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.
Day ten – cold turkey. Just awful mood swings and incredibly dizzy. Slow speech and easily muddled at times. Recognize this? ?
Per most recommendations, cold turkey is not a good idea. You may want to try a taper and not have to suffer as you are.
I stopped taking it for 1 week and experienced severe heart palpitations.
I was on 40 mg of citralopram for about 3 years, decided recently that I wanted to come off this stuff, as I don’t want to keep medicating forever and am no longer experiencing panic attacks or massive lows these days. Half the dose every week (from twenty to ten then five mg till I stopped completely this last five days).
Not sure if I have done this too quickly I am experiencing headaches, irritability to a degree, and perhaps most noticeably of all extreme fatigue and specific sensation of brain zaps/disorientation which is not nice at all. Not so bad when I’m sitting down but when moving about its horrible. Probably going to see the doctor now, but am concerned they’ll just stick me back on it and I’ll have to go through all this aggro’ again at some point.
As a bit of an update, I took a 20mg tablet the second I walked through my door after coming home from Holiday, and then have taken another one this morning, but I know it takes a few days to make it back into your system. Last night in bed, my heart went nuts, and I honestly thought it was about to beat out of my chest. No amount of slow breathing or anything would help.
I’ve woken up this morning and my chest and the light headedness has slowed down, but I’m aching all over. My feet and hands feel like doing anything is a chore, I’m really having to focus on holding a cup, and my hands feel really shaky still. Can anyone confirm this is due to the withdrawal? I have decided to stay back on it for a month, with daily, regular 20mg dose and then I’m going to start tapering to 10 one day, 20 the next for a month, and so forth.
I have absolutely no intention of being on this poison for the rest of my life. But I’m back at work on Monday, and this would be impossible to bear while at work. Hoping it makes it back into my system and kicks in before then! Good luck guys.
I originally started this medication about a year ago to replace a sleeping pill (Ambien) that wasn’t working. After gaining 25 pounds, though I never changed my healthy diet and I kept exercising, I discussed tapering off with my doctor in February. I weaned off in weekly increments over the month of March – from 20mg to 10mg, then to 5mg, then 5mg every other day, until last dose a week ago.
The withdrawal symptoms seem to be INCREASING daily… starting with the dizziness and brain zaps, easy crying spells, night terrors, sweats, and now ringing in my ears. I actually had to come home early from work today, something I NEVER do! I haven’t taken a sick day in well over a year! I had my massage therapist come by and do an hour on me hoping for some relief.
But, I really thought I was losing my mind! I am so thankful for this site, and for all of you that have commented with similar stories – thank you!! I should have known better than to start this medication… 90 days of detox misery should surely teach me a lesson!
Come away for a week holiday to Italy and stupidly forgot to pack my Citalopram. After about 5 days, I started getting SOOOOOO dizzy. I’ve been snapping at the wife, and feel like I’ve been beaten with a bag of hammers. I’ve got the shakes, and it’s making me spend the last two days of my holiday just wishing I was at home. I’ve truly never felt so lousy in my life.
Wow! It seems like I’m one of the lucky ones. I stopped cold turkey 8 days ago after taking a daily 20mg dose for 4 years. I’m having perimenopause symptoms and want to take the natural approach which is why I stopped citalopram. I now take menopace multivitamins, nytol to help me to sleep and piriton as since I stopped the citalopram my skin has been itching.
I have to say that so far I’ve been fine so hopefully my experience might make others feel less anxious if they want to stop but are worried about side affects. My advice is eat right (plenty of fruit and veg, oily fish, nuts and seeds, take a good multi vitamin, particularly a good all round B vitamin supplement as B vitamins are important for maintaining a positive mood, and get plenty of sleep. Good luck!
Jane – did you get dizzy? It’s my most difficult symptom 10 days off (20mg for two years).
You made me feel better about quitting cold turkey 2 days ago. I am 75 and have been on 20mg celexa 20 years. So glad to hear that SOMEONE has not had a nightmare quitting.
I stopped taking celexa the last week of December. I weaned very quickly and felt very little side effects until almost 3 months afterwards. I now feel depression creeping back rapidly. Feel like crying every day. Struggle to get out of bed. I can barely enjoy having a new puppy, which should bring me so much joy. Has anyone else heard of this happening? Fine for 3 months, then back to being depressed. I feel alone and scared.
Hi Kelsey, I feel your pain, I’ve been totally off cit for 6 months and I feel really anxious, I was never this bad before. I too feel alone and sad the feelings come and go but do seem to be getting worse or lasting longer and then they pass. I’m also irritable and want to withdraw from the world.
I was on the meds for about 2 years so I feel it may take that long for the withdrawal to go. I am also very unfocused and sensitive. I was on a yoga retreat last week and a lady disagreed with me about something minor and I really felt like I’d been physically attacked, I could rationalize that the lady wasn’t being nasty but the feelings were still with me.
I tapered off the meds over 5 months and I do think this current state is a withdrawal symptom as the feelings seem to just pop up but like I said they seem to be lasting longer… maybe it’s the brain readjusting. This morning I woke up with a heaviness in my chest and a sense of darkness. I meditated for a while and it passed a little.
I’m unfocused here at work trying to find answers for my state but I know that’s pointless I should try to relax and live with it for now.
Hello fellow withdrawal sufferers! Nice to have found this place where I am hoping to get additional support while attempting to get myself off Citalopram. I have been taking it for 15 years, from 10mg, to 20mg and up to 40mg for the past 6 years. Quite frankly, I am petrified when considering the long road ahead, although I am really determined to quit taking this poison.
I am weaning myself off VERY, VERY slowly, 2mg at a time for a couple of weeks, before getting to the next level. I have tried quitting before at a quicker pace and suffered symptoms so awful I had to start again. I got my prescription cut down to 30 mg, but I know this is going to be much of a drop (been there before). So I grind an extra pill into a powder and dissolve it in water, measuring with a medication syringe for the extra dosage.
It’s about as accurate as I can get… Over a month into it now, started on 34 mg a couple of few days ago. Until then, all went well, but I now get these pulsing headaches on one side of the head with stiffness in the neck as well as IBS which hadn’t bothered me much in a long while and flu-like symptoms. While it’s quite annoying, it is bearable.
Wow. This is going to be a long process… Trying not to rock the boat too much and keeping my finger crossed. Sloooow and steady, :) Good luck to you all out there.
I was taking 20-30mgs Citalopram daily for sixteen years. My doctor ‘weaned’ me off this over three weeks. Have experienced increased tension headaches and a ‘cotton woolly’ head with dizziness. How long will I have to experience these side effects?
Hi, I want to encourage people who are suffering while weaning themselves off this antidepressant. It’s hard to endure the withdrawal symptoms but it does get better. For the last couple of years I’ve been on 20mg of Citalopram for anxiety then upped to 30 for a month (during Christmas). On January 25, 2016 I tapered off them for four weeks then went cold turkey February 22, 2016.
Yes, the dizziness, headaches, moodiness, fatigue and just generally feeling lousy suck but two months later I am starting to get better and more, dare I say, HAPPY. My senses now seem more aware and I’m starting to get an increase in energy. Withdrawal symptoms are still there, with good days and bad, but are fading in intensity.
This is a difficult process and if you can just keep going in the beginning it does get easier. Distraction helps through exercise, especially walking, reading, watching TV or just talking to a friend. Positive affirmations are key for me.
I took a 20mg dose of celexa for the first time this Sunday. Within an hour I had horrible symptoms of increased anxiety, fever, sweating, dizziness, the runs, fatigue and confusion. Needless to say, there was no way I was going to put more of this crap in my body. So I didn’t take the next dose and decided to just go through whatever I had to to get this out of my system.
I was terrified to take anything other than food and water for the first few days, and at that it was mostly water. I had no appetite and still don’t. But now I force myself to eat. I haven’t slept much in the last three days, now Friday. I took some supplements yesterday and today and also some activated charcoal. I took fish oil, calcium magnesium and zinc and iron.
I’m hoping since it’s been over 70 hours since I took the drug, that it’s almost totally out of my system, because I only took one dose. But I don’t know for sure. I hope these withdrawal supreme get better. I have a creative career and I’d hate for this to impair that too greatly for the time being. If anyone else has a similar experience I’d sure like to hear about it!
I tried to go off of it cold turkey two summers ago, thought I was going crazy. I ended up in the ER twice within three days. I really thought I was having a nervous breakdown.
I am experiencing ringing in the ears since stopping Citalopram. I went from 40 to 20 to 10, and now none. It’s been almost a month, and the headaches, fatigue, sleepnessness, and ringing haven’t stopped yet.
Hi, I’ve been reading your site with great interest. It’s been of much help to me. I thought readers might like to know what happened to me. I’ve been taking 10mg Citalopram for swallowing anxiety for just over eight weeks. I was slightly anxious but not depressed at all. I was a fit guy hitting the gym three or four times a week and walking my dog three or four miles through woodland. Although overweight my doctor confirmed before I started on the pills I was a ‘very healthy individual’. Oh how things have changed!
I never felt the Citalopram really went that well with ever increasing side effects such as ever present nausea and no appetite at all. I’ve now lost 2.5 stone over the course of the time and become very dehydrated. My doctor has been aware as I’ve been ringing in to the surgery for advice and reassurance. And did I need reassurance after throwing up once again after a very small light meal!
The first three weeks into taking the Citalopram weren’t too bad and I did think although my physical symptoms were quite uncomfortable my mind felt brighter. This all changed by week four where I can only describe myself as ‘going down’. Any brightness disappeared and I felt sick all the time. My doctor said push on through it’s just side effects so I kept on taking the pills.
The culmination was just over my eight weeks into taking the pills. I started retching and vomiting what little I’d managed to eat (I’d had increasingly bad sessions of this before but was told it was ‘start up’)! I had the biggest panic attack I’ve ever had and started pacing round the house like some caged animal. Then I started drooling beside the retching and pacing and hiccuping violently! This carried on through the evening and into the night. I couldn’t sit still and just kept retching deep from my gut.
My wife was so worried she called 111 at 3am with me still retching, drooling and pacing/panicking. The doctor rang back at 4am and said it was undoubtedly a severe reaction to the Citalopram building up in my body and to stop taking them. I was still bad at 9am the next day so 111 was called again and the doctor (a different one) confirmed the diagnosis of basically Citalopram poisoning and to stop taking them. He prescribed some anti-nausea pills which my wife picked up which barely helped.
I spoke to my own doctor on the following Monday morning and he said without doubt DO NOT take any more pills, so I’m now going cold turkey which, quite frankly is horrendous with constant retching and sickness. I can barely keep down liquids let-alone any food. I again saw my GP yesterday seven days into the cold turkey as I can’t even keep water down sometimes and he confirmed after a careful examination of me that physically I was well(!) and it is without doubt first my very bad reaction to the Citalopram and now the effects of the cold turkey.
I can put up with the brain zaps, weakness and dizziness but the nausea and constant vomiting are awful. To think I only took the pills for eight weeks. I’ve now lost three stone in weight due to being unable (and not wanting) to eat. I’m also now finally down for counseling which is what I wanted in the first place but the doctor was insistent that Citalopram was the way to go. I will NEVER take any anti-depressant again!
(I’ve been on celexa/citalopram for about a year, 20mg to start, then going briefly to 40mg before tapering back to 20mg, down to 10mg for a few weeks and now I’m somewhere in the region of a week without anything except propranolol etc.) Anyone else feel like being a fat, fuzzy-headed, cheerful fool was preferable to questioning things, getting internally electrocuted and crying uncontrollably again?
I’m having a hard time convincing myself that I’m better off without the medications, despite hating their implications and effects on my personality. My thoughts have always been dark and pessimistic, and on the one hand I feel like I’m coming back to myself. On the other hand, I’m verging on being a suicide risk. I’ve missed two days from work in the last two weeks and I’m not sure that I can just “tough it out” 100%.
I decided to stop because I’d been forced to start antidepressants two years ago by an abusive ex, who left my sphere of existence about eight months ago. Figured that not getting gaslighted and beat up regularly would probably help my mood enough, so six months after they left I decided to taper off. I keep having vivid mental images and daydreams of destroying everything, razing buildings, steel and glass exploding in apocalyptic shards that rip all the fleshy beings to shreds.
Sometimes I desperately want to die. Other times I just miss my family, and feel like the world will end before I get to see them again. Finding this page has helped; it’s not my fault, its withdrawal. I’m not a bad person who’s inherently evil and destructive; I’m coming off a powerful medication which convinces me that I can’t live without it. Who’s afraid of the Big Bad Pharma?
Hey again, just a small update from my previous post. It doesn’t get better, I feel even more sick and I can’t walk more then a couple steps without feeling like I’m sinking. Not as much brain zaps, crying fits but I’m constantly swaying around. Only positive thing I can give is I feel more like me? It’s not as foggy or such anymore. Still won’t give up though, just hit a month about a day or 2 ago.
Wow. After reading the many comments, I feel guilty. The only side effect I’ve had is and ‘anxious’ feeling, and quick to snap at people. No nausea, no headaches, no brain zaps, no inability to focus, no insomnia and no crying fits. I was on the medication probably longer than anyone on this site – 16 years!
I did gain weight in that time, but I attributed it to having 2 kids and getting older. I tapered my dose for one month to: Sun., Wed., and Friday, keeping the same 20 mg. The next month, I went to Sun. and Wed. Now this month I am only taking it once a week on Sundays.
Then next month, I’ll be home free. Maybe this might help some of you out there: Don’t lower the dose, but lessen the amount of days you take it. I’m happy to say that I am doing fine. Take care and good luck to you all.
I have been trying to taper off celexa since late October. I went from 20 mg, to 17.5 mg for 30 days to 15 mg for 30 days to 12.5 mg for 30 days to 10 mg for 30 days to 7.5 mg to 30 days and 5 mg for 30 days. Since I have been on the 7.5 mg, I have started to experience insomnia. Once I moved to 5 mg, my insomnia got worse. When I came off celexa four weeks ago, I have not been able to sleep. My doctor has tried Ambien and Restoril – nothing seems to work. Has anyone experienced these horrific withdrawals.
Wow! I am so glad to have found this site. I have been on celexa for 15 years and tried to stop taking it 6 years ago without having any knowledge of side effects of the withdrawals I would experience. It was disastrous to say the least. I ended up with major suicidal thoughts and couldn’t bear life. I am so blessed to have an incredible husband that got me through that ugly time in my life even though I was horrible to him during the withdrawals.
Unfortunately I was out right back on it due to the severity of my actions and am now, six years later trying again with knowledge of symptoms. It had been about two weeks and I am definitely feelings the dizziness really bad, crying over everything, sleep patterns are way out of whack, weird dreams, diarrhea and more. I am determined this time and prepared. I told family instead of trying to go it alone and that is important. No turning back now. I do NOT want to do this again and want to be “me” wholly and fully again. Prayers for us all.
I have tapered off this med recently. Was only on 20 mg then down to 10mg for a month or so then stopped. I cut the tabs in half and got some empty gelatine capsules from a health shop and put the half in the capsule. This makes it much safer to taper. my withdrawals have been fairly rough even on that small dose, the usual brain zaps, crying at things on TV, etc.
Cant listen to my favourite songs as I start howling. I also had a massive increase in anxiety which I never want to go through that withdrawal symptom again. It was so much worse than the original anxiety. One of the weird symptoms has been horrible smell in my nose and disgusting body odor. My daughter told me that one !!. I have been on and off many AD over the years and the brain zaps are evident in all AD withdrawals.
I cant say that this med helped with depression or anxiety. I also didn’t want to keep increasing the dose as it just makes it harder to get off them, and I was not convinced that a higher dose would be better anyway. I am a registered nurse so have a good knowledge of medications. I have found that taking large doses of omega 3 has absolutely helped my cognitive function whilst tapering and quitting. I am also confident the O3 has assisted with the anxiety.
Worth looking into but, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH AS EVERYTHING HAS SIDE EFFECTS. I also drink a good quality protein shake. This assists the repair of neurotransmitters and I feel sure this has helped make the withdrawals easier this time. worth thinking about but RESEARCH for your own benefit. I may consider another AD. Have gone through quite a few though. I wont be taking this one again. Good luck to all. Remember you are NOT alone.
Thanks for this, it’s good to know that we are not alone in this. I am going to buy some omega 3 today!
I have been taking Celexa (20Mg) for around 15 years. I was given the OK to go to 10mg. a few years ago. I decide to go cold turkey on it 2 weeks ago and didn’t think about it anymore. On March 1st I started a lifestyle change called Whole30 (detoxing the body). I don’t know if anyone is familiar with Whole30, but you can have a lot of the same withdrawal symptoms on this as you can the Celexa withdrawal.
So the last few days I’ve been dealing with dizziness and when I walk I feel like my brain is 2 steps behind me (a buzzy feel). I’ve been thinking I have vertigo all this time, but now I’m thinking maybe it’s a withdrawal symptom of Celexa. So I may be stopping the Whole30 plan and concentrate getting through the Celexa withdrawal.
It’s funny, I asked my Dr. if there would be any withdrawal symptoms from dropping Celexa and she said there shouldn’t be since it’s just a small dose. What do you think, should I be having withdrawal symptoms for 10mg of Celexa?
My feelings are that if the med affects the brain there will be withdrawals after any amount. I tapered off over 5 months and have been totally off cit for 6 months but am still having withdrawals. They have lessened over time though. I was on 30mg for 1 month and prior to that 20mg for 18 months.
Wow, really that’s what your doctor said? I definitely would feel withdrawal symptoms if I missed a 10mg dose! I even felt it at 2.5mgs to 0 (see my post above). You should mention your withdrawal symptoms to her/him, so they can learn about what it’s really like to come off this drug. I know what you mean about a buzzy brain. I’m Day 14 no more Celexa and I still feel it sometimes. I hope your vertigo subsides soon!
I am so happy to have found this site. I agree with every single thing everyone of you have mentioned but I had one side effect that was so bad I went to a specialist several times. It was ringing in my ears, so loud that I couldn’t sit in a quiet space. It was pounding ringing like being at a loud club then coming home to a quiet house.
It rings 24/7 and I have been off of celexa for 4 days now. I gained 28 lbs in a year.diet like nobody’s business and can’t lose 1 pound. Other side effects were dry mouth, headaches, weight gain. I am praying this is easy. My doctor is actually putting me on birth control at 52 years old to regulate my hormones. Hope it helps. Anyone else have ringing in the ears?
I have taken Celexa for over 10 years, in various dosages, the last few months only 5mg (10 broken in half). I found taking it compounded my mood swings. It was as though it was having the opposite effect to what is was supposed to do and I have now weaned myself of it without any side effects (as of yet). I feel happier, more relaxed, it is as though I have rid myself from an invisible “master” and, yes, it did destroy my sex drive.
When you say “it did destroy my sex drive,” you mean it did not return after you stopped the pill? You have PSSD?
I recently stopped celexa cold turkey after being on max dose for 3 years. Not because I wanted to, but because of being on a very long wait list to see a psychiatrist. I have had headaches, the “electric charges” (which are terrible!), dizziness, wanting to cry for no reason, insomnia, shakiness, loss of appetite and the list goes on. Like the article says, keep yourself busy at all times. Try to ignore the symptoms, if possible. Hopefully I will be back on it, in the meantime, this is a huge adjustment…
I have been on Celexa for approx. 13 years, I started taking it in college to help with anxiety. I haven’t wanted to take it for years, but was nervous that I would have anxiety again. I have been tapering down for the last month and now am off completely. The withdrawal symptoms are horrible, dizziness, nausea, hot/cold flashes with sweating.
What I have been reading that no matter how long you’ve taken the drug and how careful you’ve been about tapering off the side effects can be bad. I’m glad I’m not the only one out there. I have been so tempted to start the medication back up just to feel normal again. Another part of me is saying that I’ve made it this far, I can’t possibly go through this again. Wish me luck!
Good luck. I’m going through withdrawal now and hope I can stick it out.
Reading this was rather depressing. I have been on between 40 and 20 ml for almost 10 years. I have wanted off for a year or so but every time I try I would get so sick. This time I tapered down for the last 3 months to just taking a small chip off the pill everyday. I am now in the second week of being off completely and still have all the symptoms listed.
The worst is the constant dizziness. The mood swings I know are caused by this so I can deal with them. The depression gets overwhelming at times, but again I just keep reminding myself its the symptom. The other day I pondered if I had not moved my vehicle off the railroad tracks what would have happened as the train was speeding past.
This drug has saved my life as I was going through a very dark time as a developer and home builder, so I’m glad I was on it. The side effects from getting free of it are very real and seem to be going on forever. Good to know I’m not the only one having these issues. I think I need to forward this on to my doctor who thinks getting off should not pose any problems.
Hi there. I just read your article and found it very informative. I forgot to take my cilift 40mg for about a week and felt fine so I thought it would be ok to stay off it. After about 3 weeks, I then experienced most of the things you listed as withdrawal symptoms and then immediately started my 40mg dose and experienced the same symptoms after 3 days of taking it.
My doctor then referred me to a psychiatrist who immediately said I had a bipolar mood disorder. I have been taking the meds she has prescribed but I feel terribly ill, depressed and unable to work, it has been 7 weeks on these meds and I am still unable to go about a normal day. When I tell her of my symptoms, she ups my meds.
I am open to whatever illness I may have but I just want to be sure that I am taking what is right for me and I want to be sure that I am bipolar.
I’m coming off cilotropram and I’ve been going crazy past couple weeks wondering why I’m basically useless. I’m an athlete and got off my medication because can’t afford the weight gain or calm demeanor. I thought ok I’ll get off then go right back to normal. Not the case. I started a new job that’s extremely physical and can barely keep up.
I’m also in school and let that slip as well. My training for up coming competition has also suffered. I’m experiencing more in week 3,4 then in initial weeks of withdrawals. I’m having severe nausea, headaches, sensitivity, mood swings, fatigue, paranoia, mood swings, anger, and suicidal thoughts pretty intense. I thought at first omg I can’t survive off of medication, I’m bat sh*t crazy forever.
Then yesterday went and saw a doctor for a sports injury and I explained some symptoms and he says, “oh your withdrawing.” I really didn’t think they lasted long. It’s crazy the effect these pills have. I also pretty much quit cold turkey off of about 30mg. That is so bad bad, I really didn’t know the severity of these pills can do.
I will never underestimate medication again. I heard that it gets better and I won’t be lazy, mood swinging, aggressive, mean girl forever. Thank goodness, because my wife is wondering what the heck was going on as I was.
I think I’d been on Citalopram for about 8 years. It’d been several since my last dosage review and I was having some major depression the last couple of years. I finally went in to have it reviewed and my family doc refused and sent me to a psychiatrist who immediately diagnosed me as bipolar. He tapered me off of Citalopram and put me on a couple of other drugs… of which I had allergic reactions to both.
He cold turkey’d me from both of those and offered me another antidepressant after he admitted he may have MISDIAGNOSED me. I’ve not taken anything else out of fear of the drugged up feeling I’ve had for the last month. It’s been a couple of weeks since my last dose of Citalopram and three days since the last dose of the others. This is an AWFUL feeling…
I am not sure if I have the brain zaps, but my face and lips tend to feel light shocks. The worst of this is the anxiety, feeling distanced, and internal shaking (you know, like when you are cold). I don’t know which effects belong to which drugs… but I am praying so hard to God that he returns my brain to normal as fast as possible.
The highlight to my day was finding this site and seeing that I am not the only one going through this. Silly that I don’t know a single one of you, yet I no longer feel alone.
I have been off Celexa for almost 5 weeks now. The dizziness seems to be the worst WD symptom for me. Does anyone notice it comes and goes at times? I wake up some days and think it’s finally over and then I am dizzy again the next day. Women… are symptoms more intense when you have your period?
I have been taking Celexa (generic) for nearly 20 years now and I am sick of it. It was the least of the evils I had tried. Depression runs in my family and every time I try to quit – tapering or cold turkey – I go into a nose dive. Have any of you been on it this long? I expect to go through hell.
I’ve been very sporadic with it lately, like cutting down from two 20mg/daily to one the one every other day. I have MISERABLE headaches. I’m sensitive to every sound and light. Initially the sexual side effects were few but after this much time it’s very difficult for me to enjoy the level of desire I once had (that and menopause!).
So frustrating. I’m determined to do this but my doctor keeps scaring me into taking it. I’m ready to dump her and find someone who will help me wean off it.
Kelly, I have been on for over 15 years. I recently started experiencing “poop out” symptoms such as insomnia, sweating, fogginess… and my doc decided to switch me to Prozac which did not agree with me at all. I have now been off for 5 weeks and the WD symptoms are unpleasant as well. I have horrible headaches and the dizziness brings me to tears at times.
I also am possibly perimenopausal which I am convinced is exacerbating the symptoms. Hang in there. We are all here to support one another. You can’t understand what it feels like unless you are experiencing it yourself. I will say a prayer for you :)
Hi everyone, I have been taking Celexa 40 mg ,for the past 5 years. On August 2015 I decided enough with these meds. I started taking 20 mg for 4 months then totally dropped the Celexa cold turkey… I experienced every type of withdrawal from brain zaps, severe panic attacks, numbness on back of head(only when laying down), no appetite, nauseated, caffeine sensitivity, body aches, etc…
From my experience Celexa is a very strong anti-depressant and one of the hardest medications to get off from. It’s been 8 months without Celexa and I do feel better. I lost 15 pounds, and I don’t feel fogged out as I did before. If you dedicate yourself to getting off these meds. Do so and don’t give up. I don’t advice anyone to just go cold turkey especially if your on a high dose like 40 mg.
The side effects are very severe and you could end up in the emergency room. Consult your physician if you need help. Trying on your own doesn’t always help. Remember your body has to go through all these changes, and everyone’s different. Good Luck everyone.
Cynthia, Can I ask were you dizzy? And if so, how long did it last? I am 5 weeks off this horrible medication and it seems to be the one WD symptom that is persistent.
Hi. Gigi about your question absolutely. Dizziness for me was brutal and I felt like I was falling when I wasn’t. Yes, it’s odd but I know exactly what you mean. It gets better. It took me a little while to get over that WD myself but,I don’t have them anymore like that. I used to tell myself mind over matter all the time till my WD’s subsided. Hope it all works out for you and keep up the great work with getting off these. Good luck gigi
One thing I’ve learned from reading all the forums is that going off of Celexa or any SSRI cold turkey is not a great idea!! I’m so sorry to read about some of the people here who are having a hard time getting off their drug(s) this way. I wanted to share my story and perhaps offer some hope that it can be achieved through tapering.
I started taking Effexor XR about 10 years ago, and then switched to Lexapro, and then Celexa (the latter switch due to a change in my insurance so I went with the cheaper version) to first help with depression and then anxiety. I think it’s been 4 or 5 years that I have been on Celexa 10 mgs. 10 mgs has been the right dose, just enough to take the edge off my demons and get me functioning at a high level. SSRIs have been an amazing crutch that really helped me as I learned different mental tools to cope with life.
I have spent a good amount of time working with counsellors and I think I’ve learned a lot by just living and gaining experience. I’ve always had it my mind though, that the end goal is to try to get off of medication, and that’s what this post is about. I recall that about 7 years ago, I had tried to stop taking whatever SSRI I was on, and did so cold turkey. It didn’t go well. My depression came back right away and I had terrible bouts of sadness that affected my work and my relationships.
I recall one day where I started crying, for no particular reason, at my desk and had to go home. I was so frustrated and angry that I was crying for what seemed like no real reason and felt like I had no control over my emotions. I stopped eating and couldn’t sleep. After a few days, I wasn’t feeling well at all – I knew to best to call my doctor, who told me to start taking the medication again, and soon enough I felt a lot better.
When it comes to recent history with Celexa, I will say I haven’t been super compliant in taking a daily dose for the last few years. I have often missed one and would be reminded of that the next day with the all-too familiar brain zaps (for me, I feel it on the left and right side of my head, like my brain is shrinking. It’s the weirdest thing, isn’t it?).
This past December my husband and I decided to start trying for a baby, and I knew that now would be an important time to try to come off the medication. Fortunately, a few things have changed in our lives, for the better, and so I feel the most equipped I have ever felt to deal with life without an SSRI.
Here’s the tapering schedule I have followed:
– In mid-December I tapered from 10 mgs/day (ok, let’s say every other day TBH) to 5 mgs daily. I was really diligent about taking a pill every day at this time as I needed to become acclimatized to this new, reduced dosage.
– At the end of January I tapered to 2.5 mgs/day. I felt super fine at this level.
– At the end of February, I tried to come off it altogether. Day 3 of no meds didn’t go well though – my head felt very foggy and I felt jittery. I had some plans with a friend who I didn’t know very well and I cancelled them because I didn’t quite feel up to the interaction. I took a 2.5 mg pill that night.
– After that 2.5 mg pill, I tapered to 1.25 mg/day. I did this for about 2 weeks.
– Today, March 7, is once more Day 3 of no medication. I am feeling fine today. I feel fortunate because I have a week off from work and so I can stay low-key and quiet, and focus on my health and doing things that make me happy. I hope that returning to work at Day 10 off of medication will be enough time to adjust. I have to trust that I have enough coping skills otherwise and so have a good chance at being successful.
I’ve noticed through this tapering experience that I am bit more weepy than I usually am – like, crying over youtube videos. This morning I watched one about a man who built a craft room for his wife while she was away visiting family. The tears were brimming! A perk is that sex is great right now! And if these are the only two things then I think that will be fine!
If it turns out that I can’t quite cope without meds, I won’t hesitate to take a 1.25 mg dose and adjust to that level, and then maybe try again when I feel ready. I may learn from this that my brain chemistry is such that I need some level of medication to manage, and I may need to accept that. I have been pleased to learn, though, that I can get by with as little as 1.25 mgs/day – about 10% of my original dosage! So that’s a win no matter what.
Good luck everyone.
After about 6 to 7 years of being on Celexa I told my doctor I wanted to get off of it because I also read that it could cause complications to other organs. I have been having a lot of test being run at this time and celexa was one of the med’s that could cause you problems. I was taking 20mg daily. I feel like I’m losing my mind and my kids want me to go back on it.
I will never go back on it. I to have been so dizzy and the dreams are just too much! There terrible not to mention I can’t sleep half o f the night. I’m crying right now! I weaned down for 3 weeks and it is going on 3 weeks since I quit. Someone said in one of there post that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and I pray to God there is! 90 days is a long time to go through this plus I recently quit smoking am on day 3 so I am double whammy.
I’m trying so hard but each day I’m faced with something else. I pray to God that this stops soon with the Cexela withdrawal symptoms and I will not pick up the cigarettes cause I do have the will power to say no after many years of smoking. I want better health and am so glad I got on this page and saw all of these posts to know I wasn’t losing my mind. God Bless you all and I hope we all conquer this!
I want to add something as well. Please wean yourself off of celexa. I tried years ago to just cold turkey it and I was a mess. Weaning has been better and your physician will even tell you not to cold turkey you have to wean yourself. Weaning yourself you are still going to go thru it like I am now and maybe you too but, it’s much better. Take care and God Bless!
Hi Debbie, sorry to hear that this is happening. I wonder if you’re trying to do too much at once? Stopping the medication and quitting smoking at the same time sounds like a lot!
I have been nauseated, but my symptoms seem to be different. My fogginess is gone. I wake up alert in the morning. The issue I’m having is bad dreams, hot flashes are really bad, heart palpitations. Most of you are reporting that your hot flashes, and fogginess were there when taking it. I’m getting the hot flashes now that I stopped.
I have been on Celexa for almost 11 years for postpartum depression. I hate what it does to me and its so expensive. I have ran out of my prescription and they won’t renew it because I need to find a new doctor and I don’t want to. It has been a week and my mood swings are from very happy to crying uncontrollably and more depressed than when I took it. I hope these side effects are normal. I feel like I’m no one’s friend right now because I’m so moody. Thanks for listening.
Coming off citalopram is crazy… I am nearly 6 months cit free BUT today I experienced my first ever ‘brain zap’, I’ve had a bad headache & foggy brain for the last day or two and about an hr after I’d completed a heavy exercise session, while at lunch with the family, my brain suddenly felt like it was shrinking, shaking, tremoring and I stopped dead for a moment.
It’s insane to think that this medication can cause effects 6 months after ceasing to take it. Not only that but the effects are debilitating and dangerous. I remember my Dr saying they were not addictive and putting me on them before I had time to wipe away my tears after explaining how I felt, by the way I’ve felt depressed for about 20 years and it really took courage to go and explain that to someone.
I feel that the medical profession has let us down. I can’t believe they condone these drugs… coming off such drugs is hard, puts the patient in a really bad position and there is no support. I know if I went & explained how I feel to my Dr now she’d be writing a prescription for another antidepressant. There is a lot of ignorance about this topic.
Wow…this site is a godsend. I had been on 40 milligrams for almost three years after a heart attack (one stent), when I experienced pretty severe anxiety and depression. It really helped me at the time to be able to rise above the obsessive fear of another HA, and other related fears. I’ve tapered to 20mgs for a just one a week now, and have had many of the symptoms described here – moving in slow motion (LOLLLL, which I can use as an inveterate type A); light dizziness at this point; and difficulty getting out of bed.
ON THE FLIP side and the good news is that I feel more like me again and not like an emotional zombie–orgasms are getting back to normal after the chemical castration that is an SSRI and have somehow, through my weepiness (happy and sad), am reconnecting with my spirituality. Thanks to all of you–you have made my day.
I stopped taking Citalopram 3 months ago after 10 days. Little did I realize what the withdrawal symptoms were going to be like. I am still suffering most of them now. I went back to my GP and she explained that I had basically gone Cold Turkey. She has now put me back on 10mg which I am now also suffering the symptoms of side effects again. I have never felt so ill in my life. Please make sure you discuss with your GP before you decide to come off Citalopram.
It’s been about 3 weeks since I quit Celexa cold turkey. Didn’t really mean to do it but after the 3rd or 4th day of forgetting to take the drug I decided just to quit (plus I’m also on Wellbutrin and I dislike taking so many pills). My doc wasn’t too happy with me but I told her it’s what I wanted. First few days were ok, some brain zaps and “head/brain turning” sensation that others have described.
I slept horribly and when I did actually sleep my dreams were intense but not particularly frightening or anything. All those symptoms are pretty much gone but now I have the most intense abdominal pain I’ve ever felt. One night I actually threw up but mostly it’s just pain. If I eat even half of a meal it gets worse so I stick to small bites of (healthy) things all day long and drink lots of water.
Also, crying is easier (like I remember it being before the medication) and I fight to control it the best I can. I also become very cold and then overheated very quickly for no reason. Those things are mere annoyances as compared to the stomach cramps. Thankfully, I have no suicidal thoughts (never really have) but I recognize I’m quicker to anger or become emotional. I have been able to talk myself down when I get into a situation where emotions can run high.
That makes me feel like this will be worth it in the end, that I have learned how to keep myself from hasty actions that do nothing but exacerbate certain situations. I pray that this detox will be over in another month or so. Fingers crossed.
Thank you. I felt like I was going crazy tapering off celexa but now I know it will get better. You just made my life so much better. Thank you.
I couldn’t afford to pick up my prescription at the end of December. When I went to pick some up when I finally had the money to, the 20mg I usually took seemed to be a shock to my body. And at this point I had already been off it for a month and half. I have been feeling super sick, puking and dizzy, eyes are so heavy and all I want to do is just sleep.
I can’t focus, and my head seems to feel fuzzy all the time, and I always have this lethargic feeling. Been having these symptoms well over 2 months now, since I pretty much stopped it not by choice. I don’t know if I should start taking again, and cut the pill in half, or if should just not take them at all?
This is week four of no citalopram, 20 mg for 3 years. I don’t seem to have experienced the dizzy turns, I have had the zaps, diarrhea, weird dreams (I do however sleep really well, and always out my bed for half six for work. Work is a godsend keeps me busy, although I did walk out of my job when having an irritable moment, my boss supported me and calmed me down and gave me some good advice. I’m not so sleepy at 5pm or even in the afternoon, I have more good days than bad. But my five senses are alert again, the tablets numb all that along with your emotions. Now I cry all the time ?. Just plodding on and hoping for the best.
Just found this page and saw it still kinda active. I just got off Citalopram about 15 days ago. I took the pill for about a good year and a half after I developed an anxiety disorder in May 2014 that rendered me pretty much homebound as I’m to afraid to go outdoors for longs periods of time (luckily I work from home). I didn’t begin taking the pill until September when a friend suggested it to me.
Reason why I chose to stop was cause probably about 4-5 months ago it just wasn’t having any effect and I just didn’t have the money to have another check in. I believe I went cold turkey? My doctor didn’t tell me to taper but to only take half the pill for a week then stop altogether. I can’t remember the mg’s but I believe it was 10mg or so due to my Long-QT Syndrome (A heart rhythm condition) diagnosed to me at a very young age.
So far my conditions have reverted back to my time off the medicine except now it’s much more painful. Dizziness, nausea, the brain zaps the whole works. Though I’m apparently lucky that my heart condition also interferes with my condition so sometimes I feel like I’m having a heart attack an I had a hard time breathing. The past year and half has really broken me.
I’m so tired I’ve been really thinking of suicide constantly, but I’m too afraid to do it. Here’s hoping that the side affects will go away. I want to feel normal again so badly.
I am having a hard time at the moment… 5 months off cit but feel terrible. I have hives all over my legs, feel itchy, depressive, grumpy, really tired and really, really cold. This current wave has been with me for 2/3 weeks. I’m waiting for it to pass. Since yesterday I dont want to do my exercises, or actually do anything at all. I feel like I could sit in one position all day. The hives has gotten worse as has the coldness. Plus I’m irritable.
I am 1 & 1/2 weeks into dropping Celexa cold turkey. Headaches and brain fog are my more severe withdrawal symptoms but also feel nauseous and have been crying or about to cry over pretty much anything. Had a great cry yesterday morning and it actually felt good as I feel since I’ve been on antidepressants I haven’t cried at all… 3+ years. Hoping things get back to “normal” in the next month or so.
I’m on day 5 without my meds. I’ve taken 20mg daily for over 1 year. Emotionally I feel GREAT in fact I feel better off the meds. However, I’m feeling that same dizzy, foggy in a totally different zone brain gone crazy. How long do the WD symptoms last? BTW – CITALOPRAM IS A $4 MEDICINE AT ***WALMART***. I saw a few posts from people who couldn’t afford the medication but may wish to continue it. Hope this helps. BEST WISHES EVERYONE.
It has been a month since I last posted. I still have the face tingling but not as bad. My aggression is horrible today. It comes and goes but I feel so depressed too. Still crying alot. I go see my Dr. Next Monday but just figure she’ll suggest more Medicine. NO thanks! I will get through this but I have to say, I have NEVER in my life felt so nutty. :(
From what I read I may have a couple more months? That’s even more depressing but I will get through it. Thanks to everyone for sharing your stories of this withdrawal nightmare.
I am so thankful to have found this site. I had not tied any of the symptoms I have been experiencing to citalopram withdrawal. I thought there was something seriously wrong with me. The worst side effect is the dizziness when moving my eyes. This coupled with the constant nausea.
I have tapered down from 30mg a day and came off it completely about a week ago. I was warned I might experience side effects, but didn’t really think anything of it. I am very determined to get through this. I am still on mirtazapine 30mg but don’t want to have to rely on both anymore.
Does anyone have «hand zaps»? It’s like electrical shocks, but in your hands. I’ve had those before when I withdrew from Effexor XR (the worst withdrawal medication, it seems, like heroin!). And the face flushes, I have! But it’s been 6 days I’ve stopped cold turkey because I was experiencing «hypomania» (don’t know the word in English) and I’ve just started having withdrawal symptoms.
Hi, No hand zaps with me just very tingly, fuzzy hands. At the moment lots of digestive issues, unfocused thinking & obsessive thinking. Good luck!
Yes I have, like electric shooting pains going through my veins of hand and up my arm. PLEASE EVERYONE!!! Taper down gradually, you will cut out most of the horrible withdrawal symptoms. I am down to 5 mg from 20mg, I started tapering down since December. Hopefully in May I will be completely off citalopram.