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Clinical resource

How to Stop Taking Citalopram

Citalopram withdrawal can occur after reducing or stopping treatment. Agree an individualized taper with your prescriber and seek advice if symptoms develop. Symptoms vary and can sometimes be severe or prolonged.

Written by THE BALANCE

Clinically reviewed byDr. Sarah Boss, MD
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Quick Summary

  • Citalopram is a prescription SSRI used for depression and related symptoms, and its dosage and side effects should be monitored by a healthcare professional.
  • Stopping citalopram abruptly may cause withdrawal symptoms, so clinicians generally recommend an individualized, gradual dose reduction with ongoing medical guidance.
  • Withdrawal can involve mood changes, sleep problems, fatigue, dizziness, body aches, tinnitus, or digestive issues; suicidal thoughts and self-injury require immediate medical attention.

Antidepressants are medicines used to treat major depressive disorder, certain types of chronic pains, and anxiety disorders. Citalopram is a prescription antidepressant. Like other medicines, it can cause side effects even when taken as prescribed. Withdrawal symptoms after reducing or stopping it do not mean that someone has misused it or has an addiction.

 For instance, when you start taking this medicine, you have to check in with your doctor from time to time. Regular follow-ups assess whether treatment is helping and check for side effects and changes in mood. If you feel better, have side effects, or think the medicine is not working, discuss your options with your prescriber. Unless a clinician advises otherwise because of a serious medical concern, stopping citalopram cold turkey is not the way to end an antidepressant course. If you are considering coming off citalopram, agree a gradual dose-reduction plan with your prescriber. Withdrawal symptoms can occur, and professional support helps monitor and manage them.

If you wish to know more about how to stop taking citalopram and its effects, continue reading this overview.

Citalopram belongs to the medicinal group known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs. This group treats depression and some anxiety disorders by affecting serotonin signaling in the brain. Citalopram is available as tablets and oral liquid; formulations vary by country. The dose depends on the person’s condition, age and other health factors. The following difficulties can occur with depression, but none alone establishes a diagnosis or a need for citalopram:

  • Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
  • Trouble in focusing
  • Low levels of energy
  • Lack of motivation
  • Distressful thoughts
  • Feeling guilty, hopeless, or worthless
  • Social isolation
  • Bad personal hygiene
  • Relationship problems
  • Psychomotor retardation and agitation
  • Suicidal ideation

Like other antidepressants, citalopram may take time to work and may cause several side effects. With the help of a healthcare provider, the negative impact is mostly manageable. Treatment response varies. Take citalopram as prescribed and attend reviews so your clinician can assess its benefits and side effects and adjust treatment if needed.

Citalopram can cause physiological dependence: the body adapts to the medicine, and reducing or stopping it can cause withdrawal even after prescribed use. This is different from addiction. Citalopram withdrawal may occur after reducing or stopping the medication or missing doses. A gradual, individualized taper can reduce the risk of withdrawal. If you are having citalopram withdrawal symptoms, contact your prescriber for advice. Symptoms can sometimes be severe despite gradual reduction, and the plan may need adjustment.

Usually, the citalopram withdrawal timeline starts within a few days of reducing or stopping the medicine, although onset can be delayed. Symptoms often settle within a few weeks, but can sometimes persist for months or longer. During this time, a person may experience mood swings, sleeping problems, fatigue, ringing in the ears, dizziness, body aches, and digestive issues. You can manage these effects by learning how to ease citalopram withdrawal from a healthcare provider. However, the symptoms, their severity, and how long they last may vary. Some after-effects may require immediate medical attention. Inform your doctor if you are having the following symptoms:

Self-medication

Do not use alcohol or unprescribed drugs to manage withdrawal. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before adding medicines, including over-the-counter painkillers and supplements, because interactions can occur. Tell your clinician about alcohol or other drug use so that support can be tailored to your needs.

Suicidal Ideation

Suicidal thoughts can occur with depression or during antidepressant withdrawal. Get urgent professional help if you develop thoughts of suicide or self-harm, including while reducing or stopping citalopram. If you have acted on these thoughts, are in immediate danger, or cannot keep yourself safe, contact local emergency services or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.

Self-injury

If you are intentionally hurting yourself or thinking about doing so, seek professional support promptly, even if any injuries seem minor. A healthcare professional can assess injuries and help with the distress behind self-harm. If you have a serious injury, have taken an overdose, are in immediate danger, or cannot keep yourself safe, contact local emergency services or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.

Inability to Function Without Citalopram

Difficulty functioning after reducing or stopping citalopram may reflect withdrawal or a return of the condition being treated; it does not by itself establish addiction. Contact your prescriber for assessment rather than changing the dose or obtaining medication without a prescription.

If withdrawal symptoms are troubling you, contact your prescriber. Agree a stepwise taper suited to your dose, treatment duration, previous withdrawal experiences and current health. Reductions may need to become smaller at lower doses, and tapering may take weeks or months.

Arrange reviews during tapering to monitor withdrawal symptoms and the possible return of depression or anxiety. Wait until symptoms have resolved or become tolerable before the next agreed reduction. If symptoms are severe, your prescriber may consider returning to a previously tolerated dose and later reducing more slowly; do not make these changes on your own.

Stopping citalopram usually involves prescriber-supported tapering rather than an addiction detoxification program. Your clinician can advise whether a locally available liquid formulation would allow smaller dose reductions. The appropriate setting depends on your symptoms, safety and support needs. 

Psychological support may help address depression, anxiety and concerns about stopping medication. It complements, rather than replaces, a tapering plan and monitoring for withdrawal.

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Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I discuss with my doctor before taking citalopram?
If your doctor recommends taking citalopram or any antidepressants, remember to give an accurate history of your medical condition. Discuss all your symptoms, including distressful thoughts, mood swings, and others. You also need to tell if you think about suicide or harming yourself. Additionally, do not forget to mention all therapies, medications, and alternative treatments you are getting or have had in the past. Your doctor may also ask about your drug use, lifestyle, and physical health issues to ensure safety.
How does citalopram affect pregnancy?
Citalopram can be used during pregnancy when needed. Discuss pregnancy or pregnancy plans with your prescriber so you can weigh the benefits and possible risks of medication against the risks of untreated illness or relapse. Do not stop or change treatment without medical advice. If you become pregnant during tapering, ask your prescriber to review the plan. 
Is it possible to overdose on citalopram?
Taking more citalopram than prescribed can cause an overdose. If an overdose is suspected, seek urgent advice from a poison center or medical service immediately, even if there are no symptoms. If the person has collapsed, has a seizure, has trouble breathing, or cannot be awakened, call local emergency services immediately. Some of the symptoms of citalopram toxicity are loss of consciousness, rapid changes in heartbeats, blood pressure spikes, muscle spasms, confusion, and seizures. Citalopram overdose can significantly damage health and may even cause death.
How long do citalopram withdrawal symptoms last? 
Withdrawal symptoms usually begin within days of reducing or stopping citalopram, although they can start later. They often settle within a few weeks, but some people have severe symptoms or symptoms lasting months or longer. A gradual taper does not guarantee a particular duration. Contact your prescriber if symptoms worsen, persist or affect daily functioning.
Can I get inpatient treatment for withdrawal?
Citalopram tapering can often be managed through outpatient care. A clinician should assess whether severe symptoms, suicide risk or other medical or psychiatric needs require specialist or hospital inpatient care. Residential accommodation is not the same as hospital inpatient treatment; confirm the clinical services and monitoring available before choosing a facility. 
Can I take a citalopram course more than once?
The number of antidepressant courses you can take depends on your mental and physical condition. Only a healthcare provider can tell if you need to take citalopram or other similar medicines after a medical evaluation. Needing longer-term treatment or another course does not by itself mean addiction; symptoms may reflect withdrawal or a return of the condition being treated. Do not try to obtain citalopram without a prescription, and inform your doctor so that you can get treatment on time.

Editorial evidence

Evidence & sources

Selected clinical guidelines, peer-reviewed research, and public-health sources used in this article.

02National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2022). Depression in adults: Treatment and management (NICE Guideline NG222).View source
03Royal College of Psychiatrists. (2024). Stopping antidepressants.View source
View all 4 sourcesShow fewer sources
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