9 years on citalopram- want to stop: advice and stories please :) (good and bad) ....

[NeverARunner]

Hi all, I have had health anxiety for 11+ years and I’m cit for 9. For the most part it has helped, especially for the first 4-5 years, but more recently I can’t help but think it can’t be doing anything for me anymore, and not doing me good. Having recently read an article regarding the SSRIs being dangerous if you have a heart issue - I have occasional extra beats and used to have murmur...TAKING the med is actually making me feel more anxious and playing on my mind every time I swallow a pill.... so I’ve decided to come off. Or try too REALLY slowly. I’m on 20, I’ve ordered some 10s so I can drop to 15.... any advice welcome as I am scared. I’m scared to stop but scared to carry on!!!!! I also have underactive thyroid, and I am Always conscious of my heart beat and just general feeling.... can I do this ?? Plz tell me how you did

T.I.A XX

[kenster1]

hi gradually coming down is the best way but I went down to the lowest on mirtazapine for one week and then nothing for a week and never slept the two weeks.maybe your doctor would help in that department as you don't want to have insomnia.

[NeverARunner in reply to kenster1]

Thank you yeah she said to try from 20 to 15 and leave it 3 months! Before dropping again :/ I guess everyone’s body’s different I am just worried about having bad side effects and withdrawals I guess :/

[4fishylady]

I'm not sure what that drug is, all I can say is research everything you can find on the internet about it's possible withdrawal issues. I was on Cymbalta for a couple of years, and found that I was more irritable on it than I was off of it. I did not like being totally unemotional, and unresponsive sexually! When I tapered down gradually, and then finally stopped, I was terribly depressed, the worst deep depression I have ever endured. At that time, I did not understand that I needed something to help me get over it, to bridge the gap. That particular drug was manufactured to have the user never come off of it, which made it very hard to wean the user off. When I had to call the doctor for help, I asked for Lexapro, because I had used that before and had come of it easily, but that wasn't enough to bring me out of the deep, deep frightening depression. He then added, for a short time, Xanax a couple of times a day, which helped immensely. It takes about a month for the Lexapro to take effect. I was able to come off of both drugs after a few months. I do not like to take drugs that I don't absolutely have to take, but I will take them when I need them.

[NeverARunner in reply to 4fishylady]

Thank you I notice you are in the USA so maybe it’s called something else there, I think it goes by the name celexa as well or something. I am feeling the same as what you describe, no interest in sexual activity, no interest in much to be honest and 9 years on I think surely I can’t actually be benefiting from it anymore. What with that and the research on how SSRI’s can be dangerous for your heart I really just want rid of it. Terrified though to be honest x