CelesteP: WD symptoms from Imipramine?

[CelesteP]

Paxil 

Crossed over to lexapro

Lexapro 

Imipramine after lexapro taper

Added Celexa to Imipramine in 2010  

 

I tapered Imipramine (50mgs)  Just on Celexa now for month.  I need help understanding what I am feeling & there isn't too much out there about Imipramine WD.  AM anxiety back.  Thanks to DARE I am not afraid of it and can get passed it quickly.  I have alot of aches and pains.  Fatigue.  Tingling in lower legs and arms and hands.  No motivation.  Mind racing.  Never feel refreshed.  

Thank you

[Gridley]

Hello, CelesteP, and welcome to SA.

 

Before I discovered SA, I tapered Imipramine from 75mg down to 15mg and began experiencing similar WD symptoms to yours--intense anxiety, no motivation and fatigue, as well as dizziness.  Then I learned from SA I should've tapered the Lexapro first, since it is more activating and Imipramine is more sedating.  That's water under the bridge for you now (and congratulations for tapering off the Lexpro and Imipramine) but just for your information, take a look at this link.

Taking multiple psych drugs? Which drug to taper first?  

 

To give members the best information, we ask them to summarize their medication history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly.

• Any drugs prior to 24 months ago can just be listed with start and stop years. 
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At Surviving Antidepressants, it is recommended that a person taper by no more than 10% of their current dose with at least a four week hold in-between decreases.  The 10% taper recommendation is a harm reduction approach to going off psychiatric drugs.  Some people may have to taper at a more conservative rate as they are sensitive to even the smallest drops.  This information should be helpful for your Celexa taper.
  

Before you begin tapering what you need to know

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Brain Remodelling

Tips for tapering off Celexa (citalopram)

To help you understand what you are experiencing, here is some information on withdrawal:

What is withdrawal syndrome.

Glenmullen’s withdrawal symptom list.

 

When we take medications, the CNS (central nervous system) responds by making changes over the months and years we take the drug(s). When the medication is discontinued, the CNS has to undo all the changes it made. Rebuilding the neurotransmitter production and reactivating the receptor and transporter cells takes time -- during that rebuilding process symptoms occur.  

Youtube video, 4 minutes: Healing from antidepressants

 

Please be aware that sometime withdrawal symptoms don't appear immediately.

Delayed onset of withdrawal symptoms

 

Healing isn't linear, it's up and down.

 Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system. 

 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

Please research all supplements first and only add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems.

 

While it is often a first response to stress to take a B-Complex, in withdrawal it can be overstimulating.

 Hypersensitive to B Vitamin or B-Complex  

 

Many members have found the techniques in the following two links helpful in coping with withdrawal.  

The Dr. Claire Weekes Method of Recovering from a Sensitized Nervous System

Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms.

 

This is your introduction topic -- the place for you to ask questions, record symptoms, share your progress, and connect with other members of the SA community.  I hope you'll find the information in the SA forums helpful for your situation. I'm sorry that you are in the position that you need the information, but I am glad that you found us.

 

 

 

 

 

[CelesteP]

Gridley
Thank you so much.  I didn't think I would meet anyone who tapered Imipramine:) I am okay with AM anxiety as it leaves quickly.  I am not depressed.  I was relieved to read that someone else had the extreme fatigue and aches and pains....not like me at all.  I was not aware of tapering the ssri first.  The Imipramine never had the (desired) effect so I thought why not let it go....it really does nothing.  Frequent UTI's from not being able to empty bladder due to urinary retention from Imipramine.  Much different now. For the better.  Thanks again

[craftychica]

Thanks for starting this, as I don't know anyone who has tapered off Imipramine either.  I have been tapering down from 75 mg and am currently at 12.5.  Feeling the morning anxiety and nausea that I have always experienced trying to come off this drug.  I thought that coming off this sedating med would refresh my energy, but I have no motivation and all I want to do is sleep.

[CelesteP]

Hi....Craftychica  It has been a good 5-6 weeks and I am finally snapping out of it (for good I hope).  My energy is slowly coming back and the pain is much better.  I am not waking up refreshed yet.  There is improvement.  When I feel a  more permanent shift I will begin a Celexa Taper.....You are not alone with the desire to sleep.

[CelesteP]

I have been off Imipramine for about 2 months.  It was not a bad taper (nothing like the other meds).  I have a physically demanding job.  The migratory aches/pains/fatigue/pin/needles is actually scaring me at this point.  The last it happened it did lift and now it is back.  Can anyone relate or even explain it.......thank you.  Feeling like an old bag of bones

[craftychica]

Hi CelesteP....glad to hear things are getting better with energy and pain.  It's encouraging to see improvements over time...I just get really impatient for this withdrawal to be over so I can start to heal.  I been having some really bad mornings with anxiety and nausea lately and it's tough to keep going.  I can say I am feeling less groggy in the morning and able to start the day earlier, which is wonderful.  It's a long hard road, but there are times I feel stronger for it.  My best hopes for your continued success.

[Altostrata]

Celeste, how are you feeling now?

 

Aches and pains will come in waves and windows.

 

Many people do better with fish oil and magnesium supplements, see
http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/

http://survivingantidepressants.org/topic/15483-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/

 

A lot of people find them helpful. Try a little bit of one at a time to see how it affects you.

 

[CelesteP]

Hi and thank you for asking....the pain went away as did the fatigue....it is good to share about things improving.  Still on Celexa and not yet ready to begin another taper.  Last week I injured my left knee (soft tissue damage).  It is painful and I think I have a road ahead of me.  The sad part of tapering and WD is that when these other issues pop up and set us back it is very frustrating and I cannot begin another taper.  Loss of time we cannot get back. 

[Gridley]

Congratulations on being Imipramine-free, CelesteP.  Imipramine is on my to-do list along with Ativan once my Lexapro taper is done.  Healing Light to your knee.

[CelesteP]

Gridley thank you....it was not that bad of a taper.  Nothing like the ssri's.  After completely being off after a few weeks I got slammed with fatigue and pain...and then it went away.....:)

 

 

[CelesteP]

I was on Imipramine and Celexa since 2010.  Last year I tapered Imipramine.  Mild WD.  I figured that the Celexa was a 'buffer'.  I had been tapering Celexa (40mgs) for a for 2-3 months.  Went too fast, too soon.  Crashed.  Reinstated Celexa at full dose.  20mgs. to 40mgs.  In hindsight I wish I had tried reinstatement at 30mgs.

 

Anxiety went away and so did insomnia.  However........I have a drowsiness and tiredness + brain fog that is driving me crazy.  Is this a start up symptom?  Too afraid to do anything except ride this out.  I recently turned 64 and after years of the AD Merry-Go-Round I threw in the towel on tapering.  I just can't do it anymore.  Thanks 

[Altostrata]

Hi, Celeste. How long have you been taking 40mg Celexa this last round?

 

What time of day do you take it?

 

Please update your signature.

[Tulip52]

Oh how I wish we could revive this thread.  Being the only one on this forum at this time that’s tapering from imipramine is lonely.  Any of you still here?