Citalopram. Stopped taking it.

[acjb007]

Since coming out of hospital 3yrs ago I've been on 40mg of citalopram. It's kept me balanced and numb and I've not struggled with life or craved alcohol. I ran out of pills and haven't taken any for 5 days. I know you're meant to wean yourself off them but I had none and have no access to any until tomorrow.Already I feel like I want to achieve stuff rather than sit and watch TV all day. My sex drive and erections are back big time. However I've felt dizzy in the morning and I'm worried about major negative effects that are still to come. I've found it easier getting out of bed and don't sleep in the day anymore. Has anyone here had a bad experience coming off them?

[Hidden]

Okay, talking with regard to my wife's experience, she was taking 20mg Citalopram daily and, like yourself, wanted to come off them. Like yourself, she just stopped taking them. Within a week or two her stress and anxiety hit her. The GPs stressed the importance of a gradual dosage decrease but she still ended up on her original dose.

I suppose that the confidence she felt whilst taking them prompted her to come off them.

You may be lucky, but at the very least I would ask the GPs advice.

Good luck.

[acjb007 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks. Is worrying as I'm on a higher dose.

[Zelda5]

I took 20 mg for less than a year and cut them in half for a few weeks and then quit taking them. I didn't seek my Drs opinion first, and I didn't have any problems, but Id be a little leery of stopping it on that doseage and for taking it for that amount of time without weaning yourself off first. When I started taking them my life was very stressful at the time with my father who was dying of cancer and I had some health issues and an impending surgery. Needless to say, I was very anxious. My father died and my emotions were definitely hampered and I'm not sure if I liked that so much. It also made me even more fatigued than I already was, so after several months I decided that I could live without it and it was time to quit. I hope you don't have any ill affects from going cold turkey and it ends up being self defeating. I hope you reconsider doing it that way and consult with your Dr. first, so that you may be more successful with quitting and lessen the withdrawel symptoms. Best of luck to you!

[Tracy0512]

Ssri should be reduced gradually and weened off slowly. Maybe taking one every other day and then reducing the dose down. Ideally with discussion with GP. If you are having no side effects at all it also brings into question whether depression was there key factor for having them in first place. May be worth chatting with doctor

[Jennys1]

Hi there , yes speak to your gp , you need to be weaned of these , other wise you will start having some really bad side effects , good luck ,

[Kay3322]

Hi, if I were you, like the others have commented, I would speak to your GP. I stopped taking them as I had run out and felt certain I was well enough to manage without them. I had a few days where I was a bit dizzy at times but otherwise felt fine. A few weeks later I had a total melt down out of the blue. I couldn't even use the phone! I got to the GP and explained , he said that was a typical reaction to just stopping them, you must stop them gradually. I do hope you don't experience this and stay well, but maybe a chat to the GP would help. Kay

[acjb007]

Update....it's day 6 and I've suffered many of the symptoms of withdrawal. However, no anxiety or depression. The main symptoms are dizzy spells and intense nightmares. One nightmare was so bad I woke in a cold sweat. I've heard it can take a few more weeks for the drug to leave my system. At this stage I don't think I need my GPs help but thanks for your advice