tangalanga Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 I never asked any doctors about tapering off, so I did it myself in my own way. This is what happened, any advices are welcome! -I was taking one pill of 20mg citalopram daily for approximately 2 years. -Like 6 months ago, I decided to lower the doses and started taking only half of the pill daily. -After 2 months of only taking half pill I felt pretty good and everything was normal, so I decided to lower the doses again. -Since I couldn't break the pill in smaller pieces, I started taking half of the pill every other day. I was still feeling good. -I took half of the pill every other day for about 2 months. -Since I was feeling great, I started taking half of the pill every 4 days. It went awesome too, no problems. -When I decided to take half of the pill every 8 days, that's when my problem started. I felt anxious, in a bad mood and also really depressed. -I kept the 8-day range but went back and started taking a full pill. Still anxious and depressed, but is not that bad. I can stand it. -Now I'm taking 1 pill every 8 days, but besides the anxiety and depression I am also feeling withdrawal symptoms. I've been reading some posts and I know I did it the wrong way. What do you suggest me to do from now on? Thank you! Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted October 17, 2013 Administrator Share Posted October 17, 2013 Welcome, tangalanga. Stability is much better for your nervous system. You might want to take 2mg a day for a couple of months, then taper slowly from there. This topic explains how to take small amounts http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/2023-tips-for-tapering-off-celexa-citalopram/ Citalopram comes in a liquid, which makes this easier, or you can make your own liquid. This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus bubble Posted October 18, 2013 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 18, 2013 This is exactly what i would've written had I been more coherent when I wrote my into post: I've been reading some posts and I know I did it the wrong way. What do you suggest me to do from now on? I think it's very good we got to this site because it is incredible that 'doctors' put us on this stuff and have no clue about the consequences... I hope you find the way back soon and then do it slowly the right way. All the best. (I think that my evil Escitalopram is similar to Citaloprama, probably just different names for the same substance...) Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2 2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013) Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg. 2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days afterreinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours 28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr 2015 1 mg, 25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64 Xanax 9 month hold 24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26 Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Jemima Posted October 19, 2013 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 19, 2013 Here are the directions for making your own liquid medication: How To Make a Liquid From Tablets or Capsules Bubble, you're right about Escitalopram and Citalopram being very similar. The molecular structure of one is the mirror image of the other. I hope that makes sense. It means they pretty much do the same thing, but screwing around with the molecules makes it possible for a drug company to get a new patent on a drug for which the patent is expired. It's all about money. Psychotropic drug history: Pristiq 50 mg. (mid-September 2010 through February 2011), Remeron (mid-September 2010 through January 2011), Lexapro 10 mg. (mid-February 2011 through mid-December 2011), Lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg. as needed mid-September 2010 through early March 2012"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." -Hanlon's RazorIntroduction: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1588-introducing-jemima/ Success Story: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/6263-success-jemima-survives-lexapro-and-dr-dickhead-too/Please note that I am not a medical professional and my advice is based on personal experience, reading, and anecdotal information posted by other sufferers. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted October 19, 2013 Administrator Share Posted October 19, 2013 The tweak to the citalopram molecule made escilatopram several times stronger as an antidepressant. This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus bubble Posted October 19, 2013 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 19, 2013 and that much more vicious ;( I have never been warned of that until I read what you wrote about the drug... Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2 2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013) Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg. 2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days afterreinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours 28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr 2015 1 mg, 25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64 Xanax 9 month hold 24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26 Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. Link to comment
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