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Can I stop taking Citalopram?
I have been taking Citalopram (antidepressent) for years now, 40mg daily. The depressive mood comes and goes! But I wonder if I stop taking it gradually will there be withdrawal symptoms? Is there dependency on this medicine? I was thinking for instance to decrease it 5mg every two weeks or a month.
I withdrew from citalopram 60mg a day and it was horrid. It has to be done very very slowly and as Hensley says the withdrawal can last a long time. You may be one of the lucky ones but I wouldn't risk it. Speak to your doctor about a good withdrawal programme.
Also as Hensley has said, be sure this is the right thing for you at the moment, with the winter nights coming (certainly here in England) it may not be the right time of year. My doc has always advised me to wait till Spring whenever I have asked to come off an AD in the past.
All the best
Also as Hensley has said, be sure this is the right thing for you at the moment, with the winter nights coming (certainly here in England) it may not be the right time of year. My doc has always advised me to wait till Spring whenever I have asked to come off an AD in the past.
All the best
You or anyone can stop taking taking their AD medication at anytime. There are only a few major problems with doing so:
(1.) Your Depression has about an 85% chance of returning without the medication to keep it a bay. Given that you take Citalopram, I will assume that you have been disgnosed with Major depression. Unfortunatly most times depression like this doesn't just go away. If you never were diagnosed as suffering Major depression, then shame on the doctor that prescribed you an SSRI medication.
(2.) Yes, you will get withdrawl symptoms. Even with a very slow taper off method most people get AD withdrawl when they taper off. Some don't but this is rare.
This withdrawl can be very uncomfortable and can last several weeks or even months.
There is no evidence that supports the fact that by stopping an SSRI medication that any physical health damage will happen. In other words it won't kill you, but can make you feel that way.
Just keep in mind the reality of stopping the AD treatment. If you can except the Depression and withdrawl than I see no problem stopping. Wish I could do the same.
Regards.
(1.) Your Depression has about an 85% chance of returning without the medication to keep it a bay. Given that you take Citalopram, I will assume that you have been disgnosed with Major depression. Unfortunatly most times depression like this doesn't just go away. If you never were diagnosed as suffering Major depression, then shame on the doctor that prescribed you an SSRI medication.
(2.) Yes, you will get withdrawl symptoms. Even with a very slow taper off method most people get AD withdrawl when they taper off. Some don't but this is rare.
This withdrawl can be very uncomfortable and can last several weeks or even months.
There is no evidence that supports the fact that by stopping an SSRI medication that any physical health damage will happen. In other words it won't kill you, but can make you feel that way.
Just keep in mind the reality of stopping the AD treatment. If you can except the Depression and withdrawl than I see no problem stopping. Wish I could do the same.
Regards.
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