Coming off (Cipralex) Escitalopram

[Jackboyh]

I dunno Tara, there are points when I start to lose it a bit and the old feelings come back. I guess I just have to focus on the fact that its not real, its learning to live without the drugs etc.

I'm not sure if its 'de realization' or not, but I'm kinda getting a feeling I used to get a bit where it seems like I'm a person watching a film as opposed to actually being there...

[tara]

You have a great attitude there keep it up !!!

As you say you can always go back to the doc's if you get a little wobbly but the positive attitude you have, I would imagine, will help you loads.

Tara xx

[Jackboyh]

As a quick update to this one, have felt really hideous the past few days. Head aches and palpitations, my eyes feel like they're being pushed back into my skull.

Aside for that though all is fine lol...

Good luck to anyone else stopping meds

[Yvonne]

Jack

Im sorry you're feeling so bad and I sympathise.

I have experience of being withdrawn from a medication too quickly. I won't go on about in in this mesage though.

After 8 months of being on Citalapram you should be weaning off very gradually. Your doctor is completely irresponsible and dare I say "mad" to ask you to come off it cold turkey so to speak.

Doctors do this with some meds, but usually when they are trying you with another - so that the effects of withdrawal from one are overriden by the new one.

Please phone your doctor and ask what the game is. You can see for yourself on loads of meds websites that withdrawal must not be done the way you have been advised. Go to RX List drug information, or Medline or www.crazymeds.org. You will see guidelines for withdrawal from SSRI's.

Keep us posted and take care of yourself.

Yvonne

Y Goble

[solo]

Been off escitalopram for five days. Just stopped taking them, no gradual reduction. Was on 20mg. Been taking them for 18months. Feel full of energy, sleeping well, just the odd little electric shock feeling. Must be the right time for me. So glad i have done it as i was tired all the time and putting on weight. Tried a while ago and just got really weepy. Best of luck x

[optime]

Do not cut it off. It is my psychiatrist who said that. Reduce slowly.

[Trixie]

Well I was put on Cipralex about two years ago for anxiety (not health related) they really helped BUT they caused me to put on loads of weight. I decided before Christmas that I would come off them, as, to be honest, I am normally a happy go lucky extrovert.

I started by cutting one tablet in to quarters (no mean feat I can tell you) so instead of taking 15mgs I was taking about 14mgs. I took this for about a month then reduced the amount to 12.5 mgs and so on. I am now on 5mgs and soon I am going to go down to about 3.5 mgs (I hope) until eventually zero.

I wanted to do it this way so that it is not such a shock to the system when the medication is no longer there.

[Micko]

For god's sake don't stop em' suddenly!

[Micko]

For god's sake don't stop cipralex suddenly without your doc's advice!

[Phill2]

I was on 10mg for 5 years and took myself off by only taking one every second day for 2 weeks then went cold turkey.
Had head zaps for a week or 2 but apart from that was fine.
Good luck with it
Phill