Celexa (Citalopram) is a drug used to help treat symptoms of major depression. It is considered an SSRI (selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitor) which means it influences the serotonin in the brain to help ward off depressive symptoms. It is also used as an off-label treatment for anxiety disorders, panic attacks, and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). For many individuals, this drug is effective and serves the intended purpose of treating depression.
The problem with Celexa is that many people find that it leads to unbearable side effects including: weight gain and sexual dysfunction. Not only can this drug provoke unwanted side effects, in some cases it just doesn’t work as well as expected. There have also been disputes as to whether the R-stereoisomer of the drug has any effect. Some have argued that it is better to take Lexapro, which is essentially Celexa without the R-stereoisomer.
In any regard, most people that take Celexa will end up wanting to withdraw from it eventually. Most people do not want to be on antidepressants for life in order to cope with depression. There are simply too many side effects and most people notice that the antidepressant effects tend to wear off over time. In any event, if you withdraw from this medication, it is pretty much guaranteed that you are going to experience withdrawal symptoms.
Factors that influence Celexa withdrawal include…
There are various factors that play a role in influencing withdrawal from any psychiatric medication. These factors include things like: time span, dosage, your physiology, and whether you decided to quit cold turkey or conducted a gradual taper.
1. Time Span
How long were you taking Celexa? In general, the longer you take an antidepressant, the more difficult it will be to withdraw from. Your brain becomes accustomed to getting the extra serotonin activity as a result of the SSRI that you are taking. When you stop the drug, your brain isn’t get the extra serotonin that it was getting and may have a tough time readjusting to functioning without Celexa.
2. Dosage (10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg)
Most of the time people are on a 20 mg dose of Celexa, but it can be administered at doses up to 40 mg per day. Some people may be on smaller doses than 20 mg, but in general, 20 mg is considered the standard dose. In most cases, the greater the amount of the drug that you have taken, the tougher it is to withdraw from.
3. Individual Physiology
In many cases, withdrawal symptoms are largely due to individual reactions to the drug. One person may experience extreme withdrawal symptoms that last months, while another person may feel back to 100% after a couple weeks of discontinuation. Many individual factors including: withdrawal sensitivity, environment, social support, and physiology can have an influence. If you experience a more extreme withdrawal than most, it could be largely due to individual differences.
4. Cold Turkey vs. Tapering
How did you quit taking Celexa? Did you stop abruptly without conducting a gradual taper? Or did you conduct a gradual taper over the course of a couple months? In most cases, the more slowly and cautiously you taper off of this medication, the easier it is to readjust to functioning without the drug.
If you quit cold turkey, it leaves most people in a state of mental disarray and chaos and the symptoms may be more severe. If you were on a high dose of Celexa (i.e. 40 mg), the weaning process should take longer than someone on 10 mg.
Celexa Withdrawal Symptoms: List of Possibilities
Below are a list of common symptoms that you may experience upon withdrawal from Celexa. Understand that you may experience a few of the symptoms, none of the symptoms, or most of the symptoms – it all depends on your individual circumstances. This list was created to help people so that they know what may occur during withdrawal.
- Anxiety: The anxiety that you experience during withdrawal may be pretty severe. It may be so severe that you feel nervous everywhere you go and/or have panic attacks. This is a result of your brain being left without reuptake inhibition of serotonin.
- Brain zaps: Most SSRIs can lead to a person experiencing “brain zaps” or electrical shock sensations upon withdrawal. These can be very uncomfortable and actually feel like your head is plugged into an electrical socket. Just know that these will subside the longer you are off the drug.
- Concentration problems: Many people report that they are unable to focus during withdrawal. It may be difficult to complete work-related tasks or school work during withdrawal. In many cases the concentration problems are due to the fact that physical symptoms distract our mental focus. Additionally a person may feel mentally slow and/or foggy when they stop the medication – this is likely due to changes in levels of neurotransmitters.
- Confusion: Your cognitive functioning can become impaired when you quit taking Celexa to the point of experiencing general confusion. This confusion may be a result of memory retrieval problems, but could also just be confused thinking.
- Crying spells: Some people report increased depression to the point of crying spells. Low serotonin can cause people to cry excessively. You may cry more than you have in your entire life during a withdrawal. Know that these spells will lessen in severity and eventually stop.
- Depression: Most people feel significantly worse when they stop taking Celexa in regards to depression. Many people feel as if their depression is actually worse than before they took this medication. This is a result of their brain no longer inhibiting the re-uptake of serotonin to the degree that occurred on the medication. It will take an extended period of time to fully recover from the withdrawal depression.
- Diarrhea: Some people experience an upset stomach to the point of diarrhea during their withdrawal. This is not as common of a symptom as others, but can be difficult to deal with if you are dealing with this. An easy solution for coping with this is to get some over-the-counter Imodium.
- Dizziness: Feeling dizzy is one of the most common symptoms to experience during SSRI withdrawal. If you suddenly stop taking Celexa cold turkey, the dizziness is thought to be longer lasting and more profound than during a gradual taper. Either way, you are likely going to experience some degree of dizziness when you quit. The longer you are off the drug, the more this symptom will improve.
- Fatigue: You may feel excessively fatigued for awhile after you quit Celexa. It may be difficult to get out of bed in the morning or even make it through a work day. The tiredness and lethargy may be pretty severe. Just recognize that this will gradually improve and your energy levels will start to return over time.
- Headaches: This is another classic symptom of SSRI withdrawal. Some people feel minor headaches for awhile, yet for others the headaches are pounding and feel more like migraines. Having a headache with dizziness is certainly uncomfortable – but both of these will gradually improve.
- Insomnia: Since some people take Celexa for treating insomnia, it is no wonder that they may actually experience insomnia when they stop taking it. Additionally even if you have never had insomnia before taking this drug, you may experience it during withdrawal.
- Irritability: Most people report a high amount of irritability in the first few weeks when they discontinue this drug. This is because the brain no longer is receiving the calming effect of the drug and it can be difficult to regulate emotions.
- Memory problems: It is common to experience memory problems to the point that you think you have lost your memory. Although you haven’t likely lost any memory, your thinking may be impaired so that your memory retrieval is impaired. As you recover during withdrawal, this will eventually heal itself.
- Mood swings: It’s very common to have bad mood swings when you stop taking Celexa. One minute you may feel pretty good, the next you may feel more depressed than ever. Just understand that these mood swings are all part of withdrawal. They may persist for a long time, but will eventually subside.
- Nausea: Some people experience nausea when they first quit this drug. You may feel nauseated all day and in some cases, want to vomit. Most people do not have nausea extreme enough to lead to vomiting, but it can be a tough withdrawal symptom to deal with.
- Sleep changes: It is very likely that your sleep cycle will be affected when you withdraw from this drug. You may notice that you have crazy dreams and/or that you aren’t able to get a good night’s sleep. You may sleep during the day and be unable to fall asleep at night. Just know that things will return to normal if given enough time.
- Suicidal thoughts: It is very common to experience suicidal thoughts when discontinuing an antidepressant. Any SSRI that is withdrawn from is likely to lead a person to feeling suicidal. Many doctors view this as a worsening in depression, when in reality it is a result of antidepressants causing suicidality upon withdrawal.
- Weight changes: Most people gain weight when they take Celexa – this is a result of serotonin changes. When a person stops taking this drug, they will likely drop the weight that they gained while taking the drug. For more information read about antidepressants and weight gain.
Celexa Withdrawal Timeline: How long does it last?
Most doctors will tell you that the withdrawal symptoms should subside within a few weeks of withdrawal. If your symptoms subside within a few weeks, consider yourself lucky and in the minority. Most people experience withdrawal effects over a month after they have quit their medication. I recommend giving yourself at least 90 days before evaluating the withdrawal symptoms.
I have gone through my fair share of antidepressant withdrawals – including that from Celexa and have found that three months time is good for re-evaluation. The problem for most people is that the symptoms are so severe in the first few weeks of withdrawal that they feel as if their life will never be the same. During withdrawal it is important to do your best not to get caught up in the symptoms – rather focus on what you can do to recover as fast as possible.
Things that will help you recover quicker include: eating healthy, forcing yourself to get some light exercise, and getting a proper night’s sleep. If you are struggling to come to terms with symptoms and/or cope, be sure to talk to a therapist or professional about what you are experiencing. It can also be very helpful to talk to others on forums that are also going through Celexa withdrawal – many people that have experienced it are better to talk to because they actually “get it.”
Feel free to share your experience with the withdrawal process in the comments section below. This may give someone else some reassurance that they are not alone in dealing with difficult symptoms. I personally have withdrawn from this medication and know that it’s not easy, but I also know that as enough time passes, you will eventually experience a full recovery.
I am so happy I found this site. I thought something was wrong with me and then I realized I have not had my celexa for a few weeks due to not being able to see my psychiatrist the last few appointments because it is so far away. Then it hit me to look for withdrawal symptoms. I have been so irritable and dizzy. My dreams have been crazy and I have been really emotional. My husband is just worried I will go back to the suicidal thoughts and depression but I really would like to just stop taking it. I am teetering between just getting through this or calling my psychiatrist in the morning. I don’t know but it comforts me that there are others going through this as well.
I feel like I’m losing my mind. I was put on citalopram almost a month ago for social anxiety. I was put on a 20mg dose to start, so I gave it a few days, things were ok, but I started getting pains in my head which led me to think there was something wrong. I had a couple visits to the hospital which didn’t help. In the couple weeks that went by, I was having anxiety attacks every night.
I was put on 10 mg, but was still having the attacks. I gave it a little more time but I finally had to tell my doctor that it wasn’t helping. So it was about 5 weeks that I was taking them. I stopped on the 28th of September, and I was doing ok for the first few days. I was feeling detached from my body, felt like i was here but not, wasn’t in reality, my eyesight went all dim and snowy, just felt a feeling of unease.
Now, it’s been about 4 weeks since I stopped, I have very bad tinnitus in my left ear, even roaring at times, still having the vision issue, have had bad mood swings, a lot of weird pain in my head, very dizzy, foggy feeling like I’m still not fully here. Having chest pain, increased heart rate, headache that throbs, not too many zaps, bad cough and nasal congestion. I’m feeling so depressed that something is terribly wrong and it won’t go away.
Every time I cough, my heart pounds and my head throbs. I went to my pharmacist looking for some reassurance, which I should not have done. He told me that it would have been out of my system 1-2 weeks after stopping it. So needless to say, that didn’t help my health anxiety any. I’ve got two young kids to take care of and I’m so tired of feeling this way.
I regret taking this drug. I have daily thoughts of death which makes me even more depressed. I’m on wellbutrin now, for what reason, I don’t know. I just want to feel normal the way I did before I started citalopram. I would take the social anxiety over feeling this way.
I’ve been on 20mg Citalopram for over three years, because my GP thought that severe fatigue was caused by depression. In fact six years ago I was diagnosed with a rare blood neoplasm, and have been on nightly chemotherapy ever since to control platelet production, which had got dangerously high. Severe fatigue is a symptom of the disease I have, and is also made worse by the nightly chemotherapy drugs. Certainly I wasn’t fully coping emotionally with all this, and that’s why the GP put me on Citalopram.
This month I retired early on health grounds from a high pressure job in a prison. As I feel so much less stressed, I decided to taper off the Citalopram. I am so grateful for this site, because my wife and I seriously wondered whether I was brewing for a stroke (which is one of the dangers of a high platelet count). I feel constantly dizzy – the sort of feeling you get on a rollercoaster when it goes over a summit and starts crashing down the other side.
It’s as if the brain somehow gets left behind. It doesn’t seem to matter whether I’m sitting down, walking or doing something physical like working in our garden: it’s a constant feeling of being spaced and dizzy. Now I understand it’s withdrawal symptoms from this medication. I also struggle to find words, which is really frustrating!!! Clearly it’s a question of letting the drug work out of the system.
I last took a half dose five days ago, so it’s early in the process. So many of the stories I have read this evening on the site are really encouraging and supportive. Thank you all for giving me the realisation that this strange dizziness has a cause. Stay strong all.
I’m so glad I found this page! I’m Bipolar Type II with Anxiety Disorder (and a rapid heartbeat) and it took decades for my doctors and I to find a drug combination that worked. I’d been taking Celexa (originally started on it, then was switched to Lexapro, but went back on Celexa after Medi-Cal stopped covering it) for almost 15 years, along with Lamictal and Zebeta.
My new doctor put me on Trazadone for insomnia and decided to have me taper off of the Celexa because for the longest time the combination was causing nighttime hallucinations. My depth perception would get very wonky in the dark, and I’d see formulas and sentences forming on the walls and doors, and occasionally would see odd little things dangling from the lamp on my nightstand. Oddly specific.
(It’s become a bit of a joke between me and my husband. I’d start to say, “Do you see–?” and he’d cut me off with, “Not really there, hon.” Or I’d suddenly sit up to peer suspiciously at my nightstand, and he’d roll over, take a quick look, shake his head at me and go back to sleep.) I’m always fully aware that they’re hallucinations, but it can get annoying, so off the Celexa I go, tapering the dosage for about three months…and now it’s been two weeks since I went Celexa-free, and I’m miserable. Yeah, the nighttime show has lessened a great deal, but I feel like crap!
“Brain zaps” is directly on-target. What a great description! I’ll start to move my eyes and I get that “zap” and dizziness, and I’ll feel it all through my head and throat, and for a brief moment I can hear my blood rushing through my ears and feel my heart beat very hard in my chest, down my arm and into my fingers. It’s horrible. I’ve also gone back and forth between constipation and diarrhea, and feel like I’m coming down with the flu.
I have a constant low-grade fever and just feel weak and disoriented, and find myself completely drawing a blank when reaching for a word. My writing is suffering because of it. (I looked back over what I’ve written so far and I’m horrified.) AND I just started a new job, so I look like an idiot. I’ve already commiserated with my supervisor about how we lose our minds during menopause, but I dread telling her about this.
Finding this page and reading about what other people have gone through makes me feel so much better. Now that I have a point of reference, I’m not nearly as worried. I know I have to tough it out. Does anyone have any suggestions or home remedies to counter the effects of going off Celexa? I’m waiting to hear back from my doctor, but since it’s Medi-Cal it may take awhile, and anything I can do on my own would be very helpful. But just knowing what’s going on is such a relief. Thank you so much for this!
Hi Diane, I have posted a couple of times but really recommend a vit B complex in the day to stay alert and magnesium at night. Rescue remedy is great if you feel anxious or weepy. It has been six weeks since I came off and the zaps have subsided so they do get better. I found tiger balm was a lifesaver. You have to take it day by day. And give yourself plenty of pats on the back especially starting a new job. Getting of cit/ celexa is a big thing.
I was on 20 mg. I stopped about 8 days ago and now I’ve been dizzy for 2 or 3 days. Apart from that, I FEEL GREAT.
I am updating my earlier post which was after 6 days of cold turkey having been on celexa 40mg. It has now been six weeks. I was lucky the first week or so, then got the most terrible side effects – crying spells, continual anger over the most minor things and some very dark thoughts. Monthlies were very tough going. I decided to read as much as I could.
As I mentioned I have been carrying on with the 10,000ul vit d, and fish oil but have added a b complex and also 50mg of 5htp. I gave up cit/celexa for a variety of different reasons but a major reason was my teeth grinding. I was permanently having sore shoulders headaches etc. After giving up, well the teeth grinding carried on. I took the 5htp before I went to sleep and for the first time in YEARS I had no pain around my jaw, neck and shoulders. Incredible.
It has been two weeks since starting 5htp and on the whole no grinding. Nearly six weeks on, I am pleased to be off cit though doing it cold turkey is unorthodox and everyone is different. The main changes I have noticed are:
-I used to love fried food a few times a week. Since coming off I have eaten a fry up and it doesn’t agree with me whatsoever.
-I can’t watch certain things on tv. So naturally have to switch off.
-My tolerance level is lower. I am more conscious of the effect of social media so have had to use it less.
-Have not seen any significant weight loss as of yet.
-My hair is growing. I suffered a lot of hair loss and in six weeks there are a few more “baby” hairs than previously.
-Whenever I have had anxiety (e.g. a hard day at work) I have been using rescue remedy. It has been another life saver.
I’ve been on Celaxa for 8 years for severe anxiety. For 5 years I took 40mg and then for the last 3 years I’ve taken 20mg. Throughout this period I’ve gradually put on a lot of weight. I’ve been tapering off for the last month and I’m now down to 10mg per day. It’s so frustrating because I just want to stop after all of those years but I know from past experience that withdrawal has to be gradual.
I’ll stick at 10mg for another couple of weeks and then start to drop again. Currently I am very, very tired, just can’t get enough sleep, I have brain zaps, my concentration is not as god as it should be, I have a constant sore head and ringing in my ears. Des anyone else get the ringing? I also experience some dizziness. Reading all the comments here helps. I’m not going to give up and I’m determined to come off this very strong medication.
I want to experience normal emotions again. Yes, that includes the low times but more importantly it means being able to celebrate the good times too. Being on this medication has helped me greatly with anxiety but has turned me into a bit of a zombie. I think I’m in a better place now to deal with my anxiety without the help from the Celexa, however, when I really needed it, it did help.
I was on Celexa for 6 years after a hysterectomy. My Gyn doctor thought it might help with mood swings, night sweats and anxiety. It did help except for the night sweats. I decided with the help of my family doctor to go off celexa. I took 40mg to begin with and took 20 mg for 1 week, then am now on 20 mg every other day for a week then I am suppose to stop. Was having a lot of crying jags and irritability. And yes brain zaps. These withdrawal symptoms are a pain but since I have read this article I feel a lot better about it. Wish me luck. I think I’m going to be just fine.
Hi I’m 38 years old and have been taking 20/40mg citalopram since I was 21! Ran out of tablets about eight days ago decided to go cold turkey taking it a day at a time. Dizziness, slow reaction to things and insomnia are what I’m experiencing at the moment and a fuzzy head, glad I’ve found this site. You forget other people may be going through the same thing!
About 2 weeks ago I stopped taking 40mg of celexa cold turkey after taking it daily for about 4 years. I feel fairly normal physically, but goof grief I am experiencing A LOT of irritation to the point that I don’t even want to be around myself right now. I feel like I’m having PMS symptoms x10. Anyone else having this problem?
I only took citalopram for roughly 6 months. I started at 20mg following my divorce from a marriage of 24 years that I didn’t want and was shocked to be a part of. At the 20mg dose I was so lethargic and tired all the time I could barely function at work. I started cutting the pills in half to 10mg. That helped somewhat with the tiredness and didn’t make much difference with the depression. I wanted off this drug so cut the dose in half again and took 5 mg for about a week and then quit taking it altogether.
The withdrawal is awful. I’ve been off completely for about 3 weeks and still feeling nauseous, dizzy and having brain zaps. My doctor recommended going back on at a low dose and re-withdrawing. No freakin way. This drug was never a good fit for me and I would never go back on it for any reason. The withdrawals are slowly lessening so I will stick it out until I’m back to normal. Will try and let you all know how long that takes.
I stopped taking it about 2 weeks ago. I was in 20mg a day and the first thing I noticed was the lethargy. I still can’t go through the day without needing to take a 4 hour nap when I get home from work, then go to bed at normal time. Then there are some days I can’t sleep at all when I need to go to bed. The other major symptom is my concentration.
People can be talking to me and I literally cannot pay attention to what they said. It’s not that I’m distracted by other thoughts, it just feels like my brain has stopped working for a minute and there aren’t any thoughts there. Even after they repeat themselves it takes a lot of effort to pay attention.
Thank You for this site. I seriously thought I was losing my mind and thought of going back on Celexa. I am terribly fatigued, having memory loss or cloudy thinking. I gained 25 lbs while on this drug. I am back to the gym but finding it hard to get there due to the fatigue. I gradually took myself off Celexa, from 20 to 10 to 5 over a 2 months time.
The confusion, foggy brain, lack of patience and dizziness are my current symptoms…oh and a wee bit of nausea though that might be for a different reason. I just found out today that I am pregnant and am grateful I went off Celexa when I did. It’s only been 6 days but I am only JUST pregnant. I too went cold turkey, from 20 mg for 3 1/2 years to nothing.
I’d been off it before for a few weeks when I was unable to afford my meds, and it seems somehow easier this time around. Maybe because I knew what to expect, regardless I basically came on here to find out how long it was supposed to last. Looks like I’ll be feeling high for my first trimester…lol. Should make life interesting for my my family. :)
I stopped taking Celexa 40mg after nearly a year on 40mg I stopped cold turkey. For the first 3 weeks I had terrible diarrhea and insomnia. It’s now been about 5 weeks and all that has gone I am just left with a lot of irritation I can snap at people and get annoyed very quickly BUT I am functioning a lot better and don’t feel as emotionally restricted as I did on celexa.
I started with 40 mg in Feb 2008. It was not depression, I had chest pains and felt dizzy. Also had acid reflux. All went away the first pill I took. After that my doctor told me not to stop until in 2011 I was have bad electrical feelings in my body. I went back to my doctor and he wrote a prescription for 60mg daily. I did the opposite I was cutting the 40mg in half and was taking 20mg daily. Guess what the electrical feelings disappeared.
That means I was on the 40mg for a long time and I should have cut back in it. So I had my doctor prescribe me 10mg daily since 2013. 4 days ago I quit cold turkey. I am having mild headaches, dizziness, bad dreams. I think my body was ready to quit because I was waking up in the middle of the night with a feeling of my body under fire and feeling hot with no temperature at all. I was panicking and got up and started to shake it off then I was able to go back to sleep again. Didn’t have that feeling since I quit
I think it has been about 9 days for me, I ran out and thought maybe this would be a good time to stop. Quitting cold turkey was probably not the smartest thing, I’ve been on anti-depressants for 18 years, 40 mg of citalopram for the past 8 years. The withdrawal symptoms have been awful. I keep reminding myself that it will pass, but it’s so difficult when you’re in the middle of it.
The dizziness, irritability, brain zaps, fogginess, fatigue (feels like I can’t get enough sleep) have been the worst. I also feel like it is so unfair to my kids to have to deal with a confused grumpy mom lol. Wondering if maybe I should go to the doctor and try to taper down before quitting completely. Thank you all for sharing your experiences, it helps to know that others understand…that I’m not the only one.
Returned to drop a comment on my withdrawal, I posted on Sept 15 that I had just started to wean myself off Cipramil myself, well, i took half a tablet (10mg) every day for 2 weeks, then 10 mg every 2 days for the next 2 weeks. I shall keep it at that for another 2, so far I have been quite normal, if that’s what I remember normal to be! No brain zaps, even temperament, not too foggy, so far so good. I’m hoping after next fortnight I shall have 10 mg every 3 days, then taper a bit more.
It’s better than cold turkey or fast tapering. And I urge anyone out there who still has to take other meds anyway, and hasn’t got a pill box…get one! You won’t forget, specially if you set an alarm on your phone for the same time each day. At least you’ll be able to see the last time you took a pill if you get too forgetful. Good luck to everyone out there trying to get off this poisonous stuff.
I am currently withdrawing from Celexa. My doctor had me on 40mg for years then I felt like it stopped working so I got off it. Went from 40mg for years to 20mg for 3 days then 10mg for 3 days then I started Wellburtrin 150mg. I feel so terrible and sick. When will the symptoms of withdrawal end?
I haven’t taken any Celexa for around 2 weeks and was surprised at the dizziness and nausea I was experiencing. I had no idea that quitting this could bring on these symptoms. I was taking 40 mg doses. I’m looking forward to being drug free again. I hope to lose some of the weight I’ve gained over the last 3 years since I started using it.
I’ve been on Celexa 10mg for about two-three weeks, I’m almost 18 in my senior year of high school and the side effects are getting very hard to deal with. I used to love reading but I can’t seem to do any of that with my blurred vision, which is causing horrible headaches. I wake up in the night constantly feeling hopeless and abnormal, like I’ll never feel right again. Thoughts of suicide are intense when I wake up like this, and I feel (as I read in earlier comments) like my head is struggling to catch up with my body. Either my heart rate’s been abnormal or I’m overreacting. I’ve been reading a lot of comments on this trying to decide whether or not I need to quit taking my Celexa or push through this feeling. Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you so much for this information! It has been a month now since my last dose of 20mgs and my head still gets the “zaps” as you call them or “swirls” as I call them! The low fatigue is also a issue that I wondered about, and concentration wow! You explained everything perfectly. I wish I had looked this information up sooner, thinking there might be something else wrong with me ;)
I hope it doesn’t take ninety days!! But, at least I know what the problem is now and I will just forge on. I have been off and on Celexa for years, and am in a much better place in my life, so I know I will reap the benefits of being off it… but am well aware of how great it worked through my anxious times. Thanks again.
I have stopped celexa 20mg for past 3-4 weeks I think. I have brain zaps daily that drive me crazy, I cry at drop off a hat. I’m irritable, moody, mean, depressed, all the symptoms. It’s driving me nuts. I had gained tons of weight. Can’t get in any of my clothes. Why do Dr’s put people on this sh*t? I feel worse than ever. I will never take a antidepressant again. I’m done. I just hope I live through this hell. I’m a RN on top of all this. Poor patients.
I posted on day 35 how well I was doing in hopes of letting others know that the withdrawal symptoms won’t last forever. After I had posted, I did have some more not so good days, but here I am at day 59 and most of my days are now good. I thank God for my very patient husband, and for helping me get through this ordeal. There is hope! It does get better!
I am now into my 8th week of withdrawal of 20mg over 7 years. I wish I could say I feel much better. The brain zaps and the feeling of dizziness and nausea has stopped but the fatigue is unbearable. I am lucky not to be working because I would certainly not been able to cope otherwise. Because of the extreme tiredness I am snappy, irritable and depressed. Yesterday I decided to “give in” to it and slept for 21 hours on and off, only getting up to go to the toilet and eat.
I don’t know where to turn, I know going back on them is not an option but can’t cope with this this! I thought I would be over the worst of it by now but I am sure its getting worse. I have had a quick search on here to see if anyone returned here to say it was all worth it and how much better they feel for it now but cant find one. Its now at the point I think there must be something wrong with me and am going to have some blood tests done just in case. Whatever the outcome of the next few months I shall return to let you know.
Hi Sue and Everyone, I am also going on my 3rd month withdrawal. This is week 9. I feel awful and think maybe there is something else wrong with me. I feel too sick to even go to the doctor. I am very scared. I too will come back & post after this is over. Can someone post who has made it through this?
This Board is a lifesaver for me. I feel so awful during this withdrawal. It feels like it is never going to end. My doctor has not been helpful. I saw here where someone asked about Benadryl (diphenhydramine). Has this been found to be helpful? I take Benadryl (1/4) tablet throughout the day because I have shortness of breath – not so much now that I have stopped taking Cipramil.
I do take it at night to help me sleep. Are there any bad effects from Benadryl? It was good to read about Epsom Salts. I have been using them for a long time because they just made me feel good. I don’t know how people go to work or perform their daily activities while withdrawing. This is so hard!
I quit Celexa ‘cold-turkey’ after six years. About a week and a half off now.I was taking 40 mg. The weight gain was affecting my health. My high blood pressure is affected by weight and my weight has gone up and up since starting Celexa and I couldn’t seem to lose ANY of it!! The doctors were going to put me on different, stronger blood pressure medicine because the rise in the blood pressure couldn’t be controlled.
Now I know why. I didn’t even know it was the Celexa doing this!!! I am so very glad I found this page because the ‘discontinuation’ symptoms are horrible! I wish I never started this drug and will never take it again. I just went through a ‘crying jag’ like I never had before and felt like I was losing my mind. I am so irritable that I’m snapping at everyone. I had no idea it was from Celexa discontinuation.
I’ve read all the posts and I feel so much better knowing I’m not losing my mind and that, through time, things will get better. I am trying a low-dose 5 HTP to help. I took 100 mg. of 5 HTP within the first few days of coming off Celexa and I definitely would NOT recommend doing that!! Evidently, I still had lots of Seratonin in my brain and I had all the symptoms of a Serotonin overdose — nausea, vomiting, the ‘runs,’ heart palpitations, etc.
I couldn’t understand this either, as I had taken 5 HTP at various times in my life with no problems — now there were problems. So I waited two weeks and started taking a low dose instead of the 100 mgs. I just started the low dose today after my raging-crying fit!!! The weight is starting to come off and my blood pressure seems to be dropping. As I said, I wish I never started this drug and I was at a point where it didn’t seem to be working anymore.
All of your stories and the main article have given me hope and cleared my head about what’s really going on. I’m also going to try to ‘push on’ via exercise, good food, good sleep, etc. and try not to focus on the symptoms. Thank all of you lovely people for sharing your stories and saving my sanity!!
I was only on 10 mgs Cipramil for 9 months. I cut down to 5 mgs. Before this I was on Prozac for many years. I have been off the Cipramil for 2 months now. I have just started feeling what seems to be withdrawal symptoms – lightheaded, feeling feverish, extreme anxiety, feeling like I’m going to pass out – overall sick. I was fine for 2 months. On a positive note, the negative aspects of the medication have disappeared – skin rash, itching, compulsiveness. I thought I was in the clear. Can this happen after 2 months?
Hello, I’m 18 years old and started taking celexa when I was 16. I am currently on 20mg of celexa for about only 2 years now. I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon, but, I have noticed I go days without it sometimes (just forgetting to get re-fills) like right now it’s been 4 days and I’ve had absolutely horrible withdrawal symptoms.
It gets worse throughout the day but once I get my dose in me tomorrow when I pick it up, I know I will feel better the next day. Always happens! But, I’m just concerned about getting off of it when that day comes. I take this medication for anxiety not depression and I do not want my anxiety symptoms to come back, or even worsen. Everyone’s comments have been helpful though. Thank you all, Brandon
I just stumbled upon this site recently and have been finding it very helpful. I’m almost 18 and just started taking Celexa 10mg, this is about the second or third week I’ve been on it and the side effects are never ending. My vision is blurry, I would go as far as to say my mind hurts. It’s hard to motivate myself and even harder to get a good night’s sleep. I don’t want to quit due to fear of withdrawal symptoms, but if that means I feel normal again I need it. Did you go through this kind of stage when you started? If so how long did it last?
I quit taking citalopram cold turkey almost three weeks ago. I feel completely horrible most of the day each day. I experience pretty much every symptom I’ve read about. I am now having the nightmare and nausea symptoms. It’s almost like a gauntlet. The brain zaps, to headaches, dizziness, etc., etc. This medication, along with many others is poison and I really wish I was never prescribed it. All due to one anxiety attack.
I’m gonna get some OTC nausea medication. If that doesn’t help, I’m gonna have to start taking the poison again. This crap, feeling ill everyday, gets old and is very hard to deal with. I would rather just have an anxiety attack.
I agree. I’ve only been on 10mg for three weeks and it’s making my vision so blurry and my head so flustered that I’m struggling to find words I would have otherwise thought of sooner. The sleep problems are really bad also, I’ve talked about it with people who have been on it for longer than me and they say this is a normal stage in the process but I feel very abnormal and awkward most times. I really wish I would’ve stayed away from it, but now that I’m thinking of quitting it’s a scary thought.
I took citalopran for 4 years and did well on it but my naturopath told me it has been linked to memory loss. I get it over the counter here in Mexico, where I live and it cost next to nothing. I have been completely off it almost 6 weeks now. I am less patient, quicker to anger and more judgmental of others but because I withdrew slowly the only other problem is I wake up after 5-6 hours sleep and have trouble going back to sleep because of anxiety that I won’t go back to sleep.
I take a tiny bit of xanex (.25mg) but wondered if others are having trouble sleeping too. I am 63 years old. I have worked on my depression through a 12 step program ACA (Adult Children of Alcoholic or dysfunctional family) and it has helped me a lot. Along with an excellent therapist I no longer see. I am trying to stay active swimming and walking but it is hard with only 5-6 hours of sleep some nights. Any suggestions?
I have just had one of the worst evenings of the last 6 years of my life until I hopped onto this site. I have just weaned off 20mg of Cipramil over 2 weeks (under doc’s orders)and feel like stabbing people! Weaning suggested due to migraines and clash of medications but I have felt worse than I have been for years. Brain zaps have been VERY intense, foggy, sleepy, irritated, and I am a carer for someone with MS, who REALLY has reason to be irritated!
I think the weaning was too fast. Weight gain has been a running joke for 3 years, tonight I cried as I realize it didn’t have to be! Sex drive has been an issue too, I’m so angry THAT didn’t have to be either! I’ve cried at the supermarket, at the TV, and screamed at my companion bird,(who hasn’t come out of her box since). I’m so very angry that I’m just finding out about the symptoms of being ON this drug let alone coming OFF it!
I know things will get easier, but I have started a minimal dose again to ease myself off properly. I am only 5 feet tall, and was 46kg when I started on the drug. I am now 56kg. That alone has been an issue, but was told by the doc it was my age. I just turned 50. I think I shall be seeing another doctor from now on. Thank you all who have inspired me tonight to be positive instead of going for a very long walk in the bush.
My 4 year experience ON citalopram was a mixed bag. Instantly felt better and more calm, which declined to a steady neutral to slightly positive mood for the duration. Sexual side effects (an-orgasmia) began after about two weeks, partly subsided after six (difficult, but more intense), then after about 8 months, it was as if my body could still have them, but my mind couldn’t really feel it. I gained 30 lbs without changing my diet. My spouse says that I was more ‘distant’ and less engaged, especially in conversation.
Sexual desire was decreased… although it wasn’t really lack of interest more than just lack of self-motivation. I wanted to want to, but I usually just didn’t have the initiative to start anything. I’d initially feel a little irritated/interrupted when my spouse would initiate intimacy, but it only took a minute or two to get my interest. I was always receptive (sometimes a deliberate choice to be,) but it still frustrated my spouse to always be the one who had to initiate.
Also, citalopram made me forgetful… mostly short term and day-to-day stuff. Not debilitating, but I did find it frustrating. Anyway, circumstances in my life had changed, so I was mostly still taking it just because the withdrawal symptoms were so bad and so long lasting. Like many, my getting off citalopram (especially cold turkey) wasn’t really my choice.
The ACA going into effect resulted in a HUGE turnover and loss of primary care physicians in my area, so the waiting list to be seen for refill purposes went from a week and a half to 8 weeks if you were lucky. I wasn’t. By the time I was able to GET an appointment, I was already 6 weeks into withdrawal symptoms (AGAIN) and was tired of finding myself in this provider-refill delay mess repeatedly and decided to just deal with the withdrawal.
I’d been through this sort of thing a few times before. A couple of times I saw it coming and rationed or split doses, so I’ve done citalopram withdrawal both with a taper and cold turkey. I never had problems -while- tapering and rationing even down to 2.5 mg, but I found no difference in symptoms or intensity once I stopped. For the first 4 days, I have no symptoms. Then, I start to wake up at night hearing a ‘swish’ when my eyes move side to side. At a week, I feel flu like and it lasts about 7 days.
At two weeks, I’m irritable and the night time eye swishing is better, but I’m constantly exhausted, dizzy, have the occasional brain zap, but definitely the ‘brain left behind when turning my head or looking sideways,’ bit. After driving for half an hour in traffic, I usually have to lie down for a while. That comes and goes to some extent for the next 6 to 8 weeks and I get to a point where I can’t tell if I’m actually so exhausted that I’m dizzy, or so dizzy that I’m exhausted.
I’m now 10 weeks into complete withdrawal after 3 weeks of tapering/rationing. My base mood is pretty much the same. The sexual side effects have subsided, desire is more normal, my spouse says I’m no longer distant, etc… My memory returned to normal after about 5 weeks. I’m still somewhat dizzy, especially when tired and I’m tired almost all of the time. The ‘brain left behind’ thing is still prominent, especially after driving or reading for a long period of time, so I think it’s related to eye movement and that night time side to side eye swishing experience.
I’m irritable, but I find that it probably isn’t a withdrawal symptom anymore, as much as it’s probably just not remembering how to actually deal with irritation after so many years of the medication doing it for me. Anyway, as I said, I’m the better part of three months into withdrawals and I’m still tempted to go back on the citalopram on a daily basis just to get rid of the discontinuation effects. At this point, I don’t know how long they’re going to last, but it definitely wasn’t ‘a couple of weeks.’ From how things have gone, I’m expecting to be dealing with it for another couple of months.
I will close by stating that I have the luxury of being a stay-at-home parent through all of this, so I -do- have the ability to sit regularly, lie down, hold still and take naps when the kids allow. If I were still working my 11 hour per day engineering job, I’d -have- to have gone back on the medication. There would have been no way for me to deal with the withdrawal symptoms and not lose my job for performance, safety and liability reasons.
This forum is a godsend! Sending you all love and prayers on your journey. I have been on Cit since June 2011. First on 20 mg and then due to a stressful job and circumstances this was increased to 40mg. I have put on 42 pounds with a BMI now making me close to morbidly obese (I was bigger before being on Cit as well). It wrecked my confidence and caused depression and further anxiety. And I was constantly hungry!
I took the step of going cold turkey 6 days ago. My appetite has definitely been reduced. Getting the brain zaps, headaches and general tiredness. Have a very persistent dry cough. I have been using tiger balm for my head. Also taking 10,000 IU of vitamin D and drinking camomile tea before I go to sleep. Drinking plenty of water which is keeping my throat moist. Also have a high concentration fish oil. I will update further in a week or so.
I have been on celexa for just over three years. 5 months ago I went from 20mg to nothing in two weeks. I ended up in the ER for these brain zaps and felt like every time I moved my head my brain would have to adjust. I thought it was anxiety attacks. Then my doctor said it was withdrawals. After that, I went on 40 mg to 20 to 10 to 5 after 5 months of tapering, I am off all as of three days ago. The feelings are familiar but not nearly as bad. I really hope I’m good in a week or so because I really want off the celexa.
Thank you all for writing. I’ve been taking Celexa for 15 years. The last few years I’ve been taking 60 mg. My primary care dr. told me there is a risk for heart problems, and I have had heart palpitations. I’ve been taking 40 mg for the last 3 months and some of the withdrawal symptoms. Your words have given me hope. I’m scared. Wonder if I’ll be on the drug forever. I don’t feel like doing much, not interested in some of the things I used to be. Keeping myself going is so exhausting. Luckily I work full time and this keeps my mind focused on other things during the day.
I have been going through the same awful withdrawal symptoms after tapering off celexa. As I was going through it, I kept reading the comments on this site looking for some hope that eventually I would feel normal again. I am posting now because I am indeed starting to feel like myself again. I am on day 35 of no celexa. Today was a great day! I actually laughed today! So, if anyone is feeling as I was, thinking I would never get through this, there is hope. It does happen! It did for me.
I was taking 10mg of citralopram for about 4 years. Two months ago I decided I no longer needed the meds and I cut my dosage in half. In the third month and feeling OK. Some days I am more anxious than others. Each day a little better. Acupunture helps me. I go once a week. I plan on tapering very slowly. I got my Doctor to give me a script for liquid so I can control the gradual taper. When I first tried to get off citralopram I did the every other day routine. That is not the way to do it. Your body and brain chemistry needs it everyday.
My family has a history of severe depression. I am 55 and have been taking meds since I was 20. I guess I thought after all these years that research would bring us closer to something that really works but each time I see a health professional it is the same old guessing game. A month ago I decided to quit cold turkey the citalopram 40 mg I have been on for a very long time.
Today I was about to start taking them again and found this site. The crying spells were getting to me more than the other symptoms but the others are also present. Here is hoping that my dependency on these drugs will come to an end with better results than I have witnessed being on them
This site has been my savior over the last 5 weeks, its only today I have the strength and motivation to post myself. I have been on citalopram 20mg for 7 years whilst I was in a violent 16 year marriage. He eventually left me for another woman 5 years ago. I found out by a note he left me and all his belongings taken from our house. At this point in my life I truly believe my meds saved my life.
Yes my life was in pieces but had it not been for citalopram it would have been much much worse. Since then I met the kindest man imaginable and although discussed with my doctor was always dissuaded from coming off them. So 5 weeks ago I took the bull by the horns and went complete cold turkey. It’s been hell! All the withdrawal symptoms mentioned and more. I seriously considered ending my life as I thought this was how I was going to feel forever.
But now after 5 weeks I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I am still chronically fatigued and as yet no weight loss (I have gained 3 stone in 7 years), but boy what a difference now. I seriously do not advise cold turkey, but get off the damn things if you can. Good luck everyone.
I gradually tapered off celexa 20 mg after over 10 years of being on it. I am now at 7 weeks of nothing and I’m feeling so defeated. I cry over everything and nothing. My doctor says that is me and no longer withdrawal symptoms. After reading this article I don’t think she is right. I have actually gained more weight being off of it. I don’t want to be on medication for life. Is this normal?
Hi everyone. Glad I found you! I’m a 51 year old female. I’ve been on different types of antidepressants for 25 years with Celexa being the best of the best! I have been on Celexa for the past 10 years or so, 80 mgs. It changed my life for the better, along with Seroquel for my anxiety/panic disorder. I quit the Seroquel about 5 years ago and the Celexa has been wonderful on its own.
About a year and a half ago my psychiatrist had to drop my dosage down to 40 mgs because he heard larger doses contribute to heart problems. It has been a little more difficult on 40 mgs as my avoidance behaviors came back, (avoiding people because I fear them and not going far from home for fear of a panic attack) but things were manageable. But for the past year I’ve noticed my depression is back.
Each day is a struggle to get up and live, a major effort to force a smile or even talk to people at work, and at home not wanting to do anything but watch TV, and also being scared to travel too far from home. I figure heck with it – if I’m on Celexa and still depressed I might as well be depressed OFF Celexa. Goodbye ole friend. I’m almost a week off cold turkey and the nausea is hard to take, it’s the worst! The brain zaps I can deal with.
It almost feels good to cry again. I’m not having a problem sleeping, but I do miss the drowsiness Celexa gave me at night. I’ve been feeling like I don’t even know who I am for awhile now so maybe without meds I will find out. I’m just scared to death to have my anxiety, panic attacks and agoraphobia return. I see a new psychiatrist in a few weeks as mine retired a couple months ago. I will see if I can “do” life without meds.
I also appreciate this information. I have taken various antidepressants, on and off, for about 40 years. Citalopram is the one that actually made me feel better, and I’ve taken it for 5 years. Then my psychiatrist recommended stopping and for some reason, I did. Withdrawal has been a nightmare, many of the symptoms you list above. It’s been six weeks now, and symptoms are less but not gone. It’s a miracle that I wasn’t locked up somewhere. Thank you very much for the information, which is helping me work through this and vow never to touch the stuff again.
OMG I’M SO GLAD I FOUND THIS FORUM! I recently found out I was about 13 weeks pregnant and since then had no choice but to get off my celexa per my doctor’s advice. Well, they tapered me off slowly over the last 30 days and I am now completely off of it as of 9 days ago! HOWEVER, the withdrawal symptoms are so severe I feel like I’m going to crawl out of my skin. Everything little thing bugs me! The brain zaps and what I’m thinking are heart palpitations, are freaking me out and seem to never stop unless I’m sleeping!
The migraine headaches have been debilitating. My husband thinks I’m a mess because one minute I’m fine and the next minute I’m so on edge and miserable I could just cry or scream. On top of this I am dealing with normal pregnancy hormones. Please make these symptoms stop! Is there anything I can eat or drink or do to help make them go away faster? How long does this feeling last? I’m so bummed…
Hi, I’ve been drug free for 4 weeks having been on 20mg for around 4 years. The symptoms are currently as bad as they have ever been, but it gives me strength to know that I am just going through a process and it will gradually subside in time. I’ve been feeling sick almost constantly for the last week now and it’s so temping to start taking them again…
Hi fellow withdrawers, I’ve been on Citalopram for 14 years and my doctor decided to have me try going off. She had me taper from 40 mg to 20 mg over a two week period, then stop after a week, which I thought was pretty fast. The first few days I felt great, then the brain zaps and dizzy-when-you-turn-your-head episode started. Having nausea bugs me the most, but when I burp it gets better :) I didn’t realize it caused weight gain until I looked online recently (that explains why I have blown up like a balloon). I’ve already lost 4 pounds in a week…yay! I will continue this rocky road, taking care of myself along the way; I know it will be worth it!!
Thank you for this thread. Made me cry and just feel so much better to know I am not alone. I have been on lexapro for 18 month after the birth of my child. Then tapered slowly and didn’t experience any physical side effects for a month. Then my brain went to a state of shock and severe depression, anxiety, insomnia kicked in. I have been off the medication for 55 days and still have so much sadness, hopelessness and anxiety in my life. It is better than 2 weeks ago but the progress is so slow and exhausting. Sometime I wonder if I am getting better at all. On the bright side suffering is making me a better, more spiritual person. I started going to church. I try to not judge people harshly. I learn to let things go. I wish all of you best of luck, my thoughts are with you. Everything passes and this will too. Hang on, learn from this and take one day at a time!
I have been on Celexa, up and down 10mg to 40mg, for about 6 years. I was on 30 mg for about a year and a half and have gained about 20 pounds. I took this drug because of severe depression after the breakup of a 27 year (rocky) relationship. I feel more in my element now and am starting to taper off. I am now taking 20 mg and will do this for about 2 or 3 weeks then 10 mg for 2 weeks then cut in half (5mg) for about a week or 10 days. Please wish me luck, I want to stand on my own two feet without drugs! If I cry that may do me good and get my libido back. I want to LIVE!
I took 20mg of this for about 3 years for anxiety and mild depression. It really helped clear up my panic attacks and anxiety, BUT it made me not give a shit about things I really should have. It also made me not present in my own life. I decided to go off this drug and it’s been 18 months now and the hardest thing to do in my life because although I weaned off VERY SLOWLY because I am very sensitive, it was HELL.
I ended up with full blown depression, worse than I ever had before medication. I was not warned about severe side effects from weaning off the meds. It’s potentially life threatening. I don’t advise stopping cold turkey. Now I take a natural supplement – 5HTP and feel way better for it. Actually feel like myself, I can appreciate beauty and nature and life… whereas on the meds I just was lost. Weaning off was hell, I had to re-learn to handle my emotions again, I was a crying, miserable, tortured mess. Good luck!
I tried to come off this drug after 6 years at the start of this year, but freaked out and went back on after a few months; due to side effects. I did not taper off properly, so I am trying again and doing it properly this time. I’m nervous and know it will be hard, but reading all these posts are giving me more confidence. I don’t want to rely on a drug for my entire life. I eat well, exercise and meditate; I know I can do this. Hang in there everyone else who is on this journey… remember that you’re not alone; we get it!
Courtney, I just wrote a comment similar to yours…you can do it!
I am 8 days off citalopram and today is the worst day. I was taking 40mg for about 2 years, 20mg for while before that, as my circumstances have improved this year I made the decision that I did not want to be 60 and dependent on antidepressants anymore. I asked my Dr the best way to taper off and begun this in May, going from 40mg to 30mg to 20mg to 10mg, lowering it every 2-3 weeks to get it down gradually.
So I am now Day 8 drug free and am determined to not go back on it. I have not had any yearning for sex in years and I gained 3 stone in weight, spent £100,s at slimming world with no success not knowing that citalopram was to blame for both, and I have a wonderful understanding husband. I am now trying to get through the next couple of weeks of feeling like rubbish, dizzy, nauseous, tired, and low mood to name a few symptoms. I hope that all my zing comes back but who can tell. Does it?