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 took the generic version of Celexa for almost 3 years. I took 10 mg everyday but sometimes I took at lease 20 mg to get me through the entire day. I had anxiety and it did help me cope with it. A couple weeks ago I just decided I would be getting off of this medicine once and for all. I feel I can deal with my anxiety in different ways and not with medicine.
I have been fully off this medicine for going on 5 days now. My brain feels foggy, and I can not focus at all. I cannot imagine you all who took way more of a dose. I weaned myself off for a week with only taking 5 mg. I haven’t gotten sick (yet) but oh the brain fog and sometimes I cannot focus like I was able to. I’m ready for these discontinuation symptoms to stop.
I didn’t realize how much that little darn bill affected me. Oh as I am typing this the grogginess is starting again. My mornings are not bad at all but after 1 pm the lightheaded feeling starts and the dull headache starts. A nap sometimes helps but not all the time. I hope it only takes a couple weeks to get back to normal.
I have been on 40mg of Celexa for 4 years. I am just now coming off of it and officially no longer taking the drug. I have been nauseous, dizzy and have terrible migraines. I’m so mad that I took this drug for this long if these are the effects my body has to not receiving it.
I am on day 9 after a slow taper. I never took a very high dosage, 30 mg at the highest point. I took it for menopausal depression for about 7 months. I took 10 mg for 2 months at the end, and then every other day for a week before stopping. I was doing so well for the first week, I was not concerned about withdrawal symptoms.
Well, they have arrived with bells and whistles! My symptoms showed up on day 7. It began with the dizziness and a few aches and pains. Day 6 brought flu like symptoms that really have gotten bad enough today I left work after two hours. My brain is sluggish and my concentration sucks. I am a legal assistant, so this is no bueno!
I was not too concerned because I figured it would be over in a day or two. I guess I’m a little off base in that thinking. I will never take this again. I have been praying for God to intervene. I would appreciate your prayers, as well. I will update in a week or so.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this website. At least I know I’m not going crazy now. I asked my doc if these symptoms were from withdrawal and she sent me information regarding dizziness due to low blood pressure or lack of hydration. Looking for a new doc tomorrow!!!
Same here Laura… I’ve been tested for everything and doc looks at me like I am nuts when I ask if it possible that my symptoms are from the Celexa… yet I feel the same way everyone on this site does. The dizziness is the absolute worst!
I had been on either Zoloft or Celexa since 1999. I weaned myself off of Celexa over the course of a few years going from 30mg down to 10mg. I was then taking 10mg every other day and then every 3rd day etc. I stopped taking Celexa altogether in September 2015. I had the brain zaps or as I called them power surges, dizziness, foggy memory and diarrhea.
The dizziness and brain zaps have stopped but the diarrhea is still very bad waking me at least once a night and then occurring 3 or 4 times during the day. I told my doctor about it and she ordered, a complete blood count, urinalysis, EKG, and colonoscopy. Blood test, EKG and urinalysis came back all normal.
I had the colonoscopy on Feb 2nd. The results were no diverticula, and the mucosa looked normal throughout. Several biopsies were taken to rule out microscopic colitis. No infection found in the stool samples and ultimately no colitis. That’s all reassuring. All tests came back as normal. I am going back to the Gastroenterologist to discuss this Celexa-diarrhea connection.
It’s the only thing I can conclude. I am taking probiotic VSL #3 with breakfast. It does help with the diarrhea…sometimes. At this point I feel so out of sorts. The wieght I gained on Celexa has come off. I went from 191 pounds down to my current 183 since September 2015. I am hoping this diarrhea stops soon. I am considering going back on Celexa at the 10mg level to see if that helps. Hanging on with all my might.
I had a lot of digestive issues with my withdrawals but nothing as severe as you Ken. However, I came off citalopram totally (after a taper) in Sept 2015 up until last Friday I thought I was over the withdrawals but I have a lot of tingling in my ankles, wrists and teeth, some anxiety/depression and feel like I have a stomach bug…
I think I’m having withdrawals again. As soon as I felt the tingling I suspected it as it is really reminiscent of the way I felt previously. Is this possible? Has anyone else felt that the withdrawals come and go. I’ve felt really good for the past 6 weeks! I would appreciate any feedback. Thanks.
My doctor did the exact same thing! Said the dizziness was low blood pressure and didn’t acknowledge when I asked if my palpitations could be due to withdrawal.
Hi, I’m 4 months off citalopram and I feel great, so it does get better. The only withdrawals I have now are minor itchy skin. skin crawling sensations and a little anxiety. I have lost all the weight I put on over the 2 years (about a stone), am motived and can get lots done and don’t have that horrible black-hole despair that can engulf you.
My withdrawals went as follows:
Month 1 – Mainly physical stuff… bad headaches, foggy brain, confusion, stomach issues, tiredness, snapping at my family, anger, bad dreams
Month 2 – All the mental stuff… getting overwhelmed, depression, anxiety, deep despair, feeling there was no end to it.
It gets better hang on in there. Exercise and listening to a depression hypnotherapy app helped me.
My advice is always taper this drug off, never ever go cold turkey. I took Citalopram for 6 years, i decided to come off it because I started to get twitching muscles especially at night, and it was keeping my husband awake. I was on 20mg per tablet, I dropped 1 tablet per month for 7 months then when I was down to only taking 1 per week I did this for 6 weeks then I stopped.
Even though I took a fair time weaning off them the first week off them I thought I was coming down with flu. I had a bad headache every day and my limbs ached, the 2nd week the headaches stopped, but I still ached and found getting off to sleep difficult, the third week I find I am now ok and my sleep patterns seem to have gone back to normal.
It is a powerful drug, and just stopping without tapering throws the whole body into turmoil. I did it over 8 months and still had 3 weeks of symptoms, but these were not severe and I was able to cope with them. But I say it again NEVER EVER just stop, it can do untold damage.
I decided to stop taking my Celexa. I have been on 30mg for 1 year. I stopped cold turkey about 8 days ago. I also just quit smoking, 29 days ago. All I can say is that I have been having unbearable aggression. I cannot tolerate much. My family wonders what is wrong with me as I have always been a very sweet & loving person. I feel like I am going insane and I cry too much every day. My face is still feeling weird with a tingling sensation. I sure hope these symptoms subside soon!
I am writing to let you know it DOES get better! I found this website when I was at my absolute WORST! I had been on 20 mg of Citalopram for 6 years to treat anxiety that literally came out of nowhere one day at the age of 36. Citalopram (Celexa) changed me. I had no drive, no energy, and no motivation to be an active participant in the world. I floated through life not really experiencing much joy in anything.
Completely the opposite of my personality. My husband and children suffered along with me. At year five I decided it was time to get off the meds. I started taking 10 mg and did that for about 10 months. Then I went to 5 mg for a few weeks. One week I was travelling and had an overnight flight. I forgot to take my pill two nights in a row. And then it started, the brain zaps. I had experienced them before when I would miss a dose.
I decided it was time and stopped taking the 5 mg. WOW! General confusion, inability to form sentences, headaches, moodiness, sluggishness, depressed feelings, stomach pains and bowel issues. All the things mentioned in the article above and others commented on… but the brain zaps were the worst. Constantly feeling like Max Headroom (from the 80s TV show) getting electrocuted, all the clicking and buzzing that happens.
It’s so hard to explain to people who have never experienced it. That’s when I found this thread and saw so many others with the same experiences. So I fought the urge to go back on the medication to make it all stop. It has been 1 month. I hadn’t realized the brain zaps subsided until I went to bed last night and my husband asked how I was feeling. I went a whole day without a single zap!!
My motivation is returning, I spent the weekend doing projects around the house that were long overdue. I feel better overall, like I am returning to my old self. I still have random moments of crying for no reason that started about a week after stopping the Citalopram. But I can sense that I am definitely getting through the withdrawal. I wanted to come back to this post to tell anyone else suffering that it does get better!
I was petrified to think I would experience these symptoms for months! But in the grand scheme of life, months is a mere fraction. Stay strong, rely on your support system, and know that there is an end to the confusion, even if you can’t see it now.
I have been on Celexa 20mg for over 15 years only stopping when I was pregnant. About 6 months ago I started feeling “Foggy” and exhausted and after many doc appointments and tests that ruled other problems out we finally decided it was this medication making me feel this way. I was switched to Prozac which made me feel like I was jumping out of my skin,increased my anxiety and just gave me a general overall feeling of craziness. I decided to come off everything. I am now 9 days Celexa free and this dizziness and nausea cannot go away soon enough! My acid reflux is out of control and my stomach full of gas and bloat. I really hope this goes away soon!
Please read either the entire text or from the section labled (TL;DR) ~3/4 of the way down. If you don’t want to read that read the Disclaimer on the bottom at the very least. You are on this website section for a reason just read it.
Just a quick comment on my personal experience with citalopram. I was prescribed this medication initially at a 20mg dose and was gradually incremented to 40mg over the course of about a year. This medication was paired with lithium to treat a pretty serious mental collapse I had just experience. These medications were prescribed to me to treat rather social anxiety and depression that had manifested itself during what doctors called a manic episode.
Anyways, I’ll try to further explain my situation and experience with these drugs briefly. (TL;DR section below)
D-day (i.e. Day of mental collapse) : Get to hospital, undergo psych evaluation, doctor notes indicate that I’m manic (euphoric & without a filter on what comes out of my mouth)… = give patient pretty powerful sedatives? (3 little yellow pills that dissolved on my tongue and other pills to swallow). This does the trick and I became more relaxed and down to earth.
D-day+3: Couple days go by, more psych evaluations, more drugs, this time he recommends a tipsy chaotic injections (in Invega Sustenna? All I know is they were $1000 a pop and we’re given every 3 weeks.)
D-day+14: Released from hospital still in a haze as compared to my normal self. Meds: Citalopram 20mg and lithium 1200mg
D-day+30: Symptoms are somewhat lessened but still present (anxiety&depression) but this haze of confusion, insomnia, headache spells, nausea and spells of “casual” suicidal thoughts.
D-day+3M: Anxiety & depression get a little worse and this haze of confusion is increasing and the other side facts are decreasing. Doc prescribes a gradual increase of citalopram to 30mg.
D-day+6M: Same… But increase dose to 40mg slowly.
D-day+(exactly)365 days: I decide to take a risk and remove myself cold turkey from my medications… Withdrawal symptoms are very intense as described above, but I push through it and play it off as having the flu for the first few days… I think my Mom realized what I was doing and let me do it under her supervision.
Withdrawal-day+14: Withdrawal symptoms are mostly gone and I notice that the haze is slowly clearing
Withdrawal-day+1M: wow I’m almost back to my old self.
Withdrawal-day+6M: I’m 100% back to my previous self, in fact even better, because I learned from the past year’s experience. At this point I en-us talking to my doctor about weaning off my medications one at a time. He suggests to not do this, but I manage to pursway him… Because after all I’ve been wasting money on these prescriptions to make it look like I was taking them for the past while.
W-day+365: doc “completely” removes me from meds.
TL;DR
Citalopram trapped me in a mental haze/for of confusion, uncertainty and forgetfulness. I decided to not take my meds anymore after a year and the haze gradually lifted and became my real-self again. Even without my preexisting social anxiety and depression. For example before I was mortified to talk in front of people, now I would probably be able to sing or dance (if I had those skills) in front of a small gathering/class.
**Disclaimer this is just my story, please don’t attempt what I did, tell your doctor about All of your symptoms, I now realize that the key to chronic issues is time and patience trying new medication combinations and waiting 2, 3, 4 months is not a long time, specially if that medication combination was the right one for you, and you just discounted it because it didn’t start working right away. Having to take anti-whatever medications for the rest of your life is much more common that you think. :)
***You’re worth more than you could ever imagine to many people. Everyone (mom/dad/siblings/extended family/BF/GF/&friends) care more deeply about you than you can possibly imagine. :) I hope this information is not new to you, but if it is know that it is true :).
Coming of Celexa after 4 years. Was thinking my new meds, Trazodone, was screwing me up as I haven’t had a good natural sleep since I came off about 10 days ago. Trazodone makes you drowsy as a side effect. I have tons of energy most of the day even without much sleep but occasionally I just get overwhelmed and have to lay down, I don’t sleep but the little rest helps me a lot.
Like many of these comments I have read, I am going through a lot of the withdrawal systems. Thank god other people are having the “leaving your brain behind when you turn your head”, as its been happening to me all week but honestly wouldn’t know how to explain it myself. It’s a little scary driving, because I am one of the few that actually turn their head to check the blind spots, when I turn my head back forwards its a very strange feeling…
“Leaving your brain behind when you turn your head”. Doctor gave me Oxazepam for 7 days. I was thinking it was to help till the Trazodone kicked in and haven’t taken it regularly. Now that I know it will probably help my withdrawal symptoms, I will be taking these regularly till they run out and see from there. Wish me luck…
Here is my story. I was on Celexa as long as it has been out. The last couple years I started feeling real crappy while even taking it. I think it is called the poop outs. I was taking 60mg. Way more then I need to take. I went down to 40 for a few days and then went cold turkey. I know I know. I did this about almost two months ago.
I would not tell anyone to go cold turkey, but it seems like you go through the same withdrawals as tapering down would do. The only side effect I am having is the feeling that my head is not hooked on to my body. My attention span is very short. I have gotten past the crying stage. I am surprised my side effects are not worse. I am no depressed at all. Have not had that side effect. My sleeping is messed up some.
I don’t sleep all day like I did on the Celexa. I will not go back on them and if I feel to awful I will take a lorazepam. That is usually a couple times a week. I know I have a long road ahead of me to get it all out of my systems but I felt the same way on it as I do off it. I have not lost any weight, but I am not worrying about that right now. That will come in time. I feel a little short sometimes and that is getting better.
I can go through all this because I live alone and don’t have kids to take care of. I would love to get a job soon. I have to do this. Sometimes I think maybe I should try something different like Wellbutrin but then I think why would I. I am not depressed and know my body is thinking what the heck are you doing to me. I am going to stay strong. I am thinking it might take a year to feel the symptoms to go away.
I have not had brain zaps and I hope I do not get them. My body feels numb sometimes but it is just metamorphosing to it’s normal self. Which I hope I find. If you find misspelling and words not right and it part of the process of getting myself back to a no drug state. I wish you all the best and we know we are in the same boat. We can do it.
Stay strong and know you are not alone with this process. Oh and my eyes feel a little goofy too. I will keep you all informed of my progress. I will be glad when the nice weather gets here cause that will help a ton to be back on the golf course. take care.
I tapered down over a few months from 40mg. I stopped altogether 2 weeks ago.The first week was fine. But the 2nd week has been awful. I have had a banging headache that hasn’t gone away and felt really dizzy. Also the only thing that helps is eating sweet stuff which I’m craving like mad. Please could someone advise if they had any of these symptoms? Mentally I feel fine, it’s just physical symptoms.
I feel like poop. I was taking 20 mg for a couple months. Then it stopped working. Then my doctor put me on 40. I took it about a week. I missed two days now and I feel crazy. Brain zaps and dizziness. I don’t know if I should keep taking them or stop. I don’t want to feel like this. Oh, and my penis doesn’t work. Help me…
I take 20mg of celexa per day. Recently, I cut the pill in half and almost immediately suffered a full blown panic attack. I took some Xanax and went right back on 20mg of celexa. Help! How am I going to get off this scary drug?
4 years at 20mg and a move out of state with an inability to establish new insurance and doctor has left me forced into cold turkey quits. While I haven’t had any headaches, the anxiety and occasional “suicidal” (I’m using this term loosely as I am usually just frustrated and moody and pithily think “I wish I could just die.”) thoughts are rampant. Worse yet, I can’t sleep and when I do, I wake up from incredibly stressful dreams or flat out nightmares.
Considering that I was prescribed the drug to handle my anxiety, this is incredibly daunting. It has bled into my work. As a waiter, it takes all of my resolve not to lose it and scream at customers and usually ends with being so stressed out that I let loose on a manager and on two occasions been so peeved that I’ve considered walking off of the job. Not my favorite way to start a new job. I’m not an emotional person, typically.
I’m usually the one people come to for a bit of joy. Frankly, I liked myself much better on the drug. A few things in the article above were helpful. Hearing that the crazy dreams are part of the process and that anxiety and mood swings will intensify and then go away gives me hope. At least now I have a little hope and can try to tell myself that I’m just in withdrawals before I go off on a customer for some perceived slight.
The brain zaps seem triggered by sudden head turns or exaggerated eye movements. It’s a frightening feeling and is usually immediately followed by a dizzy spell as my brain tries to catch up with my vision which is likely the trigger for my nausea. I’ll start taking ginger for motion sickness and try to enjoy the dizzy spells and zaps like I’m on a rollercoaster or something.
This is a tough slog. As sad as it makes me that anyone else would have to feel these things I am secretly pleased that there are others who feel it. I’m trying to adjust to this withdrawal. I used to read to relax, but I have trouble comprehending things I’ve just read. It triggers stress and anxiety which just exacerbates the problem at this time.
Guess I’ll need a new hobby for a few months. Good luck to everyone. It has only been six days. I’ll come back after the recommended 3 months and see how I’m doing. Be well, all!
I’m on day 11. I feel flu-like and it also feels like I have severe muscle aches or arthritis. For the anxiety my Dr increased depakote and I got relief from that. I only reduced a quarter of pill (taking 3/4) and I feel horrible. My panic feels disgusting in my chest and heart. I took this med to help with horrible withdrawals from Latuda. Best wishes. I will try to come back keep you posted.
I have been on citralopram for 5 years, 20mg, last 18 months 10mg. Doc said to stop, no reduction just stop as I wouldn’t actually be getting any benefit from it. She failed to explain the withdrawal symptoms, which have hit me like a train and I almost went back on the meds until I read this article. Now just need to ride it out and hope the recovery period is short. Good community on here, thanks for all the info.
I started taking celexa when I was 15, I am now 20, turning 21 in a few short months and I finally decided to stop taking celexa. For the last 3 years I have been taking 40mg. As I started to get older I began to notice the lack of sexual desire. I had little to no sexual desire and that’s one of the main reasons i stopped as it began to affect not only me but my 3 year relationship with my boyfriend.
I have gone almost a week without taking the pills and I feel absolutely horrible. I feel those shocks, extreme irritably, sensitivity – as I found myself crying a lot, feeling fatigue and lastly not being able to focus in class as I am just focusing on how horrible I feel. Although it is so easy to just pop a pill to feel better, I rather stick it through and never have to rely on a pill to make me feel good.
Wow… Thank you for all sharing. I have tapered off of 40 mgs in the last month. 2 days ago stopped taking all together. My ears are RINGING so much and I have brain zaps, spaciness… all of the symptoms. I’m leaving in 2 days to be with my elderly father in Florida and bring him north and help settle his affairs as his wife died yesterday.
Will I be able to handle all this w/out celexa and with all these withdrawal symptoms? I too am afraid of anxiety returning… I would drive 30 miles to a party just to turn around and go home because I couldn’t bring myself to walk in. I hope I’m not her anymore. I’m pretty fun when I’m not afraid of life. Heavy sigh… projecting great things for all of us celexa free warriors.
I have been taking Celexa for about 15 plus years and during the last 8 months . I realize that during the last 8 months I have been experiencing side effects from this drug, the worst being “feeling of doom”. I am on my 6th day without this drug and want to feel better. Light electric shocks and fatigue, little stomach issues, BUT DOOM is gone. I am wanting to get back to myself soon.
The drug never really worked for me. I still had anxiety, no appetite, I lost a stone in 2 months, no energy and I used to love to exercise, headaches, chest pains, palpitations, nausea, shaking, hot flushes, constantly falling asleep, general feeling that something wasn’t quite right. I came off them after nearly 3 months, they’re in the bin!
I just have the occasional headache, palpitations and chest pain are decreasing, I have a little more energy. I do feel a little bit away with the fairies sometimes but that will pass. Overall I feel better off the tablets even with the withdrawal symptoms, it’s been 2 weeks since I threw them out.
The last straw was going to the doctors with a list of side effects a page long and him just giving me more time off work and another prescription, ignoring my request to try something new. I honestly think these tablets cause more problems than they prevent.
My mom is 80 and having withdrawals from this drug. I certainly hope it’s not 2 months of this on her body and mind.
This is the most refreshing thing I’ve ever read, besides my Big Book of AA LOL. It’s REALLY nice to know I’m NOT loosing my mind! Or really leaving it behind when I turn my head!!! CANT WAIT FOR THE NORMAL!
I quit Celexa cold turkey about a week ago and the brain zaps are probably my biggest complaint. My problem is, I’m scared I will go back to my old self before I started taking Celexa. I kind of feel like I “need” the drug and maybe I’m making a mistake by not taking it. Does anyone else feel that way? How do you know you should really stop taking it?
If you feel like you need the drug, why stop taking it? If the drug is therapeutically effective and benefits outweigh the side effects, it usually makes sense to continue treatment… Some people end up discontinuing and realize that they never needed the drug in the first place and feel significantly better “drug-free” or with alternative interventions. Others derive substantial benefit from continued treatment. No two people are identical and there’s no “one size fits all” blueprint for deciding “to continue” or “discontinue.” Ultimately you are responsible for your own mental health and finding what works for YOU. This usually requires experimentation. Best wishes.
I am SO glad that I found this forum. I thought I was going mad, my family thought I was exaggerating when I said I felt SO ill. My husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer and I couldn’t cope. The dr recommended Citalopram, 20mg it felt too strong so I dropped to 10mg. Tried twice to stop but felt too ill. Before X-mas decided to start the new year without antidepressants.
I can’t turn my head without feeling dizzy, I feel sick electric shocks all over. everything you have all mentioned. This is my 3rd week I am REALLY struggling. I am so glad to have found people who understand what I feel like, unless you have been through it, its hard for people to understand. I have got to believe at sometime this will stop. Never ever again will I ever go near this drug again.
Hi Guys, Keep soldiering on! I started tapering of Celexa/Celephram 4 weeks ago. I’d been on 40mgs for about 2 years and felt that I was now ready to start coming off for many reasons. The first four weeks I dropped to 20mgs. The biggest challenge I had was sleeping and the occasional headaches. All in all, I was able to tolerate it.
This week I dropped to 10mgs. Today is day 3. This has been the toughest few days by far. Anxiety, sleeplessness and a few headaches/brain zap type sensations. I go through moments of real downs as well. Having said that, none of these side effects are long lasting, I’m able to push through without giving up (thought about jumping straight back onto the meds many times).
The positives, when I’m not experiencing the side effects I feel clearer, I don’t feel “numb” and I already have an increased sex drive. I’ll do the 10mgs for another few weeks and then transition to zero! I know it will be tough, but hey, if we’ve been winning the battle against our mental illness then I’m sure a few side effects will be beaten!
I’ve been 4 days off Citalopram 40 MG after using this drug for 1 year. It’s been horrible. I have crying fits, dizziness, fear, horrible dreams, nausea, insomnia and fatigue… they’ve replaced Citalopram with buspar, please pray that it works.
Hi Susie, I’ve been taking St. John’s wort while slowly tapering down, it seems to be helping me. I wish you all the best and I’ll pray for us all.
What a great forum. Thank you all for relieving my concern about the headaches and nausea I’ve been experiencing. I cut my dose in half about 10 days ago. I’ll give it a couple weeks and then cut the rest. Beneath the side effects I can tell I feel a lot better. And sex is already greatly improved :)…
That’s good to hear John, hopefully mine will improve too! It has really affected my marriage.
So I went could turkey, it’s been 12 days now, I wanted to know how long it would take to get this citalopram out of my body and found this site. I was given it by my doctor about 6 years ago and have hated the thought of taking it every day since then. 12 days ago I made my mind up to stop, I know I should of come off slowly but I can be a crazy all or nothing person sometime.
Finding this site and reading all your comments has been a true blessing to me, because the headaches and dizzy spells suck and being irritable when I have four kids, is not a good mix, every time I feel like this, I take a deep breath and say to myself inside, this is not me it’s the drugs keep calm, which often works.
I have put on quite a bit of weight, had no idea some of that could have be because of the drugs, so that was really good to find out. I am looking forward to finding out who I am again with out this drug in my body. Thank you all for sharing this has been a true blessing for me, and has made me even more determined to keep going, I know if we all hang in there long enough we can get through this, good luck and God bless you all.
I’ve been tapering down from my 20mg dosage of Citalopram for about 2 months. Last Wednesday was my last 5mg dose. Things seemed ok, for the first few days, but this last week I’ve had vertigo off and on all day. I don’t sleep well and my self image is really low. To top it off, I’ve been nearly unbearably irritable with my wife this week, incredibly emotional and have had random images of suicide.
Last night was the lowest I’ve felt since I started taking the drug, my wife and I got in a bit of an argument over nothing and I went and laid in a dark room alternating between sobbing and all out bawling. Since that episode I’ve barely had the strength to hold my head up or walk around. I took a shower this morning and started bawling out of nowhere.
My wife sat me down with a guided meditation app on her iPad after this episode and it really helped my mood settle, but I’m clenching up right now typing this. I’m just hoping that sharing will help me regulate it a bit. I just keep telling myself that it’s just the withdrawal symptoms and it will pass, but part of my depression makes it incredibly hard to accept that it will end. Thank you for reading.
Wow I’m so dizzy ?! Its like I’ve been out drinking all day. Mad dreams and headaches, id say lethargy but I’m a lazy MF anyway! Just got to crack on and get back to normality. Went through morphine withdrawal about two months ago. That was like influenza and bad stomach for four or five days, symptoms I expected. But this feels weird, I suppose a drug that changes you brain chemistry is gonna have a trippy effect when you come off. Good look people.
I stopped taking citalapram 19 December 2015. I have never felt so crappy in my life as I do now. Continuous dizzy spells and lethargy. I cannot do a thing. Is this normal?
I feel very similar, which tells me that it’s normal or at least some people experience it.
I have been taking this medicine since 2012 when I first moved back to another state. I think this was my doctors last hope because I have been on so many different antidepressants since my early 20’s. Needless to say, I went off this cold turkey & its only been a month, but it’s been the absolute worst nightmare.
I felt like was suffering from the flu, my anxiety has been off the charts, I can not concentrate at work without getting upset. I honestly feel I am at my lowest. Ive had two friends get off the same medication & are fine now. I just hope this pasts for me. Tired of taking drugs to make me happy & tired of feeling like this for not being on them.
Man, I am glad I found this forum. I have never responded to a forum in my life. You have given me great comfort to know others are in my shoes. I would like to give you some positive news so you can take comfort as well. I quit celexa 5 days ago. I have had a lot of the symptoms listed above including zaps, and intestinal problems and night sweats and all that stuff.
However, the clarity I am beginning to feel in my mind and my body keeps me going. The weight is falling off me. My doctor told me for the last five years that Celexa should not cause much weight gain and will not cause any sex drive problems. I gained a bunch of weight and have had lots of sex drive problems. I have been on 40 mg for five years.
I am getting a new doctor, and as far as I am concerned, prescribing this medicine, or any of these types of meds should be restricted to only psychiatrists who understand what they are doing. Ha, Ha, on that one with big pharma in control. I have used the excess nervous energy and sleeplessness and put it to good use journaling every thought I have.
I highly recommend journaling and it has helped me a lot. I also have a great therapist and if you can afford one, I highly recommend that. Thank you all for your courage and take heart. Just remember, it gets better.
That is very encouraging to hear! ☺️
I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s 5 years ago and have been on increasing meds since then, while holding down a full time job. Due to the severity of some of the symptoms and some serious issues at work, I was prescribed 20mg cita 18 months ago. After suffering with weight gain and bloating, etc. Since then, I recently discovered that there was a major contraindication between one of my Parkinson’s meds and the cita.
This being over Christmas I decided to go cold turkey as I was also on annual leave. I am pleased to say that after 8 days of nausea, bad dreams, sweats and constant sleeping (during which I needed to go back to work) I am feeling completely normal today! I know I’m probably one of the fortunate ones, but with my PD symptoms and all the side effects from the meds for that, this is brilliant, so keep at it and you will come out the other side!
My eyes are so crazy when I’m withdrawing (been only six days off of 20mgs for about two years on drug) they twitch and don’t move as fast as I want them to. Dreams are just starting but they were way worse when I was on the drug. I couldn’t determine real life and my dreams apart… my lips are constantly going numb to where I have problems with my speech.
Sometimes I feel like I’m going to fall over. My insurance was dropped that’s y I stopped and I will never go back on a antidepressant in my life. My whole life is upside down because of this drug. Numbness goes through my whole body not just my brain.
Hello Everyone. I’ve been on citalopram 20 mg for 3 years. I’ve experienced weight gain, hair loss and decrease in sex drive. The tablets don’t seem to work as good as they did. I’m tapering off them very slowly, it’s been 4 weeks so far, it will take me at least 4/5 months. I don’t want the side effects to be intense as I have children to look after.
It has been very encouraging reading all your experiences, thank you! At the moment I’m down to 10 mg, I have noticed I’m very irritable at times, restless and can’t get to sleep that well. I would be grateful for any advice given ?.
Glad to read all these comments, it gives me assurance and peace of mind that whats happening to me is normal and could be overcome. My only problem after a week of withdrawal is the bad dreams. Minimum of 2 nightmares every single night. So scary, uncomfortable and make me get up terrified. I will push myself so hard and try different things to get better. P.S. The page is so helpful, thank you for everyone especially the person that found it.
I have been on 40 mg for years. I quit cold turkey because I was sick. I have less of an appetite for the past week. I’m having to remind myself to eat and I cry at little things. My desire for sex is returning where before it was almost non existent. So far I am feeling better not being on antidepressants than when I was on it.
I went to my psychiatrist for severe anxiety and was prescribed Setraline (Zoloft) first and took that for a few months. I was moved from 50mg to 150 mg and ended up in the emergency room as a result of insanely bad side effects. After that I was prescribed to take 20mg of celexa and did so for about 4 months. Starting 2 months ago I decided to start tapering off – 10mg for a few weeks, then down to 5, and now at zero.
Every time I reduce dosage I get similar WD effects including brain zaps at 3 days, sleep problems and odd dreams immediately upon stopping as well as some slight depression. Luckily the anxiety seems to be a bit easier to escape lately… For now, that is. Hope this goes well, but honestly not too excited to find out how things will progress as I go down this road.
The “electric shock” is the most bothersome for me so far. When will it stop?
Took me about a month. It looks like a month since your post, so I hope you are feeling better!
Bless you all! I’ve taken Celexa 20 mgm about 20 years for PTSD. Psychiatrist said I’d probably need for rest of my life. I called it my “smiley pill”. I know these drugs take a longer time to get into system so suspect it is the same to get them out of system again? It is dismaying to me that after this long time of being prescribed there still has not been research accomplished to tell the M.D. if we have reached a therapeutic blood level or not!!!
And the offhanded way docs tell us to stop – or so that seems reading these posts – I am dismayed and disappointed with the medical system. I am experiencing most of the symptoms described by each of you after tapering off over a 2 month period. Happy Holiday!!! Aargh. This too shall pass, but I hoped it would take a whole lot less time! Let’s research serotonin and find the natural methods to live with it.
Does this even make any sense? Or is it another “brain zap?” Good luck. Count your blessings.
I have been taking citalapram 40mg for about the last 7-8 years. I am currently pregnant with my first baby. My Dr suggested I quit taking it as there are recent studies that can cause harm to the baby. I have been tapering off, but I have had the worst headaches for the past 4 days. The dizziness is really starting to set in now as well. I am nauseous too. I hope it doesn’t last long!
Hello, fellow Citalopramers… I am currently living in a foreign country and am about to run out of my meds. I’d like to quit cold turkey but I know that’s not wise, or healthy. I’ve been on this pills about two years- and honestly- still deal with a lot of depression and anxiety. So, I’d like to get off the meds and find natural ways to deal with my emotions.
I’ve been off and on anti-depressants since I was 11 (thanks, mom!) and am ready to break free and not be dependent on them! Does anyone have any suggestions of healthy ways to ween off this med? I’ve been taking 40mg for two years now… any suggestions? -Kristen
Thank God I am not the only one! I am the freaking poster child for withdrawal symptoms. Brain fog, crying, depression and anxiety and this is only day 2! Been on 40 MG for five years. When will this start to feel better?
Day 3 of cold turkey. I was on 40mg for a bit over 12 months. The inability to orgasm & the weight gain & feeling tired and like a zombie all the time got the better of me & I decided my social anxiety can stay, this is not worth it anymore. I am so nauseous, headachey & just feel sick and tired. Let’s hope this doesn’t last 3 months! But on the upside had a smashing Orgasm this morning! Yeah. Goodbye vrappu drug!
I took celexa for 13 years. Started at 20 mg then went to 40 mg. I have been off of it for 1 week now. I have been so sick. Mostly the lightheadedness, dizziness and nausea. I can’t take it much longer. I hope to god that it doesn’t take 3 months to feel better. This totally sucks!!
Please, I need some advice! I have just started taking celexa (day 8) and I have begun experiencing side effects like nausea and extreme headaches, sore neck, vertigo with ringing in one ear, and chills. I also got the flu at day 5 because of weakened immunity. I want to get off of this drug. If I stop taking it after only 8 days, will I still have the extreme side effects?
Will they be any worse than what I am already experiencing getting on the drug? I am currently on vacation with my family in France. I am trying not to ruin the trip by being too sick to enjoy anything. Will it be better to withdraw or stay on it? If my side effects are about to improve then maybe I will stay on it. I think it will help me with job interviews in two weeks. Thanks for your help.
Hi I have been on antidepressants for about 30 years but on citalopram for about 25 was on a 20th dose. I had an ECG and something was picked up so had to come off them really quickly within 2 weeks. I’ve had body shakes like I’m shivering inside, the brain zaps but also like a zap in the stomach-like churning, tiredness dizzy room spinning. I felt so so the first week but it seems to have got worse.
I have been given another antidepressant as it’s a bad time of year for me… I lost my mum 5 years ago tomorrow. But I took one and felt so spaced out I haven’t taken any more. I just feel awful, but I don’t really want to start anything again as I have gone this far. It’s been about 3 weeks now without anything. Do you think it will eventually go away? Any advice on how long it takes? Much appreciated.
This is just my first day tapering. Have been on 10 mg for well over 10 years (was on 20 mg but went to 10 about 7 years ago with no problems). Use it as a sleep aid along with Deseryl. I’m supposed to begin an antibiotic, Levofloxacin, for a very serious bacterial infection. However, celexa has a significant drug interaction (can cause heart problems). My doctor said just to stop the celexa.
I advised him I needed to wait a week, giving me that much time to get off it before starting the antibiotic. So… am having a pretty hard time. Nightmare last night, woke with a horrid headache. Going down the list of symptoms, I pretty much have most of them except am not nauseous, brain zaps or suicidal. Was driving and felt so out of it, glad it’s only local driving during the day. Glad for spell checking here. I’m spinning.
Oh, what I’m doing is going to 5 mg a day for 4 days. Then every other day until the week is up. From what have read can tell this is truly a rush job. Am nervous as can be. Live alone and no support near, not trying to sound helpless, I’m not, but nervous I am. Any thoughts are appreciated. Oh, really can’t wait too long as this infection causes many other problems and am quite ill from it also – so need to get on this antibiotic. Heck, when it rains it pours, as they say. -Lia
P.S. Good article
Hi guys! I feel I have totally messed with my body being on this med. while I enjoyed the I don’t care about anything attitude, it just wasn’t me. I decided to cold turkey off 20 mg it seems like the first week was all of the brain zaps and headaches. Those got better in the 2nd week. The 2nd week I became highly irritable, people were getting on my last nerve.
And to be quite honest, I started to have major marital issues. So I gave in and got back on it for the last two days. I honestly don’t know if I should wean myself now or just continue to take it… the anxiety in my chest has been very very difficult. I don’t know that doing this over the holidays was the best timing either.
Cara, I don’t think its wise to go cold turkey, you are probably anxious to get off the tabs but just removing the chemical from your system abruptly with be a shock. I’m just a regular, non medical, antidepressant survivor and I don’t fully understand the mechanism by which these tablets work but it makes sense to withdraw slowly as the withdrawals should be easier on you.
I had a period of bad irritability but that has passed now its anxiety and a black cloud. When I tapered from 30 I didn’t notice many withdrawals until I was down to around 10. In fact I felt good mentally as I think I was happy to be getting off it. I think tapering is good. Good luck with everything!