Justan: Cannot stabilize on any medication

[Justan]

I’ll start off to state that I was put on celexa 40mg when I was 16 years old , I started messing around with substances when I was 21 and stopped when I turned 24 ( 25 now and a year sober) during the end of my substance use I started to not take my celexa , when I got sober I tried to get back on celexa and stabilize however it never happened . Since then I’ve been put on several different medications , tried every ssri, antipsychotics. I’ve never stabilized on any of these meds and have had horrible side effects on them . I recently was put on caplyta and was on for a good 4 weeks before stoppping due to horrible restlessness and anxiety . I tried to get back on Celexa 10mg to see if I’d stabilize and I didn’t last a week . Since then I’ve been having horrible withdrawals, clogged ears , dizzy , can barely get out of bed , anxiety , depression you name it . I guess I’m reaching out to see if I should get back on something at a lower dose  or should I ride this out , it’s been a constant back and fourth with meds the last year so I’m sure my nervous system is shot . I use Valium as needed but I always make sure to not use more than 2 days in a row . 

Edited November 16, 2024 by Emonda
Name to title

[Jane318]

Greetings @Justan, and welcome to SA!  We are a community of volunteers providing peer support in the tapering of psychiatric medications and their associated withdrawal syndromes. 

 

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. This link should go directly to your own signature: Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.  We need date/duration, drug, and dose, as best you can remember.

 

On 11/16/2024 at 6:11 AM, Justan said:

’ll start off to state that I was put on celexa 40mg when I was 16 years old , I started messing around with substances when I was 21 and stopped when I turned 24 ( 25 now and a year sober) during the end of my substance use I started to not take my celexa , when I got sober I tried to get back on celexa and stabilize however it never happened

I am sorry for all you are enduring right now.  As you have surmised, it is likely that your central nervous system has become highly sensitized from taking / stopping the numerous prescription drugs.  Likely, your past use of recreational substances also contributed.  Congratulations on being sober for a year!  That is a huge accomplishment, and you should be proud. 

 

On 11/16/2024 at 6:11 AM, Justan said:

Since then I’ve been having horrible withdrawals, clogged ears , dizzy , can barely get out of bed , anxiety , depression you name it .

Without seeing more detail in your drug history, we cannot see whether the symptoms you are experiencing are due to withdrawal or are strong adverse effects from taking the drugs.  If withdrawal due to a cold-turkey or too-fast taper of a drug you have been on for some time, reinstatement of a small dose might be beneficial to lessening your symptoms.  However, if your symptoms are from an adverse reaction(s), we would not advise going back on any drug at this point.  Again, we need to see what drugs you have been on and for how long - especially most recently.  Also, indicate whether you are taking any other medications and/or supplements.

 

You may want to review this checklist of common withdrawal symptoms, and start using it daily to track yours.  

 

On 11/16/2024 at 6:11 AM, Justan said:

I guess I’m reaching out to see if I should get back on something at a lower dose  or should I ride this out , it’s been a constant back and fourth with meds the last year so I’m sure my nervous system is shot . I use Valium as needed but I always make sure to not use more than 2 days in a row . 

Here as SA, we recommend against the use of psychoactive drugs to treat emotional / psychological problems.  The research, as well as the lived experience of the many many people on this site and elsewhere, show that the "cure" is worse than the disease.  The research shows that long term outcomes of people who take drugs are worse than those who do not. Continue to use caution with the Valium.  We would recommend that eventually you taper off this drug as well.

 

Will reply further once we see your drug signature.  But in the meantime, please know that with time and patience, you will heal.  The important thing is to trust your body, that it knows how to heal and never give up Trust Your Body: Learning to Heal.

 

This is your introduction topic.  Each member gets one intro topic- please post updates and questions here, in this thread.

 

Best wishes.