Any Experiences Of Tapering Off Citalopram?

[lil_fighter]

I have been on Citalopram for three and a half years. I was on 20mg for a year and have been on 40mg for two and a half years. I have been having trouble sleeping lately (only sleep for one or two hours but it takes a long time to get to sleep) and have been very anxious that someone is going to come into my room and hit me over the head or do something to hurt me. This is unrelated to the trauma and normally I feel safe in my home. I have no reason to suddenly be thinking these things. Otherwise I feel ok but recently have left my job as it was particularly stressful. The lack of sleep and anxiety may not be related to the medication but the stiff jaw and sharp pains behind my ears are according to my doctor, likely to be side effects of the drug. I have had enough of the Citalopram and went to my doctor today. I suggested to her the idea of tapering off 5mg at a time, so going down to 35mg to begin with. She told me that going down from 40mg to 30mg would be better, as the tablets don't come in 5mgs and cutting the tablets up would be a problem. She said if after 1 month, I am doing well on the 30mg I can go down another ten mgs and so on.

I would be interested to know how other people started tapering off their meds? Did you come down in dosage gradually? I know it is different for everyone but I am just looking to do this properly and commit to lowering the dose and eventually coming off the meds.

 

[Panda Bear]

Tapper off Celexa VERY SLOWLY!!!!!!

My max dose was 20mg and it took months of me tapering the dose in order to get off of it, and I only took it for about 10 months.

It side effects of coming off are horribly uncomfortable. Look up Celexa and you'll find many who struggled with what is affectionately called 'brain zaps'. Like an electrical zap in your head, they're awful and hard to focus through. I also had terrible anxiety, suicidal thoughts, ragged of anger and frustration.

I would taper 5mg at a time over the course of many weeks. Plan for it to take a while to get off. I would NOT taper at 10mg intervals.

Also, I'm incredibly sensitive to medications and see to rapidly metabolize them. So it could just be me.

 

[Redlewis]

just been given citalopram. Bit worried about taking them. Have low mood, flashbacks, insomnia, etc. Any advice?