Ask a doctor on the topic of Neurology

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November 13, 2019 | 20,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Frauke Gehring

I have been taking Citalopram for 5 years due to a breakdown at that time. Now, for the past 2 weeks, I have been reducing my dosage from 20 mg to 15 mg. I have discussed everything with my doctor. For the past 2 days, I have been experiencing electric shocks in my head or throughout my body. Is this normal? I am really scared because I read on the internet that stopping this medication can result in death or becoming dependent and becoming a care case. Is something bad going to happen now? Or is this all normal and something one has to live with for now?

Dr. med. Frauke Gehring

Hello,

This nonsense has been circulating on the internet for a long time, but of course you will not die from stopping the medication and you will not become a case for care! The only thing that can happen is that it may take longer for you to wean yourself off the medication.

Your doctor is following the proper procedure and reducing it very slowly. Distract yourself, relax, and exercise, then everything will be easier to bear. Such feelings always occur when discontinuing the medication.

Sincerely, Dr. Gehring