steadyeddy Posted July 1, 2016 Share Posted July 1, 2016 I just want to say its reassuring to read that i'm not the only one who is finding long term withdrawal difficult. I've been off citalopram for 7 months and everyone keeps saying the drug is out of my system and its just my issues that i'm experiencing. I feel like i've tried everything but it doesn't seem to ease. Meditation has helped keep me calm but its the confusion and unconnected feeling all the time that pisses me off Just like everyone who posts on this site i'm hoping it doesn't last much longer Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus scallywag Posted July 1, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted July 1, 2016 Hello steadyeddy -- Welcome to Surviving Antidepressants (SA)! I've moved your post to the Introductions Forum so that more people will see your comments and questions.I'm glad you've found some reassurance in reading other people's experiences in withdrawal from psych drugs. Withdrawal causes real suffering and is a real thing: Introduction to antidepressant withdrawal syndromeWhat is withdrawal syndrome You can tell people that antidepressant withdrawal syndrome is backed up by scientific research. Tell them to have a look at our Journals and Scientific Research forum. The confusion and unconnected feeling are common-enough withdrawal symptoms. Brain fog and other cognitive symptoms Depersonalization / Derealization If you wantto post how you're doing, this topic is the spot to do so. 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. Some information about Celexa/citalopram: Tips for tapering off Celexa (citalopram)One of our UK members who is tapering citalopram is calling her process "celexit." This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to 0.0 mg Aug. 12; details here scallywag's IntroductionOnline spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet Link to comment
gn11 Posted July 1, 2016 Share Posted July 1, 2016 Hell Steady/Eddy, Welcome to SA. I have been a member for about 3 weeks. I t has been a life saver as I couldn't figure out what was going with me. I am also on a Celexa journey and Scallywag and I love calling the process "celexit" Wishing you well! 2006-2007 Lexapro (not sure of dose) in 2006 2007 Stopped abruptly. Developed serious wd symptom.Went back after two weeks and tapered successfully over 3 months November 2013 started 10 mg of Celexa for hormonal symptoms early 2014 cutdown Celexa to 5 mg.Attempted to get off it November 2014 and had Anxiety increased every time I used an OTC or had stress. April-May Cortisol spike problems July 2016 Started taking liquid Celexa 7.5 mg June 2021 I finished my taper en Severe anxiety and insomnia June 2022 symptoms omproved July 2023 gut issues and sleep issues contnue . Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus SquirrellyGirl Posted July 1, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted July 1, 2016 Hi steadyeddy, Welcome to SA from me, too! Hopefully after a read of the links that scallywag gave you, you will be able to explain to unsympathetic people why you are still having problems even though the "drug is out of your system." I'm glad you have found SA - we are quite a tribe! SG Started ADs back around 1995 after bad break-up, starting with Prozac. Switched to Wellbutrin, and then to Effexor in 2002 Effexor XR 2002-2014 up to 225 mg at one point, down to 37.5 mg towards end but back up to 75 mg in 2014; now realize I had W/D as I dropped down, memory very poor about history. Extreme emotions, poor concentration as I stepped back down, didn't connect the dots! Summer 2014 reduced to 0 very quickly, was sick of anhedonia/sexual dysfunction due to meds, depression never controlled if not worse. Didn't recognize WD since symptoms built slowly (thought I had ADD! and menopausal on top of it), starting with severe sweats, very bad cog-fog and memory issues, culminating in weight loss, severe anxiety and depression, panic, severe apathy and insomnia by eight months off. Saw p-doc who put me on Remeron, increased from 7.5 mg/day to 37.5 mg by May 22, 2015; still doing very badly though able to sleep. June 1. 2015 Reinstated Effexor XR 37.5 mg, Remeron dropped to 30 mg PM. Immediate relief of symptoms, like nothing had ever happened! Joined SA and began on advice of friend who recognized it was WD all along! Began tapering in July 2015. Been tapering both meds ever since, focusing on one more than the other or doing no more than 5% of each per month. 12 mg Effexor and 5.8 mg Remeron (mirtazapine SolTabs to make a solution with OraPlus) as of 5/4/2017 Update 3/14/18: 2.9 mg Remeron and 6 mg Effexor; 6/10/18: 2.6 mg Remeron and 4.9 mg Effexor My intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/9313-squirrellygirl-effexor-withdrawal-etc/page-2#entry196679 This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. Link to comment
steadyeddy Posted July 7, 2016 Author Share Posted July 7, 2016 Hi all, Thanks for all the info, it's nice to see thats it genuine and not that i've damaged my brain from the AD's. I'm seven months in and hoping it will lift at some point. I'm sure this has been said plenty of times but just want to be myself again, which i'm sure i will at some point. Thanks Link to comment
steadyeddy Posted September 13, 2016 Author Share Posted September 13, 2016 I've been off antidepressants for 9 months now and am wondering if it will ever improve? I feel crap everyday and try and be as positive as I can but still feel crap. I thought about going to the doctors to see if there's anything they can do, but there's nothing they can do is there? Just fed up of WD now and want to be my old self. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted September 13, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted September 13, 2016 Hi Eddy, I moved your new topic here into your Intro/Update topic because it about your own situation and will keep your history together. "I thought about going to the doctors to see if there's anything they can do, but there's nothing they can do is there?" I think you already know the answer to that. Many doctors are unable to recognise withdrawal symptoms and of course they would want to "treat" you. If you went back to the doctor they would most likely say you have had a relapse or diagnose you with a new condition and you would end up back on the same drug, possibly at a higher dose, or on another drug or maybe even a cocktail of drugs. Many members have found that learning Non-Drug Techniques and Acceptance helps with the withdrawal symptoms: Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms Acceptance Acceptance and Mindfulness Claire Weekes' Method of Recovering from a Sensitized Nervous System "Change the channel" -- dealing with cognitive symptoms Change cognitive framing - Redirect - Another Way Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) for anxiety, depression Cognitive Behavior Therapy lessons * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management Link to comment
Mimi11 Posted September 13, 2016 Share Posted September 13, 2016 Hi Steadyeddy! Welcome. I've been off celexa for nearly a year and just want to reassure you that it does get better. I don't consider myself fully healed yet, but there's been considerable progress from the 7-9 month mark until now. Current WD symptoms du jour are: more fatigue than 'usual' low libido (but has improved since the first 7 months!) memory (mostly name recall) head noise tinnitus (at times) some neuro-emotions Celexa 10 mg ( approx 5 years), reduced to 5mg (approx 10 years). Prescribed for anxiety and panic. Started tapering July 2015-2.5 mg for a month, then 2.5 every other day. Kept tapering until October when I took my last crumb. Almost 4 years drug free and WD symptoms are evolving constantly. Some improved, some new. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus SkyBlue Posted September 14, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted September 14, 2016 Hi SteadyEddy, Welcome to SA. I'm glad you found this place. Yes, WD is frequently mistaken for the "underlying condition" when it is actually the brain healing. These drugs are powerful (much more powerful than they're given credit for, it seems) and healing takes time. Hang in there and keep posting here; it is a great place to share ideas, cry on someone's shoulder, offer a shoulder to cry on, and make new friends in similar situations. 2020: After 18+ years (entire adult life) on Paxil, a dangerous doctor-led "taper" in 2015, and four years tapering off the last 1 mg thanks to SA and the Brassmonkey slide, I AM COMPLETELY FREE OF PAXIL! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Forever. 2021: Began conservative, proper, CNS-respecting taper of Zoloft, led by the only expert on me -- me. Making own liquid. 5-10% plus holds. 2022: Holding on Zoloft for now. Current dose 47 mg. Hanging in, hanging on. Severe protracted PAWS, windows and waves. While I may not be doing "a lot" by outside standards, things are graaaaadually getting better. Yoga (gentle to medium); walks; daily breath practice; nutrition, fruits/veg; nature; water; EastEnders (lol); practicing self-compassion, self-care; boundaries; connection; allowing feelings; t r u s t ing that I, too, will heal. (--> may need to be reminded of this.) "You are not alone, and this is not the end of your story." - Baylissa Link to comment
NoMoreADs Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 Hi Steadyeddy! Welcome. I've been off celexa for nearly a year and just want to reassure you that it does get better. I don't consider myself fully healed yet, but there's been considerable progress from the 7-9 month mark until now. Current WD symptoms du jour are: more fatigue than 'usual' low libido (but has improved since the first 7 months!) memory (mostly name recall) head noise tinnitus (at times) some neuro-emotions HI Mimi, did you have any issues with not being able to get enough sleep or fall asleep initially? How long did those last and how much sleep were you able to get for the first 7 months? I'm 7 months in and can only sleep 4 or 5 hours a night. 1992-Feb. 2016- Took almost every antidepressant on the market. Cold turkeyed most of the medications I took. Stopped taking Paxil February 8 2016. I tapered the dose from 50 mg to 0 over the course of about 10 weeks On no medications as of Feb. 8, 2016 As of 10/23/16-Still unable to sleep more than 4 to 5 hours a night, sometimes less Link to comment
NoMoreADs Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 I've been off antidepressants for 9 months now and am wondering if it will ever improve? I feel crap everyday and try and be as positive as I can but still feel crap. I thought about going to the doctors to see if there's anything they can do, but there's nothing they can do is there? Just fed up of WD now and want to be my old self. Hi what symptoms are you dealing with? I'm 7 months off my medication. 1992-Feb. 2016- Took almost every antidepressant on the market. Cold turkeyed most of the medications I took. Stopped taking Paxil February 8 2016. I tapered the dose from 50 mg to 0 over the course of about 10 weeks On no medications as of Feb. 8, 2016 As of 10/23/16-Still unable to sleep more than 4 to 5 hours a night, sometimes less Link to comment
steadyeddy Posted December 13, 2016 Author Share Posted December 13, 2016 (edited) Anyone else struggle with knowing what to say in conversations? It's like I have a mental block and can't express what I want to say. I'm 12 months fully off now and still feeling effects. Edited December 13, 2016 by scallywag merged topics Link to comment
steadyeddy Posted December 13, 2016 Author Share Posted December 13, 2016 I'm at 12 months now and can see improvements like memory is getting better and also things aren't as bleak as they were before. Still not 100% like I have a mental block. I had a bit of a tough time around months 10 and 11 Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus scallywag Posted December 13, 2016 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted December 13, 2016 eddy - I've moved your post/question to your introduction topic so that all your information, questions and answers are in one place. We've got a one introduction topic per customer rule. You may find information related to your question in this topic:Cognitive symptoms: Blank mind; comprehension and memory issues. This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to 0.0 mg Aug. 12; details here scallywag's IntroductionOnline spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet Link to comment
steadyeddy Posted May 24, 2019 Author Share Posted May 24, 2019 (edited) Hi I'm eddy My timeline ive been off citalopram for 3.5 years now currently going through a big wave. I was wondering what sort of time everyone else has been off their meds and any advice to help with the waves thanks eddy Edited May 24, 2019 by ChessieCat added topic title Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted May 24, 2019 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted May 24, 2019 are-we-there-yet-how-long-is-withdrawal-going-to-take Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management Link to comment
Moderator brassmonkey Posted May 24, 2019 Moderator Share Posted May 24, 2019 Hi Eddy-- I was reading through your thread and can't find any mention of how you get off of the drug in the first place. Would you please tell us about your taper? 20 years on Paxil starting at 20mg and working up to 40mg. Sept 2011 started 10% every 6 weeks taper (2.5% every week for 4 weeks then hold for 2 additional weeks), currently at 7.9mg. Oct 2011 CTed 15oz vodka a night, to only drinking 2 beers most nights, totally sober Feb 2013. Since I wrote this I have continued to decrease my dose by 10% every 6 weeks (2.5% every week for 4 weeks and then hold for an additional 2 weeks). I added in an extra 6 week hold when I hit 10mg to let things settle out even more. When I hit 3mgpw it became hard to split the drop into 4 parts so I switched to dropping 1mgpw (pill weight) every week for 3 weeks and then holding for another 3 weeks. The 3 + 3 schedule turned out to be too harsh so I cut back to dropping 1mgpw every 4 weeks which is working better. Final Dose 0.016mg. Current dose 0.000mg 04-15-2017 "It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can loose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general." Stephen Hawking Link to comment
steadyeddy Posted September 8, 2019 Author Share Posted September 8, 2019 (edited) Topic title: Brain fog and dark thoughts Hi I look on here a lot for help when I'm struggling but don't post much but thought I'd see if anyone has any advice as I'm finding WD tough at the moment. Ive been off citalopram for 3.5 years and initially I came off cold turkey after taking advice from my doctor 😫 Because the WD symptoms were so bad I went back on the AD's until I sort or stabilized and I started to taper down but much much slower this time. My highest dose was 20mg and I took around 6 months to taper down until I stopped completely. I have to say I've really suffered coming off them and am a shadow of who I used to be. I've had twitches, tinnitus, brain fog, depression, brain zaps, weight gain and the list could go on and on. For the past 3 months I've be feeling low with not much let up, and finding it hard to communicate clearly without getting confused or feel like in tripping over my words. I was wondering if anyone else has been through a long wave like this and if anyone had any advice on how to reduce the effects? Also is there anyone else out there around 3.5 years and still battling on? thanks Eddy Edited September 8, 2019 by ChessieCat added topic title Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted September 8, 2019 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted September 8, 2019 I've merged your new post into your Introduction topic. This keeps your history in one place. We need to know more details about your drug history. The easiest way to do that is to create your drug signature using the following format. Keep it simple. NO diagnoses or symptoms please - thank you. details for last 2 years - dates, ALL drugs, doses summary for older than 2 years - just years and drug/s Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management Link to comment
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