How long does it take citalopram to leave your system?

I stopped taking Celexa for depression about 3months ago. I started Celexa
7 years ago with a prescribed dosage of 5 mg. When i quit I was up to 20 mg. I have just recently noticed my mood swings, irritability, impatience and melancholy return. While the literature states 72 hours to leave your system, meaning the the chemicals are filtered out of the body..for me the good effects of the drug continued for about a month and a half after discontinuing. Family and friends unfortunately were the ones who felt the strongest effects of the drug initially, when my mood swings diminished, as well presently seeing my mood swings return.

Chronic depression/anxiety can cause serious damage long term to the human body.

I have stopped taking citalopram and felt quite yuchy for last few days but I think it's better to exercise or deep breathe than put these harmful chemicals in your body I prefer to raise my serotonin levels naturally as a nurse also all drugs go through the liver and it's not good for your body

Hi, in roughly 70 hours it will be out of your system. Citalopram is excreted through the liver so as long as your liver is healthy the time frame shouldn't very much. To the last poster, can i ask why you are looking to discontinue treatment? And have you discussed it with your doctor/psychiatrist?

Hello, I'd like to go off Citalopram after seven years. I wondered how you fare some months later. Are you still off it? If yes, how do you feel? Were there any drastic mood swings involved in discontinuing?I'd be grateful for any feedback.

Thank you.

It is dependant on many factors e.g.
1. How much and how often you have taken the drug.
2. Your metabolic rate – a slower metabolism will increase the time a drug remains in your system.
3. Your age and health – older age and poor health will generally increase the time the drug stays in your system.
4. Body mass – generally the bigger you are the longer a drug will remain in your system.

Citalopram has a long half life of around 35 hours meaning it takes 35 hours for the body to clear 50% of the drug from your system. If you take the above factors into account it will take at least 7 days to clear the system. But it may take longer.