Hi
A comment on this blog today, which can be read here, asks for advice about quitting Citalopram. The reader is obviously having some difficulties after having quit the drug. The first piece of advice that one has to give is to speak to your doctor.
It is a good idea to start coming off SSRI’s like citalopram after you have made some positive changes in your life or dealt with some issues through counseling. These drugs can be incredibly effective, however they treat the symptoms and do not necessarily treat the cause. They can be a great way of stopping the symptoms and can kickstart your recovery…but only with the aid of positive change and or sorting out some of the internal issues (of course in a blog like I can not be too prescriptive; I am not a doctor or a psychologist and in any case everyone is different. I can talk about my own opinions and experiences only).
So when coming off the drugs seems to lead to, or at least coincide with, a recurrence of symptoms there are a few things you need to take into account.
Firstly, did you come off too early? Did you do sufficient work besides drug therapy to tackle problems. If not, then you need to start tackling some root causes. I would speak to the healthcare professionals that you are already working with. I would also start educating yourself by looking at information and experiences contained in this and other websites.
If you have started making changes, undergoing therapy or doing anything else which is tackling root causes, then, if the drugs are not causing unpleasant side-effects, why not stay on them until you and the people you are working with feel the time is right to come off them.
Just because you feel symptoms, even severe ones, after coming off SSRI’s does not mean that you have slipped back to square one. Give yourself some weeks to adjust. Sometimes one little wobble can seem like a disaster, and if you get into a negative state of mind and start to imagine you are just as bad as you were before then mind is more than capable of providing the symptoms. But they are just that, symptoms. So try to accept a few bumps and blips, but if things are really bad then put it down to experience, take a step back, and make a new plan for the future, for tackling causes and not just symptoms.
I just read your blog. I came off Citalopram about 10 days ago after having been taking them for about6 years. Mood wise things have been good. I have addressed the original root of the problem and had positive help via hypnosis. The only side effects I am experiencing is what I can only describe as a sudden “fizzy” feeling in the head and lips which comes and goes. This feels odd but is manageable. I am curious to know if this is something that you have experienced?
I am just coming off citalopram after about a week.
The only problems I’m having is kind of a hazzy feeling and some dizziness and headaches. I have been told it will last 2 or three weeks. UGH!!!!
Have been coming off citropram for over two weeks felt fusee headed and having a constant headaches,
Have no energy and my sleep pattern as gone out of the widow.
-Think these are probably common withdrawal symptoms which will pass…main thing is to talk to your doctor about how to come off and follow their advice. If you do it as you say the withdrawals will pass soon! Hang in there and report back as to how you go!
COming off Citalopram. Took Lexapro for about a year and a half, and then they switched me to Citalopram due to insurance matters. Counseling for the past year or so, but no amount of counseling can stop the withdrawal symptoms: hazy/fuzzy, dizziness, minor panic attacks, and general anxiety. Waiting for the the withdrawals to end, only been about 5 days off.
Is good to read these comments as I have been coming off Citalopram and followed Drs instructions to the letter had 4 days without any tablets and feel completely crap! Fuzzy head insn’t the word is upsetting my vision and balanace feel drained and zapped of energy so eating like a horse, had headaches whilst on reduced dose for 2 weeks which has now gone but left me with dazed and fuzzy head ……but looks like this is normal response and will pass.