Restarting citalopram

[Wyominganxiety]

I have been off my citalopram 40 mg for almost 2 months due to not being able to afford it, i got it refilled again finally but im now terrified to restart it!! I work really long hours as an in home healthcare giver and im scared i wont be able to handle the side effects again.. has anybody had to restart after being off for this long? How was it for you?

[Jpsurf760]

I did and it wasn't the same the 2nd time, but I was off it for almost a year. Had worse side effects. You should just start again at a really low dose. Then if you react badly it should wear off quickly. Hopefully it just starts working again.

Did you have side effects when you first started it?

[Wyominganxiety in reply to Jpsurf760]

Yes i did heightened anxiety nausea and dizzy

[Jpsurf760 in reply to Wyominganxiety]

I had the same. Couldn't take it, so I'm going to try prozac instead

[Wyominganxiety in reply to Jpsurf760]

After about 2 weeks they all went away but those 2 weeks were hell

[Jpsurf760 in reply to Wyominganxiety]

Yeah I hear you. I think those 2 weeks are why so many people never end up staying on antidepressants. Hopefully if you start on a lower dose you won't feel the side effects as intensely

[Ronig1234]

I had a Psychiatrist once tell me that my anxiety was causing the side effects -not the drug itself (besides maybe headache or stomach upset ) when I take a medicine now I remember his words and it is totally different . I no longer suffer . And I had medication phobia (still do) I refuse to take anything -I was recently in the hospital and was given so much stuff and I kept that in mind and nothing bothered me . I still had stomach upset from the antibiotics but it’s wasn’t dreadful like usual. Worth a shot?

[Jg29]

Interesting... I went off of it twice for pregnancies for about a year each time. This is my 3rd time restarting and was hell for some reason. The other times I don’t remember it being that bad. Super emotional, anxious, headache, for a solid 7 days. The second week is much better but it was bad. I’m glad I pushed back through, but wasn’t easy. I wonder why sometimes going back on is different. I am so glad though I’m back on... good luck.. you can do it!