Citalopram Tapering Guidelines

Recommended Tapering Protocol

• The American College of Physicians recommends a gradual reduction of 10% of the previous dose every 2-4 weeks to minimize withdrawal symptoms and prevent relapse, with slower tapers of 10% per month or less for patients on long-term therapy 1
• Monitor for withdrawal symptoms after each dose reduction before proceeding to the next step, and adjust the taper schedule as needed 1

Managing Withdrawal Symptoms

• Common withdrawal symptoms include dizziness, nausea, headache, paresthesia, irritability, anxiety, and insomnia, and if severe, require returning to the previous well-tolerated dose and slowing the taper further 1
• For insomnia, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine suggests short-term use of non-benzodiazepine sleep aids may be beneficial 2

Special Considerations

• Patients who have been on citalopram for years require much slower tapers than those on short-term therapy, with individualized taper schedules based on patient response 1