HopeForTomorrow: SSRI and benzo withdrawal

[HopeForTomorrow]

53 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

Take the Dexilent as far away from Celexa as you can.

 

It appears many of your symptoms might be from Dexilent. Suggest you talk with a nutritionist or other specialist who knows more than your GP about this.

Alto, I’m convinced you are a genius. You got me thinking about Dexilant. I have always gotten brand name Dexilant because they didn’t have a generic version. I looked at my last refill, it’s the first time I ever got the generic version! My last refill was 2/18 - the UTI symptoms started back 2/20! Rocephin shot 2/23. Benzo withdrawal kicked up after that.

 

Could switching to generic have caused issue? Then when I cut it was just horrible timing and caused more severe symptoms?
 

If so, do I try to skip dose of Dexilant tomorrow? Or I can wait as long as possible to take it and record symptoms. 
 

58 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

How do things start changing? Surely you can see why I'm asking this question. Can you be more forthcoming?

I totally understand, I’m sorry. It has been hard to decipher. I will be much more in-depth with my symptom list tomorrow.

[Altostrata]

I don't know anything about Dexilant. You'll have to ask your doctor or pharmacist.

 

If it has been suppressing your stomach acid, you cannot just quit it, you have to taper off. See 
 

Tips for tapering off stomach acid blockers or PPIs...

 

[HopeForTomorrow]

2 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

I don't know anything about Dexilant. You'll have to ask your doctor or pharmacist.

 

If it has been suppressing your stomach acid, you cannot just quit it, you have to taper off. See 

 

Tips for tapering off stomach acid blockers or PPIs...

 

I will talk to them on Monday. Thank you for sending and thank you for bringing it to my attention as a possibility. 
 

I will keep doing 1mg Celexa, take Dexilant much further away and update my symptoms tomorrow, thank you so much! 

[HopeForTomorrow]

@Frogie You said you had to taper 2 PPI’s, were either of them extended release capsules? I’m curious as to how to taper those. Did you just cut by 25% at a time?
 

Thank you so much!

[Frogie]

@HopeForTomorrow

 

I took Prilosec and Zantac, neither were extended release. Mine were both immediate release. I don't know anything about Dexilant, but once you open it, it becomes immediate release. Receiving the generic could have upset you as they are different manufactures. I never changed time when taking my meds, I just took it at the same time as always, so if the clock went ahead and hour I still took it at 7 am. If it went back an hour I took it at 7 am. 

[HopeForTomorrow]

5 hours ago, Frogie said:

@HopeForTomorrow

 

I took Prilosec and Zantac, neither were extended release. Mine were both immediate release. I don't know anything about Dexilant, but once you open it, it becomes immediate release. Receiving the generic could have upset you as they are different manufactures. I never changed time when taking my meds, I just took it at the same time as always, so if the clock went ahead and hour I still took it at 7 am. If it went back an hour I took it at 7 am. 

Did you do 25% a week? And is that recommendation 25% off of previous dose or 25% in general? So 4 cuts total?

 

And what dose did you “jump” from? Working on a plan now. 
 

Also, did you get “rebound” reflux within hours of not taking it? I have mild reflux still being on it which could be from long term PPI use, itself. Who knows!

 

Helps to know you feel better off of it!

[HopeForTomorrow]

18 hours ago, Altostrata said:

I don't know anything about Dexilant. You'll have to ask your doctor or pharmacist.

 

If it has been suppressing your stomach acid, you cannot just quit it, you have to taper off. See 

 

Tips for tapering off stomach acid blockers or PPIs...

 

You may not know the answer to this but since you are so knowledgeable, I wanted to ask. 
 

Omeprazole interacts with Celexa by increasing the level of Celexa. Dexilant says it doesn’t have this reaction on the reaction checker but is there a possibility  that it does - since they’re both PPI’s? Just don’t want to mess with my Celexa withdrawal while tapering PPI.

 

Also, there are 97 beads inside one time-released capsule. I was thinking of doing a micro-taper and taking out 2 beads a day and putting them back in the capsule. Does that sound like a good taper option? It would take 48 days to taper. Not sure what the usual taper rate is for these. 

[Frogie]

@HopeForTomorrow

 

I just did 25% a week cuts. I didn't weigh them or anything. I just opened them up and divided it into 4 piles and took one pile away the 1st week and poured it back in. Then the 2nd week, I divided it into 3 piles, the 3rd week in half and then took the last pile for a week and jumped off. I did that for my morning dose, then I did my evening dose. I then started on the second PPI I was taking and did the same thing. It wasn't perfect and yes I did have rebound acid reflux, but I ate tums and rolaids and that helped. You will feel better after your stomach gets used to having the acid it needs to digest your food. I also ate crackers, and I think I drank ginger tea and I remember I did buy some Preggie Pops off of Amazon and they helped.

[HopeForTomorrow]

 

5 minutes ago, Frogie said:

@HopeForTomorrow

 

I just did 25% a week cuts. I didn't weigh them or anything. I just opened them up and divided it into 4 piles and took one pile away the 1st week and poured it back in. Then the 2nd week, I divided it into 3 piles, the 3rd week in half and then took the last pile for a week and jumped off. I did that for my morning dose, then I did my evening dose. I then started on the second PPI I was taking and did the same thing. It wasn't perfect and yes I did have rebound acid reflux, but I ate tums and rolaids and that helped. You will feel better after your stomach gets used to having the acid it needs to digest your food. I also ate crackers, and I think I drank ginger tea and I remember I did buy some Preggie Pops off of Amazon and they helped.

You are so helpful, thank you. So it took you about a month to get off each? I will definitely do the ginger tea. I had a doctor also tell me I could do baking soda in water if it got bad, I’ll try that too. 
 

I’m talking to my doctor about taper tomorrow. Thank you, Frogie!!!!

[Frogie]

It must have taken about a month. It was so long ago, I just remember how I did it. Baking Soda may help also. Baking Soda will put alkalinity into your stomach which may be good to get it back to normal.

 

I hope your dr will agree with your taper, as some just say to stop them. Mine did until I told him about a taper option and then he agreed to let me try it.

 

Good luck!

[HopeForTomorrow]

@Altostrata

Updated log & PPI update:

 

3/11 - 

9:30am - Celexa 1mg

11:30am - Dexilant

12:00 - queasy, head fullness/headache, feels kind of how I felt when I had initial adverse reaction

1:00pm - started period. Feeling a little relief from headache/fullness. Still weak, queasy, heart racing when moving around, internal uneasiness on the verge of akathisia

2:30pm - anxiety/fear, shivers. Terrified. Feeling very not myself mentally. Doomed. 

4:00 - headache/head pressure. Weak, heart palpitations 

6:00pm - symptoms of migraine - Quercetin

7-9pm - things calmed some, achy legs and still internally uneasy. 

10pm-12pm sleep

12pm - woke up feeling like hit by bus. Weak. Achy, chest tight/short of breath (gas?)

1:00am-6am sleep

 

3/12 -

6:00am-9:30am (lost an hour due to time change) - heart racing bad, chest feels heavy/short of breath, anxiety, fear, groggy and “hungover” type feeling, queasy

10am - breakfast + Celexa 1mg (due to time change taking it at 10am today and 9:30am tomorrow

11:45am - a little internal uneasiness/irritability, uncomfortable feeling. Achy/restless legs, chest feels heavy, anxiety

1:00pm - depersonalization/derealization, depressed/anxious worried and scared about withdrawal. Mentally hyper focused on withdrawal. Weak, chest still feels heavy. Irritable

2:00pm - mental symptoms same, notice upper GI discomfort coming. Will probably take Dexilant soon.

3:45pm - acid reflux kicking up. Still feel about the same - heart is pounding, especially when I move around. Weak.

4pm - Dexilant

4:45pm - acid reflux calming down, little uptick on the internal anxiety, fatigue in eyes and blepharospams worsened (these were benzo withdrawal symptoms but seemed to worsen after Dexilant?)

5pm - getting headache/head pressure in front of head. Fatigue/sleepiness in eyes

5:30pm - lethargic - so tired in eyes

9:15pm - lethargy calming down a tad, foggy headed. I notice I’m a little more “internally uneasy” tonight more than I usually am. Usually, I’m a little sleepier/calmer.

10:30pm-5:30am - sleep

5:30am - woke up heart racing and feeling like got hit by a truck. Tried to eat a little to see if it calmed down heart racing to go back to sleep, didn’t work

 

3/13 -

6:30am—8:30am - nauseous, depressed/disconnected, feeling very vulnerable, “internally uneasy”

9:30am - Celexa 1mg

10:45am - feeling about the same, fatigue and blepharospams here, depressed and mental symptoms here but no different than before taking Celexa that I’m aware of

 

 

I spoke to compound pharmacist who helped me with lorazepam taper. He said Dexilant capsule is not time released, it’s the heads inside that are. So he is on board with taking beads out and tapering that way. I will probably take out 3 each day - that would take 33 days to get off. Hopefully that will be more gentler.

 

 

I messaged my doctor about it too but he tends to take a while to respond. 
 

Does my symptom log still seem it’s the Dexilant making things worse/unstable?

 

Thank you so much for your help.

[Altostrata]

On 3/12/2023 at 1:43 PM, HopeForTomorrow said:

Also, there are 97 beads inside one time-released capsule. I was thinking of doing a micro-taper and taking out 2 beads a day and putting them back in the capsule.

 

To do a micro-taper, you'd take out 2 beads and at some interval, such as a couple of days, remove an additional bead, meaning take out 3 beads for your second reduction. 

 

The reason you taper PPIs is to avoid rebound acid production, not withdrawal. A gradual taper allows your digestive system to adapt. You can taper faster than with a psychotropic drug.

 

As for an interaction of substitute for Dexilant that would interact with citalopram, since you're taking only 1mg citalopram distant from Dexilant, that is not much of a concern.

[HopeForTomorrow]

16 hours ago, Altostrata said:

 

To do a micro-taper, you'd take out 2 beads and at some interval, such as a couple of days, remove an additional bead, meaning take out 3 beads for your second reduction. 

 

The reason you taper PPIs is to avoid rebound acid production, not withdrawal. A gradual taper allows your digestive system to adapt. You can taper faster than with a psychotropic drug.

 

As for an interaction of substitute for Dexilant that would interact with citalopram, since you're taking only 1mg citalopram distant from Dexilant, that is not much of a concern.

 

Perfect, I started the micro-taper yesterday - I will keep you updated.

 

Also, thank you for the explanation of PPI's. It's hard for me not to worry about NOT being on a PPI - isn't that wild? I'm still trying to unpack the "psychiatry" mentality of "needing" medications for the rest of your life even though my "acid reflux" was mild prior to years of PPI use and withdrawal. It's a journey of awakening, acceptance and slow healing.

 

Also, thank you for stating the interaction is not much of a concern - the "fear" neuro-emotion is a strong one. Working through that, as well.

 

Thank you so much!

[Altostrata]

On 3/14/2023 at 8:52 AM, HopeForTomorrow said:

It's hard for me not to worry about NOT being on a PPI - isn't that wild? I'm still trying to unpack the "psychiatry" mentality of "needing" medications for the rest of your life even though my "acid reflux" was mild prior to years of PPI use and withdrawal. It's a journey of awakening, acceptance and slow healing.

 

Very true!

[HopeForTomorrow]

Hi @Altostrata,

 

I found this in a previous post of yours (below).

 

I am tapering PPI. Currently down 25% (as a micro taper taking beads out every other day) and I am having horrific withdrawal symptoms. Obviously the rebound acid reflux is here with nausea and terrible reflux, etc. and the physical discomforts but I’m also having massive anxiety/panic states, irritability, insomnia, depression/crying spells, “out of it” where I can’t focus, disassociating A LOT. I took the Dexilant and Celexa at the same time for as long as I can remember. Before tapering, I separated the Dexilant from the Celexa and noticed some symptoms immediately after taking Dexilant - just more fatigue, not feeling good after, etc. so I questioned if they were interacting with each other and possible affecting how Celexa is absorbed?

 

I am trying to figure out if these symptoms are normal - is this something I just push through that will calm down as my stomach learns to produce acid again? It’s honestly getting unbearable. I have chemical, med and food sensitivities so nothing I can take that will take the slightest edge off of the mental. 

I saw this (below) while looking into these symptoms - is there any way to know if this is just PPI withdrawal or if cutting the PPI is causing issues with the Celexa withdrawal?

 

Physically, I can deal. Mentally these symptoms are pretty bad although I have moments where they’re not “as bad” but I’m not functioning most of the time. The anxiety is massive panic and insomnia - it happens within hours of a cut and gets worse at each cut. 
 

I do believe I need off of it as it’s causing recurring infections and antibiotic usage that causes withdrawal setbacks each time. 
 

Also important to note just in case  - when I recently went down from 1mg to .9mg Celexa, I had withdrawal (crawling out of skin, anxiety, etc) within hours but then that night fatigue and slept okay. I went back up to 1mg the following morning to try and stabilize and figure out what was happening. The next day at 1mg, insomnia. I stabilized in a couple days then started PPI taper. 
 

Any suggestions? 

Thank you so much!

 

The administration of multiple doses of omeprazole preferentially inhibited (+)-(S)-CITA metabolism in healthy volunteers. Although omeprazole increased plasma concentrations of (+)-(S)-CITA by approximately 120%, it is difficult to evaluate the clinical outcome because the range of plasma CITA concentrations related to maximum efficacy and minimum risk of adverse effects has not been established.”

[HopeForTomorrow]

@Altostrata, I also found this study below. NOTE: Dexilant is dexlansoprazole. Also note: Dexilant has time released beads that have 2 separate releases from why I’m reading. (I’m not sure if taking beads out is affecting the complexity of each dose but it’s the only way I know how to proceed)
 

The study talks about a medication “clopidogrel” in conjunction with PPI’s but their main topic is how PPI’s are metabolized by CYP2C19 which can possibly affect other drug levels in drugs metabolized by CYP2C19. From what I gather, it states that the drug “clopidogrel” that they were using for the study was least affected by Dexilant (dexlansoprazole) in comparison to other PPI’s.

 

This makes me think Dexilant is not causing all of these mental symptoms but not sure why else. I did read PPI withdrawal can cause neuroinflammation and cytokine release so I’m not sure if that’s all my symptoms? 
 

Do you mind reviewing? I want to be diligent since mental symptoms are so bad. And I don’t want to mess up anything with the Celexa withdrawal or my nervous system stability.

 

Thank you so much! 

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4930293/

“Importantly, given that PPIs are thought to protect against gastrointestinal bleeding events in patients taking clopidogrel,²⁶ administration of dexlansoprazole does not appear to affect the pharmacokinetics of drugs that are metabolized by CYP2C19. As not all PPIs inhibit CYP 2C19 to the same extent, the potential for a clinically relevant drug-drug interaction with clopidogrel may not be a class effect.⁴³

A randomized trial to compare the effects of 4 PPIs (dexlansoprazole 60 mg, lansoprazole 30 mg, and esomeprazole 40 mg, with omeprazole 80 mg as a control for assay sensitivity) on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of clopidogrel found that generation of the active metabolite of clopidogrel decreased significantly with esomeprazole, but was equivalent with or without co-administration of dexlansoprazole or lansoprazole.⁴³ Similarly, inhibition of platelet function was reduced more with esomeprazole than with dexlansoprazole or lansoprazole. The order of effect on clopidogrel potency from most to least effect was omeprazole > esomeprazole > lansoprazole > dexlansoprazole. This study concluded that the potential of PPIs to attenuate clopidogrel efficacy could be minimized by the use of dexlansoprazole or lansoprazole rather than esomeprazole or omeprazole.”

[HopeForTomorrow]

Update - zero sleep last night. A lot of panic/anxiety. Cognitive decline pretty rapidly - fog/depression, derealization. Rebound acid reflux is there but nothing compared to mental symptoms. 
 

Could this taper be affecting Celexa 1mg since apparently PPI’s can increase Celexa? If so, how do I proceed?

 

Note - there are ~192 beads in each capsule. I took out about 5 every other day. My last cut was last night at removing 50 beads. (So around 26% drop since starting)

 

Would it be best to hold, stabilize and do a slower taper? 
 

I cannot believe I’m having such severe withdrawal syndrome symptoms from a PPI. 

[Altostrata]

What is your current daily drug schedule? I thought you were taking citalopram apart from the PPI? 

 

On 3/11/2023 at 1:50 PM, HopeForTomorrow said:

....

https://www.drugs.com/interactions-check.php?drug_list=679-335,3107-14380,383-16383

 

The interactions checker mostly looks at drug-drug interactions that would affect drug plasma blood levels. It does not appear this is significant with your drugs. 1mg citalopram probably would not be affected unless you took it at the same time as the PPI, which might keep it from being absorbed in your gut.

 

Are you getting acid rebound? That would be a "withdrawal symptom" from the PPI, not mood symptoms or insomnia. 

 

Suggest you stop tapering the PPI for a few days, you may have gone too fast, let your stomach acid normalize.

[HopeForTomorrow]

11 hours ago, Altostrata said:

What is your current daily drug schedule? I thought you were taking citalopram apart from the PPI? 

9:30am Celexa 1mg

6:00pm Quercetin 500mg

8:30pm Dexilant (down to 22mg)

 

I was taking Celexa and Dexilant at the same time over the last couple years, I just switched that a couple weeks ago. 
 

11 hours ago, Altostrata said:

The interactions checker mostly looks at drug-drug interactions that would affect drug plasma blood levels. It does not appear this is significant with your drugs. 1mg citalopram probably would not be affected unless you took it at the same time as the PPI, which might keep it from being absorbed in your gut.

 

Are you getting acid rebound? That would be a "withdrawal symptom" from the PPI, not mood symptoms or insomnia. 

 

Suggest you stop tapering the PPI for a few days, you may have gone too fast, let your stomach acid normalize.

I thought that too but then got shocked with the mental symptoms and insomnia while tapering the PPI. I have not cut the last 2 nights and sleep is better and mood a little bit better. I do have rebound acid - I got it within hours of starting PPI taper. I’ve managed it well with ginger tea, keeping food on my stomach and sleeping elevated. 
 

I guess I was just scared tapering PPI was messing with plasma blood levels since I got such horrible mental symptoms but maybe it’s just my gut micro biome trying to balance? 
 

Wow, this is going to be rough.

[Altostrata]

6 hours ago, HopeForTomorrow said:

I do have rebound acid - I got it within hours of starting PPI taper. I’ve managed it well with ginger tea, keeping food on my stomach and sleeping elevated. 

 

The acid rebound probably affects your sleep and mood. Suggest you stop tapering for now and let the acid rebound go away.

[HopeForTomorrow]

On 3/29/2023 at 2:55 PM, Altostrata said:

The acid rebound probably affects your sleep and mood. Suggest you stop tapering for now and let the acid rebound go away.

I have definitely been holding PPI taper. Last night, I fell asleep without taking PPI. Normally, with a cut, I feel it within hours, have insomnia, hot flashes, mood changes. Today, I can tell I’m just very groggy but no insomnia or hot flashes last night. No unbearable mood symptoms. I have worsening rebound acid but it’s tolerable. 
 

Any chance you can make sense of this? So strange.
 

I didn’t take the missed dose today in fear of taking too close to the Celexa so I am taking my normal dose this evening. 

[Altostrata]

Your stomach acid may have normalized to the extent you might not feel more acid rebound from reductions. PPIs discourage your stomach from producing its normal acid. You need this acid for proper digestion.

[HopeForTomorrow]

On 4/2/2023 at 3:53 PM, Altostrata said:

Your stomach acid may have normalized to the extent you might not feel more acid rebound from reductions. PPIs discourage your stomach from producing its normal acid. You need this acid for proper digestion.

Hi Alto! Starting to get a little concerned. Monday evening I cut PPI from 22mg to 20mg. Of course the first night is rough but then the last couple days it’s lethargy, bad mood swings and irritability, waves of doom - almost akathisia type feelings, out of it, fatigue in eyes and worsening blepharospam (benzo withdrawal symptom). 
 

I’m concerned about the mental symptoms as they’re almost intolerable. I’m 4 days post 2mg cut which seems insignificant. The physical symptoms are - stomach noises almost like it’s learning to work again, some queasiness/nausea, food taking a while to digest. 
 

Do you think the fact that I took PPI at the same time as Celexa for years, then separated them, then started cutting has somehow affected Celexa withdrawal and drug plasma levels?

 

Or do you think the PPI withdrawal itself is causing this?

 

The PPI is causing long term side effects (including recurring infections) and immediate side effects so it definitely has got to go ASAP. I just don’t know how to go about this.
 

Currently, I’m down from 30mg to 20mg and suffering mentally so don’t know how to navigate this.

 

Thank you so much for your help!

[HopeForTomorrow]

@Altostrata , I am so sorry for the double tag. I went back to add a couple things but it was too late. 
 

The irritability is severe - I can’t even stand myself hardly. Just feel super destabilized and I’m not sure why cutting a PPI is doing this unless it’s just my gut adjusting or the serum levels of 1mg Celexa are being affected. 
 

Any insight from your expertise would help me so much as I’m feeling very lost and scared. Not knowing what is what, how to stabilize and how to proceed is quite distressing at the moment. 
 

I, of course, want this dangerous PPI out of my system so my stomach can heal and recurring infections will stop but that’s hard when mental symptoms are raging worse than they have since the beginning of this. 
 

Thank you so much for your help, Alto. 

[HopeForTomorrow]

@Altostrata Me again - I just heard back from my doctor. She is a holistic psychiatrist that I have had who semi-understands withdrawal and definitely understands the danger of these medications. I asked her about the PPI and she said the below. (I have her for low dose prescriptions and just moral support as needed)

 

“It does look like the PPI will increase the blood level of Citalopram by about 40%. I am not sure that going up on the citalopram is the answer.  You go up and the PPI sends that level up more. Any thought of taking a tiny part of an amino acid supplement until you can get off the PPI?

I think your nervous system is very sensitive to any change. Soothing the nervous system would be helpful. I am not sure what works for you.  I would come down on the PPI and then wait to stabilize, and repeat. Do what you can to calm the nervous system.

 

I am talking about a small amount from a capsule, tiny amount of an amino acid complex with several amino acids to see if that helps.”

 

 

I obviously know trying low dose amino acids is a risk in withdrawal and that most people (even her) do not understand withdrawal - based on your knowledge and what is going on, do you have any recommendations? 

[Altostrata]

My guess is the effect on 1mg citalopram would not be significant.

 

You have been tapering your PPI too fast.

 

On 3/29/2023 at 11:55 AM, Altostrata said:

The acid rebound probably affects your sleep and mood. Suggest you stop tapering for now and let the acid rebound go away.

 

If you wish to take your doctor's advice instead, please do. I don't know why I'm involved in monitoring your PPI tapering, it's not a psychiatric drug.

[HopeForTomorrow]

@Altostrata @Frogie

 

Forgive me for the tag. I’m not sure where to go for this. 
 

Do you have any advice or resources on how to deal with the fear in this? Mostly the fear of taking something or doing something to cause a setback. Fear of treating medical issues for fear of setback, etc. I’m extremely sensitive which feeds the fear and then it’s a loop on withdrawal, something pops up that needs treatment or supplements/medication, fear of setback. It can be crippling so I’m trying to find a way to manage and be more confident. 
 

Example - UTI symptoms are back and my doctor wants me to try oregano oil and natural antibiotics since they’re recurring and our bodies develop tolerance pharmaceuticals (and I’ve reacted badly to pharmaceutical antibiotics). But I saw on a benzo site where someone had a huge setback after being healed (from oregano oil) and it’s a crippling fear. Which is crazy because I don’t want to hold back or not take something that would help get over the hump. 
 

I am doing talk therapy and CST but in the throws of withdrawal it’s hard to work through with people who haven’t experienced it. I’ve also stopped reading and/or researching boards of others experiences and only look at drug interactions or your advice so I’m not feeding the fears. 

 

PS - holding at 20mg PPI until I get over this UTI. Theory is that PPI is causing recurring urinary tract infections. 
 

Thank you so much!

[Altostrata]

I don't know anything about treating a UTI with oregano oil. I've never heard of that. How could oregano oil get from your digestive system into your bladder?

 

I wouldn't mess with a UTI. I'd get it treated with an antibiotic (I'm okay with Bactrim) and then take measures not to get one again, such as keep urine acidic with vitamin C, stay well hydrated, and urinate often.

[HopeForTomorrow]

Hi @Altostrata,

 

It’s been a little bit since I’ve been on here. I am officially off the PPI Dexilant. I ended up having to stop abruptly at 20mg due to paradoxical reactions and it flared withdrawal symptoms but was easier than expected. I have been off for 2 months. I also got (suspected) Covid again about 3 weeks ago which has sent me backwards a little bit as well (although not as bad as the first time I had it). 
 

I wanted to reach out because I’m feeling a little defeated. Over the last year I just feel like I’ve gradually gotten worse. My sensitivities to EVERYTHING - hair products, skin products, foods, supplements, etc. has just gradually gotten worse since getting off the benzo. It definitely gradually worsened while tapering the benzo and then after coming off. It’s almost like some sort of MCAS but it’s awful - I truly feel just so sick. I never had issues with chemicals, sensitivities, etc. prior to cold turkey of SSRI and benzo nightmare. But my body is having some sort of “histamine” panicky response to almost everything. Note - I eat completely clean, low histamine. I have went completely “toxin/fragrance free” of everything in my home.
 

I guess my first question is - is this somewhat “normal” to feel so much worse over time or is there something I should be doing/trying to intervene? Or is this just withdrawal and time is the “answer?” 
 

My 2nd question is - I’m still on 1mg Celexa. Is it making things worse at this point or is it stabilizing me? (Reminder - for years I took PPI and Celexa at the same time. Several months ago (before PPI taper), I tried to cut Celexa from 1mg to .09mg and within 4-5 hours went into withdrawal hell of mental symptoms. We thought it was possibly due to taking at the same time as PPI but I’m so scared to cut this again. I went back up to 1mg the following day. Do I try to stabilize again from post Covid and get to a better place before doing anything? (even though I felt horrible with MCAS type stuff and pretty nonfunctional prior to Covid?) or is the Celexa stopping me from healing / making me worse?

 

Please also note - this nightmare started after being on Zofran for 9 months (pregnancy), stopping after pregnancy, switching to Celexa and an increase in dose of Celexa sent me into akathisia and severe adverse affects - then cold turkey, then reinstatement of 1mg after finding you. But by then was on the lorazepam. 

 

I feel very sick and very lost on what to do. It’s hard to feel like my quality of life is worsening over time instead of improving. I’m coming for encouragement and advice. l appreciate your expertise so much. 

 

I hope you’re doing so, so well! Thank you for your time.

[Altostrata]

I have no idea if 1mg Celexa is adding to your problems, or how your hypersensitivity started. It sounds like you have had lots of health problems, including a pregnancy and covid a couple of times.

[HopeForTomorrow]

1 minute ago, Altostrata said:

I have no idea if 1mg Celexa is adding to your problems, or how your hypersensitivity started. It sounds like you have had lots of health problems, including a pregnancy and covid a couple of times.

Pregnancy wasn’t awful - just some nausea so they put me on zofran throughout which is frustrating because it added to this withdrawal problem which started postpartum when messing / changing meds & increasing doses. 

 

Definitely having Covid complicated things. But every test I’ve ever had done in withdrawal is negative which is super frustrating. I missed 2 days of PPI due to pharmacy error and when I started again it was paradoxical - severe anxiety/activating. It just feels like my body is rejecting everything.

 

Do you think it’s possible Celexa 1mg is complicating things (since the initial increase to 30mg was the adverse reaction + cold turkey) or do you think it’s more so stabilizing me? It’s very hard for me to know what to do.

 

Thanks for responding quickly!

[Altostrata]

As responded earlier, I doubt 1mg Celexa is responsible for your problems.

 

We're only peer counselors for withdrawal, we can't answer general medical questions, covid questions, or immunology questions.

[HopeForTomorrow]

On 4/21/2023 at 7:19 PM, Altostrata said:

I don't know anything about treating a UTI with oregano oil. I've never heard of that. How could oregano oil get from your digestive system into your bladder?

 

I wouldn't mess with a UTI. I'd get it treated with an antibiotic (I'm okay with Bactrim) and then take measures not to get one again, such as keep urine acidic with vitamin C, stay well hydrated, and urinate often.

I just realized I didn’t answer this and wanted to update - all urine tests / cultures were negative and continue to be negative since then despite UTI symptoms. It is my theory that it’s withdrawal since cold turkey of SSRI is what started PGAD / bladder type symptoms but unsure.

[HopeForTomorrow]

Just now, Altostrata said:

As responded earlier, I doubt 1mg Celexa is responsible for your problems.

 

We're only peer counselors for withdrawal, we can't answer general medical questions, covid questions, or immunology questions.

Totally understandable and definitely not asking you for medical / Covid / immunology questions.

 

With your knowledge - the 1mg Celexa, going from 1mg to zero (after reinstatement), when do you know to tackle that? Obviously I would go very low and slow but just don’t know when to consider or if that’s something I don’t consider anytime soon. 

[Altostrata]

11 hours ago, HopeForTomorrow said:

the 1mg Celexa, going from 1mg to zero (after reinstatement), when do you know to tackle that?

 

If you're not feeling well, I wouldn't mess with the Celexa right now.

[HopeForTomorrow]

Hi @Altostrata, hope you're doing so well. I have a couple questions if you don't mind. I haven't made any changes recently. I am about 4 months off PPI and still just on 1mg Celexa- and 250mg of Quercetin. Over the last couple of months, I have caught so many random viruses. I do have a child in daycare but it seems my immunity is very low. I also now have a UTI that I am about to try and treat. My gut is also struggling. I have been pretty nonfunctional for the last couple of months and I am so sensitive to everything.

 

My question is - is catching so many viruses a symptom of withdrawal? Is there something I should be doing to protect myself from this? Vitamins to try, etc? I've been pretty scared to try anything due to sensitivities and withdrawal fear but something has got to give.

 

Withdrawal symptoms (physical and mental) symptoms feel to be at an all time high and I'm just wondering how I'm supposed to tackle the last 1mg Celexa?

Is there any way Celexa is worsening things/making symptoms so bad?

 

PLEASE NOTE: I missed one night of Quercetin a month or so ago and was up all night with severe symptoms of insomnia, heart pounding, etc. I started Quercetin after I caught covid and it helped insomnia. After a week when I tried to stop, I went 3 days of hell and no sleep. Is quercetin causing long-term issues or is it affecting absorption of Celexa possibly?

 

I know these are loaded questions so any help is greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you so so much for your help!