l have really struggled with citalopram 10mg for 19 days, dr has told me to stop meds today due to intolerance to side effects. Any success stories please.
stopping citalopram : l have really... - Anxiety and Depre...
stopping citalopram
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RayannAbbey
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I wish I had a success story. But im in week 3 and still have very heightened anxiety. It keeps me from going out much right now. And apparently now coffee makes it bad all day. I'm sad i love coffee. But apparently now i cant have even a small cup without battling anxiety rest of day. Im still gonna try to push a few more weeks and see how it goes, but it's draining
the side effects were so bad, burning weakened muscles, shivering, trembling, panicking, felt like I couldn’t breathe so the dr said to stop these and gave me beta blockers. How are your effects?
Panicking almost daily and when i do I literally feel like as if i can't breathe amd every now and then burning of skin some. Burning was worse in second week. But I stuck it out. Even tho it scared me
I hope you have some relief with the effects soon and start to feel well again. Take care x
Thank you. Im trying.
Success with withdrawal? It is one of the easier drugs to stop. Just take it slow.
thank you for your reply. My dr told me stop straight away as I’m only on 10mg and on it for 19 days. Have you stopped this med before? Tia
I've stopped it cold turkey and was ok last time
have you stopped it now too? Did you have any withdrawals?
I stopped iit years ago. Didnt have any withdrawal symptoms. But i started it agaiin 3 weeks ago and had side effects this time
how long were you on it last time?
about a month
I had withdrawals. I ignored my doctor and tapered off slower than she wanted. I figure I'm the one that has to face the world... not her. Not going to go to work on the verge of tears all day! I was on it a lot longer.
thank you. How long did it take you?
a month. Longer than you have been taking it :).
Easy…
I tried to wean off it over a period of 2 years. The withdrawal was so merciless I had to stop.
Spoke to an ex-speed addict who said going off speed had been easier than going off citalopram.
In fact, among the SSRIs it’s prozac that’s the easiest to come off of, but all SSRIs can be horrible in that respect.
how long were you on it for?
About 15 years? Before that, another 10 or so on Paxil.
and actually I’ll add that I did do an intense two week cleanse. There was no fasting but it did clear my gut. Serotonin is also stored in the gut so my theory is it helped because all of a sudden I could drop it. Down side is it is a hard way to do it and even very healthy people fail.
I found a new doctor after that. One that would not tell me my experience is invalid.
were the withdrawals bad?
I think it took a while for mine to kick in. I’ve been on them a year and a half now. Had a wobble last December and my dosage was upped to 20mg and I’ve been good since. I also started to ensure I exercise at least half an hour a day, I’ve also changed my diet and it’s more healthier now. I think the combination of citalopram with exercise really helps.
sorry, I just realised you wanted advice from people coming off them.
thank you. The side effects were really bad. I just couldn’t tolerate them. My whole body was burning and shaking and my muscles were so weak.
yes, switch to escitalopram. I couldn’t tolerate citalopram and switched to escitalopram which was perfect for me.
thank you. How long were you on citalopram and what dose?
I’ll need to check dose. I was only on it 3-4 weeks. It made me hot, sweat buckets and feel very lightheaded. When I switched to escitalopram all the side effects disappeared over a week or so. And I have not suffered from unacceptable levels anxiety since, in fact I have less than a ‘regular’ person 😁
did you have to withdraw from citalopram first?
no - they’re very similar so there’s no problem - escitalopram is the S -enantiomer only of citalopram. Citalopram is made up of both the right and left hand enantiomers (= ‘images’, S and R) of the molecule. Only the S enantiomer has the desired effect on depression and anxiety. Think of Escitalopram as a more refined/pure version - you usually only need the equivalent of half the dose of citalopram, as escitalopram has twice as much of the active ingredient. There’s also a school of thought the R enantiomer in citalopram causes more of the side effects. Escitalopram is considerably more expensive than citalopram so it isn’t usually prescribed until several other drugs have been tried first - including citalopram - and haven’t worked or cause too many side effects. Many people tollerate citalopram well- but like you, I didn’t. A lot of doctors say there is no difference but myself and other patients think there definitely is! You may have to work hard to convince your GP to prescribe it for you…
Thank you so much for your support. I think l will try other options. Dr has given me propranolol a beta blocker to help. Have you ever had that?
no- I was on mirtazapine first, which worked really well but caused me to have a very short temper, then citalopram (tapered between the two) then escitalopram (direct swap, no tapering needed). Good luck…
thank you so much. Keep well too .
I was on 10mg citalopram for 3 months and had to stop taking it due to really heightened anxiety, I had that horrible feeling of dread and was constantly shaking couldn’t eat and couldn’t sleep my GP eventually said I was having an adverse reaction to it and told me to stop taking it and start on a beta blocker, I had no problems when I stopped taking the citalopram
thank you so much for your response. How is your anxiety now that you’re on beta blockers do they help?
I took beta blockers for anxiety, and I noticed as they increased the dose for other medical problems my anxiety improved 100 %. I took propranolol.
thank you so very much for replying. We’re you on anxiety meds too can l ask? X x
yes, I have been since childhood for panic, anxiety and at one point agoraphobia.
thank you x did you take citalopram at all. X v so you take anxiety meds and propranolol? Sorry to ask x dr didn’t really help so having to help myself x l do appreciate your help x
yes I took Celexa ( citalopram) some time ago but it was of no help to me. I also had side effects with that. Effexor XR worked quite well for my anxiety and I take a low dose of benzodiazepine.
effexor XR literally changed my life 19 years ago
have you ever taken citalopram?
Once on propranolol I noticed straight away a big difference in my mood and anxiety this kept improving over the next few weeks and after probably a few months I hardly had any anxious days at all, now I’m in a really good place and at peace with the world I’m more positive and more like my old self 😊 Your gp can increase the dose if you find your not quite there after a month or so, hope they work as well for you as they did for me 🤞❤️
thank you so very much. Can I ask what dose you take? I’ve been given 10mg. Struggling with the side effects today even though I haven’t taken a tablet last night.!thank you for taking the time to reply. You just take propranolol for anxiety is that correct?
yeah the propranolol is just for anxiety I take 10mg daily, what side effects are you having?
side effects are from the c citalopram withdrawal. Burning like acid all over my body muscle weakness and heightened anxiety. Have 1x 10mg propranolol for three days then 2x10 mg. What are you on? Do you take any other anxiety med?
just 1 10mg propranolol daily and I take 2 x10mg amitriptyline at night
thank you for your support today. Really appreciate it.
I don’t have a success story for that particular medication. Unfortunately sometimes as was the case with myself it takes much trial and error, but is so worth it when the right medication/medications are found. Wishing you the best.
thank you x
thank you x x I’m hoping the propranolol will be enough. I struggle so much with the side effects x the dr is getting fed up as I’m phoning regularly as l feel so poorly on them. My whole body inside feels like it’s on fire. Did you withdraw from citalopram and if so how were you? Xthank you again
and just that for anxiety? X thank you so much x
Hi I was on and off citalopram for about 10 years was still anxious on 10mg so my doctor upped them to 20mg and I was much better in about 2 weeks
thank you for replying. I couldn’t handle the side effects really brutal. Was feeling so much worse with acid burning feeling throughout my body. Weak muscles etc.
I came off Citalopram after about 6 months. It didn't hit me for about a week, but I did feel poorly for 2 or 3 months while it cleared out of my body. It's not pleasant, but coming off that type of medication never is. Focus on looking after your overall health. Some days will be better than others. Have friends to talk to, if you work with an understanding boss, let them know you may feel under the weather for a little while but it will not last forever. Meditation is an excellent source of comfort. There are guided meditations on Youtube which are completely free. Go out for a walk, keep your hands busy and your mind distracted with crafts. You will get through it. Just take it as it comes. I wish I'd kept a diary of my side effects so I could see my progression. One day, I just found myself feeling happy. You can do it.
thank you. I’m really struggling with the side effects I’m burning so severely all over my body and actually feel like l can’t breathe x my panic is extremely heightened. I was only on it for 19 days but couldn’t cope with the side effects. Do you take anything else for anxiety ?
I don't. It's a a bit of a different situation as I know what has been causing my Anxiety. I originally came off my Citalopram as I found that it was making it impossible for me to understand what was causing my PTSD (had a motorbike accident) and what were side effects caused by the Antidepressants. I now also have a diagnosis of Autism and ADHD so I think my long term anxiety stems from a lifetime of being undiagnosed and trying to cope with the normal world. I still get a lot of anxiety, but I work hard to keep on top of it. Not an easy thing, but I found that antidepressants were just making me feel flat all the time.
Have you been back to your doctor to discuss your symptoms? They may be able to suggest something to alleviate your symptoms while you come off the Citalopram. Even if it just takes the edge off, it's better to ask than struggle when you may not have to. If you have been on it for a shorter period, it's likely to take less time to get it out of your system, but the very reason that you've come off it because of your adverse reaction means your doctor should be advising you and keeping an eye on your health while you go through this process. Have a chat with them.
thank you. I had contacted dr yesterday and she said to stop it and wait two weeks before thinking of something else. I’m hoping the beta blockers will do it. Thank you for your response. I feel the dr knows l suffer from health anxiety and puts everything down to it. Only spoken to dr over phone even though I have listed my symptoms , chest pressure burning skin and the list goes on. Just told to stop the tablet. No reassurance offered or follow up that’s why I’m so grateful for this groups support.
Do you have a blood pressure monitor? They are easy enough to purchase from the pharmacy and you can keep an eye on your blood pressure. As your symptoms ease, you will find an improvement on the blood pressure monitor and that can help to ease your anxiety. Regular monitoring can also give you something to show your GP if you feel worse. I'm old enough to be asked to check my Blood pressure from time to time, and they say twice in the morning, twice in the evening (like a minute or two between each) Regular checking can show you a progression, whereas the occasional test could show wild anomalies that can seem quite scary. Sometimes a physical test can be useful. If not for the doctor, just for you. You can literally see that you are improving even if you don't necessarily feel it.
yes I have one x my blood pressure is quite high at the min 178/101 . Just feel quite poorly with the withdrawal of citalopram today. I am also suffering with bad heartburn from this med too.
I decreased Citalopram to wean off from it and did okay. It's been awhile but I think it was trembling and panic like RayannAbbey describes.
My doctor switched it to Buproprion (Wellbutrin is the brand name). And started a low dose of it, that grew in dosage, as I stopped taking the other. It works for me pretty well but there are still days that I just feel "defeated" more than depressed. Probably side effects from other medications I take for other health problems.
You just have to work with your doctor. You might ask if you can add a new medication for depression now to help with the final step of getting off Citalopram? And sometimes that last step of stopping a medication causes more anxiety and makes it feel harder to stop.
thank you. The dr told me to stop the tablet as it was causing too many unbearable side effects. Nothing was offered or reassurance offered so hence why I’m trying to help myself with the support of this group. Were you on it for a while? I only had it 19 days . The anxiety is horrendous but hopefully the beta blockers will help.
I was on it for several years after I stopped Cymbalta, about a year. If i missed a dose of that even by 15 minutes, I felt disconnected from my body. Sort of floating above myself as I walked to my car. Went to Citalopram and it worked well for a few years. Now Buproprion for 2 years.
But I think changes in my life and this support group helped more than the medications did. Seems weird to me to say that. Why don't medications help more? Not all medications work on everyone and other medications you take, foods you eat, sleep habits, personal relationships, and so on can interfere with the good you get from the medications. A vicious cycle and your doctor continues to change meds or dosages. That messes it up more. I've never had beta blockers that I'm aware of.
I started today on propranolol only 10 mg just feel quite poorly with the withdrawal of the citalopram. Terrible heartburn too.
I did research on beta blockers and I do take one. Metoprolol for high blood pressure. But I think it also helps with my migraines.
Try drinking a little milk when you take the propranolol (unless your medication guide says to avoid milk). Some medication guides say to avoid grapefruit juice, of all things, so I wouldn't be surprised if there are a few that say no milk.
Milk helps my heartburn. Just an inch or so in a glass. Lower fat milk, I use 2%, absorbs acid better than whole milk. Or about a quarter teaspoon of baking soda in about 4 ounces of water.
And it might help to eat when you take it. Maybe a half-piece of bread, some crackers (great for morning sickness when you are pregnant).
ah thank you so much x you have been such a great support today. I really appreciate your help and understanding.
I took 60mg. of propanol also a beta blocker was put on a low dose for blood pressure then increased for migraines, that’s when I noticed my panic had gone away !!
thank you .
no, I have never been on it. I just would take a .25 mg of Xanax if I felt an attack coming on, and most of the time would break that .25 in half. I’ve been on and off Effexor XR for 19 years… lowest dose possible ( 37.5). Staying on it for past several years due to menopause symptoms and apparently Drs. Are prescribing it for menopause now. In a year, I maybe take 2-4 xanax if needed- so the effexor works really well for me.
thank you.
When u say u got burning and tingling on ur skin, was it like all over? Mines in my legs and feet and arms and hands. It's starting to happen again. And i hate it because it freaks me out.
hi yes burning feeling like someone has tipped acid all over my body arms, legs, hands, face and my leg muscles were so weak and sore. Stopped the med on Tuesday and already that sensation is easing. Now going through withdrawals. Hope you are ok.
Im alright. Just gets hard to deal with at times
l know how you feel. I couldn’t take the severe side effects. I think l had an intolerance to this tablet as I was finding it really hard to catch my breath too. It was getting worse the more tablets l took. I wish you lots of luck and hope your side effects settle soon.
Thank you. Im trying to push through bc i really don't want to try any meds and have side effects again
l totally understand. I’m praying 🙏 l don’t have to try another. Going to try the natural path.
Ill do same if i come off this. I pray for you too 🙏
thank you.
how are you doing today?
I'm okay . Had the overall burning feeling earlier though,, other then that I'm getting used to it I think
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