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Irish
Napier, New Zealand
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Melissa wrote: Oh... almost forgot cardio vascular excercise everyday too for at least 30 minutes. Not only will you stay trim, but it will naturally reduce depression and anxiety. It is obviously different for all people. I doubt I would still be aloive if I hadn't taken an anti depressants. The world was black and I could not see the light no matter what! I am very grateful for the anti depressants. Now it's time for me to stand on my own two feet, so I guess my message is "everyone is different."
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Jeany
Redditch, UK
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Blimey listening to eveyone i have changed my opion of Citalopram. Ive been on it now for 3yrs,i was on 40mg and my dr tried me on 20mg to try and wean me off it but like some of you i had the worse side affects. I'm now on 30mg and have been for 18months. My dr is fine with that but i dont really want to be taking it forever but i'm scared now of coming off it. I have Hyradenitis so i'm on long term meds for that so i bought some Kalms today but unsure now whether to take them.Any ideas guys thanks
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Daleko
Cleveland, OH
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i was getting my pills from a free clinic, i moved from that county and have bee going through and ordeal to get help in my current county. i have no job and no insurance, and everyone was giving me the run around, i finally got the money to go see my doctor but have to wait for my appointment in 2 weeks, i ran out about 7 days ago... when i realized i was going to run out i i went from taking 60mg to 40mg to 20mg in a 3 week period now i have none,i'm not worried to much about the depression and anxiety i can deall for such a short time. but i feel physically crappy and was wondering if someone to direct me where to find out what the withdraw symptoms are... this was my first search...i dont really know what to do since it was so hard to get help even seeing a docotr let alone speaking to one.
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HLM
Cortlandt Manor, NY
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have been on Citalopram for a year now. Do not want to go off yet. Right now living w my fiance's mother have been for a year!!! Can be a bit stressful we are trying to get a house and hope to this summer. Thought it would be good for me to stay on it until we at least get our house. We just got engaged a month ago so I am pretty excited. Only thing is I have no sex drive at all, I could go months w/out it. Any suggestions for this? I am a bit tired too all the time, i guess that is from the meds. I just started back at the gym a month ago and have vitamins, fish oil and vit B I need to start taken them again especially since I have seen so many people on here saying it has worked for them.
Any suggestions let me know
Thanks
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supre
Hastings, New Zealand
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I cut my dose down from 20 mg to 10 mg after 12 months, then after 6 months of that regime cut down to 5mg per day. I then tried after 3 months to come off totally but my paranoi returned and the world closed in. I started again on 5 mg which picked me up after about 6 days and then took that dose every three days. Have been doing this for 2 months now and all is sweet. Seems to me, reading the forum notes that everyone is different and each doctor has different recos for individual patients. For me, my doctor suggested I need might need to be on 20mg daily forever, but 5mgs does the trick. I, like so many others would rather be right off it, but I think to do this I would need to be under daily medical are somewhere where there is no stress and I can withdraw my system from it. I'm aiming to do this. I guess in the end, this is a mind altering dru...albiet a beneficial one.
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Nick
Dublin, OH
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Hi everyone, I have been on 20 mg of citalopram for nearly 2 years now and have decided it's time to come off. I know about the tapering down as a nurse told me to take 20 mg every other day for 2 wks, then take 10 mg every other day for 2 wks, and finally take 20 mg every 3 days for 2 wks. Yesterday was my first day without it and it was fine, and today started off ok and then I started feeling weird this afternoon, like really anxious, so I took my pill and I feel better! Does anyone have any experience with taking it every day in a smaller dosage as opposed to the every other day method? I really appreciate any help!
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niks
Cape Town, South Africa
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hi, i'm tapering off and reading all this has been incredibly helpful thanks
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vermonter
South Burlington, VT
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The citalopram stopped being helpful some months ago. I was on 60 mg. I have been on Nardil, Effexor, Paxil over a 25 year period of time. I am now off of Citalopram, but starting back on Effexor which was helpful from 1993-2008 wehn my husband of 35 years had an affair (ex-husband). Has anyone gone from one to another in a short space of time? I am so scared of what life will be like. The last time I was taken off an anti-depress/anx drug I was sick for months.
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MRY
Slough, UK
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I have been on Citalopram for three years. I started on them when my anxiety was just too much work to control. No sleep, seats, fear, panic - the whole lot. I started on 20mg and that went to 30. I took 30mg for the best part of two years but was keen to taper off. Last november I started breaking the pills as I only had 10s and 20s to use. Gradually I chipped down over 6 months from 30mg to 15mg. Pretty pleased with myself and the progress I decided to start reducing again having settled at 15 for around 3 weeks. two weeks ago I got down to 10mg. This has been pretty tough actually. I've been up and down, crying and such like so I went to see my doc.
reassured that I was still doing well I've stuck with the 10mg and seem to be settling down well again. Initially I felt really 'exposed' on 10mg and it made me realise how much of a help the citalopram had been. But you have to stay confident in the knowledge that you are actually well and not dependent on anything. It's tough but lots of sleep, water and regular excercise really helps (along with a few glasses of wine here and there). DON"T define yourself by your anxiety. It just makes things worse. Tell yourself you're ok enough times and you will start to believe it. CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) is also totally brilliant.it has really helped me go through the tapering off citalopram.
Anxiety's horrid, there's no doubt about it but step back, look at your life and see what you really have to worry about. You may well be very pleasantly surprised!
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Sara
Melbourne, Australia
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I'm just wondering if anyone knows how long celepram takes to get out of your system. I have been off them completely for 2 weeks.
Thanks
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victoria
Sarasota, FL
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It took me almost 6 week to get on 20mg of celexa.I didnt want to do anythink. just sit around all day and sleep.so i told my dr. so he said come down to 10mg.. did fine for two weeks then woke up next, morning and i felt dizzy ,hot sick walked like i was drunk.felt panic didnt know what was happening to me. called my dr and he said to go back up to 20mg.I told him no and i wanted off this med. he said i wasnt on it to long just stop it cold turkey. after reading these forms i decided to taper.im on 10mg for two weeks then down to 10mg then 5mg altertating days for aweek then down to five for two weeks then off .i hope this is ok after that.i will let u know. altogether i was on celexa 3month wen stared to taper
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Andy B
Manchester, UK
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I realise the last post here was ages ago but thought I would add my bit.
Was originally on 10mg of Escitalopram and decided to come off. doc suggested moving from them onto 10mg citalopram as he reckoned the Escitalopram were somehow stronger before they are processed by the liver.
So far the programme of withdrawal I have imposed is as follows:
10mg citalopram daily for 2 months
10mg citalopram every other day for 2 months
5mg citalopram every other day for 1 month
Doc said stop after this but....
2.5mg citalopram every other day for past 2 weeks so far
Up to now I have had a few days where (work stress related?) anxiety and panic have welled up and made coping difficult. Eyesight a little blurry from time to time, dry mouth/throat, some dizzy spells etc
Trouble is I am uncertain whether some of the above effects are the drug or whether they are due to stressful situations?
I will continue on the 2.5mg every other day for a further 2 weeks but then dont know whether to space the days out further or just stop them dead?
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kelly
Murfreesboro, TN
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hi, one thing i have been wanting to know about weening off is that long story short, i have been on 10 mg, 20mg then back to 10mg, and then 30mg, and now at 20 mg for about 2 months now. i curious as to what the real cause of the sudden depression and anxiety is that i got starting last year. i was lonly, didnt know anyone around, and was about to start college, and maybe all that suddenly got to me? the 2 times that i tried to actually get off citalopram i went from 10mg (half) to none and for about 3 days i felt much better, more awake, more focused like my old self, but then suddenly my anxiety would strike up and i would basically have a metldown. the time after that i went from 10 mg to half of that which is 5mg and felt better on that for about 3 days and then again had a panic attack and my anxiety came back, and the citalopram was the only thing that would make me numb enough that it helped my anxiety. all in all i want to try to ween off of it, starting with something like from 20mg to 15mg for a week or 2. then to 10mg then to 5mg then to nothing. i just wish i knew if my probably is real depression or just increases in bad anxiety that have depressed me. Ezin wrote: The one thing you absolutely should do not do with these drugs, is withdraw by missing out days.
The short half-life of the drugs means that the concentration levels in the body start rolling, and this can bring on waves of withdrawal effects. It destabilises.
Doctors continue to recommend it, left, right and centre. With highly predictable results. Yet do not see the anomaly with the information in your drug leaflet insert which usually clearly states you should not miss doses when taking the medicine.
Yes, some individuals manage it - they may be slow metabolisers, or just be able to hang on with the 35 hour half-life of citalopram. But is it a good idea? No. Most people end up straight back on the drugs, convinced in their doctors' explanations of 'disease' resurfacing.
One of the independent experts in this field states, from the antidepressant withdrawal FAQ (ref p.97 of Glenmullen's book on the subject 'The Antidepressant Solution'):
"Q. Can antidepressants be taken every other day as a method of tapering them?
A. None of the short acting depressants should be taken every other day as a method of tapering them. Because of their short half-lives, the every-other-day schedule can result in roller coaster levels of the drugs and roller coaster episodes of withdrawal symptoms."
The emphasis in withdrawal is usually to keep the drug levels as stable as possible within the body, by taking the same dose every day... then you wait until you stabilise, and only then drop the dose to the next withdrawal level.
If you follow the miss-a-day route, please watch yourself very carefully.
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Shannon
Fresno, CA
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I am always tired and it just occurred to me that it could be the citalopram. I am weenie off tonite. Starting with half doses until off. Could I do this myself
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Cookie
Melbourne, Australia
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I have read through some of your posts on here, the reason being that I too would like to wean myself of cipramil. I have been taking it for 11 and half years now. I am also on another antidepressant called edronax which works on different part of the brain. I take 20mg daily in the morning of cipramil and 4mg of edronax. Have also had cognitave therapy over the years etc. I am a little nervous to say the least to come off the cipramil but really want to try. I feel that I am at a fairly stable stage in my life to do so. Any advise from anyone would be greatly appreciated.
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JAC
Rochester, NY
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Cookie wrote: I have read through some of your posts on here, the reason being that I too would like to wean myself of cipramil. I have been taking it for 11 and half years now. I am also on another antidepressant called edronax which works on different part of the brain. I take 20mg daily in the morning of cipramil and 4mg of edronax. Have also had cognitave therapy over the years etc. I am a little nervous to say the least to come off the cipramil but really want to try. I feel that I am at a fairly stable stage in my life to do so. Any advise from anyone would be greatly appreciated. Hi Cookie. I have been on Citalopram for 5 years, 40 mg., and made a huge mistake by going cold turkey about 7 months ago. I believe I am still experiencing some withdrawal symptoms as I still do not feel like my old self yet. If you feel you at a stable stage in life and want to withdraw, then please do so under a doctor's supervision and follow a slow plan of tapering so hopefully any withdrawals will be minimal. It has been rough going for me, but I am taking one day at a time. What helps is lots of rest, plenty of water, exercise, many small meals a day instead of two or three big ones. I also heard that vitamins B6, B12 and fish oil supplements are supposed to help, but have yet to try them. Someone told me about an herbal supplement called Rescue Remedy. It's in our local grocery store, but I haven't tried it yet. Best wishes to you, good luck and know that you are not alone.
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moody2
Denver, CO
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I started the process of coming off celexa three weeks ago. 40mg to 20mgs over a four week period. I'm feeling moody, emotional. Is this normal?
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Megan
Gonzales, LA
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I've come off citalopram a couple of times and am currently doing it again. I found that benadryl (diphenhydramine) at night helps a good bit with racing thoughts and other night time side effects. It helps with side effects during the day too but makes me super sleepy so it's not really good if you have to work and can't nap.
Side effects the same as mentioned... detached, spaced out, dizzy spells, manic feelings, appetite increase, restless legs at night, some digestive changes.
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Ted
Edmonton, Canada
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I have been on SSRIs for at least 15 years and Celexa for over 8. Over 14 years ago I was told be a doctor that because I had a history of major depressive episodes I should be on SSRIs for life. I have been at a dose of 60 mg for as long as I can remember. Now I am worried about heart problems with such a high dose. I have cut my dose to 40 mg and I am definitely feeling the change in my chemistry. My first week I was on vacation and things went well. In my second week I am feeling some difficulty managing stress. I have read this blog and I see few examples of people that have had been on the drug as long as I have with as high a dose.
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Gemini
