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TortugaHealing: Cymbalta withdrawals even with Celexa added, or beginnings of Serotonin Syndrome?


TortugaHealing

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Hello Everyone,

 

I have so many questions, it's hard to know where to start!  I'm having difficulty figuring out if my symptoms are Cymbalta withdrawal, or just too much SSRI and SNRI in my system.  I've been tapering down from Cymbalta.  My current dose is Cymbalta 50 mg. minus 30 beads.  I also take 30 mg. of Celexa, which I thought would be sufficient to ward off any withdrawal symptoms.  The thing is, I am on therapeutic dosages of both meds currently.  I hate to be taking so much medication, but I am afraid to cut down further on Cymbalta at the moment.  I don't have really bad withdrawals anymore.  However, I am still having trouble functioning.  Mainly, I can't seem to pay attention to save my life!  I  sometimes miss information in conversations, my short term memory is embarrasingly bad, and I am often anxious when I have to leave my apartment.  (I've been drinking lots of Chamomile tea to calm myself down.  ( Now I'm wondering if too much Chamomile is making my thinking slow?  Or maybe the meds?  or Protracted withdrawal?)  I'm just really confused sometimes, I'm sleeping maybe four hours a night on many nights, I have jaw pain, my balance is sometimes off when I walk, sometimes I feel dizzy, I'm losing way too much hair! (drinking Rooibos tea daily to try and counteract the hair loss and improve immune system).  I'm taking a class once a week.  I'm so upset whenever the facilitators break us into small groups to work together.  My brain just seems slowed down, and I can't keep up with what my classmates are talking about.  So then, I start crying uncontrollably.  I coudn't stop crying in class, even after I tried to get myself together in the bathroom and returned to the conversations.  

 

Please bear with me, I hope my thoughts are not too scattered here.  I also have a tiny amount of blood in my urine when I look in the toilet.  I am post-menopausal.  I went to see my primary doctor, and apparently nothing is wrong physically.  He sent my psychiatrist an email, telling her that maybe I am on too much anti-depressant.  So, I went in to see my psychiatrist the day after my appointment with my primary doctor.  My psychiatrist told me she was upset about my primary doctor's email.  She became angry with me, and told me that my primary doctor thinks I'm nuts! (She didn't actually say the word nuts, but she twirled her finger around in a circle near her head to indicate "crazy.")  She also wondered why I was having so much trouble cutting down on the Cymbalta, and that I should be fine because of the Celexa I'm also on.  This is a doctor whom I've previously really liked and had a lot of respect for.  If I could afford to see a doctor who specializes in this kind of thing, I would.

 

Thanks for listening.  I really appreciate any information, suggestions, or support!

  

Prozac 1989-2005    Citalopram 2005-2009    Citalopram 2010-2014

Cymbalta 2015-Currently taking   Trazodone 2015(several months)   Citalopram 2015-2016   Gabapentin 300 mg. 2015-2016 (brief Klonopin to taper off Gabapentin)

Citalopram 60 mg. April 2016-end of August 2016 (Actually was on 80 mg. briefly)

Cymbalta 30 mg. late Sept 2016, increased to 60 mg. late Oct 2016-May 2017, decreased to 50 mg. (no withdrawals!), decreased 50 mg. to 40 mg. mid Feb. 2018 (very bad withdrawals !), increased to 50 mg.(minus 20 beads) Feb. 18th, decreased to 40 mg. Feb. 21st, increased to 50 mg. (minus 10%) Feb. 26th, decreased to 50 mg. (minus 30 beads) March 17th- present  

Escitalopram 5 mg. early May 2017-early Feb. 2018    Citalopram 30 mg. early Feb. 2018 -July 18, 2018.  Reinstatement of Citalopram 1 mg. (.5 ml) August 16, 2018, decreased to .45 ml September 25, 2018

 

 

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  • ChessieCat changed the title to TortugaHealing: Cymbalta withdrawals even with Celexa added, or beginnings of Serotonin Syndrome?
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi TH, welcome to SA.  I am sorry to hear that you are feeling so bad and we will try to help. 

First, we need to know the details of your drugs and doses. When you started taking  them, when you started to taper and the doses as you tapered.

A symptom pattern will also be helpful, ie, are you worse in the mornings, after the doses or before them. Were you ok beforee starting to taper? This helps us to see if there is withdrawal or adverse reactions. We need the drugs and doses in your signature, and the symptoms here in your topic.  This lonk will take you to the signature page, just fill in the details and click save. You can update this as you taper. 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/settings/signature/

 

For now, you need to hold everything and stop tapering to allow your brain to catch up, your instinct is spot on!   Unfortunately another drug does not really cushion the withdrawal if the drops are too big. Sadly most doctors don't have a clue and your psychiatrist is downright rude and unprofessional, your GP seems to be more up to date and understands that you could be taking too much.  When we have the info we will be able to see what is happening and help you. You will get through this, and when you are stable you can start to taper again.  

 

 

 

 

**I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge.

 

 

Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem)

1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat

2002  effexor. 

Tapered  March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads.

Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg  

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. 

 

My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33

 

Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible

 

 

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Hi MammaP,

 

Thank you so much for your welcome, and kind words of encouragement.  I want to be able to give you the details of my medications and dosages with the dates in my signature as soon as possible.  Unfortunately, I don't remember all of the finer details.  I thought I could access my medication hisory through my HMO online, but I can only see my most current prescriptions.  On Monday, I will call and get my medication history to post.

 

Until then, have a good weekend!

 

Sincerely,

Miss Tortuga Healing

  

Prozac 1989-2005    Citalopram 2005-2009    Citalopram 2010-2014

Cymbalta 2015-Currently taking   Trazodone 2015(several months)   Citalopram 2015-2016   Gabapentin 300 mg. 2015-2016 (brief Klonopin to taper off Gabapentin)

Citalopram 60 mg. April 2016-end of August 2016 (Actually was on 80 mg. briefly)

Cymbalta 30 mg. late Sept 2016, increased to 60 mg. late Oct 2016-May 2017, decreased to 50 mg. (no withdrawals!), decreased 50 mg. to 40 mg. mid Feb. 2018 (very bad withdrawals !), increased to 50 mg.(minus 20 beads) Feb. 18th, decreased to 40 mg. Feb. 21st, increased to 50 mg. (minus 10%) Feb. 26th, decreased to 50 mg. (minus 30 beads) March 17th- present  

Escitalopram 5 mg. early May 2017-early Feb. 2018    Citalopram 30 mg. early Feb. 2018 -July 18, 2018.  Reinstatement of Citalopram 1 mg. (.5 ml) August 16, 2018, decreased to .45 ml September 25, 2018

 

 

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Hello,

 

I have a quick question about new supplements versus supplements I've been taking regularly pre-AD tapering.  What I'm wondering is: if I am taking supplements (a multivitamin-generic Centrum Women's Silver,  melatonin ext. release 3 mg., valerian root 500 mg., Rooibos tea) and have been using them regularly before I started any Cymbalta reductions, is there a possibility that my body would become hypersensitive to those supplements too?  Or just any new supplements I am introducing to my system while in the process of tapering?  I've always had a sensitive central nervous system. Thanks for any input you may have.

  

Prozac 1989-2005    Citalopram 2005-2009    Citalopram 2010-2014

Cymbalta 2015-Currently taking   Trazodone 2015(several months)   Citalopram 2015-2016   Gabapentin 300 mg. 2015-2016 (brief Klonopin to taper off Gabapentin)

Citalopram 60 mg. April 2016-end of August 2016 (Actually was on 80 mg. briefly)

Cymbalta 30 mg. late Sept 2016, increased to 60 mg. late Oct 2016-May 2017, decreased to 50 mg. (no withdrawals!), decreased 50 mg. to 40 mg. mid Feb. 2018 (very bad withdrawals !), increased to 50 mg.(minus 20 beads) Feb. 18th, decreased to 40 mg. Feb. 21st, increased to 50 mg. (minus 10%) Feb. 26th, decreased to 50 mg. (minus 30 beads) March 17th- present  

Escitalopram 5 mg. early May 2017-early Feb. 2018    Citalopram 30 mg. early Feb. 2018 -July 18, 2018.  Reinstatement of Citalopram 1 mg. (.5 ml) August 16, 2018, decreased to .45 ml September 25, 2018

 

 

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  • ChessieCat changed the title to Regularly taken supplements vs newly added supplements
  • Moderator Emeritus

This may help you to discover if they are causing issues:

 

 

* 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

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  • Moderator Emeritus

SA suggests only making one change at a time.  Keep it Simple, Slow and Stable

* 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

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Thanks ChessieCat, for pointing me in the right direction, regarding multivitamins and supplements!

  

Prozac 1989-2005    Citalopram 2005-2009    Citalopram 2010-2014

Cymbalta 2015-Currently taking   Trazodone 2015(several months)   Citalopram 2015-2016   Gabapentin 300 mg. 2015-2016 (brief Klonopin to taper off Gabapentin)

Citalopram 60 mg. April 2016-end of August 2016 (Actually was on 80 mg. briefly)

Cymbalta 30 mg. late Sept 2016, increased to 60 mg. late Oct 2016-May 2017, decreased to 50 mg. (no withdrawals!), decreased 50 mg. to 40 mg. mid Feb. 2018 (very bad withdrawals !), increased to 50 mg.(minus 20 beads) Feb. 18th, decreased to 40 mg. Feb. 21st, increased to 50 mg. (minus 10%) Feb. 26th, decreased to 50 mg. (minus 30 beads) March 17th- present  

Escitalopram 5 mg. early May 2017-early Feb. 2018    Citalopram 30 mg. early Feb. 2018 -July 18, 2018.  Reinstatement of Citalopram 1 mg. (.5 ml) August 16, 2018, decreased to .45 ml September 25, 2018

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hello,

I remember accessing a list of psychiatrists who specialize in AD withdrawal from here, only now I can't seem to find it.  I'm wondering where to find it again?  Or, if anyone in the Los Angeles area has positive results with such a specialist?  Thanks a lot!  I've got to get my drug signature posted here, too.  It seems like a daunting task, since I've been on antidepressants consistently starting in 1989.  I'm working on it.  The last two years is much more complicated!

Sincerely,

Tortuga(Turtle)Healing

 

  

Prozac 1989-2005    Citalopram 2005-2009    Citalopram 2010-2014

Cymbalta 2015-Currently taking   Trazodone 2015(several months)   Citalopram 2015-2016   Gabapentin 300 mg. 2015-2016 (brief Klonopin to taper off Gabapentin)

Citalopram 60 mg. April 2016-end of August 2016 (Actually was on 80 mg. briefly)

Cymbalta 30 mg. late Sept 2016, increased to 60 mg. late Oct 2016-May 2017, decreased to 50 mg. (no withdrawals!), decreased 50 mg. to 40 mg. mid Feb. 2018 (very bad withdrawals !), increased to 50 mg.(minus 20 beads) Feb. 18th, decreased to 40 mg. Feb. 21st, increased to 50 mg. (minus 10%) Feb. 26th, decreased to 50 mg. (minus 30 beads) March 17th- present  

Escitalopram 5 mg. early May 2017-early Feb. 2018    Citalopram 30 mg. early Feb. 2018 -July 18, 2018.  Reinstatement of Citalopram 1 mg. (.5 ml) August 16, 2018, decreased to .45 ml September 25, 2018

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Please search for existing topics.  I easily found the topic by using google and searched survivingantidepressants.org doctors

 

recommended-doctors-therapists-and-clinics

 

Also, each member has only 1 Intro topic.  Please do not create any more topics in the introduction forum of the site.  Thank you.

 

* 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

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Hi ChessieCat,

 

Thank you for the information on doctors. Next time I'll search the way you suggested.  Sorry about the new intro. topic...I won't make any more of them.

  

Prozac 1989-2005    Citalopram 2005-2009    Citalopram 2010-2014

Cymbalta 2015-Currently taking   Trazodone 2015(several months)   Citalopram 2015-2016   Gabapentin 300 mg. 2015-2016 (brief Klonopin to taper off Gabapentin)

Citalopram 60 mg. April 2016-end of August 2016 (Actually was on 80 mg. briefly)

Cymbalta 30 mg. late Sept 2016, increased to 60 mg. late Oct 2016-May 2017, decreased to 50 mg. (no withdrawals!), decreased 50 mg. to 40 mg. mid Feb. 2018 (very bad withdrawals !), increased to 50 mg.(minus 20 beads) Feb. 18th, decreased to 40 mg. Feb. 21st, increased to 50 mg. (minus 10%) Feb. 26th, decreased to 50 mg. (minus 30 beads) March 17th- present  

Escitalopram 5 mg. early May 2017-early Feb. 2018    Citalopram 30 mg. early Feb. 2018 -July 18, 2018.  Reinstatement of Citalopram 1 mg. (.5 ml) August 16, 2018, decreased to .45 ml September 25, 2018

 

 

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  • 1 month later...

Hello,

 

I'd like to get some ideas as to what to do next.  I'm in a bit of a panic here, so please bare with me if this isn't as clear as it could be.  On July 18, 2018, I had to stop taking Citalopram (30 mg.) suddenly. I had been taking the 30 mg. Citalopram in addition to  50 mg. Cymbalta (minus 30 beads), and there was concern that I had the beginnings of serotonin toxicity.  I started having this weird symptom of involuntary horizontal eye movements (slight, but scary).  I went in to urgent care, and the doctor said to stop Celexa immediately.  So, that night (July 18), I did.  The next day I had to go in to urgent care again--I had these fluttery sensations in my heart.  They did an EKG, my heart was fine.  I was dehydrated; they gave me a sodium IV.  They also did a blood test to check my serotonin level.  In addition to being very anxious, I started having discomfort and then chest pains.  I called the paramedics, and they said my heart was fine.  (Much to my embarrassment!)  For a couple of weeks, I continued to have chest pains throughout the day.  I live alone, and it took all my self-discipline to not call the paramedics or go in to the emergency room.  Since July 18th, I've also had sensitivity to light and more recently sound.  (My eyes actually hurt from the light, and going in to take a shower feels like an attack on my senses...water running loud as thunder, bathroom light I have to close my eyes, bathroom fan so loud!)  

 

I have a new psychiatrist, as the last one was very unprofessional, rude, and gave me a new diagnosis which seemed ridiculous and frightening.  I spoke with my new psychiatrist about the possibility of reinstating a tiny dose of Celexa.  He is really not in favor of that after the mild serotonin toxicity.  I know it will be a month soon, and I am desperate to take action to help myself.  Do you think a little Prozac might help?

 

I also can't afford my apartment anymore, and will be moving in two weeks back with my family temporarily.  I haven't started packing yet...I'm so exhausted I'm just trying to do daily living (laundry, groceries, exercise, trying to figure out what to do with my meds).  

 

Thank you so much for your time and suggestions!

  

Prozac 1989-2005    Citalopram 2005-2009    Citalopram 2010-2014

Cymbalta 2015-Currently taking   Trazodone 2015(several months)   Citalopram 2015-2016   Gabapentin 300 mg. 2015-2016 (brief Klonopin to taper off Gabapentin)

Citalopram 60 mg. April 2016-end of August 2016 (Actually was on 80 mg. briefly)

Cymbalta 30 mg. late Sept 2016, increased to 60 mg. late Oct 2016-May 2017, decreased to 50 mg. (no withdrawals!), decreased 50 mg. to 40 mg. mid Feb. 2018 (very bad withdrawals !), increased to 50 mg.(minus 20 beads) Feb. 18th, decreased to 40 mg. Feb. 21st, increased to 50 mg. (minus 10%) Feb. 26th, decreased to 50 mg. (minus 30 beads) March 17th- present  

Escitalopram 5 mg. early May 2017-early Feb. 2018    Citalopram 30 mg. early Feb. 2018 -July 18, 2018.  Reinstatement of Citalopram 1 mg. (.5 ml) August 16, 2018, decreased to .45 ml September 25, 2018

 

 

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  • Administrator

Welcome, Tortuga.

 

In my non-professional opinion, the diagnosis of serotonin syndrome was overblown. It is true the combination of citalopram and Cymbalta can cause serotonin syndrome, as can the combination of Prozac and Cymbalta, but your eye movements sound like a different adverse effect.

 

You have been on much higher doses of the Celexa-Cymbalta combination and other bizarre drug cocktails that would cause serotonin toxicity without experiencing it. My guess is your liver finally decided enough was enough and threw up some danger signals.

 

As you are having debilitating withdrawal symptoms from Celexa now, if I were you, I'd reinstate 1mg Celexa. This can be very effective to stop withdrawal symptoms and there is very little risk this small dosage will cause serotonin toxicity or the eye movement symptom. Citalopram comes in a prescription liquid so you can take a small amount. If you don't like your psychiatrist, your GP or any doctor can prescribe it for you.

 

Whoever prescribed you the Celexa-Cymbalta combination and other cocktail ingredients was not following good medical practice. You have been on and off many psychiatric drugs, this can be very wearing on the nervous system. I would avoid drastic drug changes from now on, it looks like you are now sensitized to dosage changes. This is why you had acute symptoms quitting Celexa.

 

Please put ALL your drugs in the Drug Interactions Checker https://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.php
and copy and paste the results in this topic.

 

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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On ‎8‎/‎15‎/‎2018 at 12:26 PM, Altostrata said:

Hello Altostrata,

 

Thank you  so much for your suggestions.  I just checked with my psychiatrist, and he sounds like he'd be o.k. with prescribing the 1 mg. liquid Celexa.  He did say that he thought Prozac at this point would help the withdrawals more than the Celexa.  What is your opinion on this?  The thing is, this is a little more complicated than I first thought.  I also take medication for hypothyroidism (Levothyroxine).  I upped my dose from 50 mcg to 75 mcg around July 12th, which is about a week before I stopped the Celexa.  So, I'm wondering how much of my not feeling well has to do with withdrawals, and how much might have to do with too much thyroid?  (A doctor is getting back to me today on this issue.)  I would really appreciate any input you have on this.  (Exhaustion, muscle weakness, anxiety, insomnia, irritability, light sensitivity and discomfort in my eyes is what I'm currently going through.)  

On ‎8‎/‎15‎/‎2018 at 12:26 PM, Altostrata said:

Welcome, Tortuga.

 

In my non-professional opinion, the diagnosis of serotonin syndrome was overblown. It is true the combination of citalopram and Cymbalta can cause serotonin syndrome, as can the combination of Prozac and Cymbalta, but your eye movements sound like a different adverse effect.

 

You have been on much higher doses of the Celexa-Cymbalta combination and other bizarre drug cocktails that would cause serotonin toxicity without experiencing it. My guess is your liver finally decided enough was enough and threw up some danger signals.

 

As you are having debilitating withdrawal symptoms from Celexa now, if I were you, I'd reinstate 1mg Celexa. This can be very effective to stop withdrawal symptoms and there is very little risk this small dosage will cause serotonin toxicity or the eye movement symptom. Citalopram comes in a prescription liquid so you can take a small amount. If you don't like your psychiatrist, your GP or any doctor can prescribe it for you.

 

Whoever prescribed you the Celexa-Cymbalta combination and other cocktail ingredients was not following good medical practice. You have been on and off many psychiatric drugs, this can be very wearing on the nervous system. I would avoid drastic drug changes from now on, it looks like you are now sensitized to dosage changes. This is why you had acute symptoms quitting Celexa.

 

Please put ALL your drugs in the Drug Interactions Checker https://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.php
and copy and paste the results in this topic.

             

 

  

Prozac 1989-2005    Citalopram 2005-2009    Citalopram 2010-2014

Cymbalta 2015-Currently taking   Trazodone 2015(several months)   Citalopram 2015-2016   Gabapentin 300 mg. 2015-2016 (brief Klonopin to taper off Gabapentin)

Citalopram 60 mg. April 2016-end of August 2016 (Actually was on 80 mg. briefly)

Cymbalta 30 mg. late Sept 2016, increased to 60 mg. late Oct 2016-May 2017, decreased to 50 mg. (no withdrawals!), decreased 50 mg. to 40 mg. mid Feb. 2018 (very bad withdrawals !), increased to 50 mg.(minus 20 beads) Feb. 18th, decreased to 40 mg. Feb. 21st, increased to 50 mg. (minus 10%) Feb. 26th, decreased to 50 mg. (minus 30 beads) March 17th- present  

Escitalopram 5 mg. early May 2017-early Feb. 2018    Citalopram 30 mg. early Feb. 2018 -July 18, 2018.  Reinstatement of Citalopram 1 mg. (.5 ml) August 16, 2018, decreased to .45 ml September 25, 2018

 

 

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  • Administrator

We find "hair of the dog" to be more effective for reinstatement than substituting another drug. Prozac would be the next choice.

 

Good to hear your psychiatrist is cooperating with this.

 

When you took Celexa, what time of day did you take it? Did you find it stimulating or sleepy-making?

 

21 hours ago, TortugaHealing said:

I also take medication for hypothyroidism (Levothyroxine).  I upped my dose from 50 mcg to 75 mcg around July 12th, which is about a week before I stopped the Celexa.  So, I'm wondering how much of my not feeling well has to do with withdrawals, and how much might have to do with too much thyroid? 

....

(Exhaustion, muscle weakness, anxiety, insomnia, irritability, light sensitivity and discomfort in my eyes is what I'm currently going through.)  

 

Excessive thyroid hormone can cause many of those symptoms, but I don't know about the eye movements -- that sounds like an adverse reaction from your psychiatric drug cocktail.

 

If they occurred after you quit Celexa, those could be withdrawal symptoms.

 

(My guess is you're a fast metabolizer via one or more of your liver enzymes, a normal genetic variation, which is why you have been able to handle ridiculous dosages in a ridiculous cocktail for so long. Because they can handle enormous drug burdens with no apparent ill effects, fast metabolizers run the risk of getting overmedicated and eventually, drug toxicity. Many doctors have no common sense about psychiatric drugs.)

 

Reminder:

On 8/15/2018 at 12:26 PM, Altostrata said:

Please put ALL your drugs in the Drug Interactions Checker https://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.php
and copy and paste the results in this topic.

 

You can paste a link to the report if that's easier for you.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Thanks again for your time and input!  (Hello Everyone)...regarding the Celexa, I take it at night.  It helps me with sleepy-making.  Just got thyroid test results back.  Thyroid is a little high, so I started a lower dose this morning.  I wanted to share that I started the 1 mg. of Celexa Thursday night, the 16th.  Within half an hour, I noticed less sensitivity to light and sound.  (Amazing!  THANK YOU, THANK YOU!)  I felt so much better that night and the next morning I couldn't believe it.  Way less anxiety.  My coordination was better, balance was better.  WAY less irritability.  Around noon of that next day, I made the unfortunate discovery that the feeling incredibly better was not going to last through the rest of that day....Since I had done the drug interaction checker at some point and discovered that Valerian root can cause liver damage (holy crap!), the first night of reinstatement I did not take Valerian root or Tylenol (can cause liver damage).  The second night of reinstatement, I was exhausted and desperate to sleep.  I'm not proud to say that I took two Valerian root that second night.  I woke up at 4 AM with those same, weird eye movements again.  I won't take Valerian root again.  I started to have the involuntary eye movements again, even when I didn't take Valerian root, Tylenol, or anything. (just the liquid Celexa). It was worst in early morning hours.  Since I've been feeling better in so many ways, I've been reluctant to stop the 1 mg. of liquid Celexa.  The eye movements seem to have gone away, or are at least much improved.  Today my thinking seems clearer, more fluid.  I don't feel as exhausted, and I'm not having the same muscle weakness.  Only thing is, which I don't understand, the light and sound sensitivity seem to be getting worse now.  I'm having quite a bit of pain, especially in my left eye, when I look at light. (On a separate note, I have tried several times to post the drug interaction checker results here.  I seem to keep losing it.  I'll keep trying!)

 

About the eye movements, they started when I was on Cymbalta (50 mg. minus 30 beads) and Celexa 30 mg.  That's what originally brought me in to Urgent Care.  The eye movements stopped after I stopped all of the Celexa on July 18th, so they probably wouldn't be from withdrawals.  (And then see above for eye movements after reinstatement.)

 

Anyways, I'd love to get more input about what to do about the horrible light sensitivity and sound sensitivity.   And I'm really scared about the maybe liver damage.  (I'm hoping it isn't that, my skin and eyes aren't yellowed.)  

 

About the psychiatrist, he wanted me to take 2 mg. of the Celexa instead of 1 mg.  He thought it was a "nothing" dose.  I didn't tell him that I'm only taking 1 mg.  I want to tell him and be honest with him, but I am afraid he will feel threatened and that I don't value his expertise.  He wanted to make a deal with me that if he prescribes the liquid Celexa for me, I would try it for 2 weeks.  During that time period, he wants me to further decrease the Cymbalta.  If I'm not able to decrease Cymbalta in those 2 weeks, he wants me to quit the Celexa reinstatement and try some Prozac.  I absolutely will not cut down on the Cymbalta right now.  That might be calamitous!  We agreed to revisit the topic of Cymbalta reduction after Sept. 3rd, when I will be moved in with my family (and giving up my apartment and temporarily giving my much-loved kitty to a friend.)  My mother is allergic...

  

Prozac 1989-2005    Citalopram 2005-2009    Citalopram 2010-2014

Cymbalta 2015-Currently taking   Trazodone 2015(several months)   Citalopram 2015-2016   Gabapentin 300 mg. 2015-2016 (brief Klonopin to taper off Gabapentin)

Citalopram 60 mg. April 2016-end of August 2016 (Actually was on 80 mg. briefly)

Cymbalta 30 mg. late Sept 2016, increased to 60 mg. late Oct 2016-May 2017, decreased to 50 mg. (no withdrawals!), decreased 50 mg. to 40 mg. mid Feb. 2018 (very bad withdrawals !), increased to 50 mg.(minus 20 beads) Feb. 18th, decreased to 40 mg. Feb. 21st, increased to 50 mg. (minus 10%) Feb. 26th, decreased to 50 mg. (minus 30 beads) March 17th- present  

Escitalopram 5 mg. early May 2017-early Feb. 2018    Citalopram 30 mg. early Feb. 2018 -July 18, 2018.  Reinstatement of Citalopram 1 mg. (.5 ml) August 16, 2018, decreased to .45 ml September 25, 2018

 

 

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Hello,

 

I just wanted to add that I went out for a walk last night.  I had to come back to my place earlier than I had planned because I had abdominal pain.  Bloating or swelling too.  And light sensitivity was causing pain in my eyes even though I was wearing sunglasses every time a car with headlights went by.  Sorry about all the complaining...just trying to figure this out.  I guess I ought to call my GP and see if maybe he can do a blood test to check for liver function.  Seems like a good idea, right?  Unless I am just being a hypochondriac, and am anxious about my move?  And scared about the possibility of having liver damage.

  

Prozac 1989-2005    Citalopram 2005-2009    Citalopram 2010-2014

Cymbalta 2015-Currently taking   Trazodone 2015(several months)   Citalopram 2015-2016   Gabapentin 300 mg. 2015-2016 (brief Klonopin to taper off Gabapentin)

Citalopram 60 mg. April 2016-end of August 2016 (Actually was on 80 mg. briefly)

Cymbalta 30 mg. late Sept 2016, increased to 60 mg. late Oct 2016-May 2017, decreased to 50 mg. (no withdrawals!), decreased 50 mg. to 40 mg. mid Feb. 2018 (very bad withdrawals !), increased to 50 mg.(minus 20 beads) Feb. 18th, decreased to 40 mg. Feb. 21st, increased to 50 mg. (minus 10%) Feb. 26th, decreased to 50 mg. (minus 30 beads) March 17th- present  

Escitalopram 5 mg. early May 2017-early Feb. 2018    Citalopram 30 mg. early Feb. 2018 -July 18, 2018.  Reinstatement of Citalopram 1 mg. (.5 ml) August 16, 2018, decreased to .45 ml September 25, 2018

 

 

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Hello again,

 

Quick addition:  No more abdominal pain (smile).  Maybe I just need to be eating more fiber?  It didn't occur to me that some of what I may be experiencing is side effects from the liquid Celexa. (and not all WD symptoms.)  Maybe the eye pain isn't all from light sensitivity, but instead a side effect of the 1 mg. Celexa? (Eye pain is a listed side effect on the hand out.) Anyways, I also read about interdose WD, and maybe I will try to take .25 ml earlier in day, and .25 at night.  

 

You've got some awesome information on this website!  Thank you Alto for your time, your knowledge, and your kind support.  I hope you are well (recovered from your own WD).  I'm sorry you didn't have a website like this one when you were enduring your own WD trauma.

 

Best, Miss Tortuga

  

Prozac 1989-2005    Citalopram 2005-2009    Citalopram 2010-2014

Cymbalta 2015-Currently taking   Trazodone 2015(several months)   Citalopram 2015-2016   Gabapentin 300 mg. 2015-2016 (brief Klonopin to taper off Gabapentin)

Citalopram 60 mg. April 2016-end of August 2016 (Actually was on 80 mg. briefly)

Cymbalta 30 mg. late Sept 2016, increased to 60 mg. late Oct 2016-May 2017, decreased to 50 mg. (no withdrawals!), decreased 50 mg. to 40 mg. mid Feb. 2018 (very bad withdrawals !), increased to 50 mg.(minus 20 beads) Feb. 18th, decreased to 40 mg. Feb. 21st, increased to 50 mg. (minus 10%) Feb. 26th, decreased to 50 mg. (minus 30 beads) March 17th- present  

Escitalopram 5 mg. early May 2017-early Feb. 2018    Citalopram 30 mg. early Feb. 2018 -July 18, 2018.  Reinstatement of Citalopram 1 mg. (.5 ml) August 16, 2018, decreased to .45 ml September 25, 2018

 

 

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Hello Everybody,

 

I hope it is o.k. for me to post this in Introductions and Updates.  If I sound abrupt, please forgive me.  I am in a bit of a panic.  I reinstated 1 mg. of Celexa a week ago after tonight's dose.  I (very unfortunately!) did not reinstate until close to a month after I had to suddenly stop all of my Celexa (30 mg.).  In any case, maybe this seems obvious....but please I would so appreciate any suggestions on whether to stop the reinstatement Celexa altogether, or just reduce the dosage.  (and if reduce, by how much?)  My mood has actually been quite a lot better, and I am much less irritable than before reinstatement. (Of course I also reduced my thyroid meds a few days ago too.)  I thought anxiety was improved too.  It's hard to tell when new, distressing symptoms emerge...it makes me friggin' anxious!  In addition to my very stressful current life circumstances.  (Just temporary).    My involuntary eye movements are back...faster than before, and now since yesterday I am having tingling (parasthesias) in my feet.  Also, last night I started having restless leg thing going on.  Light sensitivity seems worse, and I am having eye pain with it.  Maybe light sensitivity and eye pain are separate, I'm not sure....thanks so much...Best, Miss Tortuga

 

Edited by ChessieCat
new intro merged to orig intro and PM sent advising not to create new intros

  

Prozac 1989-2005    Citalopram 2005-2009    Citalopram 2010-2014

Cymbalta 2015-Currently taking   Trazodone 2015(several months)   Citalopram 2015-2016   Gabapentin 300 mg. 2015-2016 (brief Klonopin to taper off Gabapentin)

Citalopram 60 mg. April 2016-end of August 2016 (Actually was on 80 mg. briefly)

Cymbalta 30 mg. late Sept 2016, increased to 60 mg. late Oct 2016-May 2017, decreased to 50 mg. (no withdrawals!), decreased 50 mg. to 40 mg. mid Feb. 2018 (very bad withdrawals !), increased to 50 mg.(minus 20 beads) Feb. 18th, decreased to 40 mg. Feb. 21st, increased to 50 mg. (minus 10%) Feb. 26th, decreased to 50 mg. (minus 30 beads) March 17th- present  

Escitalopram 5 mg. early May 2017-early Feb. 2018    Citalopram 30 mg. early Feb. 2018 -July 18, 2018.  Reinstatement of Citalopram 1 mg. (.5 ml) August 16, 2018, decreased to .45 ml September 25, 2018

 

 

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Hello miss Tortuga,

 

Welcome to this fabulous website. A professional opinion is coming your way very soon because there are a lot of good people around here. I'm just a newbie but.....I am on citalopram and I know how hard it can be to quit that stuff.

 

Did you quit cold turkey?

 

I wish you all the wisdom and hope you get very well very soon:)

 

Cheers

Jozeff

 

 

 

Sep- 2016 - Okt 2017 citalopram some months 15 mg some months 20 mg

Nov 2017- Apr 2018 citalopram 25 mg

Apr 2018 -  Jun 2018 citalopram 3 month TAPER too fast  from 25mg to 16.5 mg (0.1 mg per day decrease, felt horrible and crashed)

Jun 2018 - Aug13th 2018 citalopram trying to stabilize at 16.5 mg for 5 wks

- August 14th 2018 - April 29th 2019  citalopram 18 mg (1.5 mg updose).

 

2019 apr 27 : START taper citalopram @ 18 mg: 29Jun 16.4 mg / 19aug 15.4 mg / 25aug 15.2 mg / 30sep 14.0 mg / 4dec 13.1 mg

2020  03Jan 12.75 mg / 28Jan 12.29 mg / 18Feb 11.83 mg, 25Feb 11.68 mg hold.. / 7May 11.33 mg hold...., 4Aug 10.98 mg / 5Dec 10.0 mg 4 month hold...

2021 30mar 9.8 mg / 06apr 9.5 mg /  13apr 9.4 mg / 14may 8,5 mg / 04jun 8,0 mg / 11jun 7.75 mg, 02jul 7.35 mg /  09jul 7.2 mg hold 3 weeks during holiday /31jul 7 mg/ 8aug 6.8 mg / 15aug 6.63mg / 22aug 6.5mg / 1sep 6.3 mg / 8sep 6.15 mg / 15sep 6.0 mg / 22sep 5.9 mg / 29sep 5.8 mg / 04 oct 5.65 mg / 10oct 5.55 mg / 17oct 5.45 mg / 24oct 5.35mg / 30oct 5.25 mg hold 3 wks / 22nov 5.15 mg / 01dec 5.1mg / 12dec 5.0mg / 20dec 4.85mg / 30dec 4.70mg

2022   08jan 4.5 mg / 16jan 4.4 mg / 23jan 4.3 mg / 27jan 4.2 mg / 18feb 4.1 mg / 25feb 4.0 mg / 04mar 3.9 mg / 11mar 3.75 mg / 18Mar 3.65 mg / 09apr 3.55 mg / 16apr 3.45 mg / 23apr 3.35 mg / 01may 3.25 mg / 8may 3.15 mg / 17may 3.10 mg / 28 may 3.0 mg / 7jun 2.94 mg / 18 Jun 2.88 mg / 27 jun 2.84 mg / 05 jul 2.80 mg / 16 jul 2.75 mg / 23 jul 2.70 mg / 01aug 2.65 mg / 09aug 2.60 mg hold 5wks / 18sep 2.55 mg / 25sep 2.5 mg /02oct 2.45 mg / 10oct 2.40 mg / 19oct 2.35 mg / 27oct 2.30 mg / 05nov 2.27 mg / 14nov 2.25 mg / 22nov 2.20 mg / 29nov 2.10mg / 09dec 2.05 mg / 15dec 2.0 mg 

2023  hold 2.0 mg for 5 months / 05may 1.95 mg / 14may 1.90 mg / 24may 1.87 mg / 02jun 1.85 mg / 17jun 1.82 mg / 27jun 1.79 mg / 07jul 1.75 mg / 31jul 1.72 mg / 12aug 1.69mg / 27aug 1.67 mg / 04sep 1.65 mg / 09sep 1.63 mg / 22sep 1.61 mg / 27sep 1.60 mg / 12oct 1.58 mg / 18oct 1.56 mg / 31oct 1.54 mg / 06nov 1.52 mg / 18nov 1.50 mg / 04dec 1.48 mg / 11dec 1.46 mg / 22dec 1.45 mg / 28dec 1.44 mg

2024 01jan 1.43 mg / 06jan 1.42 mg/ 10jan 1.40 mg hold /

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  • Moderator Emeritus
On 8/18/2018 at 3:55 AM, Altostrata said:

Reminder:

On 8/16/2018 at 5:26 AM, Altostrata said:

Please put ALL your drugs in the Drug Interactions Checker https://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.php
and copy and paste the results in this topic.

 

 

Please respond to this request which has been made twice.

 

What is your current symptom pattern related to when you take your drugs?

 

Please list in a simple way what things have improved and what has worsened.

* 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

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  • Administrator
9 hours ago, TortugaHealing said:

Hello Everybody,

 

I hope it is o.k. for me to post this in Introductions and Updates.  If I sound abrupt, please forgive me.  I am in a bit of a panic.  I reinstated 1 mg. of Celexa a week ago after tonight's dose.  I (very unfortunately!) did not reinstate until close to a month after I had to suddenly stop all of my Celexa (30 mg.).  In any case, maybe this seems obvious....but please I would so appreciate any suggestions on whether to stop the reinstatement Celexa altogether, or just reduce the dosage.  (and if reduce, by how much?)  My mood has actually been quite a lot better, and I am much less irritable than before reinstatement. (Of course I also reduced my thyroid meds a few days ago too.)  I thought anxiety was improved too.  It's hard to tell when new, distressing symptoms emerge...it makes me friggin' anxious!  In addition to my very stressful current life circumstances.  (Just temporary).    My involuntary eye movements are back...faster than before, and now since yesterday I am having tingling (parasthesias) in my feet.  Also, last night I started having restless leg thing going on.  Light sensitivity seems worse, and I am having eye pain with it.  Maybe light sensitivity and eye pain are separate, I'm not sure....thanks so much...Best, Miss Tortuga

 

 

Good to hear you're feeling better. As ChessieCat iterated, we need to see your daily notes of when you take your drugs and when you get symptoms to answer your questions.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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  • 7 months later...

Hello,

I need to make a decision as soon as possible regarding my medications.  I've had strange, abnormal movements in my face, hands, and feet for at least a couple of weeks now.  The weirdest thing is that I have not made any changes to my medications for months now.  Although my duloxetine manufacturer has been changed recently, there have been no changes to the active or inactive ingredients.  I even bought a scale and checked to see if the new manufacturer (Rising Pharma) Duloxetine and the old manufacturer (Citron Pharma) Duloxetine weighed significantly different.  The difference was so miniscule I don't think that would have made a difference.  My psychiatrist thinks I have akathisia, and he wants me to cut down on my dosage.  I'm going in to see a neurologist this coming Friday.  (I ended up in the emergency room about a week ago since my sister and her husband thought I was having a stroke.)  I really didn't need to be in the emergency room, but they kept insisting.  I had facial weakness on one side.  Some pain and numbness, and very slight twitching. Also weird shortness of breath but without anxiety.  They did an MRI, EKG, and chest xray.  Bloodwork.  Everything checked out fine.  Since the emergency room visit, my right foot tapped involuntarily  while I was in the shower.  My face is getting worse, twitching more, my eyelid seems harder to keep open all of the way.  I'm still having shortness of breath on and off, and this tiny, weird irritation or spasm like feeling in my throat.  Is this Tardive Dystonia?  Protracted Withdrawal?  I don't understand, my meds have been stable for a while now.  I don't know if my symptoms are from the drugs themselves, or from withdrawal.  Do I take more meds since symptoms might be from withdrawal, or do I lower the dosage as symptoms are from the meds themselves?  Thank you for any advice on my meds you can give me.  And thank you for everything you do (Alto, and all of you volunteers!) every day on this website!  Oh, one last thing, my symptoms are transient.  They come and go.

  

Prozac 1989-2005    Citalopram 2005-2009    Citalopram 2010-2014

Cymbalta 2015-Currently taking   Trazodone 2015(several months)   Citalopram 2015-2016   Gabapentin 300 mg. 2015-2016 (brief Klonopin to taper off Gabapentin)

Citalopram 60 mg. April 2016-end of August 2016 (Actually was on 80 mg. briefly)

Cymbalta 30 mg. late Sept 2016, increased to 60 mg. late Oct 2016-May 2017, decreased to 50 mg. (no withdrawals!), decreased 50 mg. to 40 mg. mid Feb. 2018 (very bad withdrawals !), increased to 50 mg.(minus 20 beads) Feb. 18th, decreased to 40 mg. Feb. 21st, increased to 50 mg. (minus 10%) Feb. 26th, decreased to 50 mg. (minus 30 beads) March 17th- present  

Escitalopram 5 mg. early May 2017-early Feb. 2018    Citalopram 30 mg. early Feb. 2018 -July 18, 2018.  Reinstatement of Citalopram 1 mg. (.5 ml) August 16, 2018, decreased to .45 ml September 25, 2018

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi TortugaHealing,

And welcome back.  It looks like it's been awhile.  I found your new introduction topic and brought it back here, as is the custom.  One introduction per member.

You had titled it " Advice needed for new abnormal movements"

 

28 minutes ago, TortugaHealing said:

Hello,

I need to make a decision as soon as possible regarding my medications.  I've had strange, abnormal movements in my face, hands, and feet for at least a couple of weeks now.  The weirdest thing is that I have not made any changes to my medications for months now. 

 

Although my duloxetine manufacturer has been changed recently, there have been no changes to the active or inactive ingredients.  I even bought a scale and checked to see if the new manufacturer (Rising Pharma) Duloxetine and the old manufacturer (Citron Pharma) Duloxetine weighed significantly different.  The difference was so miniscule I don't think that would have made a difference. 

 

My psychiatrist thinks I have akathisia, and he wants me to cut down on my dosage.  I'm going in to see a neurologist this coming Friday.  (I ended up in the emergency room about a week ago since my sister and her husband thought I was having a stroke.)  I really didn't need to be in the emergency room, but they kept insisting.  I had facial weakness on one side.  Some pain and numbness, and very slight twitching. Also weird shortness of breath but without anxiety.  They did an MRI, EKG, and chest xray.  Bloodwork.  Everything checked out fine. 

 

Since the emergency room visit, my right foot tapped involuntarily  while I was in the shower.  My face is getting worse, twitching more, my eyelid seems harder to keep open all of the way.  I'm still having shortness of breath on and off, and this tiny, weird irritation or spasm like feeling in my throat.  Is this Tardive Dystonia?  Protracted Withdrawal?  I don't understand, my meds have been stable for a while now.  I don't know if my symptoms are from the drugs themselves, or from withdrawal.  Do I take more meds since symptoms might be from withdrawal, or do I lower the dosage as symptoms are from the meds themselves?  Thank you for any advice on my meds you can give me.  And thank you for everything you do (Alto, and all of you volunteers!) every day on this website!  Oh, one last thing, my symptoms are transient.  They come and go.

 

Cymbalta 30 mg. late Sept 2016, increased to 60 mg. late Oct 2016-May 2017, decreased to 50 mg. (no withdrawals!), decreased 50 mg. to 40 mg. mid Feb. 2018 (very bad withdrawals !), increased to 50 mg.(minus 20 beads) Feb. 18th, decreased to 40 mg. Feb. 21st, increased to 50 mg. (minus 10%) Feb. 26th, decreased to 50 mg. (minus 30 beads) March 17th- present  

Escitalopram 5 mg. early May 2017-early Feb. 2018    Citalopram 30 mg. early Feb. 2018 -July 18, 2018.  Reinstatement of Citalopram 1 mg. (.5 ml) August 16, 2018, decreased to .45 ml September 25, 2018

 

I went ahead and put some spacing in the quote and copied over your current signature information to this post too.

Well that's good everything checked out fine in the ER.

 

Are you feeling any sense of internal agitation or unrest?  That's generally how I think of akathisia.

And then is the twitching something that you just happens.......that you have no control over?

And the eyelid seems droopy?

 

When did you start the dosing with the new manufacturer of your duloxetine?

And then can you estimate about when, a date, when the symptoms started?

 

And I'm glad the symptoms are transient.  I'm going to ask for the other mods input on all of this tortugahealing, as I don't know either.  I'm more inclined to think that it might be something from the drugs themselves but not sure at all.  It looks like your last decrease was on February 26th, the duloxetine.  And it's possible that the change in manufacturer might account for a variance in your dosage now.

 

Let's see what the others think and have to offer.

 

Love, peace, healing, and growth,

mmt

Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks.

Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988.  In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm.

Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time).

5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014)

12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs.  My last psycho med ever!  Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to

2016 Dec 16 medication free!!

Longer signature post here, with current supplements.

Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016.  And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed.  Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022.  Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜

None of my posts are intended as medical advice.  Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider.  My success story:  Blue skies ahead, clear sailing

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hey tortuga,

Just thinking here.  Something you might do while waiting for more input is do a bit of sleuthing on your own around your medication(s).

First plug them on in to the interaction checker here:  Drugs.com  You can see there both consumer and professional information.  Copy and paste here in your introduction.

And then you can go on back to that site, and at the top plug in each medication and read more about each one.

Many other sites available to the general population too.......that offer medication/drug information.  But that one is a good place to start.

 

And then see what you think might be happening as far as "Is it withdrawal or a drug reaction?".

As you know your body best, it may be helpful and even empowering.  It's not sounding like "serotonin syndrome" to me, from the information given.  And your drugs causing dyskinesia(involuntary movements) would surprise me.  But then again........I haven't done the research myself, either.  The withdrawal from these drugs???  Hmmm.  Could be, possibly.

 

And then I'll leave you the tapering links on Cymbalta and citalopram.  There's often quite a bit of information in the first couple posts in the tapering links, that Alto has put a lot of time and effort into.  Sometimes links to more on the medications themselves, from sources other than drugs.com.

Tips for tapering off Celexa(citalopram)

Tips for tapering off Cymbalta(duloxetine)****

^ this one looks like some really good information is there as well as links to the source of the information and more.

 

I mean if you are interested.  I am.  But I have to get off site, off line now.

 

Best,

Love, peace, healing, and growth,

mmt


 

 

Edited by manymoretodays
removed stuff meant for more recent post

Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks.

Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988.  In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm.

Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time).

5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014)

12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs.  My last psycho med ever!  Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to

2016 Dec 16 medication free!!

Longer signature post here, with current supplements.

Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016.  And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed.  Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022.  Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜

None of my posts are intended as medical advice.  Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider.  My success story:  Blue skies ahead, clear sailing

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus
9 hours ago, TortugaHealing said:

Hi Many More Todays,

Thanks for your reply yesterday.  I wanted to answer some of your questions.  Yes, the twitching just happens on it's own.  I can't control it.  The very first symptoms were just a slight, repetitive horizontal movement of my pinky fingers moving back and forth on both hands.  Same thing with pinky toes on both feet.  That started happening around the 25th of February.  Unfortunately, I don't have an exact time frame for when the manufacturer changed.  When I called to ask, they said around the summertime.  But it wasn't done suddenly.  They alternated between the two manufacturers for a little while.  If more detailed information is needed, I can try to get a record of all of my filled prescriptions.  (which manufacturer)  I forgot to mention in my earlier post that the ER doctor diagnosed me with facial weakness and ataxia.  Let me pull up your other questions and see if I can answer them.  Thanks again, Tortuga

 

3 hours ago, manymoretodays said:

It does sound more like what is called tardive dyskinesia or involuntary movements

Take a look at the first post especially in that link.  And keep in mind a positive attitude.

I extracted the following out of the first post there.

 

"TD also occurs more rarely as an adverse effect from antidepressants and antidepressant withdrawal.

There is no defined treatment for TD, although doctors will experiment with various drugs though to correct the "chemical imbalance" responsible for this condition. (It is thought to be related to dopamine dysregulation.)

For many people, TD symptoms go away on their own. We have people here who developed TD in withdrawal whose TD symptoms eventually went away."

 

I think if I were you, I would be really hesitant to add additional medications to your current combination.  I know you mentioned seeing your prescribing doctor very soon.

 

It may not have much to do with the change in manufacturer of your Cymbalta(duloxetine).

 

 

Okie doke.  All moved.  Thanks TortugaHealing.

And as always,

Best, and Love, peace, healing, and growth,

mmt

 

 

 

 

Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks.

Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988.  In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm.

Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time).

5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014)

12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs.  My last psycho med ever!  Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to

2016 Dec 16 medication free!!

Longer signature post here, with current supplements.

Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016.  And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed.  Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022.  Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜

None of my posts are intended as medical advice.  Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider.  My success story:  Blue skies ahead, clear sailing

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

Mod note:  from PM, with Tortuga's permission,  sent to me 11 hours ago

 

Hello Many More Todays,

 

To answer more of your questions:  My last decrease for Cymbalta was March 17, 2018.  However, I  wanted to mention that I changed the way I opened my capsules around mid January.  I was having so much trouble twisting the capsules apart to count beads that I was destroying them.  So, I spoke with a pharmacist who said I could open the capsules very carefully using a knife.  I've been using an exacto knife to cut open the capsules.  I'm wondering if I accidentally have been destroying some of the beads in the process?  Maybe that would account for the symptoms I'm having now?

 

My plan is to start reducing Cymbalta again by 5%.  Maybe the abnormal movements are being caused by the meds themselves.  If you could possibly get some additional input from other moderators, I would really appreciate it.  (I just want to know if they disagree with the plan to reduce and think maybe I should add a little more Cymbalta as maybe the TD is from withdrawal? ) Thanks so much.  I have started to have small tongue movements, and I think the facial weakness, pain, tingling, and numbness is transient tardive dystonia.  (Just my opinion.)  Even though I went to see a neurologist last Friday, and she thought the facial weakness was bells palsy.  And that the twitches in my face are the nerves regenerating from Bells Palsy.  (which does make some sense, as I previously had Bells Palsy on that side.  But that doesn't explain why it seems to come and go, and why I'm having tongue movements now.  (And why I'm also having twitching in fingers and toes.  When I told her about the movements in my fingers and toes, she told me it was probably anxiety.)

Sorry to be so long-winded here.  Oh, I forgot to tell you the good news---I started taking double the melatonin at night.  And it does seem to help my symptoms some.

 

Thanks, and be well...Sincerely, Tortuga

 

 

Edited by manymoretodays
mod note

Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks.

Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988.  In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm.

Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time).

5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014)

12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs.  My last psycho med ever!  Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to

2016 Dec 16 medication free!!

Longer signature post here, with current supplements.

Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016.  And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed.  Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022.  Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜

None of my posts are intended as medical advice.  Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider.  My success story:  Blue skies ahead, clear sailing

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi TortugaHealing,

 

47 minutes ago, manymoretodays said:

To answer more of your questions:  My last decrease for Cymbalta was March 17, 2018.  However, I  wanted to mention that I changed the way I opened my capsules around mid January.  I was having so much trouble twisting the capsules apart to count beads that I was destroying them.  So, I spoke with a pharmacist who said I could open the capsules very carefully using a knife.  I've been using an exacto knife to cut open the capsules.  I'm wondering if I accidentally have been destroying some of the beads in the process?  Maybe that would account for the symptoms I'm having now?

 

That sounds like a good plan for getting the beads out of the capsules.  Are you emptying the contents on something dark colored and then counting the beads for your present dose of Cymbalta? 

 

And thankyou for clarifying that your last decrease was back in 2018, March. 

 

I copied a bit of your signature here, below, again too:

Cymbalta 30 mg. late Sept 2016, increased to 60 mg. late Oct 2016-May 2017, decreased to 50 mg. (no withdrawals!), decreased 50 mg. to 40 mg. mid Feb. 2018 (very bad withdrawals !), increased to 50 mg.(minus 20 beads) Feb. 18th, decreased to 40 mg. Feb. 21st, increased to 50 mg. (minus 10%) Feb. 26th, decreased to 50 mg. (minus 30 beads) March 17th- present  

Escitalopram 5 mg. early May 2017-early Feb. 2018    Citalopram 30 mg. early Feb. 2018 -July 18, 2018.  Reinstatement of Citalopram 1 mg. (.5 ml) August 16, 2018, decreased to .45 ml September 25, 2018

 

And I will do that, Tortuga, on getting another opinion for you before you start tapering again.  Do you have any idea what your current dosage of Cymbalta is?  I see you have noted in your signature above "50 mg.(minus 30 beads)".   Does this reflect your present dose?  I know it can be hard to know with the beads so.....just asking.  Not at all meaning to be critical.  That bold type sounds that way.....not my intention though.

 

And thank you, so much, for getting to my other questions asked before.

 

I think that you may be good to go with a 5% taper........that it may be better to keep on getting you down in dose of the Cymbalta.  But let's see what my associates might think.  B)

 

Love, peace, healing, and growth,

mmt

 

 

 

 

Edited by manymoretodays

Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks.

Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988.  In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm.

Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time).

5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014)

12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs.  My last psycho med ever!  Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to

2016 Dec 16 medication free!!

Longer signature post here, with current supplements.

Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016.  And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed.  Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022.  Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜

None of my posts are intended as medical advice.  Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider.  My success story:  Blue skies ahead, clear sailing

 

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  • Administrator

Hi, Tortuga. That does not sound like akathisia, it sounds like an adverse drug effect or maybe withdrawal.

 

Exactly what drugs are you taking now, what times of day do you take them, and their dosages? If you're taking multiple drugs of any type, please put ALL your drugs in the Drug Interactions Checker https://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.php
and copy and paste the results or a link to them in this topic.

 

Your last change in Cymbalta was March 17, 2018, these symptoms appeared 2 weeks after? Were they very mild at first and then got worse? Have they gotten milder in the last few days?

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Hi,. Thank you so much for your support Many More Today's and Alto.  I'm currently taking 50 mg. Cymbalta minus 30 beads at around 10 am daily. (One 20 mg. pill, and one 30 mg. pill minus 30 beads).  I'm trying to figure out what mg. dosage I'm taking.  I got a Gemini 20 scale. I just need to figure out my dosage.  Then I take a microdose of liquid Celexa, .475 ml. at 10:30 pm daily.  So it's been over a year since I changed my Cymbalta dose.  Pinky finger movements and pinky toes started moving involuntarily the end of February 2019.  Facial weakness  on left side and ataxia diagnosed by ER doctor on 3/21/19.  Had been having pain for several weeks in face but thought it was due to TMJ which I also have on that side.  Extremity movements were very slight and not happening often.  They don't seem to be getting worse.  But sometimes my hands feel very fumbly and I'll have trouble using them.  Sometimes I have a little trouble walking too.  I think I might be having more tongue movements.  It's harder to tell because I'm having numbness.  Two days ago, my left jaw felt really numb, as of I had had a shot of Novocaine.  Then the numbness goes away.  I'm scared and beginning to wonder if I have early signs of MS? 

I'll see if I can figure out my exact dosage with the scale, and I'll let you know.

One other thing: I don't know if doubling my melatonin at night actually helped the symptoms.  Maybe just wishful thinking.  It seemed like maybe I was having a little bit of a paradoxical reaction with doubling the melatonin.  (3 mg to 6 mg) because I felt wide awake on those nights. I cut back to 4.5 mg melatonin.   Thanks for your support and input.

 

  

Prozac 1989-2005    Citalopram 2005-2009    Citalopram 2010-2014

Cymbalta 2015-Currently taking   Trazodone 2015(several months)   Citalopram 2015-2016   Gabapentin 300 mg. 2015-2016 (brief Klonopin to taper off Gabapentin)

Citalopram 60 mg. April 2016-end of August 2016 (Actually was on 80 mg. briefly)

Cymbalta 30 mg. late Sept 2016, increased to 60 mg. late Oct 2016-May 2017, decreased to 50 mg. (no withdrawals!), decreased 50 mg. to 40 mg. mid Feb. 2018 (very bad withdrawals !), increased to 50 mg.(minus 20 beads) Feb. 18th, decreased to 40 mg. Feb. 21st, increased to 50 mg. (minus 10%) Feb. 26th, decreased to 50 mg. (minus 30 beads) March 17th- present  

Escitalopram 5 mg. early May 2017-early Feb. 2018    Citalopram 30 mg. early Feb. 2018 -July 18, 2018.  Reinstatement of Citalopram 1 mg. (.5 ml) August 16, 2018, decreased to .45 ml September 25, 2018

 

 

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Hello,

 

Yes, Alto, symptoms are getting worse.  There's just a lot of different symptoms going on...it's hard to keep up with them.  I figured out my current dosage of Cymbalta, but it looks way off.  (Filler can't be that heavy, can it?). The total dosage minus the weight of the 30 beads I take out is 273 mg. Duloxetine daily.  (I took an average net weight for or the 30 mg. pill, subtracted the net weight of the 30 beads, and added an average net weight for the 20 Mg. Pill.  Got to hit the hay tonight.  Good night...

  

Prozac 1989-2005    Citalopram 2005-2009    Citalopram 2010-2014

Cymbalta 2015-Currently taking   Trazodone 2015(several months)   Citalopram 2015-2016   Gabapentin 300 mg. 2015-2016 (brief Klonopin to taper off Gabapentin)

Citalopram 60 mg. April 2016-end of August 2016 (Actually was on 80 mg. briefly)

Cymbalta 30 mg. late Sept 2016, increased to 60 mg. late Oct 2016-May 2017, decreased to 50 mg. (no withdrawals!), decreased 50 mg. to 40 mg. mid Feb. 2018 (very bad withdrawals !), increased to 50 mg.(minus 20 beads) Feb. 18th, decreased to 40 mg. Feb. 21st, increased to 50 mg. (minus 10%) Feb. 26th, decreased to 50 mg. (minus 30 beads) March 17th- present  

Escitalopram 5 mg. early May 2017-early Feb. 2018    Citalopram 30 mg. early Feb. 2018 -July 18, 2018.  Reinstatement of Citalopram 1 mg. (.5 ml) August 16, 2018, decreased to .45 ml September 25, 2018

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi TortugaHealing,
If you could keep notes on paper of your daily symptoms and drug dosing

Take a look at the link ^

And keep it really simple, then share here.  Just the facts for now.  So when Alto comes by again she can see what's what in a glance.

 

Here's more information on Using a digital scale to measure doses

More about using the Gem20 scale ^ This might help you figure out your present Cymbalta dose in milligrams too.......vs. the weight(yes, there's a difference)

We try to get our members to eventually report mgai(milligrams of active ingredient, or the dose strength)  and mgpw(milligrams of pill weight-or bead weight in your case, separately).  Don't worry about this right now.  Just keep your present dose consistent in measurement.

 

And on using Melatonin for sleep

 

So, for the notes.  Note the date.  Then time on the left.  Then drug(by name) and dosage on the right.  Also include any supplements taken and sleep patterns on the right.

 

So far, for you I've got, for just drugs and supplements the following(extracted from your narratives):

 

10 am  Cymbalta One 20 mg. pill, and one 30 mg. pill minus 30 beads

10:30 pm  Celexa liquid 4.75 mL  (1 mg/5 mL solution)

at bedtime(note the time taken) melatonin 4.5 mg

 

If you are presently taking any other medications or supplements please include them in this simple format.  Add in your symptoms, supplements, sleep patterns as well.  Do take a look at the first link I gave you and you'll see what I mean.

Thanks Tortuga.

 

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

 

And do put all your drugs and supplements in here:  Drugs.com/ interactions check

Then copy and paste here too.

 

 

Edited by manymoretodays
additional, proof reading edit

Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks.

Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988.  In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm.

Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time).

5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014)

12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs.  My last psycho med ever!  Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to

2016 Dec 16 medication free!!

Longer signature post here, with current supplements.

Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016.  And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed.  Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022.  Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜

None of my posts are intended as medical advice.  Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider.  My success story:  Blue skies ahead, clear sailing

 

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  • Administrator

Don't worry about the Cymbalta beads.

 

On 4/14/2019 at 7:08 PM, TortugaHealing said:

Then I take a microdose of liquid Celexa, .475 ml. at 10:30 pm daily.

 

Why are you taking this, and how long? How many milligrams are in 0.475mL?

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Hi,

Reinstatement of liquid Celexa at .5 ml (=1 mg) on 8/16/18 due to WD after abrupt discontinuation of Celexa (7/18/18). Reduced to .45 ml on 9/25/2018.  Increased to .475 ml (less than 1 mg) 10/2018 due to eye pain. (Not sure if eye pain due to WD or side effect of Celexa.)

  

Prozac 1989-2005    Citalopram 2005-2009    Citalopram 2010-2014

Cymbalta 2015-Currently taking   Trazodone 2015(several months)   Citalopram 2015-2016   Gabapentin 300 mg. 2015-2016 (brief Klonopin to taper off Gabapentin)

Citalopram 60 mg. April 2016-end of August 2016 (Actually was on 80 mg. briefly)

Cymbalta 30 mg. late Sept 2016, increased to 60 mg. late Oct 2016-May 2017, decreased to 50 mg. (no withdrawals!), decreased 50 mg. to 40 mg. mid Feb. 2018 (very bad withdrawals !), increased to 50 mg.(minus 20 beads) Feb. 18th, decreased to 40 mg. Feb. 21st, increased to 50 mg. (minus 10%) Feb. 26th, decreased to 50 mg. (minus 30 beads) March 17th- present  

Escitalopram 5 mg. early May 2017-early Feb. 2018    Citalopram 30 mg. early Feb. 2018 -July 18, 2018.  Reinstatement of Citalopram 1 mg. (.5 ml) August 16, 2018, decreased to .45 ml September 25, 2018

 

 

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • Administrator

How are you doing, Tortuga?

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

Link to comment

Hello Alto,

A bit better, thanks.  No, I have not been on the Cymbalta and  Citalopram or Escitalopram combination since 2016.  I only started taking Citalopram with Cymbalta after I started having WD from reducing the Cymbalta. It was a failed bridge.  I got stuck on both, was attempting to get off Cymbalta and replace it with Citalopram.

 

  

Prozac 1989-2005    Citalopram 2005-2009    Citalopram 2010-2014

Cymbalta 2015-Currently taking   Trazodone 2015(several months)   Citalopram 2015-2016   Gabapentin 300 mg. 2015-2016 (brief Klonopin to taper off Gabapentin)

Citalopram 60 mg. April 2016-end of August 2016 (Actually was on 80 mg. briefly)

Cymbalta 30 mg. late Sept 2016, increased to 60 mg. late Oct 2016-May 2017, decreased to 50 mg. (no withdrawals!), decreased 50 mg. to 40 mg. mid Feb. 2018 (very bad withdrawals !), increased to 50 mg.(minus 20 beads) Feb. 18th, decreased to 40 mg. Feb. 21st, increased to 50 mg. (minus 10%) Feb. 26th, decreased to 50 mg. (minus 30 beads) March 17th- present  

Escitalopram 5 mg. early May 2017-early Feb. 2018    Citalopram 30 mg. early Feb. 2018 -July 18, 2018.  Reinstatement of Citalopram 1 mg. (.5 ml) August 16, 2018, decreased to .45 ml September 25, 2018

 

 

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I hope you are doing well, yourself.

  

Prozac 1989-2005    Citalopram 2005-2009    Citalopram 2010-2014

Cymbalta 2015-Currently taking   Trazodone 2015(several months)   Citalopram 2015-2016   Gabapentin 300 mg. 2015-2016 (brief Klonopin to taper off Gabapentin)

Citalopram 60 mg. April 2016-end of August 2016 (Actually was on 80 mg. briefly)

Cymbalta 30 mg. late Sept 2016, increased to 60 mg. late Oct 2016-May 2017, decreased to 50 mg. (no withdrawals!), decreased 50 mg. to 40 mg. mid Feb. 2018 (very bad withdrawals !), increased to 50 mg.(minus 20 beads) Feb. 18th, decreased to 40 mg. Feb. 21st, increased to 50 mg. (minus 10%) Feb. 26th, decreased to 50 mg. (minus 30 beads) March 17th- present  

Escitalopram 5 mg. early May 2017-early Feb. 2018    Citalopram 30 mg. early Feb. 2018 -July 18, 2018.  Reinstatement of Citalopram 1 mg. (.5 ml) August 16, 2018, decreased to .45 ml September 25, 2018

 

 

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