Giannamarie829: Celexa Withdrawal

[Giannamarie829]

Hello everyone. I have been on Celexa for over twenty years. Over the past several years I noticed I really wasn't feeling great. I suffered from a lot of headaches and a dizzy off-balance feeling as well as anxiety (which I thought the medication was supposed to control) I decided I wanted to stop taking this. Doctor started a slow taper and took me from 30mg to 5 mg in a little over a month. I completed the taper about a two weeks ago. Iam still feeling the dizziness, but its intensified and I have a low-grade headache daily. My stomach feels weird, and I notice I am either freezing or burning hot all the time. I was sitting at my desk today at work and felt like my world was sideways for a minute. This is so scary, and I fear it will never end. Has anyone had similar discontinuation symptoms? How long did they last? I am really in need of support. 

Edited March 5 by bunchesofoats
Added username to title

[bunchesofoats]

Hello @Giannamarie829, and welcome to SA.

 

All of your symptoms are typical of Celexa withdrawal and/or side effects of the medication itself.

 

How severe are your symptoms? Are you able to continue working? Are you able to drive?

 

So that we can best assist you, please summarize your drug history in your signature. Here are instructions on how to do this: 

 

 

After that, please read this post about reinstatement. Reinstating at a low dose may be an option for you to relieve symptoms and potentially prevent them from worsening.

 

 

 

 

Please then explore this wonderful page of the most useful non-medication options for symptom mitigation:

[Giannamarie829]

Hello Everyone 

I am new to this forum, and I’m looking for support and guidance. I have been on Celexa for over 20 years and recently decided that I wanted to come off. I had been having some unpleasant side effects on the drug such as dizziness, balance, issues, headaches, insomnia, and anxiety, which I thought the drug was supposed to prevent. I started tapering from 30 mg to 5 mg over a month and have been off of the medication now for about two weeks. I have not had any anxiety or depression, but the dizziness and off-balance feeling continues and has definitely worsened, I also have a mild headache daily and my head feels like it is full of pressure and sometimes numb. I noticed that I am either freezing cold or sweating at all times. Has anyone else ever experienced these things? How long did it last? 

[Giannamarie829]

I would not say that my symptoms are at all severe. I am able to work drive and function. I am not going to say it 

is easy to be at work because I would much rather be home but I continue to go. I am not looking to reinstate any medication’s. I am looking for some support and advice on how to get through this and possibly a timeframe for how long the symptoms may last. Like I said, I have been on this medication for over 20 years and suspected this was not going to be easy.

[bunchesofoats]

 

24 minutes ago, Giannamarie829 said:

I am looking for some support and advice on how to get through this

Please review the non-medication options for symptom mitigation shared in my previous post.

 

28 minutes ago, Giannamarie829 said:

timeframe for how long the symptoms may last

 

 

[Emonda]

Welcome @Giannamarie829

 

So the moderators can best help you, please complete your drug signature by following these instructions. Adding a signature ensures your drug history appears at the bottom of every post, making it more efficient for those trying to assist. 

 

That's a very rapid taper and not what is recommended here. Slow and steady is the way to go: Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Given how fast you went, I'd expect you to start experiencing some unpleasant WD symptoms: Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) 

 

9 hours ago, Giannamarie829 said:

Has anyone else ever experienced these things? How long did it last? 

 

Everyone's experience is different. WD symptoms from a CT can last many, many months if not > 12 months. 

 

I suggest you read these two links:

 

About Reinstating and Stabilizing to Reduce Withdrawal Symptoms

 

Kindling

 

If you decide to reinstate, you should seek some guidance from one of the moderators here as to a suitable amount.

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but two that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. Add one at a time and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

Magnesium

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil)

 

Avoid alcohol. 

 

This is your own Introduction topic.  Each member has only ONE Introduction topic.  Your own Introduction topic is the best place to ask questions and the place to journal your progress.  This keeps your history in one place and means you do not have to repeat your story. 

 

Once again, welcome to S.A...and please remember to add your signature.

 

Emonda