Citalopram

[roopower]

Hi, I wonder if someone can help us? (Are you there, Sqad?)
My daughter has been taking 20mgs of citalopram a day for two months, for anxiety. She's now seen a counsellor who says that they aren't right for her and she doesn't need them. Her doctor has agreed she should be weaned off them but hasn't given any help as to how. My daughter wonders what would happen if she just stopped taking them. Does anyone have any advice, please. Thanks.

[trt]

roopower, there's a few post on the subject below.

[pixie373]

She might get the original symptoms back (are you able to say why she was prescribed them in the first place) and pins and needles type sensation in lips and tongue. It won't physically harm her- although doctors differ hugely with antidepressants, so i would be wary about starting/stopping if she's not sure.

[Sqad]

I don't know what would happen in your daughter's case, she might have no withdrawal symptoms whatsoever, on the other hand she may hay have depressive episodes, or anxiety attacks.

The choice is....cold turkey OR reduce to 10mgms daily for a week and then stop.

The choice is yours :....me?...I would stop immediately as 20mgms a day is a modest dose.

[pixie373]

Yes, as she's only been on it 2 months. It should be a minimum of 6 months. If she does get withdrawal from that -she probably needs it.

[Eve]

I would go easy as people seem to suffer from different withdrawal symptoms. I have varied but have had times when I've had these electric shock like feelings in my feet which aren't pleasant, don't help when you're trying to function, especially if she has recently had a period of anxiety.

The last time I came off as I was going on different medication I had to wean down the dose until taking a lower dose every few days then more (I'd know when to when the withdrawal effects started to kick in) and it took a fair while to get off them.

[Ken4155]

I was on them for almost a year but they made me so lethargic that i decided to come off them. Having read somewhere that patients shouldn't just stop taking them, i began to take them once every two days for a couple of weeks, then once every 3, for another couple of weeks, until my supply ran out. I did not renew my prescription. Nowadays i am less lethargic and strive to steer clear of situations which cause anxiety.

[roopower]

Thank you all for your answers, I'll pass them on to her and let her decide. She was put on them as she had a bout of anxiety and stress, she has these from time to time - but she had a long chat with a very good counsellor and said she benefited more from that. She has felt no different on the pills. Very difficult to pick best answer, I'll have to think about it ! Thank you.

[anneasquith]

although she has only been taking them for 2 months. with all AD drugs they should be reduced very gradually. IMO

[joko]

my ex went very weird when he stopped overnight - developed some very unpleasant symptoms - it is not wise to stop abruptly