Are there any benefits of stopping Citalopram (Celexa)? Did you know that giving up on the use of certain psychotropic drugs can be as beneficial as continuing their use? This may sound counterintuitive, but itâs true. Celexa is a drug that is used to treat depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.
Many people who take this drug experience side effects such as dry mouth, dizziness, insomnia, nausea, numbness in the hands and feet, and vertigo. These side effects are usually common and gradually subside within a few days or weeks after taking the drug.
But there are others that can last even months or years after ceasing citalopram usage. These include cold sweats; chills; feelings of dread; tremors; trouble concentrating; memory loss; nightmares; muscle twitches; sensitivity to light and noise; fainting spells; inability to stand or walk for long periods of time without becoming exhausted; heart palpitations with a racing heartbeat for no apparent reason (even at rest); nausea and vomiting unresponsive to medication (even medication for nausea).
Contents
What is Citalopram?
Celexa is a brand-name of citalopram drug that belongs to the serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class of antidepressants meaning it works in the brain. SSRIs are used for treating depression including major depressive disorder (MDD), panic attacks, and anxiety disorders by increasing serotonin levels in the brain.
For anxiety, Celexa helps to reduce feelings of anxiety and lessen the severity of panic attacks and anxiety disorder symptoms. Citalopram improves your energy level and feelings of well-being and thus offers relief from low mood (depression), panic attacks, and anxiety disorders.
You need to take Celexa for 6 months to a year to get the full benefits of the medication otherwise the depression or anxiety symptoms will rebound if you stop it before then. However, Doctors recommend taking the drug for a long period even after starting feeling well thus the 1 year period.
When beginning to take citalopram or other SSRI antidepressants, some people have negative side effects that they do not like.
What are the benefits of stopping citalopram?
There are many benefits, especially in the long-term of stopping Citalopram including stopping Celexa will return a personâs sexual function back to pre-antidepressant levels, help manage weight return to normal, reduces headaches, decrease daytime drowsiness and minimal vivid or unpleasant dreams
Some decide to stop taking the drug. This can be difficult because of the Celexa withdrawal symptoms that come from stopping this medication suddenly. Celexa withdrawal side effects are generally short-term and can be managed with care and support from a doctor and family members.
Stopping citalopram involves tapering off slowly over time so that your body doesnât have such a steep adjustment period. It also involves stopping completely instead of going back on the drug after a few days off it or reducing dosage slowly so that you go back on at some point in your Celexa taper plan at a lower dose than before.
Do you feel better after stopping antidepressants?
Itâs also possible that some people feel worse when they stop antidepressants than before they started taking them. If you feel worse after stopping antidepressants, in 4 to 6 weeks you should feel better.
It is common to experience withdrawal symptoms after stopping Celexa. These symptoms are typically short-term and can be managed with medication, therapy, and support from family members. Celexa withdrawal side effects include nausea, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue.
In exchange for these symptoms, the drug may have helped you feel less depressed. Now that youâve stopped taking it, this feeling of being less sad may disappear or change. However, it might take a few weeks before you feel better again.
Why might someone decide to stop taking citalopram?
Some people decide to stop taking citalopram for anxiety or depression, or any SSRI antidepressant because they donât feel like it is helping them. They may have unpleasant side effects that they feel are worse than the benefits of taking the drug.
Others may want to explore other medication options or try other treatment methods instead. Still, others may be feeling no improvement at all and decide to stop citalopram for that reason as well.
How to stop Citalopram: A step-by-step guide:
When stopping treatment with citalopram the dose should be gradually reduced over a period of at least four weeks in order to reduce the risk of withdrawal effects to a minimum. Celexa withdrawal symptoms can be managed with care and support from a doctor and family members.
Stopping citalopram involves tapering off slowly over time so that your body doesnât have such a steep adjustment period. It also involves stopping completely instead of going back on the drug after a few days off it or reducing dosage slowly so that you go back on at some point in your Celexa taper plan at a lower dose than before.
- The first step to stop taking citalopram is to consult with your doctor. Your doctor can help you choose the best way to stop taking citalopram, whether it is by gradually reducing the dosage, weaning off through medication, or completing a âcold turkeyâ withdrawal.
- The second step would be to gradually reduce your dosage over four weeks so that there are less chances of experiencing withdrawal reactions like nausea, headache, and agitation.
- The third step is to stay connected with others by joining in activities such as sports teams, volunteer work, religious groups, or other social endeavors.
- The fourth step entails taking care of yourself by eating healthy foods and exercising regularly to take care of your mental health and physical well-being as well as sleeping for at least eight hours each night.
- Finally, the fifth step is learning how to manage stress. You can do this by getting enough sleep and staying away from alcohol and drugs which can worsen depression or anxiety if consumed excessively
How to successfully stop taking citalopram?
You should reduce your dosage slowly by tapering the citalopram dosage over a period of at least 4 months if you have been using Celexa in the long term or if you were using a high dosage. Those who have been on citalopram for a few months or less may be able to stop taking it in one week.
There are a few ways to reduce your medication dosage for Celexa withdrawal symptoms. You can take the drug every other day, every third day, or every fourth day. You could also break the pill up into quarters and take one-quarter of the daily dosage each day.
If you decide to stop taking citalopram, make sure you do so under the supervision of a doctor and with support from family members. It is very important that you never stop taking this medication without consulting your physician first as Celexa withdrawal symptoms can be serious, even life-threatening.
Coming off citalopram 20mg: 4 weeks
The most common withdrawal symptoms that come from Celexa are insomnia, dizziness, nausea, headache, and diarrhea. Fortunately, these symptoms tend to subside after a few days. However, there are more severe withdrawal symptoms that some people experience when coming off citalopram.
These can include agitation, anxiety, and restlessness. If the sleep disturbance is significant enough, the patient may experience hallucinations or delusions. Additionally, over time there may be changes in appetite and weight. A person may also experience chest pain or a rapid heart rate due to decreased serotonin levels.
When tapering off citalopram 20 mg, it is important to do so gradually and under the supervision of your doctor. This process will take some time â anywhere from 2-6 weeks depending on how much the patient has been taking each day â but itâs worth the wait for a healthy mental state without medication side effects or withdrawals. For 20 mg we recommend tapering it over a period of at least 4 weeks.
Citalopram withdrawal 10mg
It can take up to 2 to 4 weeks for you to taper off from Citalopram 10 mg. It will also take some time for your body to adjust after Celexa withdrawal and the Celexa withdrawal symptoms will generally last this long. Some people experience them for longer, but most people are done with them by this point.
The withdrawal symptoms of citalopram are often short-term and less severe than other antidepressants. Tapering off slowly over time to avoid sudden changes is the best way to prevent these symptoms.
After taking 10mg of citalopram, the withdrawal time frame would be 2-4 weeks to taper off completely.
This can be difficult when experiencing Celexa withdrawal symptoms, but itâs worth it in the long run as your body will thank you for reducing the dose over time and not stopping cold turkey.
How do you stop citalopram 10mg?
Typically, when a patient wishes to stop taking citalopram and it has been taken regularly, the dose should be gradually decreased by 10-20 mg per day. It is best to schedule this reduction in doses so that the last dose is taken on a Friday or Saturday.
The decision to stop taking citalopram should be based on the patientâs assessment of their need for it as well as any risks associated with Celexa withdrawal symptoms.
Risks of Celexa withdrawal symptoms may include: depression worsening, feelings of guilt and worthlessness, thoughts of suicide, sleep problems, anxiety, and panic attacks.
Celexa Withdrawal Symptoms: Things to Know
There are several Celexa withdrawal symptoms that can vary from individual to individual with the most common ones including irritability, headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, nightmares, and/or paresthesias (prickling, tingling sensation on the skin).
Some people especially those with bipolar health conditions may experience depression.
There are many ways to manage it. Some people find citalopram, or other SSRI antidepressants, helpful in their Celexa withdrawal symptoms. If you decide to stop taking them and experience difficulties with your depression, talk with your doctor about what else can be done to help you.
How to get off antidepressants naturally
There are many different ways to get off antidepressants and some people may need more help than others. Sometimes, people want to stop taking their medication but they donât know how.
It might seem difficult at first. To help make the process easier, try some of these methods:
- Slowly cut back your dose under the guidance of your doctor- tapering off
- Consider coming up with a good plan for yourself and sticking to it
- Find some support from friends or family members
- Understand that withdrawal symptoms will eventually go away
Does your brain go back to normal after antidepressants?
Some people experience withdrawal symptoms after they stop taking their antidepressants. These symptoms can be reduced by tapering off the drugs slowly and discussing your plans with your doctor and family members to give time for your brain to go back to normal after antidepressants.
Tapering off slowly reduces the risk of withdrawal side effects because your body has a smoother transition to not having the drug, but it is important to stop completely or you will have a very difficult time discontinuing this medication.
Antidepressant withdrawal can be so prolonged that some people think that the drug has changed the brain and these changes are taking a very long time to return to normal. It may be the case that sometimes they donât go back to normal at all.
Do you lose weight after stopping antidepressants?
Some people do lose weight after stopping antidepressants because they decrease their daily calorie intake as a result. But, there are many other reasons why you might change your eating habits once you stop taking citalopram.
For example, if youâre feeling better about yourself and have more energy, you may be more motivated to cook healthy meals and exercise again. Or maybe you lost motivation to take care of yourself while on the medication.
Itâs hard to say definitively how much weight youâll lose after stopping citalopram without knowing how much weight you were gaining before starting it or how much weight gain is normal for you.
The type of antidepressant that someone takes also impacts how they react to Celexa withdrawal symptoms like appetite changes and insomnia. It can also impact their metabolism, so this makes it even more difficult to predict the amount of weight they will lose when they stop taking the drug.
How do I detox my brain from antidepressants?
The first step in the antidepressant detox process is to taper off the drug over a period of weeks or months. This means you would need to decrease your dose gradually with the help of a doctor, which will help lessen any withdrawal symptoms and prevent complications.
Tapering off antidepressants can be hard work, but it is worth it for feeling better and get rid of antidepressantsâ side effects.
It may take a few weeks or months before you are completely off the medication because you will have to go back on at some point in your Celexa taper plan at a lower dose than before.
Can you cut citalopram in half?
Most antidepressant tablets including Citalopram are safe to split in half. The exception to this is fluoxetine (Prozac) which can cause an overdose if split. Celexa is an antidepressant medication that belongs to the SSRI class of drugs. It is used to treat depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.
Although many people experience positive effects from taking the drug, some stop taking it because they may experience unpleasant side effects or Celexa withdrawal symptoms upon quitting citalopram. Citalopram withdrawal symptoms are not dangerous but should be managed so you can taper off slowly and safely.
How long can you stay on citalopram?
For you to experience the most benefits of citalopram, doctors recommend a dosage of Celexa of not less than 6 months and not more than a year to prevent anxiety and depression relapse.
If you are considering Celexa withdrawal, then you should talk to your doctor about whether you would benefit from a gradual taper off the drug to minimize the effects of Celexa withdrawal. The less abrupt you taper off the medication, the better.
The Bottom Line
Celexa withdrawal symptoms are generally short-term and manageable. Stopping citalopram should be done slowly so that your body isnât put through a steep adjustment period. Celexa withdrawal symptoms can be managed with the help of a doctor or therapist, as well as social support from family members.
If youâre considering taking citalopram or any other SSRI antidepressants, itâs important to consider the withdrawal symptoms that come from stopping this medication.
There are a few ways you can stop the antidepressant, but tapering off over time is best. Fortunately, Celexa withdrawal symptoms usually fade in a week or so and are not life-threatening.
FAQs
What are the Celexa withdrawal symptoms?
Celexa withdrawal symptoms usually come as side effects of stopping the drug suddenly, or from stopping it too quickly. The most notable withdrawal symptoms are dizziness and nausea. However, other symptoms may include being tired, having low energy levels, mood swings, trouble sleeping, and appetite changes.
How long do these Celexa withdrawal effects last?
There is no set time frame for when citalopram withdrawal symptoms will stop completely. They can last anywhere from a few days to months after Celexa withdrawal. It all depends on how long you have been taking the drug and what dosage you were at before Celexa tapering off.
What is Celexa tapering off?
Stopping citalopram (Celexa) sometimes requires a process called âtapering offâ in which you reduce your dose gradually over time so that your body can adjust to lower serotonin levels and also go back on at some point in your Celexa taper plan at a lower dose than before.
Citations:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/going-off-antidepressants
