Tapering off 30mg

[pollynewsome]

Well I decided to try and get off citolapram 30mg. Taken 20mg for 4 days now. Fair to say I feel rough. Any idea how long I should stick at 20mg..do useless. She kinda said do what feels good for you..pfft!

[panic_down_under]

Well I decided to try and get off citolapram 30mg. Taken 20mg for 4 days now. Fair to say I feel rough. Any idea how long I should stick at 20mg..do useless. She kinda said do what feels good for you..pfft!

The rule of thumb is to allow plasma levels of the drug to stabilize to a new steady-state between dose reductions (or increases), which occurs within 5 half-lives of the drug. For citalopram plasma levels stabilize within 8 days. Dropping the dose sooner may increase withdrawal symptom severity, delaying the decrease probably won't lessen them, but can help psychologically.

Withdrawal is as much about psychology as chemistry and biology. Believe you will suffer greatly and the anxious mind is quite capable of creating the full catastrophe for you. So your GP wasn't completely wrong. Set a pace you're comfortable with, just allow at least 8 days between reductions.

[pollynewsome]

Thank you. Makes sense as usual. X