debbieb: long term citalopram user

[debbieb]

Good afternoon, I hope ive put whats needed in signature below. Ive been on citalopram for 23 years for depression and anxiety. I was stable and ok, so i  decided after alot of reading it was time to come off them. I tapered over 5 months and came off them in November i think 2021. I seemed fine for the first 6 weeks if anything  i was super happy and positive, then not knowing if it was because christmas and new year is stressful i didnt put two and two together. I gave up alcohol in june 2021 and very proud of that. The symptoms im now experiencing are chronic anxiety both physically and mentally, worrying immensely about things that have happened in my past, irrational fears,  that i cannot do anything to change, tearful spells, insomnia, indigestion and fatigue and feeling generally low in mood. Im trying to manage this with cbt techniques, meditation and walking and talking. If it is managable then will this go or will it just get worse, the last 5 days have been very difficult but im determined that i dont want to go back on them again. Does this sound like discontinuation/ withdrawal as i thought it would have happened sooner after i had stopped the medication. Thank you for reading  x

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a volunteer-run community of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  You have come to the right place.  Congratulations for getting off citalopram.  What you are describing sounds like the symptoms of withdrawal from Citalopram.  It sounds as though you tapered off faster than your nervous system could adjust.  We at SA suggest a 10% per month taper, where the 10% is calculated on the current dose, so that the reduction amount gets smaller and smaller.  

 

Are you or have you been on any other drugs?  Please add to your drug signature that you quit citalopram in November 2021 - thank you. 

 

Here is some information about how these drugs actually work.   This explains why we get symptoms from going off of these medications.

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

What is Happening in Your Brain

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

 

Also, as we are recovering, we suggest keeping things slow, simple, and stable. 

 

Keep it Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

 

Here is a link with checklists of common WD symptoms: 

 

Dr Joseph Glenmullen Withdrawal Symptom Checklists

 

 

Here are some techniques to cope with symptoms: 

 

Non Drug Ways to Cope with Withdrawal Symptoms

 

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but 2 that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. It is suggested to add one at a time, and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

Magnesium

 

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

 

I've given you quite a bit of information here.  It takes a long time to recover from withdrawal, but healing will happen, given time and patience.  Please let us know how you are doing.  

 

Edited January 3, 2022 by getofflex