Coming off citalopram

[T2711]

Hi,

I decided to come off citalopram a few months ago after being on 40mg for over 7 years and finding out that my prolactin levels were high. As my husband and I have been trying to conceive for around 3 years now, I thought that coming off citalopram might improve our chances.

I researched the withdrawal symptoms online and found so many reasons not to be on this anti-depressant that it's made me determined to come off even more! I asked my dr whether citalopram might have caused me to gain 6 stone over the last 7 years and she said it wasn't the cause. Whilst I don't solely blame the citalopram for my weight gain, I'm pretty sure it hasn't helped from what I gather online.

So I managed to get down to 10mg over 2 months or so and tried to come off completely. I was feeling so terrible - sickness, upset stomach, tearful and intense headaches that I had to go back to 10mg - although people say it won't take effect for 3 days, I pretty much instantly felt better and just felt exhausted and had to go to sleep for a few hours. I was really disappointed with myself but it really was unbearable. But for the first time, I felt myself coming back, I did feel disgusted with the weight I'd put on though, so I know I'm going to have to deal with that when I do eventually manage to be citalopram free!

After that ordeal, I decided to wait a few weeks and try to alternate 5mg with 10mg which doesn't seem to be too bad but I must admit I feel pretty unstable emotionally which my husband is hating right now! Unfortunately, he's been finding it so hard to deal with my erratic emotions that he would prefer me to stay on them, at least on 10mg. That probably doesn't really help but I am really determined to come off them!!

Tmi (sorry) but since I've been on the citalopram I've lost my sex drive completely, I honestly could do without sex forever, I just feel tired if my husband even mentions it which is making him start to question our relationship! I've explained it's probably the citalopram but he thinks it's an excuse but I genuinely couldn't care less about anything sexual, all I want to do is cuddle! My sex drive doesn't seem to be increasing as I'm reducing the dose either, which is a little worrying but I'm hoping it will come back eventually as that definitely isn't helping with trying to conceive, I'm sure!

Tonight I decided to cut down to 5mg every day. I'm hoping that once I feel stable (ish) I'll be able to come off completely!

I'm just wondering if anyone has any tips on where to go from here.

Also, since being on 10/5mg alternate, I've just felt like staying in bed all day and just eating junk food, which I have pretty much been doing apart from when I'm at work!

Grateful for any success stories or even just people to talk to who might be going through something similar, no one I know had been through anything like this so I think they just think I'm being a bit of a drama queen! I possibly am just going mad!!!

---------- Post added at 21:20 ---------- Previous post was at 21:18 ----------

Sorry for the huge message! Didn't realise how long it was, life story!!

[bellathevamp]

I took my last Citalopram 20mg this morning and start setraline tomorrow. ..feeling so nervous about having withdrawls. On Citalopram ive had a zero sexdrive! Absolutely no interest what so ever! Just wanted to say good luck x

[T2711]

That's probably a good idea switching over, maybe the withdrawals won't be so bad! Thank you, good luck to you too! Hopefully we'll both be fine without citalopram

[T2711]

Day 2 on 5mg - feeling 'alive'. 3 hour drive home tonight and wasn't feeling like I was about to fall asleep which is very strange. Usually can't stay alert for 30 mins driving.

[Cammy]

I defiantly think citalopram gives you zero sex drive. I'm only 19 and my girlfriend noticed an instant change in our sex life when I started citalopram but I do need to get my life back on track and then will come off citalopram.

[T2711]

Day 3 on 5mg - terrible headache and getting irritable.

Cammy - it's quite a bad side effect isn't it?! Good luck, yes definitely, need to make sure you're in the right place before you try to come off

[T2711]

Day 4 on 5mg - irritable but headache not quite as bad. Getting annoyed with people at work!

[T2711]

Day 5 on 5mg- I've decided to start taking maca root to help my crazy moods - apparently it balances hormones and improves sex drive also. I took my first 500mg tablet this morning. Although the suggested dose is two tablets, I'm going to start on 1 tablet every morning as I've read that people have had an upset stomach when taking too many to start off with.

Will update again tomorrow, feeling pretty chilled today although it is Saturday and I had 15 hrs sleep last night! Also been wearing an infinity pro bracelet for about a week now which is meant to balance yours ions or something so not sure if that's working - going to carry on wearing it just in case!

[T2711]

Day 6 on 5mg, day 2 on maca - seem to be ok, sleeping a lot.

[Jamesn]

Hi - it's different for everyone but I started to come off my 20mg of citalopram about 6-7 weeks ago. I had gained a stone since I started taking them 10 months before. I also noticed that I still found it difficult to wake up properly first thing in the morning and my brain didn't feel as alert or creative. I didn't feel depressed anymore. I reduced my dose by around 30% straight away. That was a mistake - too much in one go. The doctor had told me to alternate one day on and one day off. Doctors don't just tell you what's on the inside of the packet. Like when I first started that I'd feel better in 2 weeks. Yeah - right. Took me 8 - 9 weeks before I could function enough to go back to work and live by myself again. Coming off them in such a big step ruined my sleep, made me a bit anxious and agitated. So I went back to see another doctor and he suggested alternating 20mg and 10mg, then 20mg, 10mg, 10mg and so on. I've followed this pattern and am on half dose now. I feel ok, but of course I still keep "self checking" to see how I really feel. Bound to until its been a bit longer on the lower dose. I'm sticking at 10mg until the new year now. No need to rush as I've learnt that without a happy mind the everything else is secondary. I should add that that when I first became poorly it was after my father had died. I already suffered from anxiety that had gone untreated for years. The anxiety multiplied and it became debilitating and made me depressed. I felt a failure, only good for doing a simple manual job after being in an executive position for a few years. I felt isolated, small, couldn't barely drive so wasn't near my family. In the end I bubbled over. I'd always wondered how people could feel depressed and now I know. Now I am back at work feeling stronger than before and more capable, confident. I wish I'd sorted the anxiety sooner as it can be such a trap. I should also mention that I went to CBT which was great. You really understand that you are not alone. Far from it. There are loads of us. I reckon at least 50% in our lifetime. There's still a stigma attached to mental illness, but now those will the stigma are the small minded people. I look on the experience as being educated ins one way. I don't feel smug - just relieved and more understanding others.

I write this because there is virtually nothing on line about positive stories for coming off citalopram and hopefully this is a positive turn out (for me).

Take it slow. Rushing doesn't help. The brain rebels against it.

Good luck..