Citalopram

[bednobs]

Mr 'nobs has been on citalopram since 2011 20 mg per day.
he recent realised he hasn't taken it for about six days, and asked me what he ought to do - he feels no different and wouldn't mind coming off it. i know it can be dodgy to just stop it, but after six days, would he have had any withdrawal affects already? Or shall i tell him to just keep taking it then tail it off?

[chrissa1]

I have been on Escitalopram for 5 years and my doc decided I should start taking Citalopram instead as it's not as strong and, (his words), is cheaper.
Within about a week, I began to feel less strong mentally and depressed.

That doesn't answer your question but I felt different more or less straightaway. I would give his doctor a call and ask.

I'm now back on Escitalopram and feel normal again.

[joko]

when my boyfriend did this, he went a bit weird - blurted random comments, forgot what he'd said 2 minutes later, moody, personality would change constantly, a bit aggressive and snide.

it passed, in a few months, but it was not pleasant.

i have also heard people have 'brain flashes' when they do this - like lectric shocks in their head. don't think my bf had them... he never said.

[lcg]

after 6 days without citalopram, he should certainly have started to have discontinuation symptoms if he was going to (as outlined by joko). because he has stopped the antidepressants for a short while, he can certainly attempt to come off them, but both you and him should be checking in with each other daily about his mood (objectively and subjectively - i.e. from both your perspectives) and have some sort of agreement in place that he either goes to see his gp or your local mental health team if things start to head south. you also need to be asking him if he has thoughts of suicide or harming himself (asking about these things will not encourage him to think about them or act on them - but it is crucial that you are aware of his risk) and make a decision about whether he has insight into his mental state (i.e. he knows if he is becoming unwell). if both of you are confident that he is coping without the medication, then all will be fine, but please be aware of the risk of relapse (particularly in response to life stressors) and the need to get help quickly if this happens. i am always usually around if you need any further advice - and can use a throw away email if you would prefer any conversations to be private. good luck and regards....lisa x

[joko]

yes my bf would get stressed about everything - small petty things he would not be able to cope with.

i don't know if its linked but he now has a kind of mild OCD with cleaning with i don't think he had before.
He feels agitated and anxious if he doesn't hoover everyday and washes up immediately and follows me round the kitchen checking on me etc

[bednobs]

thanks everyone

[Eve]

He is very lucky not to have had ay withdrawal symptoms yet. I've been on it for years and despite a few times off it I've always ended up going back on it.

I get horrible withdrawal symptoms, like joko described, weird electric shock like feelings in my head and other weird feelings which make it difficult to function.

I'm suffering at the moment as my GP switched me from that to mirtazapine to help me sleep better but did a straight switch and I was getting withdrawal symptoms every couple of days but not every week and am ending up having to take a citalopram to calm it down. Need to talk to my GP about trying to get weaned off it better in a way I can function.

Hope he can come off it ok though do keep a close eye on him. Withdrawal symptoms make eek in without being blindingly obvious at first and it could take it building up a while before he realises something needs sorting.

[Goodsoulette]

You'd think after 6 days it would be out of his system. However a certain side effect of the tablet did not disappear until 10 days after my OH stopped taking them and then he started to feel a bit wonky a day or so after that.

[joko]

it can take many many months for the effects to wear off ...

[jacklee]

fao bednobs
came across this post by accident - but very glad I did as only today my Doc. prescribed Citalopram for me.
I don't feel ill but constantly tired - result I think of caring for my wife for 5 years and then the anticlimax of being released from it all suddenly when she has had to move into a nursing home.
Looked on web earlier this evening and was shocked by the side-effects mentioned by users of this drug.
Am wondering if i should proceed - or just try to motivate myself. Sounds like the cure is worse than the disease!
Regards
jacklee