Lare: Citalopram support

[Lare]

Hi

I recently reinstated 25 mg citalopram ( May 2023) after having reduced from 25mg-20mg Dec 2022-May 2022. I started to feel nauseous, couldn’t focus , brain fog . During my reinstatement I was diagnosed with h pylori and am now in triple therapy for that.  I am fairly convinced the increase in citalopram also contributed to my stomach symptoms. I am still finding the extra quarter tablet upsets my stomach . Could I reduce down to 22.5 mg at this stage ? I have that dose available from the local compounding pharmacy? Antibiotics finish tomorrow so I could see how my stomach is then , I also find I can’t cry . Very disconcerting. Also feel a bit over medicated so to speak .

 

history :

fluoxetine Dec 2001-March 2002

citalopram 20mg March 2002-Sept 2015

citalopram 30 mg Sept 2015-June 2022

citalopram 25 mg June 2022-Dec 2022

citalopram 20mg Dec 2022-May 2023

citalopram 25mg May 2023-present 

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a volunteer-run community of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  Is your intent to taper off of the citalopram altogether?   I'm sorry to hear about your h pylori infection.  Some of the symptoms of that may be confounded with withdrawal symptoms.  

 

Question: Why did you do the reinstatement/updose from 20 to 25 mg of citalopram in May?  

 

On 7/1/2023 at 7:34 PM, Lare said:

I started to feel nauseous, couldn’t focus , brain fog .

You had these symptoms after you reinstated to 25 mg in May?  Just checking to make sure.  

 

Did you increase your dose to 25 mg in early, mid, or late May? 

 

Here is some important information about how these drugs actually work.  This explains why we get symptoms from going off of these medications, and why it's so important to taper slowly and carefully, and be very cautious about changing our doses: 

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

 

Tapering is best done extremely slowly, and we generally taper by 10% of the current dose no more than once every 4 weeks, so that the reduction becomes exponentially smaller.

 

 Why Taper by 10% of my Dosage  

 

Tips for Tapering Citalopram

 

When I see the answers to my questions, I can better advise you.  

Edited July 4, 2023 by getofflex

[Lare]

Hi 

thanks for your reply . I had the nausea, brain fog , hard to focus symptoms prior to Re instatement . This was late April this year . Also lack of appetite and crying a lot , feeling low .

my dr thought maybe reinstating to 25 mg might help . I initially tried cutting my pill into 1/8 but it was too inaccurate. For 2 weeks from 14 may I attempted inaccurate 22.5mg then 2 weeks later went to 25 mg and that’s when the stomach irritation started and feelings of being a bit over medicated/ flat in mood . When I sleep it almost feels like a ‘drugged sleep’ rather than a natural sleep . 

[Lare]

Hi again

 

i also had covid around 9 March this year so that may have exacerbated my withdrawals symptoms reducing 25mg to 20mg earlier on Dec .

yes aim would be slowly taper off citalopram . Am feeling disconcerted by the drugged feeling I have on 25 mg . Has now been 6 weeks on this dose . Only found out about compounding pharmacy once had gone to 25 mg

[Lare]

One now thing . Am feeling quite low in mood / depressed which I was not prior to reducing 25 mg -20 g . Also at 20 mg was much more anxious and not sleeping properly, cortisol spikes, night sweats etc

[Lare]

I do also think the h pylori infection was possibly causing some symptoms I put down to withdrawl symptoms prior to increasing to 25 mg

[getofflex]

On 7/4/2023 at 4:51 PM, Lare said:

I had the nausea, brain fog , hard to focus symptoms prior to Re instatement . This was late April this year . Also lack of appetite and crying a lot , feeling low .

 

It is quite possible these symptoms were caused by your prior dose reductions.  Doctors rely on drugs quite heavily, and are very prone to try to use drugs to fix problems.  

 

On 7/4/2023 at 4:51 PM, Lare said:

For 2 weeks from 14 may I attempted inaccurate 22.5mg

Please put this in your signature. We need to see all dose changes.  Click on your name in the upper right hand corner of the screen, select account settings, then select signature.  

 

On 7/4/2023 at 4:53 PM, Lare said:

i also had covid around 9 March this year so that may have exacerbated my withdrawals symptoms

I agree.

 

There are many variables and factors here, including the frequent increasing and decreasing of your dose. Making frequent dose changes up and down is very likely to cause most of these symptoms.  Also, you made a 20% decrease when you dropped from 25 to 20, which is too big of a reduction.  I believe that since you have been on 25 mg since May, you could safely reduce your drug to 22.5 mg.  Please look over the last 2 link in my first post, paying special attention to the first post of each thread to see how to properly taper your drug.  You don't have to read the entire thread.  They will tell you how to get precise and accurate non standard doses, which is important.  It is also important not to skip or miss days, and take the dose at the same time each day. 

 

Being consistent and stable in your drugs is very important.  Please read 

 

Keep It Simple, Slow, and Stable

Edited July 6, 2023 by getofflex

[getofflex]

These topics can help a lot too.  Brain fog and inability to concentrate are very common in withdrawal, as are stomach issues. 

 

Dr Joseph Glenmullen Withdrawal Symptom Checklists

 

Non Drug Ways to Cope with Withdrawal Symptoms

Edited July 6, 2023 by getofflex

[Lare]

Thank you very much for your replies , do you advise me to drop the dose to 22.5mg  or see it as an option ?

[getofflex]

On 7/5/2023 at 7:37 PM, getofflex said:

 I believe that since you have been on 25 mg since May, you could safely reduce your drug to 22.5 mg.

Yes, I had stated on Wednesday that you could do this. 

[Lare]

11 hours ago, getofflex said:

Yes, I had stated on Wednesday that you could do this. 

Thank you . I was just wondering if it might be too soon to drop down to 22.5mg ?

[getofflex]

7 hours ago, Lare said:

Thank you . I was just wondering if it might be too soon to drop down to 22.5mg ?

It's clear to me that you don't feel comfortable dropping to 22.5 mg yet, since you've asked me about this repeatedly.    We are an online forum, and can only advise you based on what you write in the forum.  From the information you gave us, it looked to me like it would be safe for you to reduce to 22.5 mg.  However, only you can make this decision.  Only you know how you feel, and if you are ready for a dose reduction.  We suggest waiting until you are stable for about 2 weeks before making a reduction.  I'll leave the decision up to you.  Holding for a while is never a bad thing. 

Edited July 8, 2023 by getofflex