Can you stay on citalopram for life?

Can you stay on citalopram for life?

Most people take citalopram for 6 months. But in some instances, a doctor may prescribe this substance for 9 months. Long-term use of antidepressants may put people at risk for type 2 diabetes, and SSRIs may cause heart rhythm abnormalities at higher doses.

Can I cut citalopram in half?

Each film-coated tablet contains 20 mg citalopram (as citalopram hydrobromide). Excipient with known effect: lactose monohydrate. Each film-coated tablet contains 45.72 mg lactose monohydrate. The tablet can be divided into equal halves.

Can coming off citalopram make you gain weight?

Celexa has been associated with slight weight gain, but it's thought that the drug itself doesn't cause this effect. Rather, the weight increase is likely due to improved appetite from taking the drug. Stopping Celexa abruptly can cause problems such as anxiety, moodiness, confusion, and trouble sleeping.

How do I come off citalopram 20mg?

It is often suggested that you should start withdrawal by reducing your dose by 10 per cent (one tenth). For example, if you are taking something at 20mg per day, you would reduce your dose by 2mg and take it at 18mg per day for a few days.

What happens if I stop taking citalopram cold turkey?

Stopping citalopram abruptly may result in one or more of the following withdrawal symptoms: irritability, nausea, feeling dizzy, vomiting, nightmares, headache, and/or paresthesias (prickling, tingling sensation on the skin). Depression is also a part of bipolar illness.

Can you drink alcohol while taking citalopram?

You can drink alcohol while taking citalopram, but it may make you feel sleepy. It might be best to stop drinking alcohol until you see how the medicine makes you feel. There are no food or drinks you need to avoid while taking citalopram.

Is citalopram a strong antidepressant?

Citalopram outperforms all other antidepressants except escitalopram for acute phase depression, according to new review. Citalopram (brand names: Cipramil and Celexa) is an antidepressant drug in the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class.

How long can you stay on citalopram?

Most people take citalopram for 6 months. But in some instances, a doctor may prescribe this substance for 9 months. Long-term use of antidepressants may put people at risk for type 2 diabetes, and SSRIs may cause heart rhythm abnormalities at higher doses.

Is it difficult to come off citalopram?

Do not stop taking citalopram suddenly or without talking to your doctor first. Citalopram isn't any better or worse than other antidepressants. But sometimes people respond better to one antidepressant than to another. Talk to your doctor if you aren't feeling any better after 6 weeks.

What happens if you suddenly stop taking citalopram?

Do not stop taking citalopram even when you feel better. Stopping citalopram abruptly may result in one or more of the following withdrawal symptoms: irritability, nausea, feeling dizzy, vomiting, nightmares, headache, and/or paresthesias (prickling, tingling sensation on the skin).

Do Ssris permanently change your brain?

Antidepressants rapidly alter brain architecture, study finds. A single dose of SSRI antidepressants such as Fluoxetine, shown here, can change the brain's functional connectivity within three hours, a new study found.

How do I wean myself off antidepressants?

Response to dosage dictates best schedule to stop taking medication. Discontinuing an antidepressant usually involves reducing your dose in increments, allowing two to six weeks or longer between dose reductions. Your clinician can instruct you in tapering your dose and prescribe the appropriate dosage pills.

How long after stopping antidepressants before I feel normal again?

Symptoms of antidepressant withdrawal depend on the specific medication you have been taking. Symptoms most often occur within three days of stopping the antidepressant. They are usually mild and go away within about two weeks.

Should you take citalopram in the morning or at night?

It may take several weeks to see a noticeable improvement in your mood. Citalopram should be taken once daily either in the morning or evening, but at the same time every day. It should be swallowed whole with water and may be taken with food or on an empty stomach.

Is 10mg citalopram effective?

CONCLUSION: This psychometric re-examination of a citalopram dose-response trial has shown that the pure antidepressive or antianxiety effects can be observed after 6 weeks of therapy even in a dose of 10 mg daily. However, both 10 mg and 20 mg daily had lower effect sizes than 40 mg and 60 mg daily.

Can I stop taking citalopram after 6 days?

It's important that you do not stop taking antidepressants suddenly. A dose of antidepressants should be slowly reduced, normally over 4 weeks, but sometimes longer. This is to prevent any withdrawal symptoms you might get as a reaction to coming off antidepressants suddenly.

What does 20 mg of citalopram do?

Citalopram is used to treat depression. It may improve your energy level and feelings of well-being. Citalopram is known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). This medication works by helping to restore the balance of a certain natural substance (serotonin) in the brain.