling a little better. Seems were all in the same boat. Im havong the evening from hell. I shook so much tonight the bed shook! and the nausea feeling that came over me was so bad – even my stomach was shaking inside. everyday seems to bring a new symtom of withdrawl – i only hope this is the last one. enoug about me – u take care and be strong – ur doing great – dont forget that – ever.

I am so glad that i found this website. I thought i was pregnant!!!! But the test was negative!!! Then i remembered that my psychiatrist said i might get some withdrawel symptoms. This is the wierdest feeling i ever had. It started three days after i stopped the Citalopram, with a severe headache, and now i only suffers from this terrible swinging feeling in my head, or dizziness. Just tell me it wil stop soon, because i don’t know how much longer i will be able to held out. I used citalopram for 6 years

I just want to add something. I gained 35kg over a period of 6 years. And i was always tired. My psychiatrist said that all of the above can be because of the citalopram. So i must admit, i feel as if 6 years where stolen from me, because during this period, i was always tired. I am now really struggeling to loose this extra kilo’s again. But i just want your opinion on the following. I was started on welbuterin since March 2007, because my psychiatrist said, it will cause less weightgain, and tiredness. Well i definitely have much more energy, but is my symptoms of citalopram withdrawel not worsened by starting on another drug??
What is your opinion?

Hi Guys well its over a week now since last citalopram. Almost like a new symtom every day. Apart from the brain shivers tingling down arm funny heart beat weird dizziness and the shakes and nausea(my god!) Im having another weird one. after moving about for a while i get kinda not dizzy but feel i have to sit down as my persception is gone weird and im gonna fall. then i get back shakes? anybody else? help!!

hi wil
sorry to hear your not so good, hang in there,
ive had a gd day today just the odd bit of whooshing and dizziness, lets hope each day gets less and less , i guess everyday we go through, its one day less withdrawing,
keep going
we’ll get through it
jo

Hey everyone, I have been reducing my ose from 20mgs for the last 2months, im now on 2.5mgs and although it dosent seem worth it to some it’s making the whole process a little more bearable. The brain whooshing is terrible and I barely go a day without being sick!! I also seem to wake up in the morning more exhausted than when I went to sleep.!! All I want to do is to come off this stuff and get my life back…if that person still exhists.

tam

Hi Jo
Thanks for the message and the goodwill. Hopefully things will stat to get easier – feel like a frightened child sometimes. Positive vibes and good health to you.

Tam
that person still exists dont you worry- hang in there – ur on the last lap now and it will get better- theres so much support here keep in touch and keep staying positive.

Wil
Thanx for the support an I am trying to stay positive whatever this thing throws at me!! Im going to dubai in 2 weeks and hope to go cold turkey whilst relaxing in the sun. Fingers crossed.
Tam

I have a dilema; I have been on Citalopram for over 5 years now, due to an ongoing horrible family situation which really bothers me. I had a landmark moment this january when I kind of broke away from this problem – not physically, I just made a decision not to care or bother with the people who get me down.

Anyway, this year so far has been fantastic, so a couple of weeks ago I decided to gradually reduvce my dose and see if I could come off completely. I had my last tablet on 6 May. The day after this, this family problem reared its ugly head yet again and I was unable to stick to my not caring attitude that I had been doing so well with. I’ve had a bit of a bad week because of this.

My dilema is, I’m tempted to go back on the pills as I’m interested to know if I’m feeling so bad because I’m coming off the medication, or whether it’s this family situation that has affected me yet again.

I’ve had the head wooshes – luckily nothing too major. It would seem a bit of a shame to go back on the pills I suppose, but it would be great to feel good again…

Thanks for listening.

I’ve been on citalopram (20mg) for the past five months and I am feeling much better…not depressed or have the same levels of anxiety as i previously had.

anyhow, for the last couple of weeks i decided to taper off Citalopram by finishing off my last bottle at a slow pace. I began by taking a pill every-other day instead of the daily pill i took. Things were good, but then i decided to completely stop and i noticed that i would get those weird feelings everyone has mentioned. It got bad when i would drive. Everytime i turned back to see if it it was safe to switch lanes i felt very whooshey. It became too unsafe so I eventually decided to resume the dosage (20mg). After feeling better, i tried again went without it until i felt those feelings again. So far i can’t go more than two days without one pill. I scheduled an appointment with my Doc tomorrow and will request a refill. I’ll also mention this page and, hopefully get off of this med within the next month. Best of luck to all!!!

Hi everyone,

I have been taking Celexa for about three years, and started weening of of it about 2 month ago. I went from 40 mg to 20 mg to 10 mg to 5 mg, and then now, nothing.

It’s been about two weeks, and I FEEL WEIRD. Mostly dizzy. At the same time i stopped, I also came down with a crazy cold, but my doctor said she didn’t think the two were related. NOW my cold is gone, and I am just dizzy. I am so lightheaded, when I walk around my apartment, I feel like I am going to fall over/faint. Driving me bonkers.

Do any of you have these symptoms? Super dizzy? I am not tired/sleepy, and I know I ‘ve become a little more irritable. I think I even cried when my spaghetti came out overcooked last night, hahah.

Thanks everyone!
Emily

Hi everyone,

I have been taking Celexa for about three years, and started weening of of it about 2 month ago. I went from 40 mg to 20 mg to 10 mg to 5 mg, and then now, nothing.

It’s been about two weeks, and I FEEL WEIRD. Mostly dizzy. At the same time i stopped, I also came down with a crazy cold, but my doctor said she didn’t think the two were related. NOW my cold is gone, and I am just dizzy. I am so lightheaded, when I walk around my apartment, I feel like I am going to fall over/faint. Driving me bonkers.

Do any of you have these symptoms? Super dizzy? I am not tired/sleepy, and I know I ‘ve become a little more irritable. I think I even cried when my spaghetti came out overcooked last night, hahah.

Thanks everyone!
Emily

hi emily, ive been off cipramil for 3 months now ,and i can remember having to wait for my husband to get me from asda cause i was too dizzy to drive home!! i didnt drive for about a fortnight after that cause the dizzy spells kept on coming and going but they do settle down , the problem im having now is muscle fatique and aching all over, any one else get this after 3 months write back and let me know take care all xxxx

Hi Emily and Amanda
Im off citlopram over 2 weeks now and while the brain shivers / whooshing in my head ans ears seems to have abaited I have this awful sensations of falling over to the side (always my right side for some reason). Im not actually falling – its just the sensation in my head. I cant drive and am so anxious and the nausea that comes and goes is awful, anyone else like this?

Hi Emily and Amanda
Im off citlopram over 2 weeks now and while the brain shivers / whooshing in my head ans ears seems to have abaited I have this awful sensations of falling over to the side (always my right side for some reason). Im not actually falling – its just the sensation in my head. I cant drive and am so anxious and the nausea that comes and goes is awful, anyone else like this?

Hi Emily and Amanda
Im off citlopram over 2 weeks now and while the brain shivers / whooshing in my head ans ears seems to have abaited I have this awful sensations of falling over to the side (always my right side for some reason). Im not actually falling – its just the sensation in my head. I cant drive and am so anxious and the nausea that comes and goes is awful, anyone else like this?

Hi Wil,
I can’t say I have had any nausea yet. I can relate to the “falling over on one side” bit, though!

Also, do any of you feel extra cranky? Like, yelling-at-your-computer cranky? If so, does this feeling go away? I don’t want to turn into Ms. Crankpants at work and freak everyone/myself out.

THANKS!

Hi Emily
Yeah the mood thing does pass – its all part of your brain getting used to lack of drug. I relieved to hear Im not the only one with the feeling of falling over to one side – its so scary – does it get better at all – im afraid its a balance thing that i will be stuck with

Hi Wil,
I called both my family doctor and psyciatrist and they both agreed that the dizziness, as well as the crankiness, would taper away slowly. I asked about the falling down feeling and both of them attrtbuted it to getting off the drug. But I don’t think it should last more than a few weeks. How long have you been off?

Hi Emily

Im off cipramil two and half weeks now. Im hoping the unsteadyness goes away soon – ive lost all my confidence.

Hi all,
what a relief to know that its not just my. The dizzy thing and whooses are bad enough, but the nausea, especially at night is too much to handle at times. I ahev been on citalopram 10mg for nearly 3 years, and I am determined to get through this. I reduced it to 5mg for a week and have been off it for 4 days. I am a nurse and find it increadible that GPs give this drug out without knowing about its full potential for withdrawal side-effects. Will this nausea ever stop, feel awful, and its making it difficult to do my job feeling so ill? Help anyone please

I’m doing the withdrawal thing now too and I’m really upset. The head wooshes are terrible. I went from 40 to 20 to 10 and then cold turkey from 10. How long does it last? I’m so angry for being perscribed this drug. I want to throttle my old psychatrist for subjecting me to this.

On the plus side, is anyone losing weight? The pounds seem to be melting off of me.

I visited this link April 11th and am comment #342. I am so pleased to announce that the withdrawal symptoms have ceased. Hallelujah! The sleepless nights and restless legs, the whooshing in the brain and dizziness has gone completely and the holes in my concentration resulting in saying wrong words in conversations, or not being able to think of the word at all has also disappeared. It has been a slow process but I am thrilled to say that I am off the medication, the depression has not returned. In saying this, if depression did come back like it was before, I would not hesitate in taking this medication again for while I was on it, I functioned as a normal human being. I would like to add the perspective that when weaning off this drug (it is not evil for it saved me from the pit for several years), but it did give me back my life to a point where I now feel I am in control. The withdrawals, when one is ready, is worth dealing with for without the drug, I doubt I would still be here. I wish ALL you out there well, bear with the symptoms knowing that it won’t last for ever and to be aware that in time it will pass. However, also be wise that if depression persists, to the point of it being as bad as before the medication, seek help, for it is better to go on to medication than live with this horrible disease. I am free at last, continue to strive for that day when you can say, just like me, I am well and certainly on the road of wholeness and travelling the road of normalcy. Bless you all.

hi Im in week 4 of withdrawal and i am still feeling unsteady when i walk and very panicky. is it supposed to last this lomg?

Hi Wil, I started feeling dizzy in February and had associated problems just like the rest of us. The dizziness was the last thing to go, I am still having slight episodes but am getting better. It has taken me about 10 weeks so hang in there, it will get better but we wise, if it continues much longer past say 3 months and those panic attacks continue, there may be an underlying problem and not withdrawals. Keep in touch and let us know how you are going. I am feeling a whole lot better and so shall you.

Dear Everyone

Like many of you I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one with these problems.

My GP is actually changing me to Fluoxetine because the Citalopram just wasn’t working for me any more – I had to face either taking it in the morning and being exhausted all day or taking it at night and being kept awake by nightmares!

The problems I’ve experienced so far are the agitation (and associated imaptience!) and the “whooshy head”. I haven’t read all of the comments but this, the dizzyness and nausea are all things I’m used to because of migraines! It wasn’t until I starting looking for an explanation for my stomach pains that I found this.

To deal with the head problems etc I used Neurofen (ibuprofen) and I checked the BNF and there’s no interactions to worry about (benefits of working in the NHS, there’s a glut of medical books for me to check!) and it’s always helped by migraines. If you’re in doubt go to bnf.org and see for yourself. It’s also good for the physical pains/cramps.

Avoid bright lights, loud noises and sudden movements as that just makes the dizzyness worse – use mirrors more when driving and use what I call transitional focusing – don’t try to switch your focus from near to far suddenly, move along a path so your eyes slowly adjust.

BTW – of course your agitation goes down when you get rid of the headaches. I just had to take the Neurofen because I’m about to scream at my boss for how loud she types!

The “electric shocks” that people describe, is that a strange localised tingling feeling? I’ve been thinking of it as “goosebumps on the brain”!

Of course I’m having words with my GP for not warning me about the withdrawal symptoms and showing him the following link – it’s a paper from the University of Newcastle all about SSRI withdrawal and it’s rediculous that we aren’t better warned about this. It’s useful and you just need to skip through to the relevant areas as it has a good layout….
http://www.benzo.org.uk/ssri.htm

Thank you all for your comments, they’ve made me feel better – especially the people who got past all of it and are fine now (any of you like me – getting repeated bouts of depression on and off for years?).

http://www.benzo.org.uk/ssri.htm

Thanks
Christine

P.S. In the process of typing this I had a phone call with my GP and he confirmed the Neurofen etc is fine.

As I’ve added links etc I should say to be careful of the sources you trust and don’t make decisions based on something you read on-line unless it’s very reliable, check with your Doctor etc.

Sorry the link I added is in there twice folks – can you tell my concentration is going back to its pre-meds state!!!!

Christine

Thanks Vicki and thanks Christine for the link. Still feeling dizzy wih huge panic attacks every now and then. It completely wipes me out – the dizzyness is more of an unsteadyness all the time.

Hi Everyone
I find it amazing that every gp I ave spoken to seems to things the side effects and the withdrawal effects are minimal for this drug. amazing! Was on seroxat for few months then came off over 2 weeks. Totally threw me and i was off work for 6 weeks. Doc then put me on Ciralopram ad although def better my anxiety has never really left me even whilst i was on that. Half the time I think the drugs casue more anxiety than just me. Been on tablets for just over year now and want to come off. Started to decrease dose from 40mg a month ago and now on nothing. Fine for first 2 days and slowly the dizzyness, bad tummy and constant sickness has got worse. On day 5 now and feel very ill. Broke up with my boyfriend today and prob cos of these drugs makin me feel crap again. constantly sick and waves of dizyness. going to bed in a moment (7pm). Praying symptms improve cos start a new job on monday and just feel rotton. Abut to have a ginger tea drink….gross BUT def improves sickness especially for you pregnant ladies.

Good luck to you all – be brave , be strong and believe in yourself ((HUG))

Michelle

Hello Everyone, was diagnosed with acute drepression a yr ago and given cipramil, 40mg, then dowm to 30mg and over the last 5 wks have been slowly tapered off them, finished my last 10mg on Wednesday and I feel SHIT!!! My ears are whoosy, my brain feels groggy and whoosy, im panicky, agitated, tearful, angry. I flick between rational and irrational for NO reason at all, thought i was being ill agian. THANK **** i have found this site!! Thank you to everyone who has left comments, i know i am not alone and that, at least her, no-one thinks that i am imagining it! I want to stay off cipramil but does anyone know how to stop the side effects, especially the whoosy stuff and anger!!?? thank you xxx Sue

Amanda – I have been off citalopram since mid Feb and am still suffering. Some weeks I am fine, others not so, but like you, I have weakness in my muscles and jelly legs at times. Chronic fatigue seems to pervade my days, I have times of feeling sick on and off, wanting to vomit, cramps and needing to use the toilet a lot then other days I feel ’semi-normal’! I found reading the article by the professor in Newcastle UK to confirm that how I am feeling is not me going mad. I suggest going stright to this link and scrolling down reading parts that are what’s happening to you still. See http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/bzcha03.htm#t4
It’s all very frustrating – telling people who haven’t been on any medication or know what withdrawal is like is really hard – I’ve struggled with support during this time. However I am hopeful the symptoms will eventually get less and less each week…makes work a little more tougher than usual, but I have tried to not let it all take over my life!
Helen

Hi All, I have recently come off Citalopram and experienced the most awful side effects, and thought I would post here as this was the most useful site I found for reassurance.

I have been on Citalopram since January 2006 for panic disorder. After going on Cognitive Therapy lessons with the local NHS trust and generally sorting out my demons I started to come off my tablets from first week of April this year – I was on 40mg and it took 8 weeks to come off completely. I took my last tablet 10 days ago and after 48 hours I started with terrible diarrohea during the night and then the following morning felt awful – sickness as well, extremely dizzy with ‘electric shocks’ in my brain, very tired and generally feeling spaced out and unwell. This was very shocking since the doctor had not warned me of any of this and I thought (until researching) that I was going back to how I started before going on the tablets – not a nice thought!
I was off all last week and certainly could not drive due to the serious dizziness that I was experiencing – but for all of you that are suffering with this, there is a light at the end of the tunnel as I am now a week on, back at work, a bit down sometimes and very tired, but a massive improvement on last week.

Having read up on these issues, normally they withdrawal symptoms take about 33 hours to come into play and about one week of bad symptoms followed by another week of gradually getting back to normal.

I think the best thing I have done is to keep the old chin up and try and stay positive (not easy I know)! Try and remember that these are not the original panic / anxiety feelings, just withdrawal – so keep going with it and whatever you do, don’t go back on the tablets as otherwise, it is all to go through again.

I hope this post helps!
Natalie xx

I was so glad to read everyone’s comments. I have just stopped taking Citalopram after being on a daily 20mg dose for 6 months. During our discussion on coming off the drug my GP made no mention of side-effects. He seems to thing taking one 10mg every other day for a week, a couple the next week and then putting the rest of the packet in the bid would be fine. Adnittedly I felt fine for the first few days. Now I’m hoping that the dizziness, nausea and light- headedness will go away before I go on holiday in 2 weeks. I’m determined not to start taking them again. All my tastebuds crave at the minute is gallons of fresh orange juice. Thanks for all the comments above. At least I know now that it’s not only me.

Hi Everyone

Can I suggest we start a mini revolution? I gave the document I linked to before to my GP with a note explaining what had happened and hope to talk to him about it when I next see him. I’m going to suggest he seriously considers warning his other patients about the withdrawals when the time comes and, if I’m feeling brave enough, that he talks to his colleagues about doing it too. I’d like to suggest you all do the same.

I doubt we can start a planet wide revolution on this one but a few minutes of searching shows that there is serious academic weight behind this and it’s not just us imagining it (hands up – who at some point thought it must have just been their imagination). If we all tell our GPs this then hopefully the word can spread a bit.

As for me I’ve now started on fluoxetine and am waiting for it to kick in so right now I’m in the unusual situation of having withdrawal effects from one drug and side-effects from another!!! (though the leaflet with my new tabs do warn you about the possibility of withdrawal thank god!)

Christine

Hi everyone this is such a relief to see im not going mad and not the only one suffering.I was on 20mg of citalopram for 3 months and started to feel unwell on them so the G.P cut the dose to 10mg everyday for one week then alternate days for one week. I have been of completly since tuesday just gone and i feels really awful, i have been feeling so so dizzy and nauseas since and been suffering with bad headaches to. I’ve been back to the G.P loads since then complaing of this and they just put it down to aniexty but they don’t realise just how much it ruins your day to day life i can’t go to work as the dizziness is so extreme and it’s so unpleasent. Does anyone know roughly the time scale the withdrawl symptoms are there for? I feel sorry for everyone suffering with this it’s the worst feeling ever. It’s made me so down feeling like this just can’t wait to feel “Normal” again.

I forgot to mention to that i was on another anti depressent previous to starting citlopram it’s been a long road to get to this point to come off them then to get these withdrawel symptoms.

Natalie,

I was so glad to see your post. I have been on citalopram since March 2006 for panic disorder also. My daughter was born in July 2005, and before I started to drug, I was afraid to even stay at home with her by myself! It was TERRIBLE! Anyway, My husband and I are thinking about having another child and I didn’t want to be on the medication anymore. I’m hoping that my panic attacks don’t come back. Today is day 6 for me and the dizziness is not quite as bad, but I’m feeling a little short fused with my daughter. And that’s causing me a little guilty feelings. My husband left for the weekend and I am just SO scared that my panic attacks are going to start back, or I’m going to just be impatient with her all weekend! Any words of reassurance would help! Thanks again

Accourding to my psychologist the withdrawal effects don’t last too long – but they are one of the key reasons for people getting hooked! It’s been just over two weeks for me and the headaches etc have gone. Of course it also means I’m back to my ratty, miserable old self while I wait for new medication to kick in!

But the upside is that there is light at the end of the tunnel withdrawal-wise and all of you who are coming off the tablets for good reasons will find yourself back on an even keel and ready to enjoy life!

Christine

Hi Im in week 6 of cold turkey of citalopram, While a lot of the major symtoms are now gone im left feeling off and unsteady and im wondering how long does withdrawal ACTUALLY last? i know from reading and talking to people that it does take more than a few days the docs all say but does anyone know how long at all??

I stopped taking citalopram 6 days ago after 18 months and I dont know who I am anymore. I am stroppy, bad tempered and cant stand to have anyone near me. I feel very unsociable, weepy and to top it all I feel really hungover. Its difficult for other people to understand because they think you are just in a bad mood and tell you to snap out of it. The sad thing is, I just got married two months ago I have a fabulous little girl, I love my job, have a great network of friends and family – I have everything to live for, but I just cant pull myself out of this place. Needless to say Im off to speak the the doctor tonight!!!! Wish me luck. x

Good luck Jackie – let us know how u get on. Im in a similar situation i have a lovely partner and family and yet i am so scared al the time and anxious and nauseas. its just one symtom after another plus i feel unsteady sometimes.

Well went to the docs and now back on 20mg, only for a fortnight though. Have put together a plan with the doctor to be weaned off these things for good over the next two or three months. Looking at what you lot have gone through, im not looking forward to it. The doc made it sound so easy!!!! Speak to you all soon. x

Hi jackie glad you have a plan – tell me , when the doc and you decided to go back on 20mg did u feel ok immeditatley? Im wondering as Im thinking of taking it again and im wondering will i feel the withdrawal feeling go away immediately? thanks jackie,

Hey wil, took my first tablet this morning. Felt pretty bad all morning but feel positive this afternoon and have even found myself singing – Good for me, not so much for the people around me! In 2 weeks I am going down to 20mg and 10mg on alternate days, then 10mg each day for 2 weeks. After this I have to go back to the docs for a chat about where to go next. I dont want to be the person to tell you to go back on them becasue its different for everyone but I certainly feel more like myself already. Let me know what you decide. Good luck. x

Hi Jackie, glad you are feeling so well after just one day – thats great. Me Im not sure what to do – was with my doc today and decided to continue staying off cipramil for another while to see how things go – its quite hard though. At this stage (6 weeks) Im not sure whether the feelings Im having are withdrawal or just stress related stuff. Feel very “heady” today like my head is spinning off even though im not dizzy. And Im edgy too. Anyway good luck – do write and tell how you are getting on.
W

hiya
after a mild breakdown, i’ve been on citalopram since feb, 10mg for a month, then 20mg. but now maybe preg & want to come off. these drugs are a loada crap. just another way for industry to make money me thinks. my main side affect has been that my short-term memory has suffered badly, i’m only off the pills (20mg) for a couple of days but i can’t recall wen exactly i stopped – i told u memory bad. anyone else have memory probs?
i’m gettin the dizzy, electric shock thing & am snappy and irritable, but i determind to go cold turkey and just go for long term psychotherapy instead. drugs suck & i dont want to be dependant.
good luck to all.

Hi all

I posted back in Feb when I was sick in bed for a week and off work with bad side affects of just coming off the meds. Although it’s now over three months later, I finally talked to my specialist and said the physical affects of coming off citalopram were worse than I had expected and was I being hypchondrical? He put me at ease straight away and told me I wasn’t and that although some research regarding the withdrawal side affects is confusing, there is common agreement that some people can suffer for weeks and weeks with flu-like symptoms – I have good days and bad days – the nausea has been the worse. I think the reason why many GPs don’t know about the long-lasting affects that are possible (ok, not everyone will suffer for as long as I have) is that patients wouldn’t want to have them prescribed if they feel like this when they come off them!
The flu-like symptoms include achyness, lots of tiredness, body weakness, nausea, some heaaches and just generally feeling absolutely knackered. I can’t imagine I am the only one who has good weeks and not so good weeks – I hate to be negative, but my specialist also does research, so I unfortunately have to take his comments like gospel – the flu-like symtoms certainly have made sense!

However, I must say, I do feel as though I have come a long way and am very staunch about not going back on them!! Maybe other people still feel a bit shitty – I liken it to feeling about 75% out of 100%!!

Hang in there….that’s one thing I have lacked, is people who understand and who don’t pass too much judgement i.e. “you’re STILL sick?” (not the reaction you want!).

I am having problems posting…just checking if this works?

I see that worked…must be that I wasn’t typing past enough….
I came off in the right way from citalopram and posted in February when I spent a week at home with awful withdrawal. However the physical affects since then have been more than I anticipated. I finally got back in touch with my prof/psychiatrist (who also does a lot of research) asking him if I was being a hypochondriac. he said no, and that how I was feeling was in line with a lot of the post-citalopram withdrawal – some people can suffer for weeks and weeks with flu-like symptoms. It totally rang true with me. The worst has been the nausea, but I have also had the weak body, aches, headaches and generally not sleepy like I should be.

I can’t imagien enough GPs know of the side affects even weeks and weeks after coming off them entirely. I guess if patients knew more about the side affects then they wouldn’t want them?
Will post before I lose this….

…carrying on…I went to two GPs before I went back to my psychiatrist. one seemed more passive, the other seemed to think it was possible to have longer lasting withdrawal issues. My specialist said that although research surrounding the withdrawal affects can be confusing, the side affects suffered by some, and unluckily me, can be much longer than orignally though.

So I guess to those who perhaps weeks and weeks later are still feeling a bit weird (I liken my situation to being only 75% out 100% healthy) then you know you are not alone. For one, the hardest thing in all this is not having support groups like this online chat,people who say “are you STILL sick?” (that’s the crap response I hate) and just a general lack of udnerstanding and knowledge among the GP community.

for those of you in early withdrawal though, the bad stuff gets better, but there can be lingering physcial affects – keep your chin up and know that I have been suffering too!

Helen

Feeling so much better now that im back on these things. Personally if they didnt affect my libido and make me gain weight, id be happy to stay on them forever. However my poor long suffering husband wants his quota and i want my figure back – so, bring on the weaning!!!

I thought I was going mad until I started to read this forum! Thanks to everyone who has commented and made me realise that this isn’t just me!

I’ve been on 40mg Cit (for anxiety) for four years and, following a miscarriage (which may or may not have been caused by Cit) I decided to come-off the drug as I wanted to get ‘clean’ to get pregnant. It’s been a long hard slog, cutting down 10mg/5mg at a time. Seven days ago I ran out of pills, after getting down to 10mg, and decided it was as good a time as any to stop completely. Over the last three days I’ve suffered from constant dizziness, feeling like I’m walking around in a dream-world, butterflies, feeling nervous and on-edge, pins and needles in hands and legs, muscle spasms and cramps. Worst of all _ i’ve been feeling like I’m going mad and considered the possibility that I may have serious mental health problems. After reading this forum, i can see that it’s all side effects from this dreadful little white pill!

Before I took Cit I asked my doctor if it was addictive, he said it wasn’t. If I had known how terrible I would be feeling right now, in trying to come off it, I never would’ve touched it.

I’m going through a seriously tough time at work at the moment, so i couldn’t have timed it better I’m going to have to go back to 10mg, as I can’t see that this spinning and these depressive feelings are going to go away on their own.

But, I’m not going to give up, I’m going to go back on for a couple of weeks and cut down to 5mg and go from there.

If anyone is reading this forum is in mind of taking Cit – DON’T. Short-term it’s great – but long-term you have one hell of a battle ahead of you and it’s just not worth it.

Good luck to all of you and thank you for making me realise I’m ‘normal’ and not going through this alone!

Well Done to those who have taken the decision to reclaim themselves! Thankfully the electric shock thing has calmed down a bit, every 60 secs now instead of every 20 secs! Feel very dodgy though; physically, emotionally, psychologically…but I am determined. this support network is fantastic. those u haven’t experienced are so difficult to turn to for support, despite their willingness.
STAY STRONG PPL, we will overcome!

Hi just a query – Im 7 weeks in withdrawal tomorrow and still feel awful – on edge – upset tummy unsteadiness and crying a LOT! I also dont like going anywhere on my own. Is this normal am I losing it?
Please HELP!!

Hang in there Y – it’s got to be worth it when you come out the other side.

Wil – why not try a low dose of St John’s Wort, to take the edge off? It takes awhile to get into the system, but if it stablises your emotions a little…

hi emily cant get it here in ireland unfortunately they banned it – i thik u can get it on prescriptoion only

hi – maybe go and see your doctor to see if they’ll prescribe it – it’s got to be better than Cit. it makes me laugh that they ban something like st john’s but hand out cit by the handful!
crazy!

the problem with taking st john’s for me is that me and my husband are trying for a baby (which instigated me coming off cit) and they don’t recommend taking st john’s can’t win!
x

I know – its crazy – im not sure what to do. its almost 2 months now since i came off citalopram and im hoping to start feeling much better soon. its such a long time when ur feeling so bad.

I know it’s awful. But just keep thinking how strong you’re being by tackling this – 7 weeks really is something to be proud of. If (when) I get to that point I’m going to seriously celebrate You may be just a week or two away from feeling sooo much better – so don’t give up – keep going!

the more i read into this the more disgusted i am that our doctor’s have prescribed something so bloody terrible without any warning of the longterm affects.

Sorry! this is turning into a one-woman forum!

Wil – read post 51 above for some inspiration.

Hi Emily – thanks again for ur words of comfort. I read post 51 and it helped. Do u think as i was on them for 3 years as opposed to months it will take longer – or am i doing the catastrophising stuff again!! Thnaks for ur words again Emily – its so nice to hear words of comfort – particularly after 7 weeks of crying and falling apart and agoraohobia and unsteadiness and fear.
Sending lots of positivity to you.
W

Hey wil, I genuinly think that it’s down to how long you’ve been on them for. It might take a little longer, but I really think that you’ll come out of the other side of this – you just have to work through it a day at a time. You’ll look back on this and won’t be able to remember how bad you felt, but you need to hang on. I know how you feel, I understand what it’s like to feel frightened and upset all the time and the ‘deep-thinking’ you do while you feel like this. Make sure you keep going out (i.e. to the shops, to see friends, etc) even if you don’t feel like it – it’s all part of getting better. Thanks for your lovely comments

Hi Emily – thanks again – had relatively good day today was out at doctors who said i was doin well (even though i was told cipramil withdrawal only takes about a week!) dont get my wrong i really like my doc but theres no way it only took a week – what am i feeling now? just anxiety? Anyway hope u had a good day today. Im feeling very tired with anxiety and feeling a bit wobbly – its almost like ive over done it today – even though i havnt.
it seems the more tired i get – the worse the symtoms get – wobbly overstimulated – narky – emotional – feeling unsteady – hopefully this will pass very soon.
W

Hi W,
Glad you had a better day. I’ve just been feeling a bit edgy. Saw Doc yesterday who said that it was difficult to tell if my feelings are because I’m going through a stressful time at work (and, as such, is just a natural reaction)or if they are because of withdrawal. Either way – hanging in there
Em
P.S. Been angry and moody as anything -poor husband

Hi Emily
Sorry ur feeling rough – do hang in there – I know what u mean about feeling moody – it seems to be all par of it – had awful day today – seems one day fine next day not so fine but tryin to hang in there too, Id ur stress levels are up anyway due to withdrawal – dont underestimate it i duno how many times ive asked myself and my poor other half “what the hells wrong wit me!!” Was very edgy today too and very high anxiety – again im puttin it down to withdrawal and hopefully everyday is one day further away from cipramil.
Be well.
Wil

Hi,
Found this site tonight for the first time. I was put on citipram 5 years ago for fibromyalgia. It started as 20gm, and was then upped for the depression to 40, and then about 3 months ago put up to 60mg, again for depression. FORTUNATLEY in one sense, I had a rather bad reaction to the increased dosage and my body began to spasm whenever I rested or lay down to sleep. It was a bit of surprise when it first started, but then when the bed would shake from them and my husband started to get quite concerned about it I looked at some of the side effects of the drug. It is one of the rare side effects it seems. I went to the doctors and she suggested cutting back on the dosage, but at the same time said that as I had reacted like this to the drug, it might continue even with a lower dose. She was right, and I decided to just stop taking it. I know that this is not a good thing to do, but having given up cigarettes cold turkey after 25 years of smoking, I knew I would be able to handle it and know if I needed to do somthing about it. On a couple of occasions I had to resort to taking half a table just to take the terrible edge of the withdrawal symptoms.
It is now 6 weeks since I stopped, and one of the things I have noticed is that I am not depressed any more. It seems depression is a side effect as well in some people, depending on why you had it prescribed in the first place. So in actual fact the increasing of the dosage for the depression was in fact causing it to be worse. Oh boy.
I too have had the light headed head spins and the whoosing sounds in my ears and about then on to the weeping stage and the anger stage. I have a wonderful husband who has just been here for me through all of it. The nightmares were horrific too. The list just seems to go on and on.
I am going to make an appointment with the doctor this week hopefully to talk to her about it all. Have not been to see her since I stopped taking it, partly because I was so cranky about them not telling us what we could expect in the way of withdrawal.
Do not know how long it will be before all this withdrawal stuff stops, but I do know that I am back. After so many years of being ‘not there’ most of the time, my mind is working again and my memory is so much better.
One of the big negatives of course is the increase in the pain levels, but will deal with that somehow.
Thank you all for sharing your selves on this issue.

Val

Hi,

Been a while since I last posted, been off the tabs for 7 wks now and im still getting the odd brain whooshes. This week has been the worst with bad sleep, and waking up having a full blown panic attack! this ha got me down and im feeling tearful again and the morbid thoughts of death have started to return…hope this is just a blip.

Tam

Hi,
I have taken this drug on and off for a couple of years. I feel that things in my life have settled down enough for me to stop taking them. I initially cut down to 10mg (from 20mg) and took 10 mg for a couple of months. I stopped taking them all together about 4 days ago and have found that I am getting that funny feeling in my brain. It’s pretty scary to think that I’ve been taking something that effects your brain so much. I just got sick of the feeling of being ‘not there’ a lot. I think taking the drug has effected my memory and have noticed this over the last couple of years. I feel really stupid at times and really wanted to stop this time. I am so sick of the weird feeling in my head and just want it to stop. It does feel as though you are drunk. I have also been very cranky with my children and feel really bad about this. I just get this rage!!
Anyone else feeling the same? Any suggestions?
Julie

Hello…Yes Julie I feel the same as you, its a month since i stopped taking cipramil completely and I still feel awful, if anything i feel worse now than when i fist came off them!!! It makes me wonder if i am going back down into acute depression again…i feel so miserable and weepy and irritable and tired and whoosy..etc etc..!! you all know what i mean!! ,,i just have to believe that it WIL stop eventually!..but in the meantime…any suggestions??? Ive had a headwche for 2 weeks now and nothing is touching it and the docs say its stress!!
Anyway….guess we should all just keep going and trust that it will all come good in the end and that we will get our ’selves’ back.
Having said that i really do feel awful…suggestions most welcome! xx

Hi Im getting some mixed messages from my docs. Im in withdrawal now for 8 weeks and still have high anxiety and feel Im still in withdrawal. My pDoc reckons it only takes a week or so for withdrawal of citalopram to wear off – my other dpc sayd no – it takes longer – and I got asked a third doc recently and he said 3 weeks!
Do anyone have any views on this? Its getting to the stage where I dont know how I feel or why and no-one seems to have the same info as anyone else. Thanks

Ay up everyone and best wishes to you all been on citalopram for 2 years for panic attacks first year 20mg 10mg for a year then i cut down to one every other day for couple months last tuesday decided to take no more and 5 days later the flu hit (without the temperature) and the dizzyness nausea timelagged head-if i hadnt read this i would be thinking that i was imagining it as withdrawl-the docs really havent the full picture for this drug as i was told to do 10mg couple weeks then stop-so glad i didnt and hoping that for me and you all these symptoms will not last too long…chins up

Hi Wil
What you are experiencing is what I have experienced. I still feel crappy but the good days seem to be getting bigger in numbers – and I have been off the meds since March! Don’t despair, I think it’s just going to depend on how long you were on them as to how long it will take you to recover. Upset stomach has been horrid for me, but like I say, the bad days seem to be lengthening out though today is not good for me! I never used to be teary at much but I find I am teary at times when normally I wouldn’t be! Keep your chin up and know that the flu-like symptoms are not only happening with you. Pity there’s not a place all we people around the world can meet to hang out when we are feeling like this!
Helen

Thanks so much for your reply Helen – Im just so terribly frightened – and now my partner is insisting `i go back to doc and go on another SSRI as Im so debilitated. I jjst dont know what to do. Glad ur having better days. W

Hi Wil
It’s probably hard for your partner especially if he/she has not experienced depression or anxiety and has never come off medication. I felt my friend’s reaction (my family lives overseas) was rather slow to realise that I was truly suffering and still am!

The reason why I stopped was because I felt I no longer needed it and was just popping a pill because it was part of my getting up in the morning routine.
One of the things that keeps me going is that my psychiatrist who is a professor here at the med school in the part of New Zealand where I live, confirmed that many people can feel fluey-like for weeks afterwards. These people know as they do the research – unfortunately the average GP does not seemed to be well informed in New Zealand with regards to psychiatric meds – particularly coming off them. In my personal experience also, once you come off them there is no one around for support i.e. no groups you can hang out with and my GP for example, didn’t even suggest I may need to see my counsellor for a bit for support – I took myself there for a session just because I wanted to complain to someone!!

The main thing is that you try and remain positive on the bad days and take advantage of the good days, but still preserve yourself and not over do it. You will get through it (yes, easy to say as I type….but just to tell you, today is a bad day for me!!)

Helen

Oh yes, the bad day for me today is that I feel slightly weird and off the planet, bit sick, headachy etc – I am sure you can relate!

thanks so much for ur reply Helen – i really appreciate it. Hope u have a better day tomorrow (hope we ALL have a better day tomorrow

HI EVERYONE OF YOU OUT THERE

Just went back and read through all of my previous entries and they seem like a life time ago (first one was 21/02/07). i only recognise that person as me by my name, its funny cos i have also forgotten half of it already.

So here i am 6 months out , no depression, no drugs, just good old st johns wort, no more counselling, just a great life.

yes its was crap and hard work but all of you working towards the end result stick with it and become a real whole person again. you might like what you find . i have

JULIE, SUSIE, WIL, HELEN all keep at it. the side effects of withdrawal will come and go but one day you will just realise they have gone and not returned.
the last few months have taken a lot of work, and this might sound weird…. i have had to learn how to react appropriatly to emotions again, not gettting too sad, too silly, sometimes you just let get and realise others around you aren’t doing the same . years of pent up emotions come flooding back and its like being a kid and having to learn take baby steps.
eventually through taking little steps, and occasionaly falling over we each get to run along our own paths

I Hope you all find your happy path easily.

XXXXXXXX

Hi everyone -but especially Sarah Jane who helped me through. Thank you.

My comments, including 358 log my story of Citalopram withdrawl. I’ve printed off all the comments on this thread and taken them to my GP to get the practice to understand that it wasn’t just me. I’m now nearly 3 months on and am OK! In the past 3 months i’ve had to deal with pregnancy/miscarriage, family cancer, other sick relatives. All these problems in such a short space of time and I have coped WITHOUT the citalopram. The GP had made me feel i’d never be without them .

TO anyone out there who’s just started with the side effects…. I had to try twice to come off it – I had to take days off work to cope – remember all the time that it’s the withdrawal NOT the depression returning – tell people how hard you’re finding it and don’t blame yourself. Be glad you found this thread – so many people are on their own. xxxxxxx

hi, i’ve suddenly stoped taking the big C 6 days ago…very grumpy, weepy and candy floss head…dizzy and stiff. i was on 40 dose for 7 months and after a temper tantrum flushed them all. now im sorta regreting it, havnt told my gp, and not to sure weather to go back on them or ride the wave.any advice would be relly appreciated ….xxxxxxxxxxxxx
i also put on 1 stone whilst i was on them, part of the temper tantrum god damn vanity eh !!!

hey all
hope you’re feeling a little better Wil.
i’ve had to go back to the big C – just 10mg every other day as the withdrawal got too much. Somedays I was doing great and felt fine and others the lows were just too much to deal with.
I’ve got a lot of stuff going on at work (formal proceedings) so that hasnt helpes. I find it impossible to define if I would feel like this if I had never taken Cit before, as this may just be a natural reaction, or if it IS Cit. Confusing. Had a better day today, but the lows ain’t much fun! Keep smiling all

Hi Emil and all – I couldnt handle the withdrawals either in the end I was a crying wreck. Have started 5mg of escitalopram now and side effects are yuk – i dunno why I did it I feel so shit. Hope things improve,

Hi all, finally I have found you, I knew you all had to be out there somewhere. I have been off this awful drug for 3 weeks and was convinced that my depression was returning. The fireworks in the head (convinced I had a brain tumour!!) The pins and needles in the hands, the nausea has been awful and……took me a couple of moments to regain my thoughts there…. the loss of concentration. I have put a repeat prescription in to my doctors to go back on the tablets convinced I must still be ill even though I know that I am not! And now I find from reading this comment page that I am not ill but suffering the effects of withdrawel from a drug I only agreed to take because I was advised by my GP that there were no side effects to coming off them. Nice to have someone to aim my anger at rather than my beloved family who have been to hell and back.
Anyway keep communicating as this is the best therapy I have had for ages. xx ps thank you – you have all done me the world of good especially Helen there have been some real pearls of wisdom in what you have been advising

hi i’ve been off of this drug for about a week now, I told my doctor me and my partner were going to try for a baby, he assured me i’d be fine coming off of them and there’d be ‘no problems’ lol lol lol! i’ve been getting the rice shaking and problems with dizziness when i move my head or eyes! and spasms in my arms and down my back. i’ve also been extremely angry and upset with HUGE crying fits! i thought i was going mad (again)! and that i’d have to go back on those evil little pills! not a chance! after reading what everybody here has gone through i know i can get past it! i’m just really annoyed that my doctor told me there would be no withdrawal symptoms, especially after i told him i was trying for a baby! i’m going to refer him to this page!

still crying over everything..irritable, aching i even forgot the school receptionists name. takes a long time to think about the simplist of processes.
day 9 …and feel like i’m very depressed just want to curl up ad goo night nights !!!lol

still crying over everything..irritable, aching i even forgot the school receptionists name. takes a long time to think about the simplist of processes.
day 9 …and feel like i’m very depressed just want to curl up and go night nights !!!lol

Hi Amanda
My Mum keeps telling me to stick with it (a former nurse) and so I will pass on the same info to you and everyone else!! You get better after the initial acuteness of coming off the drug, but just take life easy. You will perhaps be ‘floored’ every now and then like I have been, which has made me teary (never used to be this way) and very frustrated as I am not one to sit still in life – this has been the hard part! The other sunday I was in bed at 8.30pm and slept until 6am the following morning!
I am going to see my psychiatrist in two weeks’ time so if I have any info I will post it as it helps so much to know that you aren’t the only one goign insane now and then!
Take care Amanda – I have started taking vitamin b and omega 3 (the latter after three incidences of leaving my car keys in the car door when in town shopping for an hour or two)! Also if you ahve had an upset stomach, I have been taking aloe vera juice. I am still getting nausea, but I think it’s from all the worry of knowing I am not feeling right and having to cope with it all and do the usual things like going to work when all I want to do is do somethng for myself and have a lie in!
Hxx

Headed for the Health Food Shop on Sunday. Black Cohosh, Cod Liver ( god knows what that has to do with the withdrawals but hey)

The hand spasms are starting to do my head in, cant even write a flipping comment without stuffing it up half way through. Anyway what I was trying to say was that I am taking all kinds of health products including Ginger capsules which have helped immensely with the nausea, the effects were instant. As for the others dont know whether they are just a placebo or psychosymatics but they seem to be working. My boyfriend is now very understanding now that he realises that I havent totally lost my marbles and that I am recovering from taking the tablets. I really dont get it, I am prescribed cit to get over depression I may as well have not bothered as getting over the medication is 10 times worse than the depression I had. Also part of my problems back then were my physical appearance, and to two years later be 3 stone heavier is a bit of a bummer, although since I stopped taking the tablets I am losing weight. Weird as well is the fact that since I found this site my episodes have been less severe. Work is so hard though, I am running on such a short fuse that I have to not get into conversations with anyone for fear of offending. And at some point in the day the perspiration is absolutely dripping of my whole body. This is when I am at my worst with the pins and needles in my hands and fireworks in the brain. I also get pins and needles in my lips and they go numb making it very unpleasant to speak, does anyone else get that? Don’t know if there is a light at the end of the tunnel yet… as I have yet to find the tunnel.

I’ve been on 20mg citalopram for 7 yrs, 4 of them spent trying to come off under my gp advice, reducing by 10mg then nothing and failed every time! Decided to do it myself reducing 5mg at a time and now I’ve been off them for 2 wks and still feel absolutely dreadful. Crying now as I write this msg, jst feel ill all the usual symptoms described by every1 else, but jst dont know if I can bear it any longer. Does anyone know what the longest time is for getting through withdrawal? Thought about st. johns wort but then is that not still being dependant on a drug, all be it herbal, which also seems to have its own side effects. Any advice? Anybody?

Cheryl – not a good idea this stage to go on St John’s Wort – it can interact with citalopram I know when you are on it, but maybe wait a little while and check with your GP if you can go on it. Things do get better over time – which is easy to say but I have had a rough time and I think much of the research on coming off the drugs os secret as people wouldn’t take them otherwise!

Hi helen, thanks for commenting, was hoping to feel a bit better today, but I’m worse. My doc reckons I shouldn’t be having any side effects! and that I should do regular exercise to boost my energy levels. A bit difficult when I’m struggling just to go to work when all I want to do is sleep and my motivation is zero. Just feel like I’ve got permanent flu. My worry is my two teenage sons and the effect on them, with my low moods, short temper and being so distant, thats why I thought maybe trying st johns wort. Feel they are too young to explain and they think its because my boyfriend walked out 6 wks ago anyway. I got the courage to quit from him actually, but since I’ve been reducing them he said I made him feel insecure and that most of our arguements were because of my tablets, hence I need to be off them if I am to ever have another relationship. I’m going to give omega 3 a go because my concentration and memory is completely hopeless. Has anyone suffered from cramps? Over the past couple of weeks I’ve also been waking with terrible cramps in my legs.

Cheryl – I had a majority of the withdrawal symptpms – the cramps are the flu like feelings that come with being off the meds. The flu like symptoms can go on for a while, which is the negative part about it, but just think, you have been off them for two weeks and that is not to be sneezed at! Keep at it.
Helen

Hi, I have been taking Citalopram for almost a year. About 4 months ago my GP and I decided to halve my dose to see if the medication was effective for me.

I had no problems with the halved dose until i accidently missed 2 days before a Uni exam. I had the most severe dizzyness, headaches and nausea and only just made it through my exam before crawling home and into bed where I slept for 16 hours.
Seven days ago I stopped taking the medication while on holidays from uni and work so my stress levels are at nil and I am relaxed and calm. This time i still have the brain left 1/2 a second behind feeling and tiredness (sleeping up to 14 hrs a night).
I know this isn’t a possibility for everyone with lifes pressures and the daily grind but I would HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend to anyone trying to come off the medication to take some time off for themselves and be AS STRESS FREE as possible. I am sure this is why I did not get the migraines and resulting nausea this time.
My love and best wishes to all the other citalopram withdrawal sufferers out there!

Firstly, many thanks to everyone who has written on this forum. It has been a great help to understand what is going on with me. Looking at other people’s problems I can see that mine are remarkably minor. I was on Citalopram for about two months and was going to be moved on to something else, but found that on stopping the Citalopram the incredible exhaustion and low moods went away! I have now spent over a week of headaches (spent one afternoon with ice packs on my temples) and dizziness or ‘brain-shake’, just like a bad hangover. I would just like to say that although a lot of people have really bad problems coming off Citalopram, I think that it does do a good job as an anti-depressant, but sufferers and doctors need to understand and be honest about potential withdrawal. I think that it would also be very helpful if people on this forum could be more specific about the experienced symptoms and for how long they occur, and be more descriptive about some of the (eg ‘flu like’ Tired? Lethargic?), as I think that this site is a potentially invaluable resource to people searching for help and understanding. A last quick question – did anyone get a bad cold as part of the withdrawal? It was probably coincidence but I got a really bad one as soon as I came off… Good luck and best wishes to all who are still working through it all. Nick

Hi Nick,

Yep!!!!! Now that I think about it, I have got a cold. I did not put it down to the citilopram withdrawal but it could very well be as it arrived at the same time as the other withdrawal symptoms. I think it is definately affecting my sinuses too as my partner mentioned that I have begun to snore over the last week and I have never done this before. Pretty embarassing really but hope it goes away soon. (others have suggested flu like symptoms maybe they refer to cold symptoms too!) Good luck with the brain shake. It is really quite frustrating.

Peta

Me too! I’ve been snoring for england, even waking myself up,lol! But, I put that down to my wanting to sleep 24/7, total fatigue and going into major deep sleep state, with the weirdest dreams might I add! Brain shakes have eased off for me(3wks off cit), still there sometimes and sometimes worse than others, mornings are still bad (bit like a bad hangova with a loose brain), but seem to ease off if I get myself going and worsen if I dont! Still feel spaced out and distant and know I’m talking slower but my brain wont work any faster and still very forgetful, short term memory is really bad even my boys have commented. Thanxs Helen for comment about the legs, was a little bit worried about that because they can be quite bad.

Hi Cheryl, Thank goodness!!!!!!!!!! I’m not necessarily becoming a snorer for LIFE! I hope I will only continue to snore for “Australia” for a little while longer or I may end up with my own bedroom. I too am wanting to sleep a lot more than usual and am going into very deep sleep. I seem to become most tired at night as my dizzyness seems to get worse in the afternoon and evening. I have had a couple of very strange but humourous dreams which are not common for me but I am finding it is actually quite amusing. I’m lucky I guess that it isnt nightmares as some people suggest they suffer from and I have had these frequently through my life without being on medication.

hi again! just thought i’d type about how much worse i’ve gotten been off of these for two weeks now a few days ago i was getting better and now i’m worse than ever! my mood is awful i just feel like crying the whole time! my head is shaking worse.
I can’t even type properly i have to keep deleting and rewriting this! because i’m getting everything wrong! can’t stop crying either! and now i can’t even remember what i writing on here! i’m a complete mess!
i’m getting scared of what i might do because i’m so up and down!
i’m sorry if this post hasn’t made sense but i’m not making sense to myself! i wish i’d never taken the damn things in the first place!!

Emily – the one thing that I have realised from this forum is that there are a lot of people out there who really do understand what you are going through. Although I have a strong belief in the doctors and psychiatrists, I do sometimes feel like a widget to them. Everyone here feels for you and supports you. Stick with it and focus on the good stuff. I came back yesterday from seeing my psychiatrist and just broke down in tears as I felt completely mentally ravaged and empty, and was just apologising for being useless. I felt that I had been made to look hard into a mirror, and didn’t like what I saw. But after a bit of thinking (and a few more tears) I began to think about all this being like having a broken leg. It will mend. I may limp occasionally, or I may even break it again, but it will get better. When it hurts, it is really awful, but I know that it will pass. If all this was physical it would be easier to deal with, so it may help to try to ’see’ it as something physical.

Back onto the symptoms… My psychiatrist seems to think that I am very sensitive to the drugs (I wasn’t on a high dose, only took them for 2 months, was knocked out by them and had quite severe withdrawal symptoms). It is nice to know that I am sensitive! My cold is still here, the head shakes get worse in the afternoon/evening – related to tiredness? I was curious to hear Peta mention dreams… Mine aren’t humorous, but I have suddenly started getting really sexual dreams! I assume I’m allowed to discuss this stuff (I hope this is anonymous!), but I had what they term ‘low libido’ due to the depression, and whilst on Citalopram, but have had some really wicked dreams since coming off… Also I am in a much deeper sleep in the mornings. Sometimes it is quite hard to wake up. Best wishes to all, Nick

Hi All,
Oh how simply great to read these comments and feel not alone with these strange and upsetting side effects of withdrawal. I was unable to even describe the sensation I was getting in my head and then I read about the sixth comment down being “like someone shaking a box of rice in one’s head” – that is it exactly!.
Thanks. I really am so glad to have found these comments.
The message is simple “sit it out – it will get better.”
jimbo

Hi all!

I had a much better day today! I’m back at Uni and the workload is absolutely hideous but strangely i’m feeling fine about it.
* Today I had much fewer dizzyness episodes.
* Also My partner said I didn’t snore last night (Yeah!!!!)or at least not that he heard
Let’s see if it lasts but I won’t hold my breath as I know it is possible it will get worse again before the symptoms disappear all together. I’ll just take one day at a time and enjoy the good days and live through the not so good ones in the knowledge that I will get through it.
Hope you are all doing well.
Peta

Hi Emily, I’ve been exactly the same, unable to think or talk straight, have you tried sending a text yet!? Phew! impossible task! But I am definitely improving, being into my 4th wk of no cit. Felt like I was going mad and wanted to cry all the time, felt so low and panicky, its so scarey. It’s like an outer body experience, I can see my hands and I know I’m moving my fingers, but it just doesnt seem like their mine, its so weird. But the point is I am DEFINITELY improving, although these feelings are still here but not nearly as bad. If you can, I think you should take a couple of weeks off work to make it easier on yourself. Hope this msg makes a little bit of sense for you, although I’m still struggling to make sense myself.

Hi
Have never written before but now feel able after spending practically all day reading messages from this site since discovering it in a desperate attempt to find some answers to the feelings I have and am currently experiencing.
I got diagnosed with post natal depression following the birth of my second child at the six week check. Never had depression in past incidentally. I was started on 10mg of cipramil and dose gradually got increased to 40mg. After taking it for 7 months I felt it had become ineffective and depression, anxiety and panic had all returned.
After seeing the GP I was advised to reduce from 40mg to 20mg over a period of a week, then have a two day gap and commence paroxitine (seroxat) 20mg which soon got increased to 30mg after 2 weeks. I was on 30mg for 7 days and then got the over whelming desire to commit suicide. I literally decided over a period of hours that I just couldn’t cope anymore. The thought of leaving my husband and two children in the end prevented me from overdosing. I contacted the GP the following morning and was advised to stop the paroxitine immediately and take mirtazapine 15mg. I took this for two days but it wiped me out completely and all I could do was sleep. No help to me with two young children to try and take care of. I saw GP again yesterday and am currently taking no antidepressants since Sunday but am using 2mg diazepam when required as am currently experiencing horrendous withdrawals which initially I thought was the depression coming back before logging on to this site when doing my own research on these drugs. I, like many of you, was naively totally un aware of any side effects from these drugs as was told withdrawals would be minimal especially with cipramil. I am experiencing feelings of total exhaustion, dizziness, hallucinations, visual disturbances, flu like symptoms, sore jaw, stiff neck and aching lower back, headache, dry mouth, vivid dreams and feel like when I do sleep I am sleeping with my eyes wide open. I have little ability to care for my poor children and am just barely struggling through taking every minute at a time. I feel totally useless. It is truly horrible and far worse than any feeling I have ever had before. Just felt by writing this it may help also to let those who are experiencing the same or similar that you are not alone. I just pray these withdrawals don’t go on for too long as so unpleasant and difficult on my whole family.

How do i come off citalopram. I was prescribed about 15months ago and ive attempted to come off them twice. I was on 20mg for ages then two months ago i cut down to 10mg and have been fine and i wanted to come off them so i cut down again to 5mg about 5 days ago and i feel awful as though i have the flu and the headaches and the nausea and feeling down,any suggestions greatly welcome!!

Hi lynsey, just an idea that I wish I’d tried, apparently you can get citalopram in liquid form and think it would be much easier to reduce by 1mg at a time, each month. I know it sounds like a long time but it makes me wonder if the withdrawal symptoms would of been half as bad.

Hi
I’m now day 6 of not taking cipramil or citalopram as most of you refer to and managing the awful withdrawals as mentioned in above entry on July 25 by using diazepam but only because I felt so terrible otherwise i would have tired to ride this storm using nothing. I find diazepam slightly reduces the intensity of withdrawals but I still feel terrible but am coping just. I will also have to withdraw slowly from diazepam but I eventually want to be rid of every drug in my body so I know what the real me is like again. I would advise anyone taking any antidepressants to withdraw as slowly as you possibily can as the side effects are terrible if you stop suddenly despite what any GP tells you about withdrawals being minimal. Have they taken them, probably not, so listen to those that have and take things very slowly. I’m sure these drugs wouldn’t be prescribed in the first place if GP`s were fully aware of the withdrawals, these drugs would probably never even get licienced or maybe people just stay on them for years as just can’t get off them because of the side effects? I just hope I never need them again but just wont know how i truely feel until I’m rid of these terrifying side effects from withdrawing to quickly. Hope this helps?

Feeling ‘really’ low today, feels like the depressions coming back. I’m so irritable, snappy, cant think to organize my days, soooo tired and feel like my head has a really big sponge in it and its trying to burst out, like pressure! Cant decide whether to try st. johns wort or a low dose cit. Cant cope feeling like this, if only we knew how long these withdrawal symptoms were going to last, maybe it would be easier.

Hi Cheryl
How many days have you been withdrawing now? Mayb just see a diff GP to your normal one and see what they think or if they know anymore or have a different option to help you? I’ve been told bout cognitive therapy, can’t even think bout it yet as still a complete mess. I researched to advoid caffeine, sweets etc which I am also doing now but consumming coffee and tea and picking at sweet things all day is a hobby of mine!! esp with two young children, so again really hard to do. Stay strong.

Hi Cheryl
The symptoms you wrote about on entry 485 tend to coincide with coming off the meds. You need to give your body/mind some time to attempt to adjust to not have the meds anymore. I also agree with Lottie, that you do need support at this time and some CBT/counselloring would definitely be a help to you. I would check with your doctor if it is ok to take the St John’s Wort as if you haven’t been off the drugs long, there maybe a bit in the system and the SJW can interact with the meds.
As for me, I have had some different anxiety return after being off the meds for five months, so give yourself time before you go thinking you have had depression return.It may be the case, it may not.
Helen

This is a first time posting for me. I have been off Citalopram for 5 1/2 weeks now and the withdrawals have gotten much better. I still have some feelings of diziness/lightheadness, but that is also getting better. I wanted to mention that I have found a way to increase my serotonin levels through diet. A book I would recommend is “Potatoes Not Prozac” and “The Sugar Addict’s Total Recovery Program”, both by Kathleen DesMaison. The eating program has helped tremendously, also because I am a sugar junkie!

Just thought this might be some “food for thought” for others who are trying to deal with depression without drugs.

Maria

lottie and helen, thanks for your comments. It’s 4 wks 3days since I stopped cit in answer to lotties question. No way I could talk to anyone at the mo, maybe in time when my brain is connected to my mouth! Had a very stressful situation today at work and had an almost outer-body experience, afterwards I felt so strange, drugged infact! It felt on the lines of when I first stopped cit. Is it likely that stress could have temporarily exaggerated symptoms?

Hi.
Like the sound of ‘potatoes not prozac’ so may purchase! I’m determined to try anything that doesn’t involve taking drugs.

Cheryl I really think that you should maybe just go and talk to a different GP or health professional bout how you feeling however hard it may be. As like me you obviously get some form of relief/help/solice from logging on to this site and think talking to a ‘professional’ may in the end help you to cope and eventually overcome these feelings you are having? I know it’s hard believe me. I didn’t even tell my husband I was on antidepressants until about a month of takin them. I was on them for 8months and only confided in my best friend a month before i came off them. So i believe i kind of understand how you may feel and just think you shouldn’t go it alone. I wish I’d told my best friend months ago as she is so supportive.

Only a professional would hopefully be able to advice you on whether the feelings you are experiencing are normal. There is a crisis line maybe linked to MIND site i think or get in touch by phone with your local mental health agency as then you should be able to speak with a psychiatric bod who should be far more clued up on anti d’s, withdrawals etc. All anti d’s have half lifes and they should be able to calculate how long your withrawals are likely to be by adding up how much was in your system i believe?

Sorry if this seems bit waffly. I’m day 11 i think of withrawal and took last dose of diazepam this am which i have now hopefully slowly withdrawn from. I’m all over the place still. Very emotional and spaced out. Can’t think straight still and really hard to type, corrected many spelling errors in this. I don’t feel so flu like but not sleeping well and just finding life hard generally as so not myself, so you not alone. I’m thinking of contacting someone for some reassurance/advise also but have yet to find the srength or conversational ability but will try soon i think if i can.

Most dash now as my little baby crying.

It is really great (though everyone having withdrawal isn’t) to see other people are having these experiences. For me, I have been on 40mg of Cit for anxiety for over a year now. I have just recently stopped taking it. I haven’t experienced the “fireworks” yet, but I have definitely been dizzy and feeling kinda out of it. I also have been having crazy mood swings. I feel bad for my husband, but he has been really understanding. I just wanted to thank everyone for sharing. It’s comforting to know that I’m not alone in this cit brain mess.

Guys, I know all about the brain zaps. I am currentlty in the process of withdrawing from citalopram and the only thing I can say is to just ride the thing out and know it will end.

The dizziness, the 3 second time lags, the disorientation…. and another thing, I am getting travel sick in my car on the way home from work!

When does it end friends? I stopped taking them a week ago having been on them for a year.

Another question I have… while taking the tablets did anyone suffer with Eczema (or any similar skin conditions)? I got it for the first time in my life.shortly aftertaking the them!

for those that are off citalopram and no longer have withdrawals please let us know how long it lasts.. i’ve been off for 3 weeks and it seems to be getting worse.. super moody and dizzy and brain shakes.

Ive been taking citalopram 20mg for the last 6 months since Feb, I cut them down to one tablet every other day between June and July then one tablet every other day between July and August. Ive now stopped completely and not taken one for a week, just like everyone else Im having the wooshy (thats how it feels) sensations in the head every day, its not actually that bad to be honest as I know that its a withdrawal symptom, my dad has been on anti depressabts for the last 20 yrs and he says thats its perfectly normal, there isnt a set period that it lasts either as it all depends on the person really. Whatever you do, dont start taking them again if you can handle the unplessant symptoms as this will only make you dependant on the drug, it will stop and you’ll feel alot better for it. Good luck everybody and I hope your all feeling 100% real soon.

Hi

Well i’ve been withdrawing for nearly 3 weeks now. Previous entries 481,484,490 for anyone who wants to read the whole picture! And I am so much better. Now clear of everything in my system and only occasional withdrawal associated feelings but only mild and easy to manage compared to what I have been going through.

I got advice from a GP, basically support and encouragement and GP told me to try and stick it out if I could. GP wanted to see me a week later just to check on me as the terrible withdrawals I had, ment I had to talk to GP over the phone, as i felt un safe to drive or even really go out the house, so therefore couldn’t make the appointment I was offered.

I am so much better now. Never felt I’d get here at one stage but I have, although I feel I have really struggled.

I don’t feel depressed and pray that will never return. I am a bit ‘on edge’ and have a fear that if things get too much I may go back to how I was. Life is hectic most days for most of us I reckon, so think this may be normal feelings especially for a mum of two young children.

I hope I never need prescription drugs again but believe they did help me through a difficult time in my life. However when looking back, I now wish I could have found perhaps an alternative way of coping at the time but who knows?!

Anyway, stick with it everyone, it is really really hard but if I can do it then so can you.

I feel I’m slowly getting back to my ‘normal’ now, and the sunny weather is definately helping!!

Hi All.

I saw the Doc yesterday and he told me that it was no wonder I was feeling so terrible, having gone from 20mg to nothing (due to bad advice from another doc). Im now back, after a terrible week of nothing, on 10mg a day and have been advised to continue like that for the next MONTH. Immediately after taking them again, even on a small 10mg dose, I felt better. Then I need to go to 10mg EVERY OTHER DAY for another MONTH.

The over all process of coming off of these tablets painlessly is 2 months -but Im advised I wont notice when they’re gone this way!

Good luck all.

xxx

In a nutshell… if you are feeling bad, you are coming off too quick. Reduce your dosage over time (not over night) and leave bigger gaps between taking the tabs.
x

Hi
I came across this site a couple of weeks ago and have been reading it on and off to try and make sense out of what the hell is going on with my body!
Started taking Citalopram (20mg) in July 2006 for depression, anxiety & panic.I never thought I was depressed in the first place – anxious & panicky definitely! – so after a couple of weeks on Cit I invested in a method to cure anxiety & panic and it went away within 3 days!
At my doctor’s suggestion, I stayed on Cit. – tried to reduce the dose from 20mg to 10mg just after Xmas this year and was a wreck!Disorientated, mega mood swings, crying, irritable and went back on them.
I have been reducing now since the beginning of July – 3 weeks at 15mg which was a breeze and the past 2 weeks at 10mg and BANG! I feel like I’m walking on the moon, swallowing paracetamol every 3 hours due to the horrendous headaches, shoulder & neck pain, first week couldn’t stop sweating and awful nightmares and I could sleep for England!Just had 10 hours sleep and could go straight back to bed, the bags under my eyes could hold a weeks’ shopping!
I’m having to keep things ‘normal’ – have a responsible job and have no annual leave left for this year and my sickness record is appalling due to the time I had off last year, so I can’t take any ‘time out’ to cope with this withdrawal.
Will be reducing to 5mg in a couple of weeks for a month and I’m dreading it! I’ve only just passed my driving test (hence I’m a bit shaky on the roads anyway!) and hate getting in the car due to the ‘floaty head feeling’.
Has anyone got any suggestions on how to reduce this medication any further to negate the withdrawal effects or am I just going to have to grin and bear it?!
On another note, came off alcohol and various other substances over 10 years ago and have been sober since and believe me, the withdrawal from that was a walk in the park compared to this!
I have a partner with a similar background to mine (alcohol/substances etc.) who is marvellous but I know that my constant mood swings/lethargy must be getting him down.
Any comments/suggestions would really be appreciated!

Thank you . What can i said that hasn’t been said already. I’m just soooo relieved i have an explanation . Thought i was really really going mad.They don’t tell you about this when they prescribe these horrible pills within 5 mins of seeing them.Phew relief..thank you…So scared the depression was back with avengence. Between the withdrawals and the £150/half an hour psychiatrist telling me to look up a particular problem on wikipedia !! I was not felling so good but i have found so much more comfort reading the postings here…thank you all.

I suspected that the feelings I got when I forgot to take my dosage were withdrawal, and now I’ve gone straight from 40mg to almost nothing I know for sure! I am actually being ridiculously irresponsible here: I am stopping taking them because I’m going to a festival, and I want to take Es; and I have read studies (and experienced) that show that citalopram inhibits the effects of them. (essentially both work on the same neurotransmitter: serotonin.) Anyway I have no idea what’s going to happen, I just thought if anyone else ever decided to do this and googled, then it might be worth my typing my experience so at least they’d be forewarned! I am sure this is probably a terrible idea anyway so, er, I don’t recommend it… I’ll update with what happens.

Hi

It’s now been about 5 weeks since i`ve been without medication. Did feel at one stage that i was feeling better but for about the last 2 weeks i have been on a steady decline.

Been feeling really low, emotional, not thinking rationally, feel lost in my own head, unable to concentrate and been having crazy feelings of just wanting to end it all. Can’t understand where all this has come from again or what if anything triggered it. I’m scared for myself and just want to be better and to get out of this horrible state of mind.

Been told the next step for me is effexor, but holding off as to scared to take it in case it doesn’t help or makes me worse due to my previous experiences. Know nothing about effexor except told by GP it is extremely sedating, but i’ve got a toddler and baby so how could i possibly take this?

I am waiting for a referral to psych team who will hopefully be more able to help me or prescribe me something suitable if i do end up back on a prescription.

The GP has basically said they are not the experts and feel I need to speak with someone who knows the drugs better and who can offer alternative help like conselling.

Although I hate the thought of taking another medication I except that I need some real help now as I know I’m really unwell. The GP also said it may also be a ‘kick back’ of the previous medication but I just don’t know what to think or believe and have found this site a better way to source information from those who really know.

Wondered how cheryl was now? and if anyone has taken effexor and could advise me of the real benefits or negatives associated with it as reading stuff on the net about side effects is all very well but I would much rather hear it from someone who has actually been prescribed it and has been living this nightmare also. Thank you.

hi lottie, nearly 8 wks for me now!! Looked in the mirror yesterday and actually thought I looked more like my old self! Taking St J W, still having a couple of bad days but mostly good ones, and have discovered that stress definitely triggers strange reactions. I read somewhere, although I cant remember where, that when you come off anti-d’s you have to learn how to cope with emotions again and I think that is case with me. I am going to look into a stress management course as I have a fair amount of unavoidable stress in my life, single parent, two teenage boys (one with ADHD) stressful job and doing an NVQ. Hang in there is the only thing I can say and be kind to yourself. Sorry dont know anything about effexor. Take care.

Thank you cheryl. Glad you are doin ok and coping with all that you have going on in your life! Agree with you about stress being a trigger. I am hanging in definately as I know I have so much to hang in for even though it’s hard to see sometimes.

I just found this site by doing a google search. I have been trying to get off this drug for about 6 months. Now I feel horrible when I cut down the dosage and have reduced from 40 to 20 mg. over a month. I then went to 10 mg and the symptoms started this time. I went back on 20 and then 40 mg. I experience nausea, headaches, dizziness, suicidal, and buzzing sounds, etc. I do not feel normal while taking this drug, feel aloof, sleepy, tired, gain weight, don’t care about life. I have been on this for about 2 years and don’t know how to get off of it.

Jimr, the only way is ever so slowly over a long period of time. Thats with with min side effect. 10mg at a time is way too much. I tried for about 4 yrs reducing by 10mg then I tried 5mg then i’m finally managed by reducing at 2.5mg, but still struggled on that. You can get cit in liquid form which is easier to reduce and I would only reduce by 5mg till your down to 20mg then reduce by 1mg a month. Ok, yes I know that sounds like such a long time but I wish I had done it like that and look how long we all waste keep reducing by 10mg or even 5mg then going back up because we can’t manage it. Good luck and keep trying, but take it slowly.

WOW!!! I have “surfed” the “depression”/”blogs” before…but never have I found such profound insight into the citalopram withdrawal…

I have been on Citalopram for 4 or more years now….80 mgs…..

Depression started after my ugly divorce…

tried a few different ADs but settled with Citalopram….after a few years on it at 60/80 mgs… it was starting to lose its affect….my psychiatrist and I decided to add “Lamictal”…a drug used for bipolar/seizure patients…but has also shown effectiveness with patients with depression who have not had luck/lost effectiveness with other drugs for depression…

I have been taking Lamictal for around 5 months….initially it helped……but the side effects (sleepiness, blurry vision, increased hunger) have put a dent in my life…

I want to taper off of both/some/….eventually ALL!!!!! Don’t we all…..but I don’t know how…I’ve tried to down scale Citalopram slowly…quickly,…and over many months…but to no avail…..then we added Lamictal…which from my internet research (aka “Dr. Internet) there should be now withdrawal effects for depressive patients (only ones with seizures)…

Just Venting tonight…wanna be “normal”…like we all wanna be…

“No Meds”!!!!

HANG IN THERE ALL!!!! LIFE HAS THROWN US SOME MEGA HARDBALLS…..BUT WE’RE STRONG…AND WHATEVER FAITH YOU HAVE….IN A HIGHER BEING OR YOURSELF…

KNOW THAT WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER…THAT MANY SUFFER FROM WHAT WE ARE GOING THRU…..THAT WE ARE WORTHY OF BEING STABLE AND ADJUSTED AND HAPPY…..

HAPPY TO BE LIVING IN A CHALLENGING, COMPLICATED WORLD….BUT…NONETHELESS….FULFILLING,INVIGORATING, AND MEANINGFUL

GOD BLESS ALL!!!! KEEP IN YOUR HEART THAT YOU WILL GET THROUGH THIS!!!!

You are SOOOOOO NOOOOTT the only one feeling this way….

Have faith…keep strong….
…save money for the rising prices of gasoline……

And LIVE!!!!
TS

Hi all

Just been reading the comments above since I last posted (500). I think simply there is no easy way to withdraw from these tablets – I’ve done the stepping down 5mg at a time over a period of three weeks (3 weeks for each step down, then reduce by 5mg for the next 3 etc.) and am now down to the last 5mg. Will be doing 5mg every other day for a week after that, then 5mg every 2 days then FREEDOM!

I find that for the first week/ten days the headaches, dizziness, exhaustion etc. is the worst and then it seems to ease (and then of course, it’s time to reduce again!).

The only tips I can give (and I’m not totally off them YET!) is to try and keep as busy as possible, keep doing the ‘normal’ everyday things as far as you can and be good to yourself! I’ve found that relaxation CD’s really help (although I was prescribed Cit for anxiety/panic and not depression) and also talking to someone about how you’re feeling is very therapeutic (my partner and best mate are amazing!).

All I can say is hang on in there, as previously mentioned I had to withdraw from alcohol/other substances years ago and was SO GLAD that I went through the withdrawal and got to the other side as the benefits have been life changing!

As they say in the quit smoking campaigns ‘don’t give up giving up’!

Wow, I am so glad I found this site online today. I started looking because I recently began to go off Celexa 40 mg, after being on it for 3.5 years. First I reduced my dose by half for over 3 weeks. During that time I had some withdrawal symptoms, the flashes and delayed brain responses. Then I adjusted and was feeling good, so I tried again to go half equaling a fourth tablet. I actually forgot to take my medicine 2 nights in a row, so by the third day, I thought I would just see what would happen.

I had also been working out for almost 3 months and things were pretty evened out for me in all areas of my life, so I decided to give a try to coming off my medicine.

Another reason I wanted to come off was because I have been noticing over the past 6-8 months, that I have been having increased weak feelings and lack of control over my left hand. I am a guitar player for 13 years and have been doing weights, and yet this feeling of weakness and tremors has not gone away, but actually increased, perhaps. I WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS WEAKNESS AND TREMORS IN THEIR HAND FROM TAKING CELEXA.

I have been off the medicine 10 days and am still not feeling okay overall. I was mostly fine until about day 4 or 5. Then I felt the worst I have ever felt for the followwing 3-4 days. Intense need for sleep, severe dizziness and nausea, out of sorts, intoxicated, and just overall a feeling of not being well. I don’t drink or used any substances and I get plenty of sleep and eat well. This withdrawal experience has been terrible. I am experiencing irritability and lack of patience, a feelings of severe PMS.

This morning I feel very frustrated because I don’t want my family to pay for any of this. I don’t know anyone near who has gone through this and felt affirmed by reading so many comments. It makes me feel so much saner, knowing I am not alone. Just the comfort of that makes me feel like weeping.

I would like some feedback from someone who has had similar feelings and symptoms and who may know about the tremors and weakness in my hands.

Thanks for reading,

I started to get the tremor and (don’t freak out now Gail) my GP sent me to a neurologist for a referral for MRI just to be on safe side. Neurologist checked me out and told me I have early onset Parkinsons. Only mid 40’s with 3 kids. After a bit of a think the Neurologist sent word to my GP to suggest I go off Cipramil(20mg) as some indications can cause Parkinsons symptoms. Has been terrible couple of weeks going down to 10 mg in one week and then 5mg in 3 days followed by nothing. I am anxious to see if tremor and muscle cramping stops but doesn’t seem to. ‘Other worldliness’ is horrible and doesn’t help with the scariness of the initial diagnosis of Parkinsons. My suggestion is get the tremor looked at. I’m trying to get an an ‘action plan’ going for myself but can’t think straight but need to sort out what I am really facing.

Julie,
I have been thinking about Parkinson’s long before I made any connection with the Celexa. I have a physical scheduled in the next month, and I may turn up the heat after reading some other stuff on this. I actually found through searching that there have been a couple of studies done in Europe on this connection between Anti-depressants and Parkinson’s. I think it is interesting and terrifying. I too am 40 with 2 daughters that are teens. I appreciate your feedback and I will keep you posted on here on what I find out. Thanks.

I just wan

I just wanted to share my story as a hope to others suffering with the withdrawal effects.
Initially i was prescribed 20mg of cital in Dec 06 with propranolol for stress and anxiety.
The side effects were worse than the Dr warned me about so went back to see him after a few weeks when he decided to change my 20mg of cital to sertraline.
That was even worse in terms of side effects so went back to him and was referred to a psychiatrist.
He said 20mg of cital is just an introductory does and 40mg was the minimum to be effective. Took 40mg for a few weeks and began to feel a lot better
Started tapering off in June from 40-20-10-10 every other day .
40-20 was no problem but 10 hit me hard and the withdrawals felt terrible again just like the beginning.
I felt really low, no faith in Doctors and thought there was something much more wrong with me than stress/depression.
Finally took my last 10mg pill last Wed and since then ive felt really good, its taken a long time but im back to my old self (prob better).

I have so much energy now and dont want to ever go back on those pills so will look at my life style to try to keep stres to a minimum in the future

I would say from tapering down to 10mg which really was the same as zero its taken almost 3 months to feel better

Hang in there i say because you will feel better, when i first read this forum a month ago i hope i would be writing a post like this but did not believe it at the time.

I think people feel better sometimes and rush off back to their lives without sharing the other side of this terrible illness i.e. coming out the other side a stronger person

Good luck everyone and be strong and patient and think every day is a day on the way to feeling better again!!!

Hi All.
Have read most of your comments and have to say you are all very brave people.
I spent 12 years on seroxat after a nervous breakdown that brought on panic attacks and anxiety.
My GP prescribed Paroxetine. It took about 2 hellish weeks for the drug to actually enter my system but seemed to do the trick when it eventually did.
Let me be straight with you all, even though I was on the medication I still had some very bad days, I think some of us are just naturally depressive people and no amount of drugs can suppress that.
Anyway, my original GP retired and a new and improved GP took his place.
He took it on himself to tell me what a devilish drug Paroxetine was, with terrible withdrawal symptoms ( he’s not lying. Paroxetine has some wicked side effects..numb mouth..dizzyness and all the above) so he puts me on a course of Citalopram.
I’m now 3 weeks into a cold turkey from Cit and it’s no bed of roses.
I’m suffering from all of the usual withdrawal shenanigans but I also get very scary thoughts and depression.
I’t really difficult to draw the line between what’s withdrawal and what’s the original problem.
I hope everyone gets their life back together and kicks their personal drug.

Peace.

Sean

I appreciate the feedback from all of you. It is actually very comforting. I think part of the issue with all of this is that we feel so alone in it.

The problem of depression runs so deep in my father’s side of the family. There are several generations of severe depression and the same of suicide. I have dealt with depression all of my life, most of it being grounded in inherited DNA and a result of severe sexual abuse from 3 yrs old until I was 14. I have spent most of my adulthood working on recovery from the abuse and trying to reclaim my life.

I agree that depression is part of how some of us are wired, and we can’t change it anymore than the color of our skin, but I also think that there is a part of it we can impact with our choices, like Dean referred to, such as limiting the amount of stress we allow into our lives. We can do this to some degree by saying no to things that over commit us and keep us running from one thing to the next. Getting enough rest and eating well is extremely important too. Through this I have found that sugar is starting to adversely affect me more than ever before, so I need to limit it.

For me, the most painful part of depression has been from the aloneness I have felt so much; the feeling of no one being able to understand what it is like to fight for sanity every day. I never understood depression so clearly as I have the past few years. I really do understand why people go off the deep end and feel so hopeless, not because they are, but because of what their chemistry is causing their thinking to fixate on. Thinking something and feeling something are two different things. I believe I am loved, but I do not always feel loved. And when I do not feel loved and my chemistry is off, I feel hopeless and experience deep self-hatred. I just want the pain to stop and for all of the struggle to end.

The second thing that has made dealing with this so painful is seeing my teenage daughters struggle at times with their own brain chemistry. I have a more difficult time with this because I love them so much.

Today I feel better than I have. I am very tired, but my mind is clearer and I have a better sense of well-being than a week ago. I do not want to go through the withdrawal again, it was horrible.

For those of you who might be interested, there is a web site called http://www.brainplace.com by Dr. Daniel Amen that I have found helpful in the past. He is a holistic medical doctor who offers lots of way to manage depression and brain chemistry. He has written many books and the one on depression is great.

I appreciate being able to talk about how I feel and the struggles with all of this on here. Thanks.

Hi all,
Following the difficult birth of my son I informed the doctors that I had PND, after suffering for six months. I had had depression in the past and was prepared that it would show it’s ugly head again. I initially started on 20mg, then up to 40mg after about a month. I reloacted, bought a house, new job, husband in the forces and always away, you know, nothing too stressful! After I settled in my new location I decided to get a job, SCARY! try and act ‘normally’ and reduce my dose to 20mg again. The first time was a no no, and after 24 hours I was sobbing, screaming, no-one understood etc. I waited another couple of months and then tried again, which was successful. After this time I would skip a day, and continued to do so for roughly 4 months. Then I forgot to pick up my prescription…after four days there were no withdrawal effects, so I ignored the prescription and here I am SIX weeks later. However! I have been in the foulest of moods and VERY snappy for the last two days. I feel like I want to throttle my Son and Husband, or anyone else that would like to interfere! I really don’t want to go back on them, although it has been suggested by the pharmacist. Is it withdrawal, or am I a nasty piece of work that needs these drugs to control her mmods? I can accept that, but unsure of how long to ride it out for, and it’s unfair to those around me, don’t really want to be sacked from my customer relations job either.

My side effects:- I have experienced dizziness, but only in the last week, my blood pressure has dropped so put it down to this. I now have a reduced appetite, which I am hoping will enable me to loose the pounds that I gained on the drug always feeling hungry and not knowing when I was full. Apart from that nothing else, (oh yeah, no libido) no funny feelings in the head, although I couldn’t sleep for the past few nights and I sat up planning how I was going to take control of my life and leave my husband. He thinks I should go back on it, to keep me quiet no doubt, I just think that he preffered me when he was in control and I was in effect childlike. Am I being paranoid? Please advise me anyone?

S,
I really can’t advise you,nor would I try to, but what I can share is what seems to be helping with me. Since it is only a short time, I am not sure. I will say I am feeling more and more clearheaded and rested. I have been taking vitamins some and especially SAMe. You can get it at any store that sells vitamins like Kmart, Target, Rite Aid, etc. I was told that SAMe, Magnesium and Zinc help brain chemistry. I have found it to help some. I am also taking a supplement called Chaste Tree from Standard Process that helps with moodiness from hormones such as PMS and stuff. It is also seeming to help. I have been much nicer to be around and more even keeled.

I DO KNOW that you must get a reasonable amount of sleep consistently and eat well. Chocolate, caffeine, and sugar all impact moodiness. The only way the brain can produce some chemicals needed to make the brain fire neurons correctly is through sleep. If you are sleepy, then sleep. I think of it as a prescription to help my brain make what it needs. Also get plenty of sunshine to make Vitamin D which helps produce good brain chemicals.

Another thing that really does help me as kooky as it sounds is listening to music that calms me. I love Beethoven, Bach, Vivaldi, Country, and Worship music. All of them have a calming effect on me.

More and more I am paying attention to what I put in my body. I cannot afford to take in things that aggravate my chemistry. It is helping me. I have NOT given up coffee, but I avoid any junk food like the plague.

Also, having a friend who will listen and somewhat understands is really good. I find the more I talk about it, the less I think and withdrawal because of my pain.

I hope the best for you. Try the SAMe if nothing else, it really helps.

I have been on 20mg for about 18 months now, in that time i have put on at least 3 stone in weight, been very distant from my partner (infact we have now split up) and as well as other lesser side effects (like poor eye sight, strange dreams, forgetfulness etc) I just havent been quite myself.

6 weeks ago I reduced my dosage to 20mg every other day and have continued like this since. I have definatly felt a certain sense of ‘not quite being there’ and even gotten nervous around people as a result, as if I were being ignorant.

The nightmares have calmed down but for the first couple of weeks were quite frightning.

The biggest side effect I have noticed is having hallucinations. I keep thinking I am seeing spiders or mice running accros the floor. It has not got too intense or scary as of yet but I am reluctant to reduce the dosage again, perhaps i’ll wait another month or so.

I blame citalopram partly for the demise of my relationship and partly for the wieght gain (surely thats gonna depress me even more once i come off then?) I’m hoping after having been off them for a few months in the future I will be able to see all of this more clearly.

I do have to say tho, that they have helped me get over a difficult and stresful time in my life and I have been able to deal with many things and overcome certain insecurities etc. lets hope the positive ‘inner’ effects are long lasting and the weight gain, hallucinations, nightmares and sense of forboding will dissapear along with the drug itself out of my system.

P.S. lots of pins and needles!!!

Hi Al,

I just thought I’d give you all something positive. I am coming off them very slowly by decreasing my dosage for month, drcreasing and decreasing and then taking them less frequently, lesser and lesser and I’m doing great! There is a technique as far as I can see. Take your time!

x

I’m now been off Citalopram for 6 days.

I went from 80 mgs to 0 in about 10 ten days.

I’m experiencing electrical shock feeling in my head and left arm throughtout the day. I have a slight cold and a little concerned. The shock buzz feeling has not gotten any better in the last six days. Hoping to find someone who had the same symtoms and that eventuallly went away.

Love to hear from anyone who can help.

John

hoping to finsd

Hi John

I last posted at 509 and know that for me, reducing very slowly (even though it seems to be prolonging the agony!) worked and I still got withdrawal effects. Only my opinion but 80mg to 0 in 10 days is very rapid! I was only on 20mg but it took me 2 months to come off totally.

I’m now on day 10 completely free, the dizziness is abating, the mind numbing tiredness has really diminished, still have odd mood swings but starting to feel a bit more like the old me (whoever that is!)

I’ve found that relaxation cd’s really help, resting when I need to, and generally being good to me! Can’t remember ever having had so much sleep!

If you can, just keep plugging away – one thing that really helped me was remembering that I only have to put up with these symptoms for a day (can’t live in yesterday and I’m not in tomorrow yet – who knows what that day will bring?!!)

If you find the symptoms are too unbearable it may be worth having a chat with you GP (although most of them deny there is any withdrawal from Citalopram!) and reducing more slowly.

Good luck!

John, I agree with Louise, that seems to be really fast when coming off of the med. I had an aweful time for about two weeks and I was only on 40mg and I decreased over time, about 4 weeks. I am feeling so much better and more like the old me. I am SO glad to be off. I also slept alot and am being much nicer to me, taking really good care of myself, trying to avoid any kind of stress if possible. Hang in there and please be careful.

Hi Gail

Can I ask you a quick question, as someone who’s ‘the other side’? I’ve noticed throughout the posts that a lot of people put weight on, and I’ve put a stone on in the past year (wasn’t sure if it was the meds or joining in with a boyfriend who lives on junk food!) Did you gain any weight and have you shifted it?
Also, my sleep is still all over the place – I either sleep for England or my sleep is very fitful?

Thanks

Gail,
Thank you for you comments. After talking to my local pharmacist and concerns from my colleagues on my behaviour change, I visited my doctor, who has suggested that I try going back onto 20mg a day for a couple of weeks at least, then reducing far far more slowly. I am now experiencing insomnia big time, nightmares, concerns about extreme scenarios and how to cope with them when they happen, and trying really hard to fulfill my customer relations job in the hope that they don’t fire me. I have to go back to see the doctor in one months time and will be reffered to the mental health team as I am certain that this is a long term thing and that I will never be without the medication. Husband is far more supportive now, interflora arrived yesterday which was nice. I think that he has realised that he has to give me the space and support in order for us to survive. God I am such a bitch right now, I really hate myself, this is not me! I yearn to be my happy outgoing, carefree self and am counting the days.

Louise,
I gained weight, and lost it quickly when I came off of the drug for a period of six weeks, so it will come off. The drug increases your appetite and slows your metabolism down from what I’ve experienced. Now I’ve started taking it again, I’m waiting for the scales to move in a negative direction. Because you feel so tired and lethargic you are also less able and less willing to exercise and more able to sit in front of the TV and dunk biscuits in a nice hot drink!

Take care

S xx

Hi Gail

Thanks for your reply, the fact that I’ve gained a few pounds is miniscule compared to what you’re going through at the moment.

I have a very wise friend who has always said that asking for help is not a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength as there’s the admission that there’s a problem that needs to be rectified. And even if you do need medication for the rest of your life – so what?!
I think there’s such a stigma attached to depressive illnesses – if you had diabetes and had to take insulin to have a ‘normal’ life, or a thyroid problem etc.no one would bat an eyelid!
Is your company understanding? My boss suffered from anxiety/panic disorder so was an angel when I was ill, and our Chief Exec (who i used to work for) uses the analogy that if you break a leg, you get loads of sympathy but if your mind’s a bit broken, it can leave you open to ridicule.
So glad your husband is being supportive, and don’t look at yourself as being a bitch – a chemical imbalance in the brain or inherited DNA IS NOT YOUR FAULT!
I’m a recovering alcoholic and have always believed that this is an inherited illness, and didn’t ask for it anymore than you’ve asked for depression!
Try to keep positive and remember, you only have to cope with how you’re feeling for today as you can do nothing about yesterday and you may feel better tomorrow!

Stay in touch and take care x

Wow, maybe we need to start a support site for people like us, one that is official and exists for that sole purpose. I feel like I have a bunch of friends and I feel very supported by your responses. Thank you, it makes dealing with all this much easier.

I am afraid now that I am off of the medicine and things feel pretty okay, that my depression might come back. I do not want that to happen and I am being very careful to take care of myself.

I would like to know what others of you do to take care of yourself, support good brain chemistry and to keep stress out of your life. This would be a good opportunity to share what we do that is good to take care and avoid a depressive episode. PLEASE SHARE!!

Thanks, and have a great evening,
Gail

Hi Gail

Just realised that my last posting should have been for S and not you, sorry for the confusion!

Louise

I read the posts and wonder just how messed up the people were before they went on Citalopram, therefore trying to judge if they are of sound(ish) mind when coming off so as to compare to myself.

I only took the drug stupidly as my asshole boss said he thought I was being anxious (long story, but I kind of agreed at the time he might have a point plus the fact that I wasn’t told the withdrawal effects when offered Citalopram).

I have only been on 20 mg for less than a year and really, to be honest, I had no trouble with it except I lost interest in going to the gym and perhaps lost a couple of pounds of weight (strange combination of effects!)
But now, coming off for 4 days, I am suffering some dizzy bouts, headaches, vivid but interesting dreams and emotionalness that I never bloody had before the damn drug. I am not a whacko, but how can I explain that without sounding like I was a whacko for taking them in the first place.

Please tell me that i will get through this in a few weeks, I am not naturally a mess.

hi im so glad i found this. i stopped taking citalopram and started prozac. stopped citalopram at 20mg and started prozac at 20mg. i heard that changing meds wouldnt be as bad as stoppin altogether but the withdrawal is hell. has anyone else changed from citalopram to prozac and how did it go??please help xxx

So Glad to read everyone’s comments. I was given Citalpram after suffering a brain injury in a car accident. Less than one month ago I stopped the drug and got through the first couple of weeks, but yesterday was fighting the flu and felt I could have been a good source of electricity for my town! Very scary and felt that my brain injury would require me to take this drug for the rest of my life. But after reading all of this, I will just stick it out and wait for things to settle down. Am trying to work and be responsible and don’t want others to see how I am struggling so. This drug apparently helped me get through some really difficult times, but what a terrible withdrawal. Thanks all.

I am trying to get off this drug but the withdrawal is intollerable. I’m scared that when I want to get pregnant I will have to go through this. I was on 20 mg for six months, then reduced to 10 for one month. I ran out the other day so I thought I’d stop and man was that dumb. I had to wake my roommate up to drive me to the pharmacy tonight…I feel weird and convulsive, can’t wait for the med to kick in again so I don’t have to feel this way. I am so angry at my doctor and pharmaceutical companies for not telling me that they were putting me on a drug that I feel like I can never stop taking.

Can anyone tell me how long the withdrawal symptoms are likely to last. I’ve been taking Citalopram for about 7 months and decided it was time to stop. My doctor has been great and advised me to do it slowly. I’ve been completely pill free for about 4 days now but am feeling seriously weird. I’m finding it very difficult to cope with work as I feel so completely spaced out, dizzy, almost drunk. It’s starting to make me feel nauseous too and slightly on edge.

Is this likely to last for a while???

D

Hi All – I have been having a lousy time trying to come off just 10mg of Citalopram – weeping, terrible irritability, night terrors etc. This is the second time I have tried and I have chosen to start back on them until I find a proper plan for coming off them – it’s pretty hard to do it when you’re trying to hold down a job etc – if I could take three months off to go and stay at a beach spa resort while I did I’m sure it would be better! During my research I came a cross thiss website, that I hope some of you may find useful http://www.benzo.org.uk/healy.htm all the best, Lucy

Hi All – I have been having a lousy time trying to come off just 10mg of Citalopram – weeping, terrible irritability, night terrors etc. This is the second time I have tried and I have chosen to start back on them until I find a proper plan for coming off them – it’s pretty hard to do it when you’re trying to hold down a job etc – if I could take three months off to go and stay at a beach spa resort while I did I’m sure it would be better! During my research I came a cross this website, that I hope some of you may find useful http://www.benzo.org.uk/healy.htm all the best, Lucy

Hello ive been on 20mg citalopram for a year. just started tapering my dose went to 10mg a day now im on 5mg a day but get a weird dizzy feeling and constant headaches and tiredness. How long do these symptoms last or should i go back to 10mg a day?

I’m trying to find a way to be patient. I’m in a relatipnsip with a FANTASTIC guy, and about a month ago he started tapering off and has been completely done with his rx for about a week. Being a MH therapist I worried he was doing it too quickly…he’s been wonderfully insightful, we check in on the state of our relatipnsip sometimes..it’s been great!! excited to talk to me, lots of txts and emails throughout a day but now, the last 2 weeks I’ve noticed something is off, he was irritaed that I called him while he was watching tv, seems to have lost interst and I’ve been so insecure anyway that I’m having a hard time not taking this as a sign that it’s fizzling out. Is this what he’s really like or is it part of the withdrawl? He almost seems a little depressed, I didni’t know him before, maybe this is him. Any words of encouragement would be appreciated, I did my share of withdrawl and needed to try a different medication, the effects suck,,,the “shocky thing” was awful, had to learn to ignore it, but the worst was being just plain DUMB, couldn’t remember napkins AND cream when I was a waitress, just one thing at a time and it took several weeks for that to fade away. Thanks, have a great day!!