Ali4: Reinstating low dose of celexa

[Ali4]

Today is 3weeks since my last does of my celexa, I tapered down on doctors advice, last dose was 5mg for a week and stopped. Iam currently in what I would call as "hell" the withdrawal symptoms are too much, I feel like I just want to give up, brain zaps numbness and weird sensations in my head, dizzy, nauseous, I feel spaced out. I've been on celexa for ten years, in between 20-30mg, I felt fine for the first almost two weeks after stopping and since then it's been rather scary. My question is whether or not reinstating a small dose would help, maybe the taper was way to fast, I tapered over two months and reading on here clearly I can see that it was likely too fast. Any advice would be appreciated thanks ????

[brassmonkey]

Hi Ali4-- welcome to the group.  I'm sorry to hear that you're having so much trouble.  You hit the nail on the head though, you've tapered way too fast and jumped off way too high.  What you're feeling is withdrawal syndrome.  It has a bad habit of letting you feel great for a while and the blindsiding you with symptoms.  It's only been a few weeks since you quit so you have a really good chance that reinstatement will help.  I would start low, say 1-2 mg a day for a few weeks and see how that goes.  Then we can make adjustments if needed.  We have a really good thread on reinstatement:

 

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms 

 

We also have one that will help explain why you're feeling so bad:

 

What is withdrawal syndrome? 

 

It would be really helpful if you would fill out a signature block with all of your drug history, it gives a good view of what has been going on.

 

Please put your withdrawal history in your signature

 

[Ali4]

Thank you so much for your quick response, I feel so lost with what to do, I was going to just solider on, but I can't live like this day in and day out, I thought maybe give it another week and see if some of the symptoms lift, but I'm scared s**tless at the same time to wait to long and what if nothing changes, will reinstating a low dose help or make me worse? Thank you again

[AliG]

Ali,  If I were you I would be inclined to give reinstatement a trial run. As it's only been three weeks since your last dose of Celexa, I think you have a good chance of relieving some of those symptoms , with perhaps a very small dose.  It's more likely to work soon after stopping , while the nervous system is still somewhat shaped around the drug that's been removed. It's a difficult choice, but many have had success. It is the only way of possibly lessening or alleviating some withdrawal symptoms. It takes 4 days for the body to fully register and achieve a steady state in the blood.  It's a good idea to keep notes of your symptoms , for the next couple of weeks, if that's what you decide to do . There's no guarantee, but as you have been off Celexa, a relatively short time , it's hopeful.

Rate symptoms daily to track patterns and progress

[Fresh]

Hi Ali4 ,  welcome to the site.

After 10 years , your brain has become very used to celexa , and your withdrawal is likely to get much worse.

Reinstating stops the w/d developing further , and should take the edge off your symptoms quickly.

You can then stabilize , and start to taper off slowly in a safe way that avoids debilitating w/d symptoms.

 

Try reading the thread on how to make a liquid from tablets  here   

How to make a liquid from tablets or capsules

Until you get a syringe etc., you might break off a crumb of celexa about equal to 1mg.

 

Use this thread to ask any questions as you go.  If you click FOLLOW at the top right , you'll receive an email

each time someone posts.

 

Best wishes , Fresh

[Ali4]

Thank you so much for your help, I will go pick up a prescription today and reinstate a 1mg dose? I'm truly frightened to do it, but I've read so much here a can see you guys know more about it then the doctors who seem to think you can just stop them without problems.The worst right now is the feelings in my head, brain zaps are crazy.

[AliG]

Ali.     That's a good plan. Start with that ( 1 mg )  , and you can go up a little if needed.  Also, if you have a reaction , you can stop. Try if you can, to keep notes of your symptoms, as it will help all of us to assess how you are doing. Please let us know how you are doing.

 

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms

[Dan998]

Hey Ali,

 

Welcome from a fellow celexa reinstater. You really are making the right decision. I know from my own experience that things can get so much worse if you try to tough it out. 

[Ali4]

Hey Dan

 

It's nice to see a fellow celexa buddy, I see alot of other Ad on here, but not many celexa,this drug is a nightmare, I have been out if treatment for 2 weeks now from drug addiction, I was in for 2 months, I can say that everything else I came off and conquered was a breeze compared to this hell, I read through all these posts and it truly breaks my heart the amount of people that are going through this. If I could rewind 10 years back, knowing what I know now, I would have never taken the road of walking with the devil. I pray for all of you

 

God, grant us the serenity, to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can and the wisdom to know the difference.

[brassmonkey]

Hi Ali4-- This is some of the scariest stuff a person could be asked to go through, especially at the start, but it does get better.  The longer a person waits to reinstate the less likely it is to help.  It's one of the few times in this process where taking a long time is not a good idea.

 

Congratulations on getting through rehab, that's no small feat in itself.  With your being clean for only two weeks it would not be a good idea to rush into tapering the AD right away.  The best thing would a small reinstatement and then sit tight for a few months while things settle out.  There will be some residual recovery that needs to be done from the rehab and then the ol' brain needs a break before trying to taper.

 

You have a lot of good supportive company here and a good attitude, so it will happen.

[Ali4]

Thank you ☺ I will conquer this!!! Waiting patiently for my husband to arrive with my demon "celexa" get back on track and start again, I say challenge acepted ☺ what doesn't kill you makes you stronger!!!

[Ali4]

So I reinstated a small dose off celexa after 3 weeks of withdrawl hell and have noticed immediate relief in the dibilitating brain zaps. Still a bit dizzy,but it has only been 2 days since starting the low dose, some relief is better then none.

Edited February 7, 2016 by KarenB
merged intro posts

[AliG]

Ali.  I'm replying here , as your thread will be merged. This is your thread to come back to ask questions, record progress etc. Please keep notes on your symptoms over the next couple of weeks.  It will  take a minimum of 4 days for your body to fully register the addition of the drug. Let us know how you go .

[Ali4]

Is it good I feel relief, what happens after 4 day's?

[AliG]

Ali.  It is great if you are feeling a little relief. That means it could be starting to have an effect in a positive way. It can take 4 days or more to " kick in." Have an effect. Reach a steady state in the blood. It sounds like it could be relieving some symptoms, which is what you're aiming for. It's a good sign.

Rate symptoms daily to track patterns and progress

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms

[Ali4]

Thank you for helping me, feel very lost and frustrated at times.

[Ali4]

I also forgot to ask, should I take fish oil and magnesium as well?

[AliG]

Ali.  It can be helpful, but start low to see if you're tolerant and build up slowly to full dose. Please read these links.

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1300-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/

[brassmonkey]

Hi Ali4-- There is so much new, technical and at times conflicting information to try and absorb while your brain isn't working the way you'd like, it can be very frustrating, confusing and scary.  You'll start to make sense of it all pretty soon.

 

When a you takes a dose of these meds it takes about three to four hours for it to fully enter the blood and start working.  Once that happens the body start using it up and getting rid of it.  The time it takes for the body has removed half of the dose is referred to the meds "half life" and is different for each drug. So you take a dose today the amount in the blood peaks and starts to taper down, but there is still some there when you take a dose tomorrow and again the next day etc.  It takes four days for the peeks and valleys to even out to a fairly level amount.  During those four days any symptoms that come up are usually due to those fluctuations so you can't know how the dose is really affecting you.  Once the drug is steady state then the body can react to it in a steady manner and you can tell how you're tolerating it.  So most symptoms/improvements that come up during the first four days after a "dose change event" are considered invalid when assessing how well you're tolerating the change.

 

On top of that symptoms/improvements caused by the dose change event can take from a week to several months to happen.  Symptoms from a decrease frequently show up fairly quickly, unlike improvements from an updose or reinstatement which often take in the four week to several month range, sometimes longer.  It's something people don't want to hear, because they want relief now.  But there really is no way around it.  

[SkyBlue]

Ali, I'm glad you are having some relief. As you may know, an immediate or near-immediate relief of symptoms after reinstating is a definite sign that the symptoms are a result of withdrawal, not any of the original conditions "coming back."

[Ali4]

So since reinstating I feel better, it's only been a week and I know it will take time, the only bothersome symptom is the head sensations, tingling, pricking, numbness and pressure, at times feels as though my head is to heavy to carry, if that makes any sense at all lol,is that normal? I do find fish oil to be very helpful, haven't tried magnesium yet, I have it, scared to take it as I don't want to take anything that may make me feel worse lol any help would be appreciated, thanks so much for your time.

[Fresh]

You're on the right track Ali ,  your symptoms should continue to decrease.

 

I understand your nervousness about magnesium.  Try a quarter of the recommended dose and see what happens.

You can work your way up slowly.   

[Christian]

Hi Ali4-- There is so much new, technical and at times conflicting information to try and absorb while your brain isn't working the way you'd like, it can be very frustrating, confusing and scary. You'll start to make sense of it all pretty soon.

 

When a you takes a dose of these meds it takes about three to four hours for it to fully enter the blood and start working. Once that happens the body start using it up and getting rid of it. The time it takes for the body has removed half of the dose is referred to the meds "half life" and is different for each drug. So you take a dose today the amount in the blood peaks and starts to taper down, but there is still some there when you take a dose tomorrow and again the next day etc. It takes four days for the peeks and valleys to even out to a fairly level amount. During those four days any symptoms that come up are usually due to those fluctuations so you can't know how the dose is really affecting you. Once the drug is steady state then the body can react to it in a steady manner and you can tell how you're tolerating it. So most symptoms/improvements that come up during the first four days after a "dose change event" are considered invalid when assessing how well you're tolerating the change.

 

On top of that symptoms/improvements caused by the dose change event can take from a week to several months to happen. Symptoms from a decrease frequently show up fairly quickly, unlike improvements from an updose or reinstatement which often take in the four week to several month range, sometimes longer. It's something people don't want to hear, because they want relief now. But there really is no way around it.

[Christian]

Interesting explanation Brass Monkey. May I ask how long it takes if your body cannot handle the dose increase or reinstatement? Any examples of how it can reject it? Nausea, headaches, akasithia?

[Fresh]

Yes Christian , all the usual suspects.  They can start within hours.  Effexor is the same as all other meds. in this regard.

 

[Christian]

Thanks.

[Ali4]

Ok I will continue on then and hope for the best.

[LexAnger]

So since reinstating I feel better, it's only been a week and I know it will take time, the only bothersome symptom is the head sensations, tingling, pricking, numbness and pressure, at times feels as though my head is to heavy to carry, if that makes any sense at all lol,is that normal? I do find fish oil to be very helpful, haven't tried magnesium yet, I have it, scared to take it as I don't want to take anything that may make me feel worse lol any help would be appreciated, thanks so much for your time.

You described it so well! Did you have those head symptoms after CT, and BEFORE reinstated?

I have all those on and off ever since I increased lexapro then reducing down. I never had them in my first attempt tapering (before dose increase).

 

Hope you feel ever better soon!

Lex

[Ali4]

Hey lex,

 

This is the first time I've experienced the way my head currently feels, as soon as I came off and WD hit I was like WTF is going on, after reinstating it has got better, but still very noticeable, it's only been just over a week since I reinstated, I know it will take time, it's scary to be quite honest, I've convinced myself that I have something seriously wrong that is exactly how it feel, tingling, prickling, numbness, like concrete full and can't hold your own head up LOL... I THINK IM GOING CRAZY!! I try to go on about my day the best I can and not get caught up in the symptoms, but when it's your brain, sometimes it's REALLY hard not to get caught up in them, is it weird that I'm comforted by the thought that someone else is experiencing the same thing I just need reassurance that it's the pills and I don't have a tumour or something, FREAKING OUT lol ... Oh and I have some muscle spams in my legs ALOT sometimes in my arms, those are the current exhausting symptoms I have Anyways that's where I'm at

 

Take care through the battles! Ali

[LexAnger]

Ali, I had all those entire 1.5 year since I increased dose then tapering down. Recently they got lots better I feel the long hold is the reason as this is the first time I have been holding long 4+ months.

 

So did those head sxs start BEFORE you reinstate? I tried to find try our current dose but didn't. You may want to add that in your sig. Along with dates etc,

 

Hope those nasty sxs go away for you soon.

Lex

[Ali4]

They started less then two weeks after being off them completely, the day I reinstated within an hour I had relief and slowly getting better as the days go on. I just think to myself it's crazy how one little pill can f people up so bad.the stories I read on here, breaks my heart that so many people have had to suffer, but I'm sure glad I found this forum, it helps me tremendously. I will ado everything in my signature, I'm still pretty new on here and sometimes my brain doesn't work properly LOL ????????

[Ali4]

Lex what does sxs meen?

[LexAnger]

Symptoms, my own abbreviation for my journal

 

How are you feeling today?

[Ali4]

I feel better today, was a good day, I'm thankful for the good days, then the bad don't seem that bad, how are you feeling?

[LexAnger]

No good severe needles and pins plus total DR, swollen head, supper dry mouth, feeling non existing most of the day, a bit better in evening as always. I believe increase dose last year messed up the whole system.

 

Great you had a better day!!!

[Ali4]

I'm sorry to here it hasn't been good and do hope that things get better for you, stay strong my friend, we can and WILL beat this together, the worst is all the head symptoms, I wake in the morning trying to see if I feel normal, it's terrible, hope today is a bit better for you.