Coming off Citalopram

[SARAHSTAR]

Morning Girls! Hope you're all feeling ok today.

I was wondering if any of you have been on Citalopram before? I was prescribed it 4 years ago for panic attacks and have gradually come down from 20mg to 5mg every other day - which I know is a small amount but every time I try to come off it completely I get very dizzy and don't want to go out much.

I haven't been given much advice as to whether I should stop taking it or not now I'm pregnant - every doctor I speak to tells me something different!

I also can't tell if it's just pregnancy symptoms that are making me have strange thoughts when I go to bed at night - I have awful visions of things going wrong for me during birth. Is this a normal feeling for your first baby or should I get back on the meds now to save my own sanity?!!!

Any thoughts gratefully accepted! x

 

[Happyred]

Hi sarahstar. The dose you say you are on just now, isnt really a therapeutic dose, which means that really you wont be getting much benefit from taking the medication. It sounds as though your dizziness and not wanting go out could be more of a sign of your anxiety, rather than side effects. Many people develop a psychological attatchment to their medication, like a placebo effect, and it can be a daunting thought to completely let go of it. I'd advise you to go to your g.p and discuss it with them as coming off any medication while pregnant can be more risky, due to those raging hormones. Its also possible your dizziness could be due to your pregnancy, i suffered this a lot in my first trimester, so maybe worth getting your blood presure checked. Also the strange worrying thoughts are completely normal, it only beomes a problem if they become over whelming and start having a negative impact on your every day life in which case again you should discuss with your g.p. Hope this helps and good luck.

 

[SARAHSTAR]

Thanks Happy! I will try and get some more sence out of my gp if i can! It's very confusing not knowing what's caused by pregnancy and what is!!!! xxx

 

[maybe baby]

I have no experience of the medicine but I feel that rough I'm hardly going out or doing any work and that's not like me, the complete opposite to how I usually am so it's definitely down to pregnancy, I hope you feel better soon Hun!

Xx

 

[SARAHSTAR]

Thanks Maybe! Glad it's not just me!! We all seem to have been given a one way ticket to Knackeredsville stopping at Can't-be-arsed and wee central!!!!! lol

 

[SoObsessed]

Hi Sarahstar,

You are due the same date as me

Citalopram is fine to take whilst pregnant. Its very important to come off it very gradually though. Try 5mg every 3rd day for a few days and see how you feel.

Is there a specialist midwife in your area that will be more knowledgable about these things? Sometimes they run a specialist clinic that you could get referred to.

I'd wait and have a chat with your midwife at your booking appointment as I am sure she will know who to refer you to for support. I would advise that you take any extra support that is offered as coming off any drugs similar to yours especially during pregnancy can be really tough.

Good luck xx