How long do withdrawals from citalopram last

[Charm]

I took my last 20mg pill 5 days ago. I have been having terrible withdrawal symptoms of nausea and dizziness. I plan to go to the doctor as soon as they reopen (long weekend). In the meantime Im wandering if I should take the pills again or if the worst is over? I through up most of the night 2 nights ago and it has definatly improved since but I still feel sick, dizzy, very very dumb like I cant think clearly and tingly hands and feet.

[Charm]

sorry up above I meant that I threw up most of the night not through up. Very very foggy headed at the moment. I just want off this drug so bad and if the worst is over then thats great but if its going to get any worse Im going to give in and start taking them again

[sandra rodriguez]

i too 1 last night and though i was on crack or something and tense,though i was having a heart attack, i 'm in school and called in sick for my mid terms.....i took was sunday monrning and tonight is monday and i;ll never take that shit again

[Georgie]

It's best to ease off this stuff. 5mg at a time over several weeks. To stop this suddenly will only cause you severe side effects.

[Abby]

I found with any AD, it was better to cut down EXTREMELY SLOW!! for example - if you are on 40mg celexa,cut to 35,30,25 etc...cut your pills with a razor if needed!! and do each dose for a week or so......will never feel the withdrawals!! but that is my experience.....

[Gemma - UK]

I stopped taking Citalopram around two weeks ago now and feel like im coming off heroin or some shit! I never thought that innocent little 'happy' pill could be so evil! Along with many others i was not told the withdrawl symptoms of this medication, which is just so wrong. I feel like my brain is rolling around in my skull (severe diziness) palpatations, electric shock like tingles running through my body, loss of appetite, sweating, random bouts of crying and not to mention i cant sleep properly! I hope to god this all wears off soon!!
My advice would be to ride out the bad times, don't take this medication long term, its not healthy.

[Gemmauk]

I found out I was pregnant 3 weeks ago and had to stop Citalopram cold turkey.

I feel awful, dizzy, tired, stressed, sick and have no appetite. I wonder how long this will last?

[Apple]

I sort of forgot to take my pills, although that may have been a subconscious wish. I threw up a couple times, bad headaches, loss of appetite, myalgia. It sucks, so I took a half a pill and am weening myself slowly...I highly suggest it in comparison.

[AJB]

I have been on Citalopram for 4 years, starting at 40 mgs, then 30 mgs and then 20 mgs. I have been on the 20 mgs for the majority of that 4 years, but recently started gradually reducing it down to 10 mgs, with the guidance of my dr. I alternated on a day-to-day basis between 20 mgs and 10 mgs and had no problem with it, but 5 weeks ago started taking just 10 mgs. I've been fine (apart from the odd day) up until a couple of days ago, when I started feeling dizzy on and off. I feel like I'm jet-lagged or something, and I was just wondering if anyone else who reduced their dose gradually had experienced this. I'm surprised that I feel this bad 5 weeks after going on to 10 mgs - I would have expected this to happen a lot sooner. Has anyone else had this?

[Nina]

I'm starting an online blog to see how long it takes to get off it. Determined there is no going back visit and comment: http://citalopram.myinternetblog.net see how long it takes and how bad it gets? Good luck to everyone else who is trying to do this.

[Jeany]

Georgie wrote:

It's best to ease off this stuff. 5mg at a time over several weeks. To stop this suddenly will only cause you severe side effects.

I agree with you totally.NEVER just stop taking tablets.Citalapram sounds harmless but lets not forget it is a drug. Don't know about you but it helped me very quickly, i take it now as a matter of fact but if i forget...i know! talk to your G.P. After reading this forum i'm going to talk to mine. Good luck and hang on in ther.x

[Connie]

I too am glad to learn others are going through this... whooshy head and irritability.....when will it get better? It is hard to act normal when you do not feel normal!

[mum2be]

Gemmauk wrote:

I found out I was pregnant 3 weeks ago and had to stop Citalopram cold turkey.
I feel awful, dizzy, tired, stressed, sick and have no appetite. I wonder how long this will last?

Have also just found out I am pregnant and was told by doc to go cold turkey, was on 20mg for about 9 months. Wow three days now and my head is spinning, can't even leave the house to pick up kids from school, shopping etc, just move from the settee to the toilet and then back again. So pleased though to see I am not going mad this is a normal side effect, would rather go through this than harm the baby.

[mom4boys]

my last tapered pill was sunday night. I'm day 4- dizzy, super irritable, diarrhea, gained 5 lbs, and I have that "wooshy head" feeling. I'm pleased to hear that it is a side effect and not just me. I, too, would really like to know how long this lasts. I'm a real gem to be around right now

[TR1nity]

I personally disagree with anyone who says taper off. it is not for everyone. i just cold turkey'ed off Citalopram. Day 13 today and i am almost back to my normal self!!! yes, it was absolutely the worst experience of my life but nothing can beat the feeling of going from uncontrollable crying on second to absolute hysterical laughter the next. It;s such a wonder and joy to be able to feel, love, laugh, and cry naturally again and not be wrapped in a zombie-like bubble.

hang in there, you will get past the nausea and dizzy feelings. the electric shocks and wooshing eventually go. i found a site that recommended exercise and eating really fatty food with lots of protein. eggs are really good too.

good luck, i feel for everyone who has to go through this pain.

[Connie]

Hello All,
As to the question of how long does withdrawal last? I reduced the amount by half for a month starting 10 weeks ago and then quit completely about 6 weeks ago.
I last posted here Nov 2, when I was having strong withdrawal affects. Five weeks later the whooshy head feeling is much reduced, but I am still sad and irritable and not sleeping well. After taking the meds for six years, I guess it will take more time to adjust.
I wonder if I can ever live without ADs??? They do stop the suicidal feelings, but then I feel nothing... and gain weight. Sigh... life is so long and hard...

[Connie]

How are you feeling now? You last posted in June? I am interested to know the rest of your story of withdrawal and quality of life experience.

[Jessica]

it has been 13 days since i took my last celexa tablet. I was on 40mg tablets for the last 10 months as a result of my mother passing away unexpectantly. i quit taking them cold turkey. it has been very hard..five days after my last pill i started to get very sick dizzy nauseated out of body feeling..it took 12 days after the last pill taken to feel 90 percent better. now all that is bothering me is pure exhaustion..cleaning the house puts me out of breath.. and my emotions are running wild..i can cry or laugh so easily..i just keep telling myself it will keep getting better and soon i will be able to feel again witch is something i have not done in a long time.

[Connie]

Good Morning Jessica
First, I am sorry you lost your mother, that is tough. Thanks for sharing... it is hard for me to share with the people aroung me.
There are several reasons I am getting off the ADs: to feel things again as you said, to hopefully lose weight, see if the ADs were contributing to my headaches, and to stop spending money on meds.
I guess each person will withdraw from ADs individually. Thirteen days is not very long, but then you were only on them a few months. I hope the worst is over for you!

[Jessica]

thanks alot connie! and good luck to you getting of your ADs!! oh and another odd thing since i have been off of them..i have been craving chocolate non stop.. when i eat it i seem to feel more emotionally stable..is there anyone else out there that has noticed this? maybe choclate raises sertonin levels? idk..but hopefully it will taper off soon cause i too would like to loose my baby weight that i gained over a year ago..had no ambition to do it while on ADs.. cant wait too feel "normal" again.. whatever that is..blah