Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUnderstanding Celexa WithdrawalSigns & SymptomsCoping & ReliefWarningsCelexa and PregnancyLong-Term TreatmentResources

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Understanding Celexa Withdrawal

Signs & Symptoms

Coping & Relief

Warnings

Celexa and Pregnancy

Long-Term Treatment

Resources

Close

What is the most important information I should know about Celexa withdrawal?Suddenly stopping Celexa can cause depression to return and lead to withdrawal symptoms; do not stop taking your medication without talking to your doctor.If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking antidepressants during pregnancy.

What is the most important information I should know about Celexa withdrawal?

Suddenly stopping Celexa can cause depression to return and lead to withdrawal symptoms; do not stop taking your medication without talking to your doctor.If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking antidepressants during pregnancy.

Celexa (citalopram)is a commonly prescribed antidepressant. It is part of a class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Celexa is an FDA-approved treatment for the symptoms of major depression. It is also used off-label to treat other mental health conditions, including anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorders, and eating disorders.

Like other antidepressants, quitting Celexa can lead to withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop taking or lower the dose of your medication. Never change your dose or stop taking your medication without talking to your doctor first.

All antidepressants have the potential to cause withdrawal symptoms. Although newer antidepressants like Celexa are less likely to lead to adverse reactions while you’re taking them, when you quit it’s a totally different story.

Fortunately, Celexa is not one of the antidepressants that causes the worst withdrawal symptoms. However, it can still be uncomfortable and present challenges.

Overall, more than half (56%) of people quitting antidepressants experience withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and can last for weeks or longer.Unfortunately, there is no way to predict how—or if—you will be affected.

Common symptoms of Celexa withdrawal include dizziness,irritability, sensory andflu-like symptoms.Occasionally, the dizziness can get so bad that it becomes hard to stand up.

When you quit Celexa, there is a possibility that you will relapse and begin experiencing symptoms of depression again. Discontinuing your dose can also lead to an increase in suicidal thinking and behavior.

Signs & Symptoms of Celexa Withdrawal

When your dose is suddenly discontinued or reduced, your brain has to adjust to lower levels of serotonin. This adjustment period can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

Celexa has a half-life of about 35 hours, meaning it takes 35 hours for half of the drug to leave your system.It takes about one week for the drug to leave your system entirely. This is good, because it means withdrawal won’t hit hard and fast as soon as your dose is discontinued.

For most people, Celexa withdrawal begins within two to four days of your last dose. Symptoms may continue for anywhere from one to two weeks.Keep in mind that antidepressant withdrawal duration is a difficult thing for researchers to measure, which means that experiences can vary.

The severity of SSRI withdrawal symptoms also varies widely. Research has found that the severity is worse than what doctors once believed. Researchers estimate that nearly half (46%) of people going through SSRI withdrawal describe their symptoms as severe.People with severe symptoms may have difficulty fulfilling their responsibilities at home and at work.

To better understand the range of symptoms and symptom severity, you may want to check out theDiscontinuation-Emergent Signs and Symptoms Scale(DESS), which clinicians sometimes use.

The following is the complete list of symptoms associated with SSRI withdrawal:

Serotonin: What It Is, How to Increase It, and Can You Have Too Much?

Coping & Relief for Celexa Withdrawal

If you are having trouble quitting Celexa, don’t worry, you have options. If you are quitting Celexa because your depression has abated and you have determined with your doctor that it makes sense to come off your antidepressant, you may want to consider a taper.

What Is Tapering?Taperinga medication means incrementally reducing your dose over the course of several weeks or months. When it comes to SSRIs like Celexa, tapering isn’t always effective in avoiding withdrawal symptoms, but recent research has found more promising results.

What Is Tapering?

Taperinga medication means incrementally reducing your dose over the course of several weeks or months. When it comes to SSRIs like Celexa, tapering isn’t always effective in avoiding withdrawal symptoms, but recent research has found more promising results.

If tapering isn’t working or you are still experiencing breakthrough symptoms, there are other steps you can take. A good first step is to reach out for support from family, friends, and other people struggling with antidepressant withdrawal.

When you havesocial support, you are less likely to feel isolated, ashamed, or alone. When friends and family know what to expect, they can forgive you for being more anxious or agitated. You can also look online for groups of people going through the same thing as you. It’s a great place to trade tips and tricks you hadn’t thought of. Here are a few examples:

Celexa Withdrawal Warnings

Celexa, like otherSSRIs, comes with a warning from the FDA about the potential increased risk of thoughts of suicide and suicidal behaviors in children and young adults. When you quit or change your dose, your risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors may increase.

If you or someone you love is quitting or has quit Celexa, it is important to know what to look for. Contact a doctor or emergency services if any of the following symptoms arise:

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you become pregnant while taking Celexa, you have some decisions to make. Talk to your OB-GYN about the risks and benefits of continuing antidepressants during your pregnancy.

There is a small risk that women who take antidepressants during their second and third trimesters could experience preterm labor.

Your treatment outlook will depend on a variety of factors, such as why you have decided to quit antidepressants and what symptoms you are currently experiencing. If you are quitting Celexa because it wasn’t working or because the side effects were too much, then you should continue to seek treatment from a qualified mental health professional.

A psychiatrist can help you switch to another antidepressant, while a psychologist or therapist of another discipline can providepsychotherapy-based treatment. Keep in mind that psychotherapy and antidepressants can both effectively treat many of the symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders.

Research has found that people who discontinue antidepressants when they are in remission from depressive episodes have a 40% to 50% risk of experiencing a relapse in depressive symptoms.

To reduce your chances of relapse, it is often important to continue on an antidepressant and participate in therapy. For example, remaining on antidepressants six to 12 months after remission lowers the risk of relapse between 13% and 20%.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School and other universities have found that people engaging in psychotherapy while discontinuing antidepressants are less likely to relapse than those who do not.

If you are interested in finding a new psychiatrist, psychologist, or therapist in your area, there are several ways to find one. TheSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)has a searchabledirectoryof qualified providers. You can also call them at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) and a knowledgeable operator will search for you.

If you have health insurance, you can also search the company’s list of local providers who accept your insurance. Most insurance companies have at least some mental health coverage, including state and federal plans.

Tips for Antidepressant Withdrawal Relief

12 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Association of Mental Illness.Citalopram (Celexa).Davies J, Read J.A systematic review into the incidence, severity and duration of antidepressant withdrawal effects: Are guidelines evidence-based?Addict Behav.2019 Oct;97:111-121. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.08.027Akil A, Bies RR, Pollock BG, et al.A population pharmacokinetic model for R- and S-citalopram and desmethylcitalopram in Alzheimer’s disease patients with agitation.J Pharmacokinet Pharmacodyn. 2016;43(1):99-109. doi:10.1007/s10928-015-9457-6Gabriel M, Sharma V.Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome.CMAJ. 2017;189(21):E747. doi:10.1503/cmaj.160991Davies J, Read J.A systematic review into the incidence, severity and duration of antidepressant withdrawal effects: Are guidelines evidence-based?Addictive Behaviors. 2019;97:111-121. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.08.027Gabriel M, Sharma V.Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome.CMAJ. 2017;189(21):E747. doi:10.1503/cmaj.160991Fava GA, Gatti A, Belaise C, Guidi J, Offidani E.Withdrawal symptoms after selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor discontinuation: a systematic review.Psychother Psychosom. 2015;84(2):72-81. doi:10.1159/000370338Horowitz MA, Taylor D. Tapering of SSRI treatment to mitigate withdrawal symptoms.Lancet Psychiatry. 2019 Jun;6(6):538-546. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(19)30032-XXie Y, Wu Z, Sun L, et al.The effects and mechanisms of exercise on the treatment of depression.Front Psychiatry. 2021;12:705559. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.705559National Institute of Mental Health.Suicide in America: Frequently asked questions.Nuggerud-Galeas S, Sáez-Benito Suescun L, Berenguer Torrijo N, et al.Analysis of depressive episodes, their recurrence and pharmacologic treatment in primary care patients: A retrospective descriptive study.PLoS One. 2020;15(5):e0233454. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0233454Harvard Health Publishing.Going off antidepressants.

12 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Association of Mental Illness.Citalopram (Celexa).Davies J, Read J.A systematic review into the incidence, severity and duration of antidepressant withdrawal effects: Are guidelines evidence-based?Addict Behav.2019 Oct;97:111-121. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.08.027Akil A, Bies RR, Pollock BG, et al.A population pharmacokinetic model for R- and S-citalopram and desmethylcitalopram in Alzheimer’s disease patients with agitation.J Pharmacokinet Pharmacodyn. 2016;43(1):99-109. doi:10.1007/s10928-015-9457-6Gabriel M, Sharma V.Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome.CMAJ. 2017;189(21):E747. doi:10.1503/cmaj.160991Davies J, Read J.A systematic review into the incidence, severity and duration of antidepressant withdrawal effects: Are guidelines evidence-based?Addictive Behaviors. 2019;97:111-121. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.08.027Gabriel M, Sharma V.Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome.CMAJ. 2017;189(21):E747. doi:10.1503/cmaj.160991Fava GA, Gatti A, Belaise C, Guidi J, Offidani E.Withdrawal symptoms after selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor discontinuation: a systematic review.Psychother Psychosom. 2015;84(2):72-81. doi:10.1159/000370338Horowitz MA, Taylor D. Tapering of SSRI treatment to mitigate withdrawal symptoms.Lancet Psychiatry. 2019 Jun;6(6):538-546. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(19)30032-XXie Y, Wu Z, Sun L, et al.The effects and mechanisms of exercise on the treatment of depression.Front Psychiatry. 2021;12:705559. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.705559National Institute of Mental Health.Suicide in America: Frequently asked questions.Nuggerud-Galeas S, Sáez-Benito Suescun L, Berenguer Torrijo N, et al.Analysis of depressive episodes, their recurrence and pharmacologic treatment in primary care patients: A retrospective descriptive study.PLoS One. 2020;15(5):e0233454. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0233454Harvard Health Publishing.Going off antidepressants.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Association of Mental Illness.Citalopram (Celexa).Davies J, Read J.A systematic review into the incidence, severity and duration of antidepressant withdrawal effects: Are guidelines evidence-based?Addict Behav.2019 Oct;97:111-121. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.08.027Akil A, Bies RR, Pollock BG, et al.A population pharmacokinetic model for R- and S-citalopram and desmethylcitalopram in Alzheimer’s disease patients with agitation.J Pharmacokinet Pharmacodyn. 2016;43(1):99-109. doi:10.1007/s10928-015-9457-6Gabriel M, Sharma V.Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome.CMAJ. 2017;189(21):E747. doi:10.1503/cmaj.160991Davies J, Read J.A systematic review into the incidence, severity and duration of antidepressant withdrawal effects: Are guidelines evidence-based?Addictive Behaviors. 2019;97:111-121. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.08.027Gabriel M, Sharma V.Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome.CMAJ. 2017;189(21):E747. doi:10.1503/cmaj.160991Fava GA, Gatti A, Belaise C, Guidi J, Offidani E.Withdrawal symptoms after selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor discontinuation: a systematic review.Psychother Psychosom. 2015;84(2):72-81. doi:10.1159/000370338Horowitz MA, Taylor D. Tapering of SSRI treatment to mitigate withdrawal symptoms.Lancet Psychiatry. 2019 Jun;6(6):538-546. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(19)30032-XXie Y, Wu Z, Sun L, et al.The effects and mechanisms of exercise on the treatment of depression.Front Psychiatry. 2021;12:705559. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.705559National Institute of Mental Health.Suicide in America: Frequently asked questions.Nuggerud-Galeas S, Sáez-Benito Suescun L, Berenguer Torrijo N, et al.Analysis of depressive episodes, their recurrence and pharmacologic treatment in primary care patients: A retrospective descriptive study.PLoS One. 2020;15(5):e0233454. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0233454Harvard Health Publishing.Going off antidepressants.

National Association of Mental Illness.Citalopram (Celexa).

Davies J, Read J.A systematic review into the incidence, severity and duration of antidepressant withdrawal effects: Are guidelines evidence-based?Addict Behav.2019 Oct;97:111-121. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.08.027

Akil A, Bies RR, Pollock BG, et al.A population pharmacokinetic model for R- and S-citalopram and desmethylcitalopram in Alzheimer’s disease patients with agitation.J Pharmacokinet Pharmacodyn. 2016;43(1):99-109. doi:10.1007/s10928-015-9457-6

Gabriel M, Sharma V.Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome.CMAJ. 2017;189(21):E747. doi:10.1503/cmaj.160991

Davies J, Read J.A systematic review into the incidence, severity and duration of antidepressant withdrawal effects: Are guidelines evidence-based?Addictive Behaviors. 2019;97:111-121. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.08.027

Fava GA, Gatti A, Belaise C, Guidi J, Offidani E.Withdrawal symptoms after selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor discontinuation: a systematic review.Psychother Psychosom. 2015;84(2):72-81. doi:10.1159/000370338

Horowitz MA, Taylor D. Tapering of SSRI treatment to mitigate withdrawal symptoms.Lancet Psychiatry. 2019 Jun;6(6):538-546. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(19)30032-X

Xie Y, Wu Z, Sun L, et al.The effects and mechanisms of exercise on the treatment of depression.Front Psychiatry. 2021;12:705559. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.705559

National Institute of Mental Health.Suicide in America: Frequently asked questions.

Nuggerud-Galeas S, Sáez-Benito Suescun L, Berenguer Torrijo N, et al.Analysis of depressive episodes, their recurrence and pharmacologic treatment in primary care patients: A retrospective descriptive study.PLoS One. 2020;15(5):e0233454. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0233454

Harvard Health Publishing.Going off antidepressants.

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