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nick1990: citalopram crap


nick1990

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Hi all, third post in a week haha...

 

Well this has definitely been a wave - id say the most significant one I've had in a year or more. Anxious thinking, negativity, some intrusive thoughts and fatigue. Also i feel a little bit spaced out and have a mild twitch in my right eye. This wave is mild, but not fun non the less. Nothing like I've had after my crash a few years ago. Still its a bit of a shock, because I've been doing so well for the most part. 

I assume this is just a catchup moment for my brain and CNS, funny though my anxious mind is saying that I'm going to crash - however i know this is just part of the process. 

Im sleeping incredibly well, I'm talking 10 -11 hours a night , although I'm having some full on dreams they're not as intense as they were a week ago. 

 

Also I'm still suffering from this up and down cold/virus/bronchitis thing - I'm going to see the doc today but won't be taking antibiotics unless I'm seriously ill haha.. 

I wonder if this could be exacerbating symptoms. 

 

I guess I'm just looking for some reassurance that even with a good, smooth taper, these waves will come and go. Ive just been caught off guard a little thats all.

Fun and games :D

 

all the best 

Nick

Started Citalopram in 2005 (aged 15) for apparent "OCD" - 60mg 

July 2015 attempted 2 x 10% + cuts 4 weeks apart. WD symptoms intense at times. Need to slow down.

 

November 2016 - Resumed taper. 1.25 - 1.5% decrease weekly approx.

44.5mg November 2016. Jan 2017 42.5 mg. March 2017 40 mg. June 2017 37mg. September 2018 22mg. Nov 2018 Holding at 22mg to stabilise from moderate wave. January 2020 - Holding, mostly feeling fine, but still having some waves at times. 

 

February 2020 - Resumed taper , 1.5% reduction weekly/every two weeks. 

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  • Moderator

Hi Nick--  Yea, it sounds like you're getting hit with a bit of a wave.  Even with a good slow taper it's to be expected.  Sounds like it's pretty mild so it should clear up fairly soon.  I would expect that the chest problems have a bit to do with it.  Breathing trouble can quietly trigger anxiety that will build over several days/weeks and really throw us off.  Do get it checked out and taken care of, being able to breath is quite important.  I go hit by something in China last year, took months to finally shake it and I was able to breath properly again.  This summer I've had a bit of a recurrence, not bad but just enough to make me feel every breath at times.

 

Are you heading back to Oz this summer?

Brass

20 years on Paxil starting at 20mg and working up to 40mg. Sept 2011 started 10% every 6 weeks taper (2.5% every week for 4 weeks then hold for 2 additional weeks), currently at 7.9mg. Oct 2011 CTed 15oz vodka a night, to only drinking 2 beers most nights, totally sober Feb 2013.

Since I wrote this I have continued to decrease my dose by 10% every 6 weeks (2.5% every week for 4 weeks and then hold for an additional 2 weeks). I added in an extra 6 week hold when I hit 10mg to let things settle out even more. When I hit 3mgpw it became hard to split the drop into 4 parts so I switched to dropping 1mgpw (pill weight) every week for 3 weeks and then holding for another 3 weeks.  The 3 + 3 schedule turned out to be too harsh so I cut back to dropping 1mgpw every 4 weeks which is working better.

Final Dose 0.016mg.     Current dose 0.000mg 04-15-2017

 

"It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can loose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general."  Stephen Hawking

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Hey Brass :) good hearing from you !

 

Just been at the docs and it could be mild bronchitis - nothing too sinister ..

 

Yeh I’m thinking it’ll be a relatively short lived wave - just emotionally feeling quite down and out. Funny how the intrusive thoughts and guilty feelings of the past only exist when these waves pop up - I’ve been feeling so much more mentally clear and been able to look at things logically and not feel guilty about them , but then BOOM! Overnight and my perceptions have changed again . 

Just need to wait for it to pass but dam it’s hard not diving into my head !

 

Havent returned to Aus since last year as have had a lot to keep me occupied at home - plus winter hasn’t been too bad at all . We have daylights savings here in a couple of weeks so will have longer days which means more time to spend surfing !

 

How’s all with you Tom ? 

Started Citalopram in 2005 (aged 15) for apparent "OCD" - 60mg 

July 2015 attempted 2 x 10% + cuts 4 weeks apart. WD symptoms intense at times. Need to slow down.

 

November 2016 - Resumed taper. 1.25 - 1.5% decrease weekly approx.

44.5mg November 2016. Jan 2017 42.5 mg. March 2017 40 mg. June 2017 37mg. September 2018 22mg. Nov 2018 Holding at 22mg to stabilise from moderate wave. January 2020 - Holding, mostly feeling fine, but still having some waves at times. 

 

February 2020 - Resumed taper , 1.5% reduction weekly/every two weeks. 

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  • Moderator

Things are going right along, I'm really loving retirement.  Getting the Halloween Haunt set up for this year is taking a lot of my time, but I'm able to throw in other projects too.  Making plans for an extended trip around the first of the year.  Going to center it around a safari in India to photograph tigers and then throw in some side trips just to see more of the world.

20 years on Paxil starting at 20mg and working up to 40mg. Sept 2011 started 10% every 6 weeks taper (2.5% every week for 4 weeks then hold for 2 additional weeks), currently at 7.9mg. Oct 2011 CTed 15oz vodka a night, to only drinking 2 beers most nights, totally sober Feb 2013.

Since I wrote this I have continued to decrease my dose by 10% every 6 weeks (2.5% every week for 4 weeks and then hold for an additional 2 weeks). I added in an extra 6 week hold when I hit 10mg to let things settle out even more. When I hit 3mgpw it became hard to split the drop into 4 parts so I switched to dropping 1mgpw (pill weight) every week for 3 weeks and then holding for another 3 weeks.  The 3 + 3 schedule turned out to be too harsh so I cut back to dropping 1mgpw every 4 weeks which is working better.

Final Dose 0.016mg.     Current dose 0.000mg 04-15-2017

 

"It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can loose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general."  Stephen Hawking

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Amazing bro ! Glad your really enjoying your life :) make sure you give me a bell if your down under 

Started Citalopram in 2005 (aged 15) for apparent "OCD" - 60mg 

July 2015 attempted 2 x 10% + cuts 4 weeks apart. WD symptoms intense at times. Need to slow down.

 

November 2016 - Resumed taper. 1.25 - 1.5% decrease weekly approx.

44.5mg November 2016. Jan 2017 42.5 mg. March 2017 40 mg. June 2017 37mg. September 2018 22mg. Nov 2018 Holding at 22mg to stabilise from moderate wave. January 2020 - Holding, mostly feeling fine, but still having some waves at times. 

 

February 2020 - Resumed taper , 1.5% reduction weekly/every two weeks. 

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Hi all - yesterday i thought the wave was over but today woke up grumpy and with a headache and BOOM - just had a full blown panic attack . Im scared guys , i really am . I haven't had one of these since my crash a couple of years ago. And I'm fearing the worst. My parents are away in europe too and its just adding to the fear. 

I don't know what to do - I've been fine for the last year or so, this is a real freakout for me. 

 

Please, any advice or words to calm me would be appreciated

 

love,

nick 

Started Citalopram in 2005 (aged 15) for apparent "OCD" - 60mg 

July 2015 attempted 2 x 10% + cuts 4 weeks apart. WD symptoms intense at times. Need to slow down.

 

November 2016 - Resumed taper. 1.25 - 1.5% decrease weekly approx.

44.5mg November 2016. Jan 2017 42.5 mg. March 2017 40 mg. June 2017 37mg. September 2018 22mg. Nov 2018 Holding at 22mg to stabilise from moderate wave. January 2020 - Holding, mostly feeling fine, but still having some waves at times. 

 

February 2020 - Resumed taper , 1.5% reduction weekly/every two weeks. 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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  • Moderator

Don't Panic.  Panic attacks are very scary when they happen but they only last a short period of time and them burn themselves out.  By not adding secondary panic they are a lot shorter and less extreme. Accept that it's happening and roll with it as best as you can and let it run its course.  You seem to be hitting a rough wave which will be a pain in the .... for several weeks and then will calm down.  You've got this one, ride it out.

Brass

20 years on Paxil starting at 20mg and working up to 40mg. Sept 2011 started 10% every 6 weeks taper (2.5% every week for 4 weeks then hold for 2 additional weeks), currently at 7.9mg. Oct 2011 CTed 15oz vodka a night, to only drinking 2 beers most nights, totally sober Feb 2013.

Since I wrote this I have continued to decrease my dose by 10% every 6 weeks (2.5% every week for 4 weeks and then hold for an additional 2 weeks). I added in an extra 6 week hold when I hit 10mg to let things settle out even more. When I hit 3mgpw it became hard to split the drop into 4 parts so I switched to dropping 1mgpw (pill weight) every week for 3 weeks and then holding for another 3 weeks.  The 3 + 3 schedule turned out to be too harsh so I cut back to dropping 1mgpw every 4 weeks which is working better.

Final Dose 0.016mg.     Current dose 0.000mg 04-15-2017

 

"It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can loose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general."  Stephen Hawking

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Thanks guys - It was short lived but been very anxious and a bit teary and nauseous since it hit - and tired. Its just bringing back memories of what happened in 2015. Looking into it logically its definitely not as severe as it was back then, but my fear is it'll get worse and ill be in for a year of sh*tiness. . Called my parents at 1;30 am their time haha but i just needed to talk to them. 

 

Its just disheartening too, when I've been going slow with my taper and had minimal symptoms right through. And then this happens. 

 

I appreciate your guys input and i know it will pass and that its just a wave. 

 

Thank you 

Hugs 

Started Citalopram in 2005 (aged 15) for apparent "OCD" - 60mg 

July 2015 attempted 2 x 10% + cuts 4 weeks apart. WD symptoms intense at times. Need to slow down.

 

November 2016 - Resumed taper. 1.25 - 1.5% decrease weekly approx.

44.5mg November 2016. Jan 2017 42.5 mg. March 2017 40 mg. June 2017 37mg. September 2018 22mg. Nov 2018 Holding at 22mg to stabilise from moderate wave. January 2020 - Holding, mostly feeling fine, but still having some waves at times. 

 

February 2020 - Resumed taper , 1.5% reduction weekly/every two weeks. 

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Lunch time here - And although a little on edge, I'm feeling better than i did yesterday . No panic, just minor anxiety.  Slept a good 10 hours and feel a little "hungover" but not too bad. 

 

Thanks for helping me during my "meltdown" haha..   Isn't it great how we have the ability to look back on these things and laugh :D 

Started Citalopram in 2005 (aged 15) for apparent "OCD" - 60mg 

July 2015 attempted 2 x 10% + cuts 4 weeks apart. WD symptoms intense at times. Need to slow down.

 

November 2016 - Resumed taper. 1.25 - 1.5% decrease weekly approx.

44.5mg November 2016. Jan 2017 42.5 mg. March 2017 40 mg. June 2017 37mg. September 2018 22mg. Nov 2018 Holding at 22mg to stabilise from moderate wave. January 2020 - Holding, mostly feeling fine, but still having some waves at times. 

 

February 2020 - Resumed taper , 1.5% reduction weekly/every two weeks. 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

That's good to hear.  Well done on getting through it.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hey all - well last week was quite good but overdid things and had a HUGE weekend in regards to physical work to the point of exhaustion. 

Seem to be in a bit of a wave . Wonder if it was brought on by the over exertion?  Depressed last few days , some anxiety, a twitch in my right eye and weird aching/ tingling in my feet in the mornings . Nothing too bad, prob a 3/10 on my personal WD scale but it’s a real pain none the less. I’m also a little stressed as I’m meant to travel 9 hours on Sunday for a week of work , which I know I’ll enjoy once I get there.

Trying to be mindful and realise this is just another little bump in the road to recovery. 

 

 

Started Citalopram in 2005 (aged 15) for apparent "OCD" - 60mg 

July 2015 attempted 2 x 10% + cuts 4 weeks apart. WD symptoms intense at times. Need to slow down.

 

November 2016 - Resumed taper. 1.25 - 1.5% decrease weekly approx.

44.5mg November 2016. Jan 2017 42.5 mg. March 2017 40 mg. June 2017 37mg. September 2018 22mg. Nov 2018 Holding at 22mg to stabilise from moderate wave. January 2020 - Holding, mostly feeling fine, but still having some waves at times. 

 

February 2020 - Resumed taper , 1.5% reduction weekly/every two weeks. 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Nick, 

 

A 3/10 in withdrawals is pretty good, but yes, over exerting yourself can definitely bring on more symptoms. Our CNS  is definitely affected when we do too much. Make sure you get plenty of rest. 

 

Wishing you all all the best on the road to recovery💚

Been on APs, benzos, ADs and opiates, for chronic pain. Had Akathisia in the past that made me suicidal. Still on Seroquel. 2019:➡️ March10=7.25mg ✔️ April17=7.0✔️ June5=6.75✔️ July14=6.50✔️ Aug28=6.25✔️ Oct10=6.20  ✔️ Oct21=6.0✔️ Dec16=5.80 ✔️ 2020➡️ Jan 21=5.60 ✔️ April2=5.40 ✔️ May29=5.20 ✔️ Aug14= 5.0 ✔️Sep29=4.80✔️2021➡️ Jan31=4.60 mg✔️ April24=4.40mg✔️Jul17=4.30mg ✔️ Aug 28=4.20 ✔️ Oct 11=4.15✔️Nov1=4.10 ✔️ Nov21= 4.05✔️ Dec13= 4mg ✔️2022 ➡️ Jan8=3.95✔️ Jan31=3.90✔️ March2=3.85 ✔️ April4=3.80 ✔️ June16=3.75✔️ July26=3.70✔️ Sep2=3.65✔️ Oct21=3.60 ✔️ Dec8=3.55✔️2023➡️ Jan 26=3.50✔️ March 17=3.45✔️ June12=3.40✔️ July30=3.35✔️ Sep14=3.30✔️ Oct31=3.25✔️This is NOT medical advice.Consult your doctor.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi all . Been a big week again but not feeling too bad. Lots of driving, long work days and not enough rest , plus I was fed terrible food all week at work haha , but I’m  ok ! 

I aim to resume tapering in a week or so - we’ll see how I feel . 

Quick question that’s bothering me though . Every morning for the last couple of weeks I have had  slight burning /aching in the soles of my feet . Worse in the a.m and only when my feet sitting or walking . I did some googling and apparently it’s a early symptom of diabetes- but I’m pretty sure that’s not the case (at least I hope not) haha ... 

has anyone experienced this ? I seem to recall having it mildly a year ago but didn’t last long .  I’m a barefoot warrior , I literally hate wearing shoes and can run on a gravel road barefoot with little trouble . 

Any insight is greatly appreciated :) 

Started Citalopram in 2005 (aged 15) for apparent "OCD" - 60mg 

July 2015 attempted 2 x 10% + cuts 4 weeks apart. WD symptoms intense at times. Need to slow down.

 

November 2016 - Resumed taper. 1.25 - 1.5% decrease weekly approx.

44.5mg November 2016. Jan 2017 42.5 mg. March 2017 40 mg. June 2017 37mg. September 2018 22mg. Nov 2018 Holding at 22mg to stabilise from moderate wave. January 2020 - Holding, mostly feeling fine, but still having some waves at times. 

 

February 2020 - Resumed taper , 1.5% reduction weekly/every two weeks. 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
9 hours ago, nick1990 said:

Every morning for the last couple of weeks I have had  slight burning /aching in the soles of my feet . Worse in the a.m and only when my feet sitting or walking

 

burning-skin-burning-feet

 

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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Thanks Chessie. 

 

Been about 5 weeks since my last reduction.

 

Feeling better than i did a few weeks ago but still a little bit off. Probably exertion related too. Been a busy couple of weeks! 

 

Little bumps or depression and anxiety here and there plus some neuro emotion stuff, but nothing too bad. Bit of fatigue too and the light burning feeling in my feet has eased back and the little eye twitches are easing too.

 

Thinking i'll wait another week just to give my CNS an extended break and then get back to tapering from next Monday if all goes well.

 

Cheers

Nick

 

 

Started Citalopram in 2005 (aged 15) for apparent "OCD" - 60mg 

July 2015 attempted 2 x 10% + cuts 4 weeks apart. WD symptoms intense at times. Need to slow down.

 

November 2016 - Resumed taper. 1.25 - 1.5% decrease weekly approx.

44.5mg November 2016. Jan 2017 42.5 mg. March 2017 40 mg. June 2017 37mg. September 2018 22mg. Nov 2018 Holding at 22mg to stabilise from moderate wave. January 2020 - Holding, mostly feeling fine, but still having some waves at times. 

 

February 2020 - Resumed taper , 1.5% reduction weekly/every two weeks. 

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Just had a thought. Here's a challenge for you math enthusiasts!

 

So, i have to switch from one generic to another generic by 05/2019 as the current 6 boxes of Citalopram i have left expire in May 2019.

 

Initially i was thinking ill do a quick crossover taper, but I've been freaking out about the transition. 

 

I have read that the difference in active ingredient can vary from 80% to 120% from generic to generic. I don't know if this is true or not, but i know that if the new brand only had 80% of the a.i of my current brand, i would notice a drop of 20% which would not make me feel very well at all. 

 

So i have devised a plan. Worst case scenario, the new brand has either 20% more or 20% less of current brand.

 

Here's what I'm thinking. 

 

I seem to manage 2% drops ok every week or so, throughout this taper so far, sometimes 1.5% a week is better though.

 

So, if this switch DOES have a 20% reduction in active ingredient, I'm going to treat it as a 20% taper. Which if i was doing 2% a week would take me 10 weeks (give or take). 

 

Im hoping to be on 20mg by January (currently on approx 22.5mg). So say i was on 20mg, i would remove 10% of the current generic and add in 10% of the new generic, one week later i would remove 20% of the old generic and add 20% of the new generic, the following week 30% and so on until i get to 100%. 

 

I could even go a little slower and do a 7.5% change (1.5% taper), then 15% the following week, 22.5% the following and so on.

 

Its going to be an absolute mission not the scales with varying pill weights, but i feel its the best way to ensure i don't have to bad a transition. 

 

So Brassmonkey and other moderators, and anyone else who would like to chime in, what are your thoughts?

 

cheers

Nick

 

 

Started Citalopram in 2005 (aged 15) for apparent "OCD" - 60mg 

July 2015 attempted 2 x 10% + cuts 4 weeks apart. WD symptoms intense at times. Need to slow down.

 

November 2016 - Resumed taper. 1.25 - 1.5% decrease weekly approx.

44.5mg November 2016. Jan 2017 42.5 mg. March 2017 40 mg. June 2017 37mg. September 2018 22mg. Nov 2018 Holding at 22mg to stabilise from moderate wave. January 2020 - Holding, mostly feeling fine, but still having some waves at times. 

 

February 2020 - Resumed taper , 1.5% reduction weekly/every two weeks. 

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  • Moderator

Oh Nick were do I start? 

 

The cross tapering plan that you have worked out is quite good and I would suggest that you use it when changing between different brands of the medication.  Over the years we have found that some people have problems switching between brand name and generic or between two different generic manufacturers and a cross taper makes the transition much smoother.  There are small differences in the fillers used by different manufacturers that cause some people to react differently to them.  It is not because there are different strengths of medication in the tablets. A 20mg tablet is a 20mg tablet no matter who is making it.  Unless you get a hold of some counterfeit drugs and then who knows what you're actually getting. 

 

What you are referring to above is called "the 80% - 125% Bioequivalence Rule".  It has nothing to do with the actual dose strength of the medication. But rather is a statistical analysis of the bioavailibility of a generic compared to the brand name. Once you work your way through the analysis (I'm not even going to try) it comes down to the fact that there may be up to a 3.5% variation in dose strength between a generic and a brand name or even between different batches of the brand name.  This appears to be accepted as a standard manufacturing fluctuation for the industry.

 

There really is no way around it, we are going to be faced with small variations in the strength of our doses no matter what we do.  This is why we recommend cross tapering between brands, between delivery methods and if you really wanted to get OCD about it, each time a person picks up a new batch of pills.  In the end it comes down to the fact that we just can't control things to the minute degree that some people would like and have to push through as best as we can.

 

I'm very glad you asked about this, and hope this helps put your mind at ease.  Yes, it would be a good idea to do a cross taper to switch over.  But don't let the mathematics, analysis and advanced chemistry of comparing brand names and generics freak you out.

 

Brassmonkey

20 years on Paxil starting at 20mg and working up to 40mg. Sept 2011 started 10% every 6 weeks taper (2.5% every week for 4 weeks then hold for 2 additional weeks), currently at 7.9mg. Oct 2011 CTed 15oz vodka a night, to only drinking 2 beers most nights, totally sober Feb 2013.

Since I wrote this I have continued to decrease my dose by 10% every 6 weeks (2.5% every week for 4 weeks and then hold for an additional 2 weeks). I added in an extra 6 week hold when I hit 10mg to let things settle out even more. When I hit 3mgpw it became hard to split the drop into 4 parts so I switched to dropping 1mgpw (pill weight) every week for 3 weeks and then holding for another 3 weeks.  The 3 + 3 schedule turned out to be too harsh so I cut back to dropping 1mgpw every 4 weeks which is working better.

Final Dose 0.016mg.     Current dose 0.000mg 04-15-2017

 

"It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can loose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general."  Stephen Hawking

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Wow it’s been a pretty rough coupe of days. As I thought I was coming out of this wave I was hit with intense fatigue on Wednesday night . And awoke to a nice moderate sized wave of depression and self criticism/ anxiousness and irrational thinking . Symptoms have been changing a bit through the days and I’ll feel ok one minute and then depressed and hopeless the next . It’s all part of the process though, it’s definitely been a tougher wave than expected and am into the 4th week of on and off symptoms . I’m definitely functional and I’m still doing the things I want to do but the depression is making it hard . Seems like I should have had a hold Or two before the last couple of drops as they’ve caught up on me . All in all , although symptoms are unpleasant, it’s probably a 3-4/10 on my withdrawal intensity scale .. will hold for a while until I feel happy to drop again. Might have to wait another 3 or 4 weeks but so be it. It’s so not worth rushing and feeling crap .

Started Citalopram in 2005 (aged 15) for apparent "OCD" - 60mg 

July 2015 attempted 2 x 10% + cuts 4 weeks apart. WD symptoms intense at times. Need to slow down.

 

November 2016 - Resumed taper. 1.25 - 1.5% decrease weekly approx.

44.5mg November 2016. Jan 2017 42.5 mg. March 2017 40 mg. June 2017 37mg. September 2018 22mg. Nov 2018 Holding at 22mg to stabilise from moderate wave. January 2020 - Holding, mostly feeling fine, but still having some waves at times. 

 

February 2020 - Resumed taper , 1.5% reduction weekly/every two weeks. 

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Hi Nick,

 

Switching from one generic to another will not result in a 20 % active ingredient. Brass monkey seems to know a lot more about this so his advise is probably of more value.

 

I have switched from generic to generic quite a few times and to be honest did not notice any difference. Citalopram in this case. 

 

I have a strong belief that there might be a placebo effect involved. I tend to worry if my brand changes suddenly. I start talking to myself how evil the med Industry is and they don't care about the patients. A bad mood and some anxiety is not so far away then....

 

Good to hear from  you. I recognize the sudden change in mood. I can be very happy and then 5 minutes later want to cry...  Still discovering how this works.

 

So you are taking 22 mg citalopram right now!

 

I started a citalopram taper in April 2018 and decreased 0.1 mg every day. After 85 days I crashed so I stayed on 16.5 mg for a couple of weeks. I felt so bad that I updosed to 18 mg to feel better. That didn't really help because my body had to get used to that dose also. I'm on 18 mg citalopram now since August 14th 2018. Feel pretty stable....not good but stable. Some good days, some bad ones but not extremely anxious or depressed like in my taper.

 

I want to start brass monkeys slide method soon. I'm thinking about 2.5% per week with a 3 week hold. But, I need to be absolutely as stable as possible before I start tapering again.

 

 

Dont hurry your last drops...take your time and make it easy for yourself!

What will be your next dose?

 

Good luck

 

Jozeff

 

Sep- 2016 - Okt 2017 citalopram some months 15 mg some months 20 mg

Nov 2017- Apr 2018 citalopram 25 mg

Apr 2018 -  Jun 2018 citalopram 3 month TAPER too fast  from 25mg to 16.5 mg (0.1 mg per day decrease, felt horrible and crashed)

Jun 2018 - Aug13th 2018 citalopram trying to stabilize at 16.5 mg for 5 wks

- August 14th 2018 - April 29th 2019  citalopram 18 mg (1.5 mg updose).

 

2019 apr 27 : START taper citalopram @ 18 mg: 29Jun 16.4 mg / 19aug 15.4 mg / 25aug 15.2 mg / 30sep 14.0 mg / 4dec 13.1 mg

2020  03Jan 12.75 mg / 28Jan 12.29 mg / 18Feb 11.83 mg, 25Feb 11.68 mg hold.. / 7May 11.33 mg hold...., 4Aug 10.98 mg / 5Dec 10.0 mg 4 month hold...

2021 30mar 9.8 mg / 06apr 9.5 mg /  13apr 9.4 mg / 14may 8,5 mg / 04jun 8,0 mg / 11jun 7.75 mg, 02jul 7.35 mg /  09jul 7.2 mg hold 3 weeks during holiday /31jul 7 mg/ 8aug 6.8 mg / 15aug 6.63mg / 22aug 6.5mg / 1sep 6.3 mg / 8sep 6.15 mg / 15sep 6.0 mg / 22sep 5.9 mg / 29sep 5.8 mg / 04 oct 5.65 mg / 10oct 5.55 mg / 17oct 5.45 mg / 24oct 5.35mg / 30oct 5.25 mg hold 3 wks / 22nov 5.15 mg / 01dec 5.1mg / 12dec 5.0mg / 20dec 4.85mg / 30dec 4.70mg

2022   08jan 4.5 mg / 16jan 4.4 mg / 23jan 4.3 mg / 27jan 4.2 mg / 18feb 4.1 mg / 25feb 4.0 mg / 04mar 3.9 mg / 11mar 3.75 mg / 18Mar 3.65 mg / 09apr 3.55 mg / 16apr 3.45 mg / 23apr 3.35 mg / 01may 3.25 mg / 8may 3.15 mg / 17may 3.10 mg / 28 may 3.0 mg / 7jun 2.94 mg / 18 Jun 2.88 mg / 27 jun 2.84 mg / 05 jul 2.80 mg / 16 jul 2.75 mg / 23 jul 2.70 mg / 01aug 2.65 mg / 09aug 2.60 mg hold 5wks / 18sep 2.55 mg / 25sep 2.5 mg /02oct 2.45 mg / 10oct 2.40 mg / 19oct 2.35 mg / 27oct 2.30 mg / 05nov 2.27 mg / 14nov 2.25 mg / 22nov 2.20 mg / 29nov 2.10mg / 09dec 2.05 mg / 15dec 2.0 mg 

2023  hold 2.0 mg for 5 months / 05may 1.95 mg / 14may 1.90 mg / 24may 1.87 mg / 02jun 1.85 mg / 17jun 1.82 mg / 27jun 1.79 mg / 07jul 1.75 mg / 31jul 1.72 mg / 12aug 1.69mg / 27aug 1.67 mg / 04sep 1.65 mg / 09sep 1.63 mg / 22sep 1.61 mg / 27sep 1.60 mg / 12oct 1.58 mg / 18oct 1.56 mg / 31oct 1.54 mg / 06nov 1.52 mg / 18nov 1.50 mg / 04dec 1.48 mg / 11dec 1.46 mg / 22dec 1.45 mg / 28dec 1.44 mg

2024 01jan 1.43 mg / 06jan 1.42 mg/ 10jan 1.40 mg hold /

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Hey Jozeff!

 

Thanks for you response mate ! 

Yeh I’m sure your right about the generic switch - I’m most likely over thinking it and worrying . Anything new, or different with the drugs tends to freak me out a little . But I’m not too concerned after the reassurance from you all :) 

 

I’m glad to hear that your stabilising on your current dose. The method you were tapering by sounds good in theory but tapering by a percentage is the safest way to go . The BrassMonkey slide method is great - I’ve been doing well with it for the last 18 months - but pushed a bit too hard/fast for my cns in early September, hence the not feeling great now. But I’m feeling better than I did 4 weeks ago - still the odd little wave though and low mood.

 

Im actually doing a slight variation of the 2.5% slide and droppping by 1.5%-2% depending on how I’m feeling - plus I’m often throwing in extra week holds here and there depending on how I’m feeling too .. so not often am I doing 4 consecutive weeks with drops , I’ll usualally find after the second the week I’ll need to throw in another weeks hold . 

It’s definitely been working well for me though - and although I’ve had a few little ups and downs , generally holding for an extra week or two seems to resolve the issues. 

 

Well im still having a few little bumps from this last wave - nothing intense but not quite back to WD NORMAL yet I don’t feel . We’ll see what the next couple of weeks bring 

Started Citalopram in 2005 (aged 15) for apparent "OCD" - 60mg 

July 2015 attempted 2 x 10% + cuts 4 weeks apart. WD symptoms intense at times. Need to slow down.

 

November 2016 - Resumed taper. 1.25 - 1.5% decrease weekly approx.

44.5mg November 2016. Jan 2017 42.5 mg. March 2017 40 mg. June 2017 37mg. September 2018 22mg. Nov 2018 Holding at 22mg to stabilise from moderate wave. January 2020 - Holding, mostly feeling fine, but still having some waves at times. 

 

February 2020 - Resumed taper , 1.5% reduction weekly/every two weeks. 

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Well I feel like I should keep updating -

 

Its been a weird few weeks. Still having waves on and off. Definitely don’t feel “good” but don’t feel too bad either. I’m not wanting to sugar coat how I feel. It’s not been fun and I’ve been getting quite depressed.

I think back to when I crashed in mid/late 2015 from too fast tapering and it’s hard to recall how I felt. I’m pretty sure it was quite horrendous and scary though . Although the last month has not been a walk in the park, I can only think and remind myself it’s nothing compared to 2015. It’s just a wave , but it’s been on and off for 5 or 6 weeks now . And this is why it’s hard, it’s not pleasant to deal with and other things in life are compounding it . 

 

Two of my my best friends leave overseas tomorrow for a 6 months to a year , a few of my other friends have left too and I am feeling lonely to be honest . My family are here but I can’t spend much time with them - I put this down to my age , time of my life and my experiences . I love them all lots but can only spend a couple of days at most without becoming frustrated. 

 

Im happy that summer is coming and I know this wave will pass , just hard to deal with feeling low when I’ve been feeling good for a long time . Arrr well, such is tapering ! 

 

I am definitely learning more about acceptance and starting to find that my WD thoughts are not real and just thoughts - I’m slowly learning how to not ruminate and how to calm myself. It’s been quite a blessing . When upsetting thoughts appear, I no longer dive into them but rather accept them and move on , knowing that it’s just a thought and if I wasn’t going through WD they wouldn’t have such a significant impact on my mind and body. 

 

For now im not tapering . I need to wait this one out - it’s a bit upsetting that I can’t continue on yet, but hey, I’d rather wait to feel good and lose a few months of tapering than push myself too hard . 

Started Citalopram in 2005 (aged 15) for apparent "OCD" - 60mg 

July 2015 attempted 2 x 10% + cuts 4 weeks apart. WD symptoms intense at times. Need to slow down.

 

November 2016 - Resumed taper. 1.25 - 1.5% decrease weekly approx.

44.5mg November 2016. Jan 2017 42.5 mg. March 2017 40 mg. June 2017 37mg. September 2018 22mg. Nov 2018 Holding at 22mg to stabilise from moderate wave. January 2020 - Holding, mostly feeling fine, but still having some waves at times. 

 

February 2020 - Resumed taper , 1.5% reduction weekly/every two weeks. 

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  • Administrator

nick, sounds like your nervous system is settling down. Have you reduced since September?

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

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Hi Alto, I hope so , but i still feel a bit “edgy” if you know what I meen .. 

Ive made no real reduction since the first week of September. 

Started Citalopram in 2005 (aged 15) for apparent "OCD" - 60mg 

July 2015 attempted 2 x 10% + cuts 4 weeks apart. WD symptoms intense at times. Need to slow down.

 

November 2016 - Resumed taper. 1.25 - 1.5% decrease weekly approx.

44.5mg November 2016. Jan 2017 42.5 mg. March 2017 40 mg. June 2017 37mg. September 2018 22mg. Nov 2018 Holding at 22mg to stabilise from moderate wave. January 2020 - Holding, mostly feeling fine, but still having some waves at times. 

 

February 2020 - Resumed taper , 1.5% reduction weekly/every two weeks. 

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Hi Nick,

 

I spent quite some time yesterday reading and analysing your 14 page introduction topic. 

 

First of all I'm impressed by the way you talk about yourself and describe your feelings. You have come a long way!

 

It's disturbing that they put a 14 year old on such a high dose to be honest.

 

The reason I am so interested in your story is that I've been struggling with AD myself for 19 years and that I'm really eager to get rid of this stuff but I am imprisoned by it in some way.

 

I was on venlafaxine for years but the last 26 months or so I'm taking citalopram. I played a lot wothy dose between 15 and 25 mg and that sensitised me quite a bit.

 

I'm a 42 year old male btw..

I started a citalopram taper in April 2018 and decreased 0.1 mg every day.
After 85 days of tapering I crashed so I stayed on 16.5 mg for a couple of weeks. I felt so bad that I updosed to 18 mg to feel better. That didn't really help because my body had to get used to that dose also. I'm on 18 mg citalopram now since August 14th 2018. Some good days, some bad ones. Symptoms are always different. Not stable yet.

 

I want to start brass monkeys slide method soon. I'm thinking about 2.5% per week with a 3 week hold. But, I need to be absolutely as stable as possible before I start tapering again.

 

You went from 40 to 45 mg because you were desperate. The updose cost you a lot of trouble.

 

How long exactly did you hold at 45 before tapering?

 

I was very desperate also when I reached 16.5 mg and felt absolutely horrible. Anxious, depressed like hell and extremely agitated. The updose to 18 gave me a few days relief but that lasted not very long and probably made things worse.

 

So, I'm taking 18 mg now for 10 weeks and hoping every day to wake up stable. Each time I think I'm there......black clouds and dark thoughts this will never end..

 

When do you suggest I should start tapering again?

 

What you told about the racing thought was very recognisable. Sometimes we feel relaxed and out of nowhere come these worries and evil thoughts. Why??

Sometimes I feel relaxed and I suddenly think: this is not right.....I should be feeling like crap and.......boom! I feel like sh..

 

You will make it eventually Nick! It's a long road of suffering. You did it quite smart fortunately. Some people just CT 40 mg citalopram and ruin quite a few years. 

 

 

Summer is coming for you. I live in the Netherlands and too bad...winter is on its way after having the best summer in my 42 years on this earth. Swimming every day in my sons small pool with my wife. Just wonderful.

 

 

Happy healing Nick and I keep an eye on your progress!

 

Cheers

 

Jozeff

 

 

 

 

 

Sep- 2016 - Okt 2017 citalopram some months 15 mg some months 20 mg

Nov 2017- Apr 2018 citalopram 25 mg

Apr 2018 -  Jun 2018 citalopram 3 month TAPER too fast  from 25mg to 16.5 mg (0.1 mg per day decrease, felt horrible and crashed)

Jun 2018 - Aug13th 2018 citalopram trying to stabilize at 16.5 mg for 5 wks

- August 14th 2018 - April 29th 2019  citalopram 18 mg (1.5 mg updose).

 

2019 apr 27 : START taper citalopram @ 18 mg: 29Jun 16.4 mg / 19aug 15.4 mg / 25aug 15.2 mg / 30sep 14.0 mg / 4dec 13.1 mg

2020  03Jan 12.75 mg / 28Jan 12.29 mg / 18Feb 11.83 mg, 25Feb 11.68 mg hold.. / 7May 11.33 mg hold...., 4Aug 10.98 mg / 5Dec 10.0 mg 4 month hold...

2021 30mar 9.8 mg / 06apr 9.5 mg /  13apr 9.4 mg / 14may 8,5 mg / 04jun 8,0 mg / 11jun 7.75 mg, 02jul 7.35 mg /  09jul 7.2 mg hold 3 weeks during holiday /31jul 7 mg/ 8aug 6.8 mg / 15aug 6.63mg / 22aug 6.5mg / 1sep 6.3 mg / 8sep 6.15 mg / 15sep 6.0 mg / 22sep 5.9 mg / 29sep 5.8 mg / 04 oct 5.65 mg / 10oct 5.55 mg / 17oct 5.45 mg / 24oct 5.35mg / 30oct 5.25 mg hold 3 wks / 22nov 5.15 mg / 01dec 5.1mg / 12dec 5.0mg / 20dec 4.85mg / 30dec 4.70mg

2022   08jan 4.5 mg / 16jan 4.4 mg / 23jan 4.3 mg / 27jan 4.2 mg / 18feb 4.1 mg / 25feb 4.0 mg / 04mar 3.9 mg / 11mar 3.75 mg / 18Mar 3.65 mg / 09apr 3.55 mg / 16apr 3.45 mg / 23apr 3.35 mg / 01may 3.25 mg / 8may 3.15 mg / 17may 3.10 mg / 28 may 3.0 mg / 7jun 2.94 mg / 18 Jun 2.88 mg / 27 jun 2.84 mg / 05 jul 2.80 mg / 16 jul 2.75 mg / 23 jul 2.70 mg / 01aug 2.65 mg / 09aug 2.60 mg hold 5wks / 18sep 2.55 mg / 25sep 2.5 mg /02oct 2.45 mg / 10oct 2.40 mg / 19oct 2.35 mg / 27oct 2.30 mg / 05nov 2.27 mg / 14nov 2.25 mg / 22nov 2.20 mg / 29nov 2.10mg / 09dec 2.05 mg / 15dec 2.0 mg 

2023  hold 2.0 mg for 5 months / 05may 1.95 mg / 14may 1.90 mg / 24may 1.87 mg / 02jun 1.85 mg / 17jun 1.82 mg / 27jun 1.79 mg / 07jul 1.75 mg / 31jul 1.72 mg / 12aug 1.69mg / 27aug 1.67 mg / 04sep 1.65 mg / 09sep 1.63 mg / 22sep 1.61 mg / 27sep 1.60 mg / 12oct 1.58 mg / 18oct 1.56 mg / 31oct 1.54 mg / 06nov 1.52 mg / 18nov 1.50 mg / 04dec 1.48 mg / 11dec 1.46 mg / 22dec 1.45 mg / 28dec 1.44 mg

2024 01jan 1.43 mg / 06jan 1.42 mg/ 10jan 1.40 mg hold /

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Hi Jozeff. 

Its late here but will respond to your message in detail tomorrow.

 

talk soon

Started Citalopram in 2005 (aged 15) for apparent "OCD" - 60mg 

July 2015 attempted 2 x 10% + cuts 4 weeks apart. WD symptoms intense at times. Need to slow down.

 

November 2016 - Resumed taper. 1.25 - 1.5% decrease weekly approx.

44.5mg November 2016. Jan 2017 42.5 mg. March 2017 40 mg. June 2017 37mg. September 2018 22mg. Nov 2018 Holding at 22mg to stabilise from moderate wave. January 2020 - Holding, mostly feeling fine, but still having some waves at times. 

 

February 2020 - Resumed taper , 1.5% reduction weekly/every two weeks. 

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Little update on this current wave - 

 

Well it’s been a week of change for me . Lots of personal things going on and lots of change in my life . This compounded with being in a minor wave has resulted in tearfulness, depressed feelings, sadness and some minor anxiety, emotional sensitivity and headaches. Dreams have been vivid - feeling a little spaced out too.

 

Had a good, solid meltdown today and cried my eyes out to Mum . 

 

Feeling a bit “hungover” from it all, but trying to keep positive knowing it’s a bump in the road. 

 

Had plenty of days in the last few weeks with minimal/no symptoms so it’s tough when a wave like this rears it’s ugly head.

 

 

 

Started Citalopram in 2005 (aged 15) for apparent "OCD" - 60mg 

July 2015 attempted 2 x 10% + cuts 4 weeks apart. WD symptoms intense at times. Need to slow down.

 

November 2016 - Resumed taper. 1.25 - 1.5% decrease weekly approx.

44.5mg November 2016. Jan 2017 42.5 mg. March 2017 40 mg. June 2017 37mg. September 2018 22mg. Nov 2018 Holding at 22mg to stabilise from moderate wave. January 2020 - Holding, mostly feeling fine, but still having some waves at times. 

 

February 2020 - Resumed taper , 1.5% reduction weekly/every two weeks. 

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Hi Nick

 

So sorry to hear you are struggling. Sounds like you have had a lot going on which probably hasn't helped. At least you managed to get it all out to your mum. Sometimes we need a release for all these emotions!

 

I am just like you at the moment after being in a lovely window  for a few months.  It certainly makes a wave harder to bear when one comes along.  It is just a blip though and another window will come along soon. 

 

In the meantime just try to rest your body and mind as best as you can.  These feelings will pass.

 

Hugs

 

Flowers xxx

15 yrs on 20 to 30 mgs CITALOPRAM.  MAY 2014 Increased to 40 mgs per day.SEPT/NOV 2014 tapered in 6 weeks down to 10 mgs as per Dr instructions due to violent nightmares/palpitations.Given Noctamid (lormetazepam) to help with anxiety. On average took 2mg per day for 8 weeks.No taper was advised.DEC 2014 WD severe. Nervous tic in eyes and limbs, muscle pain,fluct  temp, weakness, dep and anxiety, nausea, giddy, unstable when walking. Different Dr suggested taking 20mgs CIT. BROMAZEPAM 3mgs up to 3 x daily for anxiety.DEC 9 2014 Updose CIT to 30mgs. Only taking BROMAZEPAM in emergency.DEC 31 2014 Settling at 30mg CIT - helping with depression. No Brom for 2wks.Found SA.APR 2015 Trying to stabilise on 30mgs CIT.  JAN 2016 Started Cit Taper reducing by 5% per month.  28.5 mgs 
FEB  Taper held bereavement. APR Taper resumed 27mgs . MAY 25.50 mgs .  JUNE 24 mgs .  JULY I stupidly mixed up my BP meds with CIT. Consequently took no CIT for 3 days and doubled my BP meds. Waiting for the fallout....Holding for a while until any chance of repercussions have abated. SEPT taper resumed to  22.5 mgs . OCT 21 mgs .NOV 19.95 mgs DEC crashed. 2017: FEB 3rd updose to 20.5 mgs to try to stabilise.FEB.switched over to 75mgs of Venlafaxine XR for 3 weeks.Too stimulating so switching back to Cit. 12 March 37.5 Ven and 20 Cit. 21 March 18mg Ven 20mg Cit. 4 April 9mg Ven 20mg Cit. Xanax .50mg when needed.  13 April 0 mgs Ven, 20mg Citalopram. Xanax .50 mg per day. 5 May reinstated a small amount of Ven to stabilize  1 mg twice a day. 20 mg Citalopram at night. Xanax .25 mg twice per day.Other Meds: Losartan (BP)Started 1993 at  50 mgs at night.  Seretide (Asthma) Started 1996 at 1 puff twice a day. Jan 2019 Antibiotic Ceclor 500mgs twice a day for bronchitis and  Atrovent 2ml capsules twice a day for asthma. Finished the course of both Jan 17. 

XANAX  Jan 27  - Feb 3 2019 Failed Valium Crossover.   Feb 14 2019  Updosed Xanax by .0625  Feb 17 2019 Decreased Xanax by .0625. Back to .50mg daily.  Update Xanax 28.2.20 tapered to .1250 mg 8am .25 mg midnight. Update Xanax 11.8.21 tapered to .25 mg at night. 

Current Meds 28.2.19: CITALOPRAM  20mg  taken at midnight. VENLAFAXINE  .9 mg twice a day at 8am and 10pm.  XANAX .50 mg split into 4 doses per day. 10am .0625mg / 2pm .1250mg/ 6pm .0625mg / midnight .25mg.Update 10.8.22 .25 mg at night.  LOSARTAN 50 mgs taken at midnight.  SERETIDE 1 puff taken at 8am and 10pm.   7.7.19 VENLAFAXINE UPDATE: Started tapering 10% every 4 weeks. Currently .4 mg twice a day at 8am and 10 pm.  2.9.19 .36 mg x 2. 1.10.19  .32 mg x 2. 26.11.19 .29 mg x2. 26.12.19 .26 mg  x 2. 23.1.20  .23 mg x 2.  20.2.20 .21 mg x2.20.3.20  .19 mg x 2. 21.4.20 .17 mg x 2. 19.5.20 .13 mg x 2.  18.6.20 .11mg  x 2 .18.7.20.10 mg x 2.1.9.20.09 mg x 2. 30.9. 20 .08 mg x 2. 1.11.20 .07 mg x 2.  2.12.20 .06 mg x 2.  8.1.21 .05 mg x 2.  4.2.21 .04 mg x 2. 9.3.21 .03 mgx2.  7.4.21  .02 mg x 2.  9.5.21 .01 mg x 2.  21.6.21 .01 mg x 1.  11.8.21 ZERO!

 

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Sorry to hear about your wave too flowers - but we both know it will pass and you’ll continue healing :) 

thanks for the lovely comments !

 

Todays been pretty uneventful which is quite nice - some minor depression and odd racing thought but pretty mild and have been out and about doing stuff . Not too bad at all. Hopefully this is the wave on its way out after yesterday’s peak , but we will see- what will he will be :) but definitely feeling a heck of a lot better than yesterday.

 

hugs back flowers xo 

Started Citalopram in 2005 (aged 15) for apparent "OCD" - 60mg 

July 2015 attempted 2 x 10% + cuts 4 weeks apart. WD symptoms intense at times. Need to slow down.

 

November 2016 - Resumed taper. 1.25 - 1.5% decrease weekly approx.

44.5mg November 2016. Jan 2017 42.5 mg. March 2017 40 mg. June 2017 37mg. September 2018 22mg. Nov 2018 Holding at 22mg to stabilise from moderate wave. January 2020 - Holding, mostly feeling fine, but still having some waves at times. 

 

February 2020 - Resumed taper , 1.5% reduction weekly/every two weeks. 

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2 hours ago, nick1990 said:

Sorry to hear about your wave too flowers - but we both know it will pass and you’ll continue healing :) 

thanks for the lovely comments !

 

Todays been pretty uneventful which is quite nice - some minor depression and odd racing thought but pretty mild and have been out and about doing stuff . Not too bad at all. Hopefully this is the wave on its way out after yesterday’s peak , but we will see- what will he will be :) but definitely feeling a heck of a lot better than yesterday.

 

hugs back flowers xo 

Good news Nick.  Hope you go nicely into a window now.

 

Flowers xxx

15 yrs on 20 to 30 mgs CITALOPRAM.  MAY 2014 Increased to 40 mgs per day.SEPT/NOV 2014 tapered in 6 weeks down to 10 mgs as per Dr instructions due to violent nightmares/palpitations.Given Noctamid (lormetazepam) to help with anxiety. On average took 2mg per day for 8 weeks.No taper was advised.DEC 2014 WD severe. Nervous tic in eyes and limbs, muscle pain,fluct  temp, weakness, dep and anxiety, nausea, giddy, unstable when walking. Different Dr suggested taking 20mgs CIT. BROMAZEPAM 3mgs up to 3 x daily for anxiety.DEC 9 2014 Updose CIT to 30mgs. Only taking BROMAZEPAM in emergency.DEC 31 2014 Settling at 30mg CIT - helping with depression. No Brom for 2wks.Found SA.APR 2015 Trying to stabilise on 30mgs CIT.  JAN 2016 Started Cit Taper reducing by 5% per month.  28.5 mgs 
FEB  Taper held bereavement. APR Taper resumed 27mgs . MAY 25.50 mgs .  JUNE 24 mgs .  JULY I stupidly mixed up my BP meds with CIT. Consequently took no CIT for 3 days and doubled my BP meds. Waiting for the fallout....Holding for a while until any chance of repercussions have abated. SEPT taper resumed to  22.5 mgs . OCT 21 mgs .NOV 19.95 mgs DEC crashed. 2017: FEB 3rd updose to 20.5 mgs to try to stabilise.FEB.switched over to 75mgs of Venlafaxine XR for 3 weeks.Too stimulating so switching back to Cit. 12 March 37.5 Ven and 20 Cit. 21 March 18mg Ven 20mg Cit. 4 April 9mg Ven 20mg Cit. Xanax .50mg when needed.  13 April 0 mgs Ven, 20mg Citalopram. Xanax .50 mg per day. 5 May reinstated a small amount of Ven to stabilize  1 mg twice a day. 20 mg Citalopram at night. Xanax .25 mg twice per day.Other Meds: Losartan (BP)Started 1993 at  50 mgs at night.  Seretide (Asthma) Started 1996 at 1 puff twice a day. Jan 2019 Antibiotic Ceclor 500mgs twice a day for bronchitis and  Atrovent 2ml capsules twice a day for asthma. Finished the course of both Jan 17. 

XANAX  Jan 27  - Feb 3 2019 Failed Valium Crossover.   Feb 14 2019  Updosed Xanax by .0625  Feb 17 2019 Decreased Xanax by .0625. Back to .50mg daily.  Update Xanax 28.2.20 tapered to .1250 mg 8am .25 mg midnight. Update Xanax 11.8.21 tapered to .25 mg at night. 

Current Meds 28.2.19: CITALOPRAM  20mg  taken at midnight. VENLAFAXINE  .9 mg twice a day at 8am and 10pm.  XANAX .50 mg split into 4 doses per day. 10am .0625mg / 2pm .1250mg/ 6pm .0625mg / midnight .25mg.Update 10.8.22 .25 mg at night.  LOSARTAN 50 mgs taken at midnight.  SERETIDE 1 puff taken at 8am and 10pm.   7.7.19 VENLAFAXINE UPDATE: Started tapering 10% every 4 weeks. Currently .4 mg twice a day at 8am and 10 pm.  2.9.19 .36 mg x 2. 1.10.19  .32 mg x 2. 26.11.19 .29 mg x2. 26.12.19 .26 mg  x 2. 23.1.20  .23 mg x 2.  20.2.20 .21 mg x2.20.3.20  .19 mg x 2. 21.4.20 .17 mg x 2. 19.5.20 .13 mg x 2.  18.6.20 .11mg  x 2 .18.7.20.10 mg x 2.1.9.20.09 mg x 2. 30.9. 20 .08 mg x 2. 1.11.20 .07 mg x 2.  2.12.20 .06 mg x 2.  8.1.21 .05 mg x 2.  4.2.21 .04 mg x 2. 9.3.21 .03 mgx2.  7.4.21  .02 mg x 2.  9.5.21 .01 mg x 2.  21.6.21 .01 mg x 1.  11.8.21 ZERO!

 

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On 9/5/2017 at 10:59 AM, nick1990 said:

On one hand the weather is AMAZING, the girls are AMAZING and the waves are AMAZING. 

This made me laugh.

What I'd give for some warm sun. The harsh British winter is descending upon us in London. I love this city but it can be brutal. Yes, go where the 'soul' is.

 

Just to add, cannot believe they put you on 60mg of Citalopram. You've done amazingly to have reduced from such a high dose. I know of a friend's father, he's in his late 60s and on 100mg of Prozac!!

1999:  Paroxetine (20mg). Age 16. 2007-2008: Fluoxetine (Prozac) for 1.5 years (age 25) Citalopram 20mg 2002-2005, 2009: Escitalopram (20mg), 2 weeks, (age 26) (adverse  reaction)/*Valium 5mg/Temazepam 10mg 2010: Mirtazipine (Remeron)( do not remember dosage) 2010, 5 months.                     2010-2017: Citalopram (20mg) (age 27 to 34) 2016: i.1st Sept- 31st Oct Citalopram 10mg , ii.1st November 2017-30th November 2017, Citalopram 5mg iii.1st December 2017- 4th February 2018, Citalopram 0mg, iv.5th February 2018- March 2018 Citalopram 5mg (10mg every other day) 28th February- tried titration of 5mg ( some adverse effects)

2018: 1st March 2018- 1st June Citalopram 10 mg (tablet form) /started titration 8mg , then 7 mg.2018: June 15th- 10th July Citalopram 10 mg pill every other day 2018: 10th July - 13th Sept Citalopram- 0mg  (CBD oil first month of 0mg, passiflora on and off) 2018 13th Sept Citalopram  2mg ,  approx 16th Sept 4mg , approx 25th Sept 6mg held.  2019: 11 Feb 19: 7mg (instant bad rxn) 12 Feb 19 6mg held 1 May 19 5.4mg held 5 Oct 19 5.36mg 22 Oct 19 5.29mg 30 Oct 19 5.23mg 4/NOV/19 5.18mg 12 Nov 19 5.08mg 20 Nov 19 4.77mg 7 May 22 2.31mg 17/09/2023 0.8mg

(Herbal/Supplements since 1st September: Omega Fish Oil 1200mg, 663mg of EPA- 2 tablets a day, magnesium and magnesium bath salts)

I did not die, and yet I lost life’s breath
- Dante
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Hey India 

 

The sun is a blessing - I love summer , it can make the hardest of times so much more pleasant ! 

 

Sorry to hear of your struggles. You’ll get there , you’ll heal, but it’s just going to take time and patience . 

 

Yeh 60mg seems to be standard here for “OCD”  LOL!!!

thanks for your kind words, it’s been an interesting road down to 22mg , and I plan on continuing on with my taper soon and get all the way to “0” - however long it will take . 

I really don’t think it’s all about the dose or the years - obviously those things have an influence, but I think the important part is the slow tapering and listening to your body. I’m quite chuffed I’ve got to where I am and remain functional and am slowly returning to my organic self. I’ve still got a way to go but I really believe that with this slow tapering schedule , I should be able to continue all the way to “0”. 

 

Keep your head up and sending you my best wishes ! 

Started Citalopram in 2005 (aged 15) for apparent "OCD" - 60mg 

July 2015 attempted 2 x 10% + cuts 4 weeks apart. WD symptoms intense at times. Need to slow down.

 

November 2016 - Resumed taper. 1.25 - 1.5% decrease weekly approx.

44.5mg November 2016. Jan 2017 42.5 mg. March 2017 40 mg. June 2017 37mg. September 2018 22mg. Nov 2018 Holding at 22mg to stabilise from moderate wave. January 2020 - Holding, mostly feeling fine, but still having some waves at times. 

 

February 2020 - Resumed taper , 1.5% reduction weekly/every two weeks. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Well i have to say, I thought i was in the clear. Felt pretty normal on sat, sun, mon, tues and wed. Overdid things again -  Physically and had a few nights with poor sleep. I also went away with a girl for a few days - Lots of driving , too many cigarettes and too many emotions. The emotional aspect wasn't all positive either, and it actually created a level of anxiety and stress for me. As soon as i got home and put my feet up i was hit with teariness and fatigue. This morphed into a bit of a wave, and have been feeling "Depressed" and "Lonely" now for a couple of days. Ive also been having pretty vivid dreams AGAIN. They're quite interesting but id rather sleep solid through the night. 

 

Its been about 11 weeks now since my last reduction which seemed to set off this wave. Its been unpleasant returning to feeling low and anxious and having racing thoughts. But I've had good periods of time between these waves where I've felt very minimal symptoms, if any at all. As I've said, on the grand scale of WD, this has only been a 2-3/10 on my personal WD scale, so I'm not planning on doing anything about it. No up-dose is needed, i just need to ride it out until i settle. 

 

Considering how I'm feeling when in these waves, i don't think ill be tapering for ATLEAST several weeks. 

 

Trying to figure out what exactly caused this "wave", as i was tapering slowly - Approx 1.5% - 1.75% a week, and would often wait a couple of weeks between drops depending on how i was feeling. I don't recall reducing more than 5 -6 % within the period of a month and would often only reduce 3% in a month. I would also throw in holds of a few weeks - again, depending on how i felt.  So i feel i have been tapering quite sensibly, but have still run into a bit of trouble. 

I don't want to dramatise it, because what I'm going through is nothing compared to what others on this forum are struggling with, but felt i just needed to get it down on my intro page. The depression isn't nice, no matter how mild it is. 

 

On another note, the cigarettes. It could just be coincidence, but i seem to notice a period of feeling off after smoking for a few days straight. Im not a "Smoker" as such but when i go away, ill often smoke a pack over the period of a week and then return home and just not have any for a few weeks. Could cigarettes be having an impact on my mood and my nervous system as a whole? Im not too familiar with the effects this has on people tapering ... 

 

 

And on a final note for today, a positive one - Ive found that during these last few weeks of feeling on and off, I've somehow stumbled across the concept of "Love". It sounds weird, i mean, i have always had love - but I've also always had frustration and anger towards other people. Ive been finding it quite freeing to just accept and love everyone for who they are - A stranger on the street, an old friend who you may have fallen out with or someone who bullied you. Everyone just wants to be loved and no matter what issues they present and how they display them, they really just want to be accepted and loved. Its so basic, but just smiling and being kind to everyone, no matter the circumstance - Its truly a beautiful thing and more of what the world needs. 

 

Thanks for reading guys and girls. And any insight into the cigarette issue would be appreciated.

 

 

Started Citalopram in 2005 (aged 15) for apparent "OCD" - 60mg 

July 2015 attempted 2 x 10% + cuts 4 weeks apart. WD symptoms intense at times. Need to slow down.

 

November 2016 - Resumed taper. 1.25 - 1.5% decrease weekly approx.

44.5mg November 2016. Jan 2017 42.5 mg. March 2017 40 mg. June 2017 37mg. September 2018 22mg. Nov 2018 Holding at 22mg to stabilise from moderate wave. January 2020 - Holding, mostly feeling fine, but still having some waves at times. 

 

February 2020 - Resumed taper , 1.5% reduction weekly/every two weeks. 

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Just noting - anxiety / panic this afternoon - not as intense as last time .

Started Citalopram in 2005 (aged 15) for apparent "OCD" - 60mg 

July 2015 attempted 2 x 10% + cuts 4 weeks apart. WD symptoms intense at times. Need to slow down.

 

November 2016 - Resumed taper. 1.25 - 1.5% decrease weekly approx.

44.5mg November 2016. Jan 2017 42.5 mg. March 2017 40 mg. June 2017 37mg. September 2018 22mg. Nov 2018 Holding at 22mg to stabilise from moderate wave. January 2020 - Holding, mostly feeling fine, but still having some waves at times. 

 

February 2020 - Resumed taper , 1.5% reduction weekly/every two weeks. 

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Hi Nick, good to hear man.

 

Let's hope your anxiety.will stay outside for a couple of days at least so you can relax a bit.

 

I'll react to your longer story later because I'm in a bit of a hurry now....

 

Cheers

 

 

Jozeff

 

Sep- 2016 - Okt 2017 citalopram some months 15 mg some months 20 mg

Nov 2017- Apr 2018 citalopram 25 mg

Apr 2018 -  Jun 2018 citalopram 3 month TAPER too fast  from 25mg to 16.5 mg (0.1 mg per day decrease, felt horrible and crashed)

Jun 2018 - Aug13th 2018 citalopram trying to stabilize at 16.5 mg for 5 wks

- August 14th 2018 - April 29th 2019  citalopram 18 mg (1.5 mg updose).

 

2019 apr 27 : START taper citalopram @ 18 mg: 29Jun 16.4 mg / 19aug 15.4 mg / 25aug 15.2 mg / 30sep 14.0 mg / 4dec 13.1 mg

2020  03Jan 12.75 mg / 28Jan 12.29 mg / 18Feb 11.83 mg, 25Feb 11.68 mg hold.. / 7May 11.33 mg hold...., 4Aug 10.98 mg / 5Dec 10.0 mg 4 month hold...

2021 30mar 9.8 mg / 06apr 9.5 mg /  13apr 9.4 mg / 14may 8,5 mg / 04jun 8,0 mg / 11jun 7.75 mg, 02jul 7.35 mg /  09jul 7.2 mg hold 3 weeks during holiday /31jul 7 mg/ 8aug 6.8 mg / 15aug 6.63mg / 22aug 6.5mg / 1sep 6.3 mg / 8sep 6.15 mg / 15sep 6.0 mg / 22sep 5.9 mg / 29sep 5.8 mg / 04 oct 5.65 mg / 10oct 5.55 mg / 17oct 5.45 mg / 24oct 5.35mg / 30oct 5.25 mg hold 3 wks / 22nov 5.15 mg / 01dec 5.1mg / 12dec 5.0mg / 20dec 4.85mg / 30dec 4.70mg

2022   08jan 4.5 mg / 16jan 4.4 mg / 23jan 4.3 mg / 27jan 4.2 mg / 18feb 4.1 mg / 25feb 4.0 mg / 04mar 3.9 mg / 11mar 3.75 mg / 18Mar 3.65 mg / 09apr 3.55 mg / 16apr 3.45 mg / 23apr 3.35 mg / 01may 3.25 mg / 8may 3.15 mg / 17may 3.10 mg / 28 may 3.0 mg / 7jun 2.94 mg / 18 Jun 2.88 mg / 27 jun 2.84 mg / 05 jul 2.80 mg / 16 jul 2.75 mg / 23 jul 2.70 mg / 01aug 2.65 mg / 09aug 2.60 mg hold 5wks / 18sep 2.55 mg / 25sep 2.5 mg /02oct 2.45 mg / 10oct 2.40 mg / 19oct 2.35 mg / 27oct 2.30 mg / 05nov 2.27 mg / 14nov 2.25 mg / 22nov 2.20 mg / 29nov 2.10mg / 09dec 2.05 mg / 15dec 2.0 mg 

2023  hold 2.0 mg for 5 months / 05may 1.95 mg / 14may 1.90 mg / 24may 1.87 mg / 02jun 1.85 mg / 17jun 1.82 mg / 27jun 1.79 mg / 07jul 1.75 mg / 31jul 1.72 mg / 12aug 1.69mg / 27aug 1.67 mg / 04sep 1.65 mg / 09sep 1.63 mg / 22sep 1.61 mg / 27sep 1.60 mg / 12oct 1.58 mg / 18oct 1.56 mg / 31oct 1.54 mg / 06nov 1.52 mg / 18nov 1.50 mg / 04dec 1.48 mg / 11dec 1.46 mg / 22dec 1.45 mg / 28dec 1.44 mg

2024 01jan 1.43 mg / 06jan 1.42 mg/ 10jan 1.40 mg hold /

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Hi Nick,

 

I hope you're having a good day today!

 

Well this tapering stuff is very surprising sometimes. It doesn't sound like you did too fast  a taper. 5 to 6% per month doesn't sound too fast. Since you are at about 20 mg this should be considered a good taper. Well, everybody is different. I learnt not to focus too much on the exact numbers but listen to your body. If 5% is too fast for you just decrease to 3%. This feels like you're never getting of hese drugs but maybe you are having difficult times right now. Perhaps your tapering will be more successful in the near future.

 

I did some calculating myself and the receptor occupancy doesn't decrease as fast as your dosage may suggest. 

I want to taper like 10% per month to start and decrease to about 1 % When Getting Around two or three mg of Citalopram.

 

Well I don't know exactly about the smoking. I used to smoke a lot but not while on Citalopram. I remember having some tobacco induced anxiety. 

Especially when you smoke a lot and sometimes you don't.

 

This might cause some sudden anxiety issues. I don't know if nicotine, or the hundreds of other chemicals, have a negative impact on mood when you are sensitised. I wouldn't be surprised if it did!

 

Good luck and keep your head up Nick!

 

Cheers

 

Jozeff

 

 

Sep- 2016 - Okt 2017 citalopram some months 15 mg some months 20 mg

Nov 2017- Apr 2018 citalopram 25 mg

Apr 2018 -  Jun 2018 citalopram 3 month TAPER too fast  from 25mg to 16.5 mg (0.1 mg per day decrease, felt horrible and crashed)

Jun 2018 - Aug13th 2018 citalopram trying to stabilize at 16.5 mg for 5 wks

- August 14th 2018 - April 29th 2019  citalopram 18 mg (1.5 mg updose).

 

2019 apr 27 : START taper citalopram @ 18 mg: 29Jun 16.4 mg / 19aug 15.4 mg / 25aug 15.2 mg / 30sep 14.0 mg / 4dec 13.1 mg

2020  03Jan 12.75 mg / 28Jan 12.29 mg / 18Feb 11.83 mg, 25Feb 11.68 mg hold.. / 7May 11.33 mg hold...., 4Aug 10.98 mg / 5Dec 10.0 mg 4 month hold...

2021 30mar 9.8 mg / 06apr 9.5 mg /  13apr 9.4 mg / 14may 8,5 mg / 04jun 8,0 mg / 11jun 7.75 mg, 02jul 7.35 mg /  09jul 7.2 mg hold 3 weeks during holiday /31jul 7 mg/ 8aug 6.8 mg / 15aug 6.63mg / 22aug 6.5mg / 1sep 6.3 mg / 8sep 6.15 mg / 15sep 6.0 mg / 22sep 5.9 mg / 29sep 5.8 mg / 04 oct 5.65 mg / 10oct 5.55 mg / 17oct 5.45 mg / 24oct 5.35mg / 30oct 5.25 mg hold 3 wks / 22nov 5.15 mg / 01dec 5.1mg / 12dec 5.0mg / 20dec 4.85mg / 30dec 4.70mg

2022   08jan 4.5 mg / 16jan 4.4 mg / 23jan 4.3 mg / 27jan 4.2 mg / 18feb 4.1 mg / 25feb 4.0 mg / 04mar 3.9 mg / 11mar 3.75 mg / 18Mar 3.65 mg / 09apr 3.55 mg / 16apr 3.45 mg / 23apr 3.35 mg / 01may 3.25 mg / 8may 3.15 mg / 17may 3.10 mg / 28 may 3.0 mg / 7jun 2.94 mg / 18 Jun 2.88 mg / 27 jun 2.84 mg / 05 jul 2.80 mg / 16 jul 2.75 mg / 23 jul 2.70 mg / 01aug 2.65 mg / 09aug 2.60 mg hold 5wks / 18sep 2.55 mg / 25sep 2.5 mg /02oct 2.45 mg / 10oct 2.40 mg / 19oct 2.35 mg / 27oct 2.30 mg / 05nov 2.27 mg / 14nov 2.25 mg / 22nov 2.20 mg / 29nov 2.10mg / 09dec 2.05 mg / 15dec 2.0 mg 

2023  hold 2.0 mg for 5 months / 05may 1.95 mg / 14may 1.90 mg / 24may 1.87 mg / 02jun 1.85 mg / 17jun 1.82 mg / 27jun 1.79 mg / 07jul 1.75 mg / 31jul 1.72 mg / 12aug 1.69mg / 27aug 1.67 mg / 04sep 1.65 mg / 09sep 1.63 mg / 22sep 1.61 mg / 27sep 1.60 mg / 12oct 1.58 mg / 18oct 1.56 mg / 31oct 1.54 mg / 06nov 1.52 mg / 18nov 1.50 mg / 04dec 1.48 mg / 11dec 1.46 mg / 22dec 1.45 mg / 28dec 1.44 mg

2024 01jan 1.43 mg / 06jan 1.42 mg/ 10jan 1.40 mg hold /

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