I was on Prozac for two years for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), but it decimated my libido. My doctor prescribed citalopram instead.
If I missed a dose or two of Prozac nothing bad happened, but if I miss a few doses of citalopram, I get brain zaps.
I was relieved to read on your website that others experience this too. It’s like a jolt, a shiver, almost that feeling when you’re in a meeting and you nod off for a split second and then catch yourself. Sometimes it happens as often as every twenty seconds or so.
Why does this happen on citalopram though it never did on Prozac?
A. Prozac (fluoxetine) is an antidepressant that lingers in the body for days or even weeks. Missing a couple of doses rarely causes withdrawal symptoms.
Shorter-acting medications such as Celexa (citalopram), Effexor (venlafaxine), or Paxil (paroxetine) are reported to trigger a kind of withdrawal syndrome if they are stopped suddenly. Visitors to our website describe zaps, shivers, dizziness, a “sloshing” sensation or even a feeling of “head in a blender.” If you ever have to stop taking this drug, ask your doctor to help you taper off slowly or switch you to a longer-acting medication such as fluoxetine for phase-off.
