How long do withdrawals from citalopram last

(by all means im not glad any of you are going through this, i'm just glad i have someone to relate to - felt i needed to clarify because my previous post's ending sounded off)

Does anybody know how long the body aches last? I am really tired of my leg and toes feeling funny at times.

I have been off celexa for 2 weeks now and still no period. I took two tests at the clinic and not pregnant. Is this a withdrawal symptom?

I have been off of celexa for about 2 weeks and don,t feel too bad,have been on 20mg. about 4-5 years. A little fuzzy in the head, but I have a persistent cough from a cold I just got over, has anyone had a cough from going off of celexa.

sissy wrote:

I have been off celexa for 2 weeks now and still no period. I took two tests at the clinic and not pregnant. Is this a withdrawal symptom?

It's Sissy again. I am so glad to know I am not the only one going through this horrible feeling....don't feel so alone and really don't like talking to anyone about what I am experiencing.:)

i have been off this evil little pill for 3 weeks. im going to give some advice on how to fight it. i quit 10 mg cold turkey. be strong and know its you who controls your emotions and behavior. no excuses. ask yourself who wins you or the pill. i am winning i was dizzy and moody as a mother &ucker but i just take a deep breath and continue forward. i myself control what i do and will not lose to this pill. May God bless you and keep you.

So glad to find this site. Thought I was the only one struggling to come off citalopram.
I am now on 10mg every 3days planning to stop completely in about 3weeks.
I feel nauseous all the time. Feel starving, but when I eat it is very uncomfortable.
Also moody. Couple of days ago my eyes welled up for no reason! I was driving one at the time!
Once I get past this, I will never take these sort of pills again.
Good luck to everyone else trying to come off them.

I have been off of celexa nearly 2 weeks. OMG my family wont even talk to me. Well why should they?! I blow up at everything like super mad. I have been taking this Med for like ummmm 7 years? Maybe more. 60 mg. The withdrawal is hell!!!! I fell like I'm going to pass out from the zaps in my head thatt gets super bad when I get angry which is pretty much everytime I open my mouth. Please tell me this is going to end soon....

Insane south africa wrote:

I admire you as I am going through wothdrawal symtoms now. I am not usual an aggressive person but the last few days i am giving it straight to anyone that cross my path. I get so cross that it feels like I will hurt someone if they ask for it, not good as I see myself as a lady and now I am a real b*$tch. help I am losing myself....

That is exactly how it made me feel.

This is my 3 rd attemp at quitting Citalophram. Let me tell you withdrawal is brutal. I've been going through terrible mood swings, I get dizzy and have frequent headaches. In the past I would let about two weeks go by then I couldn't take the withdrawl anymore and would start taking the pill again. I've been on it for at least 5 years. I'm determined to stay off it this time!!!

OMG - I am not crazy!! I thought coming off slowly would stop any withdrawls but no such luck. I was only on 20mg a day and went down to 1/2, 1/4 etc 2 weeks at a time. Then 1/4 every 2 - 3 days. The first 2 - 3 days I felt great, going to the gym, heaps of energy etc, and thought I was not going to get any withdrawals. Then I went into a downward spiral, nausea, fatigue, irritable etc and as for actually focusing on anything mentally - forget it. I am just glad I have a quiet period in my job where I don't have to think or do to much - after Xmas. I have days where I feel quite normal (whatever normal feels like!) and then others where I have to drag myself out of bed and then am on a roller coaster all day. I have even started questioning my relationship and whether I want to stay in it but I have to bear in mind that I am in withdrawal so am not able to make decisions like this. The other night I woke up and had no idea who I was, where I was or what the hell was going on. Anyone else had this? I have read previous posts (check out Connie's from 2009/2010)and it has given me hope that this will pass and this is not my life forever. Please God!!

Also I went to a Naturopath who said that the liver is detoxifying the body so you do need to watch what you eat and drink as do not want to put more pressure on the liver - and let it do it'sjob faster. So no alcohol (very hard) heaps of water, dandelion tea, fresh fruit and veges. I think caffiene is a no-no but to be honest I find this makes me feel even weirder anyway so this has been an easy one to avoid.

Tania wrote:

Also I went to a Naturopath who said that the liver is detoxifying the body so you do need to watch what you eat and drink as do not want to put more pressure on the liver - and let it do it'sjob faster. So no alcohol (very hard) heaps of water, dandelion tea, fresh fruit and veges. I think caffiene is a no-no but to be honest I find this makes me feel even weirder anyway so this has been an easy one to avoid.

From experience (not a dr) your naturopath is right. Just keep in mind that not only does your body have to detoxify but your mind has to "renormalize" also. Its been almost 5 wks for me I had to basically retrain myself not to stress over anything so anxiety is at a minimum but my arm has been spazzing on and off for 2 days. Good luck it will get better.

I was on celexa for two years and decided it was time to get off of them. I also recently got married and we would like to have children and I didn't want to be on it while trying; I tapered off from 60mg for two weeks, then 40 to 20 then to 10. My last pill was two days ago and I've got major dizziness, nausea, vivid nightmares and severe irritability. I know it's only been two days, but it's been rather hellish ~ I just want to thank you all for posting your experiences! It is good to know that I'm not alone with this, even though I don't wish anyone to experience these ridiculous withdrawal symptoms we all have in common. I hope you all get through the withdrawal symptoms as quickly as possible!!!:)

cricket wrote:

I have been off of celexa nearly 2 weeks. OMG my family wont even talk to me. Well why should they?! I blow up at everything like super mad. I have been taking this Med for like ummmm 7 years? Maybe more. 60 mg. The withdrawal is hell!!!! I fell like I'm going to pass out from the zaps in my head thatt gets super bad when I get angry which is pretty much everytime I open my mouth. Please tell me this is going to end soon....

Stay strong & you WILL get through it!!!!:)

I have been off Celexa since October 7, 2011. So, like, 4 months.
My symptoms are the following: my left eyelid keeps twitching really fast. If I happen to be near a mirror I can actually see it fluttering away. It's weird.
The other symptom is my finger tips are always tingling. Almost like going to sleep, tingling feeling.
I'm still evaluating the mental health. I don't feel really major depression but I must say I have feelings like "what's the point of life?" Is that depression???
I am under a lot of stress learning a new job that is very low paying and high stress so my irritability/frustration levels seem to be a bit high.
But for those who are just getting off it. The first 2.5 months are stunningly difficult.

Have been taking Citalopram for almost 2 years. Ran Out about a week ago. Its through the mail and so I've been sitting here waiting and waiting. The withdrawls are starting to kick in and the constant feeling of wanting to freak out at people is getting worse. I'm so anxious all of the time. I woke up today and had the worst dizzy spells and nauseated feelings all day. I am sitting here trying to fall asleep but feel too anxious. My boyfriend is snoring and its irritating me sooo bad I started to cry. Its the stupid things like that to road rage and all around irritability that is thee worst! Its to the point I am going to call my clinic and demand a refill tomorrow. On a Sunday! There's no. Reason I should have to wait and withdrawl because they are taking so long to get it approved and sent in the mail. I thought it was supposed to make things more convenient?! Omg. Can u tell I'm stressed?! Hah.

WOW this is one of the hardest experiences I've had the misfortune of going through! I've done a lot in my life, put my body through hell but damn this withdrawing from citalopram is the devil in disguise. It's such a relief to hear others experiences and it helps soothe my soul when my brain is being sperodically tazored, when I want to reach around & bite that annoying sniffing mans nose off sitting behind me on the bus, when there's no toilet paper left on the roll it's ok to use your flatmates bathrobe to clean yourself up because they didnt replace with a new one, YOU'RE withdrawing so that's OK!!!
All my strength and support to everyone who is coming off this pill! Hang in there and remember youre withdrawing so put the baseball bat down and use the fly swat instead ;)

thank god I thought I was dying not even kidding my brain is in a battle with my body is how I feel it's been 8 1/2 days and it feels as though my head is being squeezed and going to blow up while its being bashed with a frying pan at the same time i keep feel like im going to fall to the ground and pass out I thought I was having a heart attack for the last two days my entire body hurts and the pains are bad im trying to be a good mom at the same time but its so hard im up all night and cant sleep nothing feels better i cant handle more than one thing at a time and feel like im in another world i cant remember things and i was having a conversation and felt like i was havng a seisure and my head and body were shaking as i was trying to answer questions omg i want to be me again i find my self smoking to

I have been on citalopram for over 2 years now at 20 mg daily. I have gained about 30+ pounds, gone up 2-3 sizes in clothing to the point I have no self confidence, and I am depressed and saddened by my appearance. I could sleep all day long if allowed to and yet I struggle to even sleep thru the night most weeks. I was supposed to get my meds refilled Saturday, but the pharmacy was out of stock. Then again Sunday night I went to get them filled and the pharmacy was closed. So, here it is Monday and I have missed two doses so far. I was wanting to wean off of this med anyway to see if I could shed some of this weight and function without the medicine. I have left a message for my Doc to call me back and advise me, but am also considering just cold turkey since I've already missed two days and here it is Monday midday and I haven't gotten the meds filled still.(Up to this point I have been very regular in taking the meds and having them filled before running out, etc.)
My symptoms so far have been: upset stomach with stomach cramps, feeling spaced out a bit, and some tingling and numbeness in my hands, arm, and head today. Nothing unbearable or frustrating .. yet. It's been really tolerable. I'm curious if I should continue on without it since I am handling the side effects OK or if I should go back on it and wean off of it. Will post the doc's advise when I am able to speak to him, but have found comfort in this site. I am thankful I am not the only one who has a LOVE/HATE relationship with this medication and I hate that so many are struggling with unbearable withdrawal symptoms.
Has anyone come off of this drug successfully/long term etc or have any idea or suggestions for coping with things without the meds? This med really helped my anxiety and depression issues that stemmed from personal struggles, but it is just at a point where I have two moods: mad or glad. I am not irritable, but feel like I am just 'floating' thru life... not really plugging into reality and I have lost desires for so many things: sex, drive to be productive, etc. Not to mention, again, that I have gone from an average of 140-145 lbs at 5'8" to 172.
Prayers with all of you going thru withdrawals and dependancy. Such a shame that the docs do not make a bigger issue of the long term affects rather than the ability to fix you quickly... I wish I had just sucked it up and dealt with life on my own. But I think the anxiety and depression were just too much on my own when I first began this....(sigh)