I have been attempting to come off citalopram for the last couple of months and have been taking it very slowly as recommended. However, once I got down to 5mg (originally on 20mg per day) I started to experience severe feelings of vertigo. This can be a slight feeling of ‘headiness’ to full-on room-spinning. It is particulary bad when I make sudden eye movements and get a weird juddering, time-lag effect. Things are fine when I am not actually moving about too much.
I was so worried I saw my doctor but he completely dismissed my symptoms as just ‘a bit of a coincidence’ when I stressed that I had never experienced anything like it before. I decided to withraw even more slowly until I was on 5mg every 3rd day and have now been off the tablets completely for a week. So far the diziness is showing no signs of receding.
If anybody else has had similar problems, I would be very interested to hear about it and am particularly keen to know how long I can expect this weird state of affairs to last!
Thanks in anticipation…
I have been on Citalopram for over 2 years. I was on 10mg. But had nervous breakdown at work. i am a cancer surveyor and the chemo has ruined my brain. Psychologist upped my dose to 30 MG and it didn’t help. I have wheezing and uncontrolled mucus at times. I have a rash that would not go away. Once I quit cold turkey..NEVER!! DO THAT!!..I think I was getting serotonin syndrome. I went back to 30 MG/Day to try and level back. I haven’t been the same since. I cut 5MG/ very 2 weeks (Split 10mg pills) . I am now day 2 without any. Wheezing appears to be less and the rash went away. But I still feel like my brain is loose in my head and I feel flu like. I take Benadryl to slow the mucus.
Hi there,
I am experiencing exactly the same symptoms and am at the end of my tether! I’ve only been off the pills for 5 days since being weaned off of them and it’s awful!
How long did your symptoms last? (see I’m being positive in thinking they’re over by now?)
Hello – Good to hear from you. The good news is that my dizziness has now gone completely but I’m afraid it took a good 4 weeks before it started to fade. I was on the verge of giving up and going back on the tablets just to stop the horrible sensations but managed not to. I find it so frustrating that the doctor wasn’t willing to believe me even though it was such a marked sensation and different from anything I have experienced before. Good luck and be strong- it does get better and you might find it happens more quickly for you. Let me know how it goes!
Just over 2 weeks later and the extreme dizziness and fogginess in my head seems to have gone, although every now and then I do have a head spin. Hopefully not much longer now!
Glad to hear you are making good progress!
I have only been on Citalpram since April as I had been getting panic attacks. I didn’t want to stay on them for long as previous antidrepressants I had taken many years ago had caused severe weight gain which took me years to shift (still trying to after ten years). I have 6 weeks off work so thought it would be a good time to sort myself out and reduced the citalopram by half, since then I have been feeling very nauseous, dizzy and exhausted. I was pleased to read these comments to know that I wasn’t going mad. I reduced to 10mg every other day and the symptons got worse but haven’t taken any at all for the past three days and I’m feling dreadful. Determined not to go back on them and will battle on through the tears and panic attacks. Can anyone tell me how long this wil last?
Sorry to hear you are having a bad time. Like you, I tried to reduce slowly but it didn’t seem to make any difference. I’m afraid the dizziness latest several weeks after taking my last dose of citalopram, easing off completely after 4 or 5 weeks. Although it’s horrible, once I accepted it was just a symptom of withdrawal and not another panic attack I did learn to cope with it. It WILL stop eventually so be strong and take one day at a time.
Weirdly, I lost a lot of weight whilst on citalopram and am struggling with rapid weight gain since coming off it!
Yes, I do feel better about it now I know that it isn’t me and that it is withdrawal symptoms. My doctor said it wasn’t common for weight gain but could happen. It was the same when I was taking sertraline a few years ago. I will take it one day at a time and hopefully it won’t last too long seeing as I have only been on them for such a short time. I’m just glad to be coming off them and would rather deal with the panic attacks in a different way.
Thank you.
I can’t believe this is happening to me. And what’s more unbelievable is that doctors still don’t take it seriously. Citalopram withdrawal is real and is horribly devastating!
I was on it for more than 8 years. While I was on it, I was really ok. I never felt drugged or had any other side effects and my depression was truly under control. I was happy for the first time in my life. (Depression runs in my family, big time.) So when my life changed and I had no choice but to go off my meds (financial reasons), I figured I’d go off for just the time being, until I was working again. My doctor never once told me about how sick I would get by going off this med.
It’s been 7 weeks since I stopped taking Citalopram (40mg). Never have I been so sick. If I wasn’t already unemployed, I would be by now. There’s no way I can work, the vertigo is debilitating. I live alone and can hardly take care of myself. I spend most days staring at the wall, crying and waiting for this all to be over. I wake up every morning hoping for the best and instead spend the first couple of hours being physically ill. I’ve even lost friends over this. They don’t understand how I could be so sick and not go back to my doctor and get back on Citalopram.
There’s no going back for me, I will never go on this stuff again. If I had any advice to you all out there going through this, it would be to give your doctors hell for being so ignorant of the medications they prescribe to us all without knowing all the facts. And, never go on any medication in the future unless you know ALL the facts, especially withdrawal symptoms.
If I ever get through this I will post again and let you all know how long it took and how I feel about it once it is over.
I’ve done quite a lot of research on this matter and can find NO help or advice from doctors so these forums are apparently all we have to try and keep sane through this. I am very appreciative of all of you who are suffering as I am and are willing to write about it. It is comforting to know that I’m not completely alone. Thanks you, Jennie.
Hi Jennie? How are you doing now? I just tried to go off them and gave up. My story is very similar to yours. I have hope that I can do this but I’m scared to death.
jenny , i am going through the same hell…:)..i was on 40 mg for 6 years ,i turned into a zombie and suffered depersonailzation,, blamed the tablets and tryed to cut down ,i went from 40 to 20 which was pure HELL…i then went from 20 to 10 , not as bad but still didnt feel normal.!….so ive went cold turkey i ve had enough , so im on day 4 of no tablets ,its pure hell and yestreday i didnt think i was gonna make it ,feel sick dizzy palpitations, stomoch pains ,whole body pains like flu ,wobbly body like jelly and disorinated , crying ,moody and snappy ,i was ready to give up and go back on them but why? to suffer this again.!…ive been eating healthy ,trying to exersice ,and taking omega 369 and full viamin 12 which is supposed to help.!..i never had a clue what kind of tablet i was taking .:(…..and the reaserch i have done i will never ever go on these again.the worst antideppressant ever! pure evil to withdraw from ..so time will tell ,im so happy to have found other people who have the same experience .makes you know you are not alone .
i was on them for three months in april 2011 until june 2011 came off them cold turkey, still suffering withdrawal over a year on, although symtoms getting weaker and less frequent, but still there, citalopram is hell to come off.
Wow, glad I have read these messages. Although I was only on 10mg of Citalopram and cut down slowly, I am feeling awful. I have been rude to at least three strangers today, have a blinding headache that seems here for ever and feel really achey and sick. Glad it’s not just me.
I have stopped taking 40mg of citalopram about 2 weeks ago and mirtazapine a week ago. I decided enough was enough – 9 years on citalopram and 3 weeks on mirtazapine . Doc thought swopping meds would make no difference. He was SO wrong! I’ve had the head judders , nausea, dizzyness and spaced out feelings. The flu like symptoms were the worst at week 2. Everything just hurt . Still spaced out, tire so easily. Am taking omega fish oil and vitamin b11 for fatigue.
I’m still dizzy and spaced out – going cold turkey was the only way for me and I did check beforehand . Stay positive everyone
My doctor, while I’m sure she did mean well, didn’t really seem to believe my horrible withdrawal symptoms either. By the time I got to 5mg and was shaving small amounts of my pills off like a crazy woman I decided to speak up. She ended up finding a great compounding pharmacy that was able to get me down to as little a dose as 0.13mgs. This pharmacy is an online Canadian pharmacy called Pharmacy.ca. If you don’t live in Canada, I would definitely recommend asking your doctor about a compounding pharmacy available in your area. It really was a lifesaver for me. During my whole withdrawal ordeal, I’ve realized that the only way you are going to get anywhere is by speaking up. I would also strongly advise against quitting cold turkey as there have been several instances of extremely erratic/violent behaviour after stopping Citalopram and SSIR’s in general cold turkey. Thanks for the blog post as well. It’s always comforting to know that I’m not alone.
Five weeks in- thought I was on the mend but the dizzyness has come back with a vengeance ! Plus my blood pressure is all over the place at the minute. Looking back I would never go cold turkey again.
I have been on this drug for 4 years and have come off cold turkey. I have bad headaches shivers and a feel of anxiety. I’m 5 days off now. I was on 20 mg per day. When will this feeling stop.i fel so unwell.
I have been off them now for almost 2-3 weeks, cant remember exactly how long as my brain is mush. I am snappy and very touchy with everyone, especially my partner, headaches, tension in neck is terrible I feel rattly, shaky and generally like a freak. I took 20mg a day until a few months ago when I got back down to 10mg, that was pretty hard, now I feel like I am going mad. Any idea how long it will take, I am taking 5-HTP now and camomile tea but don’t seem to feel any better at all…just want to go lie down somewhere by myself and sleep
I am going through withdrawal after being on 30 mg for a year and a half. I have read a ton on fantastic results from Maca root in stabilization of the body, mentally and hormonally. This is the 2nd time I’ve tried to get off but this time with Maca it is so much better!!! A little tears, a touch of anxiety but otherwise ok. Last time I was completely bananas, angry, head shocks, paranoia..you name it. This time is tons better, tons. I’ve tapered down slowly, now down to 10 mg. I really really really encourage you to try Maca, it has done wonders for me!!!!!!
Hey all so glad I read all your posts !
I was put on them for postnatal depression and it really helped to be honest I was desperate, however after being on 10mg for nearly a year and tapering down I feel like I’m back at square one , I had a few days of headaches, feeling sick and aches and pains but that all stopped! The problem is I felt better almost like I could feel my emotions again like laughing and crying which in a weird way was nice but the tears and mood swings are. Nightmare now ! I feel like going back on them or even just asking my doc if there is anything else I can take to help stop the mood swings the kids and hubby are really getting it in the neck ! So any suggestions please tell me
Love to you all jo
Sorry Lisa I wasn’t sure what maca is I wondered if you are in the USA I’m in the uk x
Was on 40mg for a few years, tapered to 30 for afew months, then 20 and over the last week I forgot to take them for a few days so thought now is as good a time as any to stop. 5 days and today and yesterday not so great. No emotion, no energy, staring into space and slept for 12 hours last night. Scared of it getting worse as im a teacher and don’t want to be a) off or b) feeling like this in class. Will symtoms get worse, should I have continued tapering to 5mg? A little cocerned
Might be worth taking it a bit more slowly. 20 mg to nothing is quite a big drop. It’s very hard to know though as some people seem to stop with no problem while others ( me included) have horrible withdrawal symptoms even after very gradual reduction. Perhaps you should speak to your doctor. Good luck , it does get better in the end.
I’m glad to know I’m not the only one! I have been on 20mg for 8 years for my panic attacks. I am trying to stop as I recently found out Im pregnant. I went down to 10mg the affect was prominent for the first week but then was ok. Now have gone down to 5mg, Im very nervous about how will I manage my head feels wobbly and is worse to come?
Hi all, been reading your comments and have to say I found it a relief to find I am bit the only on struggling to come off ssris. I’ve been on citalopram for around a year and have been gradually reducing the dosage to just 5mg every other day over the last couple of months. I decided when the pack was finished I wouldn’t get anymore considering I was down to such a low dosage however it has been absolute hell. It’s been a week now and I feel as though my symptoms are getting worse. I’ve got extreme vertigo, dizziness and what feels like sudden shocks in the head. Is it normal to feel this bad despite slowly reducing and when can I expect this to end? I’m due back at work at the start of the new year and can’t think how I’ll be able to manage! Thank u in advance for any advice you have
Hi Max, sorry to hear you’re going through this. I’ve found some helpful and reassuring advice here:
http://antidepressantsteps.com/self-help/antidepressants/whenToStop.php
Good luck!
Hi All, I’ve never posted on a forum before but I’ve been researching SSRI withdrawal and I can see I’m only one of many having problems. I’ve been taking Citalopram 10mg for about 5 years for anxiety and now feel that it’s no longer needed. I have tried twice before to come off it but lost my nerve when the symptoms hit. There is a lot of interesting info about this on Wikipedia – including the suggestion that a short-term low dose of Fluoxetine (Prozac) may help, as it has a longer half-life and therefore gives the brain time to adjust. There’s also Citalopram syrup which enables you to reduce in much smaller increments. Has anyone else tried this? I’m currently on 1 tablet every other day. Feeling ok but can’t sleep!
Hi Jenny– Taking a tablet every other day will actually make your withdrawal symptoms worse. It causes your brain chemistry to fluctuate too much. It’s far better to reduce your dosage gradually (using the liquid, or a compounded version, or making your own liquid) but still take it every day. Best place I know of for info on this subject is the Internet forum Surviving Antidepressants.
Hi all
No doctors seem to have any understanding of anti-d withdrawal symptoms. The first time it happened to me – about 20 years ago I had no idea and suffered. Even recently coming off 20mg of citalopram, even though I stepped the dose down and expected the head shocks and dizziness I didn’t expect the growing anxiety and sleep problems. Currently it is 4:49 in the uk – I have been waking between 2 and 3 every night for the last 2 weeks. I will get up and take a small dose soon. It is comforting to read about all your experiences – let’s hope we all get past this.
I stopped Cold in September 2012 . I would not recommend it. have had all the withdrawal and the head zaps only went in December. It seems like a long time.. BUT It does get better. My GP had no clue at all. The local nurse was brilliant and said it would take about 4 months. she was right. It is really hard…. don’t make light of what you are going through. But just want you to know that it will get better honestly.
Hi All,
It seems like no matter what course of action one takes..getting off citalopram is no fun ( and by no fun, I mean absolutely horrible). I was on Citalopram 20 mg for 18 months. I decided to quit taking the drug in November 2012. This was following two seizures ( which came at random with no explanation). I had every test known to man and nothing turned up.
Looking back, I’m inclined to believe that I had a drug interaction between Citalopram and Dextromethorphan- which in turn caused serotonin syndrome. I currently live abroad so it was incredibly difficult to even discuss my symptoms/side effects and the country I live in shuffles around doctors VERy often. So, after seeing 8 neurologist and a few random GP’s in regard to my seizures nothing more came of this.
In November, I finally had enough. I began tapering off citalopram. I consulted a Dr. and she agreed I should begin slowly. 3/4, 1/2, 1/4 etc. I’ve read that breaking the tablets causes issues as some of the pill dissolves before ingestion. Too bad I only started serious research after the fact. Regardless, my “then” goal was to free myself of this drug. Now, on to the symptoms…
I am now 12 days free of citalopram. I have experiencing and still experiencing a multitude of issues. The first 2 days were quite mild. Afterwards, it felt as though I had a massive hangover for days. Nausea, confusion, headaches, muscle pain, cardiac issues, muscle weakness, jaw pain, night-time jaw clenching, sweats, chills, flu-like symptoms. Not to mention the head “wooshes/zaps”. I read somewhere that these were described as being similar to walking down a flight of stairs and missing a step. I can say I totally agree. Around day 7 I started to experience emotional and mental symptoms. For example, Extreme aggressiveness, irritability, anxiety, crying spells, and I find myself over reacting to everything. It’s been really difficult to discuss these symptoms with my partner and friends. No one seems to understand the physical and emotional duress caused by this drug.
On a lighter note,
I have been eating very healthy and working out. Also, taking some days off just to allow my body to readjust. SSRI drugs are dangerous and def not an answer to depression. When began this pill I was desperate to feel like my old self. I just wanted to feel better, not like a shell of my former self. I really regret the day I took my first citalopram pill. On the other hand, I will say for a few months I felt better. However, to keep the same “good feeling” my dosage would have had to go up…and up and up…
Hence, a never ending problem. I do recommend exercise, healthy eating, therapy, sunshine, laughing, hobbies, and/or music as a alternative to SSRI drugs. However, if you feel your depression is out of hand perhaps try an antidepressant but, do your research first and weigh the factors.
To everyone else who is suffering… good luck and you’re not alone. This too shall pass.
All The Best,
Amie
This is an awful experience. If my doctor had told me the withdrawal from the drug was known to be this bad I would never have taken it. I feel more emotional and anxious than I ever felt before I took it, and while I have yet to feel the shocks, my body feels awful. Flu like symptoms, stomach problems, appetite shifts such as feeling starving one minute and nauseas the next….My head feels a lot like there’s something prickly rolling around in there.
I AM noticing however than a cold icepack to the neck seems to help me a lot. I was coming off the pills because they made me so tired all the time I would sleep and never get anything done. I failed an entire semester because of it and was losing work time because I couldn’t stay awake. Now the pills are keeping me from working because I feel awful not taking them. This is a horrible vicious cycle no one should ever go through.
Just want to mention that alternating days (taking the pill one day, not taking it the next, etc.) is not a good way to taper. It seems to cause fluctuations in your brain chemistry that actually can worsen withdrawal symptoms. Better to taper down slowly by taking smaller and smaller doses over time, but every day. Also, I recommend the forum Surviving Antidepressants for good solid information on tapering off antidepressants and coping with withdrawal symptoms.
I am on week 2 of withdrawal from Citalopram and I am experiencing feelings of confusion (I can’t place the confusion either, it’s horrible), sadness, agitation and strange brain shakes or feelings of dizziness but it’s like a physical movement inside my head when I feel slightly stressed and make quick eye or body movements. I have been on 40mg of this AD for about 8 years now. It has only been since I had a breakdown a few weeks ago that the doctors have taken me off Citalopram over a period of 10 days, I thought this was quick considering I’d been on the maximum dose for so long. I was crying uncontrollably a lot for the first 6-7 days of reduced dose (10mg) and I am now a further 7 days (no citalopram taken for this 7 days) into my withdrawal and still feeling pretty horrible. I am now also taking Mirtazipine to help me sleep at night and am awaiting a Psyche review this Friday. I don’t know if it’s my depression making me feel this bad or if it’s the withdrawal-Or both! But I am feeling pretty desperate and have noticed that there is actually no ongoing support for people experiencing this. It is scary to think that I have to wait for psychiatric review before I will be given on going support (CPN, crisis team support) In the mean time I have just been left to get on with it and even when I phoned my GP in a state and she was really kind but didn’t actually offer me and solid advice about my symptoms and it wasn’t until I said ” SO, this is how it is: I am basically going to feel completely rubbish for possibly 2 weeks or more and then there is still no certainty that I will feel any better?” Her reply was, “Yes” That’s it! I can’t believe so many people are slipping through the net of mental health after care! But at least coming on here we can all be safe in the knowledge that we are obviously meant to be feeling these things during our withdrawal and I would like to say thankyou to everyone who has contributed here; without this forum I would still be trawling the internet and doubled over in anxiety because of a lack of clarity as to exactly What is ‘normal’ on this nasty road to being clean of this dirty prescription drug!
Sorry to hear about your experiences. I had a complete breakdown and ended up in a mental unit for several days as I was suicidal. When I came out I thought ‘at least now I will get the help for my OCD and anxiety that I should have asked for years ago’. Instead, I found myself in a catch 22 situation where I was told because of the suicidal episode I was ‘too high risk for CBT’ and consequently have had no follow up help at all. I weaned myself off the medication but was told the dizziness was ‘just a coincidence’. You have my sympathy!
Hi all, I was prescribed this horrendous drug Oct 12 for stress and Pms!!I ran out of meds over a weekend and experienced terrible withdrawal including suicidal thoughts, which I know under normal circumstances would never have crossed my mind, my local pharmacist is very good and told me this was a normal effect of stopping the drug abruptly. I decided there and then to get this drug out of my body and to get back to who I am instead of the zombie I have become. I tried reducing for a few weeks and have not had any medication for about 11days now, I have suffered all the symptoms everyone described but the rages and vertigo symptoms seem to be the worst of my symptoms. I went to the docs today who give me buspirone 10mg even though I asked for something that would not affect me caring for my three young children, this drug completely spaced me out, I was so drowsy my speech was slurred and I had to get my husband to come home to look after the kids. Husband rang the surgery twice and they refused to ring back but left a prescription for a lower dose of the same tablets!!! Do these doctors care or even listen to their patients. I am at my wits end, can anyone out there recommend anything herbal to combat the withdrawal symptoms because I am definitely not taking anymore prescription medication.
HIYA just looking for advice, two weeks ago I was put on citalopram (for heart palputations and anxiety although I never had it then) it gave me chronic panic attacks so after 6 days my doctor told me to stop them, since then I’ve experienced lightheadedness all day every day since then, is this a withdrawal as I was clearly sensitive to the tablets. I feel like uif tablets caused anxiety not fixed it, please help
It might be the tablets making you feel light headed. However, as you were only on them a few days it is possible that the symptoms are at least partly due to anxiety, especially if that is why you were prescribed them in the first place. Make sure you go back to the doctor for advice if things don’t settle down.
I am so glad I came across this forum. I’ve been on a 20 mg dose citalopram for about 10 years, but I tapered down and then stopped completely 4 days ago because I’m planning to get pregnant soon. For the past few days, I’ve been mainly having dizzy jolts in my head when I make any eye movements (and my eyeballs feel hot and feverish), a headache that feels like the beginnings of a migraine with sensitivity to light, ridiculous irritability, impatience and step-back-before-I-claw-your-face-off feelings, and worst of all: insomnia for the last 2 nights (I finally fell asleep at 4:30 this morning, only to have to be up for work a few hours later).
I am also just one sappy commercial away from crying at all times. I could handle everything else if I could just get a good night’s sleep. Even with like 5 Benadryl, I can’t sleep!
I’ve gone off citalopram twice before, and most of the withdrawal symptoms passed within 2-3 weeks, so I’m hoping it’s the same this time.
Once I have my baby, I plan to go back on it, though. My quality of life is vastly better when I’m on it–I don’t get deeply depressed, hopeless and suicidal like I do when I’m off of it.
It’s so good to know I’m not alone with these symptoms. Thanks!!
Wow! I just got done reading all of these post and I am glad I did. I was on Citalopram 20mg for about maybe 8 yrs but last yr. on May 9th of 2012 was diagnosed with cancer so my Oncologist upped my med to 40mg. I decided to reduce the dosage myself from 40 to 20mg by cutting the pills. it’s been about 2wks. now and I am feeling the side effects. vertigo, some nausea, dull headaches like my brain isn’t functioning right. Does cutting the pill do any harm? My neck bothers me also. I noticed quite a bit of weight gain and I guessed if I cut down I may loose some weight. My husband was also diag with cancer 5 wks before me last yr. so it hasn’t been easy for sure. Hope I can hear more uplifting details. Thanks to all and let me hear something good for my mental state at this time. Nancy
Hi Nancy! Cutting the pills won’t do any harm! So sorry to hear of the physical health problems that have affected you and your husband recently hope all is better soon!
Generally I am also so glad to have come across this thread. I am a Mental Health Nurse although really do find that these things are so different when you experience them yourself and can really help me empathise with my patients more. I have struggled with low mood and anxiety for a few years. I commenced Citalopram 20mg in June 2011 and it really did work wonders in taking me back to being “me.”
I attended my GP two weeks ago advising that I wished to reduce and stop and her advice was to switch straight to 10mg for a week then taper down to nothing over a two week period.
I followed this advice and must say I am experiencing withdrawals, although thankfully not as severe as some other people. I am light headed, head-achey, dizzy and sort of “dreamy,” if that makes any sense. It’s only been 5 days since I stopped taking them altogether so I will need to wait and see how it goes from now.
Just wanted to thank each and every person who has commented on this thread as there really is a sense of love and care coming from here with everyone being genuinely interested and concerned about everyone else.
Take care everyone! X
Thanks for your kind words about this thread. I started this blog in the hope of providing support and hope for others like me. As constantly self-doubting, such positive feedback is especially welcome. I am sure your own problems give you great insight and make you very good at your job. Thank you x
hI, I have been on citalopram for 18 months. I tried to to come off them before Christmas last year but suffered really bad dizziness and brain zaps. My gp suggested reducing more slowly. Initially I commenced on 40 mg, then down to 20 mg, then down to 10 mg , and now down to 5 mg February. I am trying to stretch the days now between taking 5 mg. I have managed to get to 7 days but I am still getting the dizziness and brain zaps. Anyone any suggestions and how to take this further. Running out of prescription and really don’t want to ask for more, but can’t continue with the symptoms any longer
Glad I found this thread! My doctor put me on these for mild anxiety, I only took them for 3 days and immediately came straight off of them because they made me feel so unwell. This is my second day without them and I have felt so jittery and anxious, I had no sleep at all last night due to terrible stomach cramps, is this normal? After only taking them for a short period how long should these withdrawal symptoms last? These pills seem the doctors answer to everything! Hope someone can help with some advice!
Reading this for the first time. I hadn’t got past the earlier entries. I was only on a dosage of 10 mg, but it was for a year or so. My side effects have been intense crying, insomnia and now today I have horrible vertigo, which I’m hoping will wear off soon. Of course, I went off cold turkey, which may not have been a great idea. My last pill was on April 10, so I’m close to two weeks off. Several of my friends and my husband suggest I go back on, but I am bound and determined to see who I am and what I feel like in an unaltered state, if you will. Someone tell me when I will feel normal again. I’m walking four miles a day and I also cut out artificial sweetners from my diet recently. I just want to be someone who eats and drinks the stuff God made, not what man made. I went off of the drug to begin with because another substance seemed to be the only replacement for the “blunting” I guess I can call it, of creativity that I experienced with the antidepressants I’ve been on. That and I just don’t want to be drugged forever. I made that decision once a long time ago and I think it was the right one. I’m so sorry I ever went back on an antidepressant. Turns out faith and exercise can do the trick quite nicely. Thanks for listening…
Thanks for posting. I went from 10mg to 5mg and then stopped altogether (after going back on for a while because of the vertigo). It took a good 5 weeks from the last dose to stop feeling dizzy. It was very hard to do but as you have already done a couple of weeks you may want to try and hold on a bit longer. Don’t be too hard on yourself though , sounds like you are working yourself very hard. Vigorous exercise, strict diet and trying to come off the medication is a lot to do in one go!
Hey Guys!
I think I might help
I am off citalopram for almost a year now. But it was NOT easy. In fact it was tedious and difficult if not horrible.
I failed many times. I tried going cold turkey: That did not work for me. I tried reducing the daily dosage by 50 %. Failure. But the following worked for me.
The prerequisite is the fact that you have been and stabilized on 10 mg citalopram for a while
This system however, is lengthy and arduous and slight symptoms such as tiredness will persist.
1. Take 10 mg citalopram. Crush it with a spoon until powder.
2. Divide the amount into 4 or 5 equal parts.
3. Remove 1 part. Ingest the rest. The taste is horrible.
4. Take this reduced dosage for 14 days. If symptoms persist, try 3 weeks
5. After 2-3 weeks, remove the first and second part.
6. Take this reduced dose for 2-3 weeks
7. When reaching 1/4 or 1/5, you will still encounter massive side effects by going Cold turkey from here.
8. Therefore, take 1/5 or 1/6 of the original 10 mg crushed citalopram and dissolve:
Take a pitcher (with volume measurement) and dissolve 10 mg crushed citalopram in water (or juice)
9. Drink 1/5. Put the remainder in the fringe for the following days.
10. Do this for the Next 2-3 weeks
11. Hereafter, drink 1/6 and so on
12. Repeat the pattern until you´ve reached 1/20 and try if you can stop altogether.
This system seems rediculous. But it worked for me (-:
Good luck
Hi, Just found this thread whilst desperately searching for advice on combating these dreadful withdrawal symptoms.
I have been taking 20mg citalopram for approx just under 4 years. This is my third attempt at coming off it as we are desperate for a baby.
First time I went cold turkey and was ok for about a fortnight before the symptoms kicked in. They were so bad I started taking the pills again! Second time I tried to reduce the dose but got the symptoms after about 4 days of stopping completely.
This time i have reduced over a three month period (longer than before) taking alternate 20 / 10 mg for a month then 10mg for a month then 10mg one day and nothing the next for a month.
I stopped completely 5 days ago and the symptoms have been getting worse each day. I’m totally shattered, I’m irritable, dizzy, no energy, feel sick and generally awful. I thought I might have cracked it by taking my time but clearly not. I’ve just taken half a tablet (5mg) in the hope it will take the edge off the symptoms.
I don’t think I can handle these symptoms for long but will be devastated if I have to go back on the tablets.
Has anyone got any tips on getting through this ?
My GP seemed to think I was being over cautious with my three month tapering plan and said that 10mg is such a tiny dosage that I wouldn’t notice any difference when I came off it!
I might have a go at Mr T’s suggestion…..I’m sure the GP will think I’m mad!
Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
Sarah
Hi Sarah
I have done it! Took me months to come off Citalopram, started at 20 mg, and then down to 10 mg over a couple of months and was eventually down to 5 mg, and then each week I added a day to miss until I eventually reached one every 7 days. Then I took the plunge. The dizziness did persist but gradually decreased. I still get this when my period is due, but I am so pleased I actually stopped. It’s scary how such a little dose can still have an effect. I was on it for nearly two years in the end. Keep persevering and you will do it. Good luck with trying for a baby.
Hi Tracey,
Thank you for your words of encouragement, Its good to know it is possible to come off it!
I’m on 5mg a day as of two days ago, I’m going to try Mr T’s method and do it really really slowly from here.
Feeling positive again now I have a plan.
I will never take this medication again!
I’ll let you know how I get on.
Good luck Sarah, you will get there! I know the feeling about not taking it again, but it did help over the period I was taking it. Take care