What is the Reality of Citalopram Withdrawal Symptoms?

Executive Summary

• Citalopram is an addictive drug.
• Citalopram addiction and Citalopram withdrawal symptoms are deliberately minimized by pharmaceutical companies and the overall medical establishment.

Introduction

A primary method used by pharmaceutical companies, MDs, and the overall medical establishment is to minimize addiction. This article covers the gaslighting of patients, the public, and patients on Citalopram withdrawal symptoms.

What the Medical Establishment Says About Citalopram Withdrawal Symptoms

The following quotes are from the website The Recovery Village.

Assertion #1: Citalopram is Not Addictive — But Can Lead to Addiction?

Citalopram (Celexa) is a non-addictive antidepressant. The medication is made to elevate the patient’s mood, which can lead to a patient’s increased use of the medication.

But then, just a few paragraphs later, this follows.

An addiction may occur for those in recovery from depression wishing to increase the benefits of Citalopram (Celexa) by taking more than the prescribed dosage.

After using Citalopram (Celexa) for an extended period of time, the body may develop a dependency on the medication. Withdrawal symptoms are extremely common in those who discontinue the prescription too rapidly.

So it is not just taking too large of a dose of citalopram that leads to addiction but extended usage.

Assertion #2: Citalopram Withdrawal Symptoms

Here are some key warning signs for someone dealing with substance abuse disorder related to Citalopram (Celexa):

Aggression
Cardiac arrhythmia
Convulsions
Erectile dysfunction
Frequent urination
Hallucinations
Irritability
Memory issues
Mood swings
Panic attacks
Tremors
Vivid dreaming

Based on the previously mentioned warning signs exhibited from those who are actively using Citalopram (Celexa) excessively, an addiction to Citalopram (Celexa) is associated with an increased chance of committing suicide.

What Are Common Citalopram (Celexa) Withdrawal Symptoms?
Withdrawal symptoms can be similar to the flu and not everyone will experience all withdrawal symptoms when stopping Citalopram (Celexa), but here are some that have been reported.

Agitation
Confusion
Depression
Diarrhea
Dizziness
Vivid dreams
Drowsiness
Electric shock sensations
Fatigue
Temperature sensitivity
Headache
Insomnia
Irritability
Mood swings
Muscle spasms
Nausea
Tingling or painful sensations
Sweating
Tremors

These sound like some significant withdrawal symptoms — particularly for a drug that Recovery Village says is not addictive.

This is false. Citalopram, like other depressants, is addictive, even when used as prescribed. This is explained in detail in the article How Antidepressants Produce Addiction Through Altering the Neurotransmition Process. (Subscription required)

Assertion #3: Problems With Long-Term Usage

The following quote is from an article on Citolapram withdrawal and detox at Recovery Village.

Taking Citalopram (Celexa) is a long-term commitment and may lead to various biological effects. It is important to remain consistent with the dosage recommended by a doctor. Missing doses may drastically increase the potential for substance use disorder relapse.

The problem with this is that most people that take citalopram take it long-term, even though there are no studies on long-term citalopram use. This is explained in another Recovery Village article on Celexa addiction.

To avoid Celexa addiction, it’s important that patients take this prescription antidepressant exactly as it was directed by their doctor. Celexa, even when taken as prescribed does have a high potential to develop the psychological disease of addiction, however, when you follow instructions you help to lower that risk.

The reason that citalopram, like other antidepressants, creates addiction after more than a few weeks is that they overcome the brain’s attempt to rectify the normal neurotransmitter process, which all antidepressants disrupt — and it takes several weeks for the brain to cease compensating for the drug.

To understand how this works, see the previous article link.

The following quote is from an article on withdrawal and detox at Recovery Village.

What Are Common Citalopram (Celexa) Withdrawal Symptoms?
Withdrawal symptoms can be similar to the flu and not everyone will experience all withdrawal symptoms when stopping Citalopram (Celexa), but here are some that have been reported.

Agitation
Confusion
Depression
Diarrhea
Dizziness
Vivid dreams
Drowsiness
Electric shock sensations
Fatigue
Temperature sensitivity
Headache
Insomnia
Irritability
Mood swings
Muscle spasms
Nausea
Tingling or painful sensations
Sweating
Tremors

These sound like some significant withdrawal symptoms — particularly for a drug that Recovery Village says is not addictive. And the withdrawal is so severe that, according to Recovery Village.

Recovering from the withdrawal of Citalopram (Celexa) should be monitored by a physician. Some withdrawal experiences can be severe, but a qualified physician can guide you through.

Assertion #4: Cilatopram Addiction Only Comes From Abuse?

This is a constant explanation provided by Recovery Village and the medical establishment that addiction is only related to misuse of these drugs.

With Celexa addiction, a person may experience strong cravings for the drug. Antidepressants are among the most prescribed medications in America. Many prescribe them as a safer alternative to benzodiazepines as they see them as less potential for substance misuse. Despite this though, some people do in fact misuse antidepressants.

Antidepressants don’t give the euphoric feeling that other drugs do meaning they can’t get you high. However, since this medication improves the mood, high doses of it might induce this euphoric feeling.

All antidepressants manipulate neurotransmitters and alter the brain’s neurotransmitter process. They are addictive by simply understanding their action in these processes.

Most antidepressant addiction is caused by increasing one’s prescribed dose when they feel a drug isn’t working well enough or fast enough.

This is what MDs often do when the antidepressant is not working. Either this or switch to another antidepressant.

It is common for antidepressants to stop working overtime leading some people taking the drug to increase their dosage when they can’t reach normal relief.

Recovery Village sounds like patients mostly do this independently rather than having this recommended by the patient’s MDs.

Recovery Village and the medical establishments’ claims that antidepressants like citalopram are not addictive are false. And one has to be ignorant of the processes that are changed in the brain by antidepressants to propose or accept this assertion. Citalopram, like other depressants, is addictive, even when used as prescribed. This is explained in detail in the article How Antidepressants Produce Addiction Through Altering the Neurotransmition Process. (Subscription required)