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[Awaken]

I am 1 week off citalopram and the side effects have been bad enough for me to take another pill. Apart from the dizzy sensations I just feel like a zombie and am so incredibly tired that I can barely function. Also, I have felt so angry and annoyed, my patience is really short and just generally feel horrid. Have been on the meds for around 6 months and felt they had stopped working for me so started weaning myself off them until I was on about 1 a week. Then I went a week without them and feel really ill.

What can I do? Do I go back on them permanently again?, get a different dose?, higher or lower? or try and get off them again?

Not sure what to do but equate it to a diabetic not taking their insulin, maybe I just have to be on them all the time?

Feeling so tired now!

Edited by Coop, 22 January 2008 - 01:00 PM.
Fixup post owner

[Belle29]

Hi Awaken,

Sorry to hear you're having such a rough time this first week coming off the citalopram. I'm sure it varies from person to person, but for some people depression and meds absolutely can be equated to a diabetic's need to take insulin. For others situational changes or counseling might help decrease the amount of time one needs to take meds. Have you spoken with your dr since the citalopram stopped working for you? He/she might could give you a tapering schedule or some suggestions/alternatives that would be helpful. Take care, belle

[Awaken]

I am in between doctors at the moment due to moving house I have had to find a doctor closer to me but there are not many empty spaces. Unfortunately I only have 1 pill left so I have been rationing heavily as of late. I have an appointment set hopefully for next Wednesday so hope the doc can give me some advice on what to do next. All I know is that I cant afford to have a day like I did yesterday.

Thanks for moving my post so it can be seen better as well! :)

[pugs]

[quote name='Awaken' date='Jan 22 2008, 12:20 PM' post='350107']
I am in between doctors at the moment due to moving house I have had to find a doctor closer to me but there are not many empty spaces. Unfortunately I only have 1 pill left so I have been rationing heavily as of late. I have an appointment set hopefully for next Wednesday so hope the doc can give me some advice on what to do next. All I know is that I cant afford to have a day like I did yesterday.

Thanks for moving my post so it can be seen better as well! :)
Hi

I have these tablets at home to start but a I have never taken anything like this I am terrified to start can you give me any positive advice for taking these as I no I am quite low at the moment.

Thank you

[Belle29]

Hi again Awaken,

I know that's tough being in between doctors. There aren't many to pick from where I live either, at least not ones that will take new patients so I can sympathize with you there! Glad you were able to set up an appt hopefully on Wednesday. Really hope the new dr is able to give you some guidance and suggestions that will help ease the worst of the symptoms you've been experiencing. In the meantime if things get too bad maybe you could phone the dr who prescribed it originally and let them know what's going on. Just hate to think of you going thru such a hard time right now. Take care and best wishes Belle

[pugs]

[quote name='Belle29' date='Jan 22 2008, 01:35 PM' post='350110']
Hi again Awaken,

I know that's tough being in between doctors. There aren't many to pick from where I live either, at least not ones that will take new patients so I can sympathize with you there! Glad you were able to set up an appt hopefully on Wednesday. Really hope the new dr is able to give you some guidance and suggestions that will help ease the worst of the symptoms you've been experiencing. In the meantime if things get too bad maybe you could phone the dr who prescribed it originally and let them know what's going on. Just hate to think of you going thru such a hard time right now. Take care and best wishes Belle



Hi

I have these tablets at home to start but a I have never taken anything like this I am terrified to start can you give me any positive advice for taking these as I no I am quite low at the moment.

Thank you

[Awaken]

I didn't have too hard a time starting out on them and they made me feel better for the first few months but after that I felt like I had hit a wall. The only negative I have about them is not being able to get off them. The withdrawal seems worse than the start up imho

[plastikstar]

I've been on 20mg of citalopram for 6 months. I have now halved the dose, and it is my second day. I am developing a sinus infection which makes me feel like crap, but I'm also a complete emotional wreck. Every little thing that feels like a put down to me in the least bit brings me close to tears and puts a knot in my throat. I cry because of the dumbest things. I'm short tempered. I'm emotionally exhausted. I am not in therapy - I'm still looking for a therapist but I need to stop taking these pills. They have turned me into a shadow of myself. I'm not as quick of a thinker as I used to be. All my emotions are dampened. My creativity is at an all-time-low, and I have become so indifferent to so many things. I have no opinion about most things and I don't care about most events/decisions to be made. Forget about the libido. I have been with my boyfriend for 6 months now and I have not had one orgasm. My feeling of lust has pretty much disappeared save for a few rare moments. In order to even be able to have sex I need a lot of foreplay etc. So I need to stop taking citalopram. But how can I already feel so crap on the second day? Luckily I have no been experiencing the real physical effects which I experience when I miss a pill or two yet.
I know one would say that it's pretty obvious that it's just not time for me to stop taking them, but I'm sure you also understand why I am desperate to get off of them.

[ngb1959]

 plastikstar, on Feb 14 2008, 02:35 PM, said:

I've been on 20mg of citalopram for 6 months. I have now halved the dose, and it is my second day. I am developing a sinus infection which makes me feel like crap, but I'm also a complete emotional wreck. Every little thing that feels like a put down to me in the least bit brings me close to tears and puts a knot in my throat. I cry because of the dumbest things. I'm short tempered. I'm emotionally exhausted. I am not in therapy - I'm still looking for a therapist but I need to stop taking these pills. They have turned me into a shadow of myself. I'm not as quick of a thinker as I used to be. All my emotions are dampened. My creativity is at an all-time-low, and I have become so indifferent to so many things. I have no opinion about most things and I don't care about most events/decisions to be made. Forget about the libido. I have been with my boyfriend for 6 months now and I have not had one orgasm. My feeling of lust has pretty much disappeared save for a few rare moments. In order to even be able to have sex I need a lot of foreplay etc. So I need to stop taking citalopram. But how can I already feel so crap on the second day? Luckily I have no been experiencing the real physical effects which I experience when I miss a pill or two yet.
I know one would say that it's pretty obvious that it's just not time for me to stop taking them, but I'm sure you also understand why I am desperate to get off of them.

Sounds just like me.  Tapering off Celexa.  Have sinus/bladder infection.  I have had no desire for sex for two years.  I thought it was menopause.  Just joined to find out side effects of Celexa.  I'm tapering off because my doc said that having too much could cause apathy.  I've had apathy for months to a year now, so she said to go from 20 mg to 10 mg.  Having horrible headaches.

[kstours]

 plastikstar, on Feb 14 2008, 01:35 PM, said:

I've been on 20mg of citalopram for 6 months. I have now halved the dose, and it is my second day. I am developing a sinus infection which makes me feel like crap, but I'm also a complete emotional wreck. Every little thing that feels like a put down to me in the least bit brings me close to tears and puts a knot in my throat. I cry because of the dumbest things. I'm short tempered. I'm emotionally exhausted. I am not in therapy - I'm still looking for a therapist but I need to stop taking these pills. They have turned me into a shadow of myself. I'm not as quick of a thinker as I used to be. All my emotions are dampened. My creativity is at an all-time-low, and I have become so indifferent to so many things. I have no opinion about most things and I don't care about most events/decisions to be made. Forget about the libido. I have been with my boyfriend for 6 months now and I have not had one orgasm. My feeling of lust has pretty much disappeared save for a few rare moments. In order to even be able to have sex I need a lot of foreplay etc. So I need to stop taking citalopram. But how can I already feel so crap on the second day? Luckily I have no been experiencing the real physical effects which I experience when I miss a pill or two yet.
I know one would say that it's pretty obvious that it's just not time for me to stop taking them, but I'm sure you also understand why I am desperate to get off of them.

Have you talked to your doctor about HOW to tape off on the meds, plastikstar? Usually the more gradually you decrease the dose the less severe the withdrawal symptoms are, and halving a dose is a pretty drastic cut. You might want to try a more gradual taper and see if that lessens your symptoms. If you're feeling that emotionally trashed you also might want to talk to your doc about trying a different med--one that might not have as many side effects for you. You might even find that just going to a lower dose of citalopram you can get the positive effects without the negative. I know I found lowering my dose of Lexapro helped me a lot. Then eventually I switched to Wellbutrin and that has worked really well for me. Wellbutrin can cause an increase in anxiety for some people though, so it's not for everyone. I hope you will discuss your meds with your doctor as that's the safest way to go about changing doses. Take care!

[plastikstar]

 ngb1959, on Feb 23 2008, 03:25 PM, said:

 plastikstar, on Feb 14 2008, 02:35 PM, said:

I've been on 20mg of citalopram for 6 months. I have now halved the dose, and it is my second day. I am developing a sinus infection which makes me feel like crap, but I'm also a complete emotional wreck. Every little thing that feels like a put down to me in the least bit brings me close to tears and puts a knot in my throat. I cry because of the dumbest things. I'm short tempered. I'm emotionally exhausted. I am not in therapy - I'm still looking for a therapist but I need to stop taking these pills. They have turned me into a shadow of myself. I'm not as quick of a thinker as I used to be. All my emotions are dampened. My creativity is at an all-time-low, and I have become so indifferent to so many things. I have no opinion about most things and I don't care about most events/decisions to be made. Forget about the libido. I have been with my boyfriend for 6 months now and I have not had one orgasm. My feeling of lust has pretty much disappeared save for a few rare moments. In order to even be able to have sex I need a lot of foreplay etc. So I need to stop taking citalopram. But how can I already feel so crap on the second day? Luckily I have no been experiencing the real physical effects which I experience when I miss a pill or two yet.
I know one would say that it's pretty obvious that it's just not time for me to stop taking them, but I'm sure you also understand why I am desperate to get off of them.

Sounds just like me.  Tapering off Celexa.  Have sinus/bladder infection.  I have had no desire for sex for two years.  I thought it was menopause.  Just joined to find out side effects of Celexa.  I'm tapering off because my doc said that having too much could cause apathy.  I've had apathy for months to a year now, so she said to go from 20 mg to 10 mg.  Having horrible headaches.

I have had bladder infection after bladder infection and the medication gives me yeast infections which also really doesn't help. Ontop of that I am now also developing a pretty bad chronic sinus infection. I didn't know that too much celexa could cause apathy..that would explain a lot and I kind of wish my doc had told me that..

[plastikstar]

 kstours, on Feb 23 2008, 09:28 PM, said:

 plastikstar, on Feb 14 2008, 01:35 PM, said:

I've been on 20mg of citalopram for 6 months. I have now halved the dose, and it is my second day. I am developing a sinus infection which makes me feel like crap, but I'm also a complete emotional wreck. Every little thing that feels like a put down to me in the least bit brings me close to tears and puts a knot in my throat. I cry because of the dumbest things. I'm short tempered. I'm emotionally exhausted. I am not in therapy - I'm still looking for a therapist but I need to stop taking these pills. They have turned me into a shadow of myself. I'm not as quick of a thinker as I used to be. All my emotions are dampened. My creativity is at an all-time-low, and I have become so indifferent to so many things. I have no opinion about most things and I don't care about most events/decisions to be made. Forget about the libido. I have been with my boyfriend for 6 months now and I have not had one orgasm. My feeling of lust has pretty much disappeared save for a few rare moments. In order to even be able to have sex I need a lot of foreplay etc. So I need to stop taking citalopram. But how can I already feel so crap on the second day? Luckily I have no been experiencing the real physical effects which I experience when I miss a pill or two yet.
I know one would say that it's pretty obvious that it's just not time for me to stop taking them, but I'm sure you also understand why I am desperate to get off of them.

Have you talked to your doctor about HOW to tape off on the meds, plastikstar? Usually the more gradually you decrease the dose the less severe the withdrawal symptoms are, and halving a dose is a pretty drastic cut. You might want to try a more gradual taper and see if that lessens your symptoms. If you're feeling that emotionally trashed you also might want to talk to your doc about trying a different med--one that might not have as many side effects for you. You might even find that just going to a lower dose of citalopram you can get the positive effects without the negative. I know I found lowering my dose of Lexapro helped me a lot. Then eventually I switched to Wellbutrin and that has worked really well for me. Wellbutrin can cause an increase in anxiety for some people though, so it's not for everyone. I hope you will discuss your meds with your doctor as that's the safest way to go about changing doses. Take care!

Hi, thank you for your reply. Actually, my doctor is the one who told me to half the dose for 6 weeks and then take 10mg every second day and then maybe go down to 5 or stop alltogether. By now I've gotten quite used to the 10mg which I am really happy about but I really would like to get off meds altogether. I just turned 19 and don't want to make it a habit to control my emotions with meds. I'll be starting therapy again soon which I think is a more effective kind of treatment for me. Feeling emotionally low has a lot to do with me living with my family again as they have very big problems and fail to leave me out of them which puts me into a lot of unnecessary stress while I'm getting off citalopram.
Take care :)

[ngb1959]

 plastikstar, on Feb 26 2008, 05:00 AM, said:

I have had bladder infection after bladder infection and the medication gives me yeast infections which also really doesn't help. Ontop of that I am now also developing a pretty bad chronic sinus infection. I didn't know that too much celexa could cause apathy..that would explain a lot and I kind of wish my doc had told me that..

OMG, I have had yeast infections too.  I thought hubby was fooling around on me again.  Sinus trouble too, but I smoke.  I thought that was why I am always congested.  Instead of going straight to 10 mg like doc said, I am doing 20 mg one day and 10 mg the next - alternating.  I've already experienced being more emotional while I'm watching movies.  Gee, I have feelings again!  Not depressed though - thankfully.

Quote

Feeling emotionally low has a lot to do with me living with my family again as they have very big problems and fail to leave me out of them which puts me into a lot of unnecessary stress while I'm getting off citalopram,

Been there with the family chaos.  My only saving grace is that all of my family have moved from my state to both coasts.  Yet, there is still the phone and email, but not nearly as bad as it was.  I used to pretend there was an invisible glass wall in front of them when they were being 'themselves' and hum to myself.  That way I could see their lips moving, but wasn't letting their words get into my brain.  Sounds crazy, but it did work - sometimes.  

Hang in there.  Things don't stay the same forever.

[mimimimi13]

i had a terrible time coming of this med.................but it passed and i felt better after a few days.  i was dizzy had electric shock feelings to my face and head and my temper went through the roof.  its just the withdrawal.......it does go away.  its not necessarily the depression coming back.  
i still take meds because i tried to go without them but just got worse and worse but withdrawals are horrible.....the slower the better but to those of you who have just stopped meds dont worry the horrible effects wont last.  l just kept phoning the duty doc everyday and she told me it would pass and it did.

[plastikstar]

 ngb1959, on Feb 26 2008, 02:49 PM, said:

 plastikstar, on Feb 26 2008, 05:00 AM, said:

I have had bladder infection after bladder infection and the medication gives me yeast infections which also really doesn't help. Ontop of that I am now also developing a pretty bad chronic sinus infection. I didn't know that too much celexa could cause apathy..that would explain a lot and I kind of wish my doc had told me that..

OMG, I have had yeast infections too.  I thought hubby was fooling around on me again.  Sinus trouble too, but I smoke.  I thought that was why I am always congested.  Instead of going straight to 10 mg like doc said, I am doing 20 mg one day and 10 mg the next - alternating.  I've already experienced being more emotional while I'm watching movies.  Gee, I have feelings again!  Not depressed though - thankfully.

Quote

Feeling emotionally low has a lot to do with me living with my family again as they have very big problems and fail to leave me out of them which puts me into a lot of unnecessary stress while I'm getting off citalopram,

Been there with the family chaos.  My only saving grace is that all of my family have moved from my state to both coasts.  Yet, there is still the phone and email, but not nearly as bad as it was.  I used to pretend there was an invisible glass wall in front of them when they were being 'themselves' and hum to myself.  That way I could see their lips moving, but wasn't letting their words get into my brain.  Sounds crazy, but it did work - sometimes.  

Hang in there.  Things don't stay the same forever.

hubby fooled around? tsk tsk. Well the meds against bladder infections often cause yeast infections it's a bit of an evil circle or whatever they're called..VICIOUS! that's it! vicious circle. I think that the citalopram might be weakening our immune system? but I have no clue really. I smoked up to 4 days ago too. My sinuses are getting a bit better with the not smoking, even after only 4 days.
The movies, I Know! It's a great feeling to be able to watch movies with emotions again :)

I cannot wait to move back out of my house. I mean I spend half the time at my boyfriend's place anyway, which is a lifesafer, but the other half of the time is still not too nice. The whole fighting and "it's your fault"-"no it's your fault!"-talk. You method sounds quite good. Unfortunately I am asked to reply all the time, and do things, so I have to listen otherwise I get in trouble. But hey, I'm learning to just not care (that much) and I know I can always get in a cab and drive to my boyfriends place. That's already great help.
Thank you :)

[kremlinx]

For Citalopram withdrawal (tested on 40 mg a day user) I would recommend smoking marijuana.