ciasim: citalopram up and down in short time - severe withdrawal symptoms

[ciasim]

Been on citalopram ( celexa) for many years. Started 2011 and felt better. was on 20 mg, somethimes 30 mg. Tapered down according to doctors advice and it went totally ok.  Went back on 10 mg 2015 for premenstrual problems. Worked ok. Been on that low dose since then, until september this year when I hit a personal crisis, a lot of big desicions to make and relationship problems. Felt anxious and low. Thought that increasing citalopram to 15 mg may make me think clearer on the situation. Worst decision in my life. I became very ill while increasing the med, I had bad anxiety, body twitches, strange bodylangue and was just a wreck. I also felt very bad about taking antidpressants because of relational issues, which made me hate the medicine and propably increased my anxiety as well. 

After 3,5 week I had enough and went down to 12,5 mg. Then another hell started. Severe withdrawal symptoms. Panic attacs every day, extrem anxiety 24/ , unable to stand stil, extremly nervous. My central nervous system has been totally broken. I feel nervous, jittery, and have akitisa like symptoms every day. I cant work, cant hardley do anything. I keep obsessing about finding a cure for this withdrawal condition. 
I am in really bad shape and I dont know what to do. Some people say stick it through! It will even out. But I dont know how I possibly could stand this situation for many more days. Some people say reinstall  - i am really at loss. Take visterine to alleviate the worst symtoms, but I am not happy about that either. I have got a rash on my leg. Havnt had those pronlems before. But a rash is my least problem now. I am a total wreck. Could updosing a tiny bit help? Or will i destroy my central system even more? 

Edited November 14, 2019 by Shep
added username to title

[Sassenach]

Hello  ciasim  and welcome to SA.

 

This site is run entirely by volunteer Administrators and Moderators, all have been through or going through withdrawal.

There are no commercial interests or influences  involved .

The site is currently extremely busy so please ensure you answer any requests from staff fully.

I am sorry you are having such a rough time but you are now in the right place.

 

To begin we need information regarding your drugs.

What is Visterine?

Can you please complete your drug signature (history ) using the link below.

Please add a signature.  Include drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements in the last 12-24 months. Also include supplements. This will help us give you the most accurate advice we can. 

• Any drugs and supplements prior to 24 months ago can just be listed with start and stop years. 
• Please use actual dates or approximate dates (mid-June, Late October) rather than relative time frames (last week, 3 months ago) 
• Spell out months, e.g. "October" or "Oct."; 9/1/2016 can be interpreted as Jan. 9, 2016 or Sept. 1, 2016. 
• Please leave out symptoms and diagnoses. 
• A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs. 
• This is a direct link to your signature: /settings/signature/

We need this to establish a timeline.

19 hours ago, ciasim said:

I became very ill while increasing the med,

This may mean you are experiencing an adverse reaction rather than W/D symptoms.

The following links will help explain what is happening and why

why-taper-by-10-of-my-dosage/

the-rule-of-3kis-keep-it-simple-keep-it-slow-keep-it-stable/

the-windows-and-waves-pattern-of-stabilization/

 

Please complete the drug signature asap and I can then refer to a senior mod for their opinion.

As soon as we recieve the drugs info. we can assess your situation.

In the meantime DO NOT MAKE ANY CHANGE TO YOUR CURRENT MEDS please.

Please feel free to browse the site, it is a wealth of info.

Other members threads will give you an insight and the opportunity to share experiences.

 

Again welcome.

 

Sassenach

[ciasim]

Thank you so much! 

I have now updated my signature 

 

Sorry, I meant Visteral. 
I havnt taken it for two days, since I hear that it interacts with the Celexa blood levels. Visteral is really helping with anxiety, but if it prolonges my suffering I will try not to take it. 
Have you heard about that as well? 

 

On 11/12/2019 at 5:45 PM, Sassenach said:

This may mean you are experiencing an adverse reaction rather than W/D symptoms.

Ok, thanks, but I have every withdrawal symptom on the list?  Does this mean I should have another approach than tapering of? 

As you can see I increased my meds about 8 weeks ago ( wasnt thinking about tapering for many years, I had a life crisis and updosed my medicin from 10- 15 mg. Very bad decision. Very bad reaction on inserting the higher dose, after 3,5 week I went down to 12,5 mg  and another hell started  - terrible withdrawal symptoms. Then for about 2 weeks ago I accidentially tapered down to 11,8 mg because of change of scale and change of pill ( went from 10 mg x 1,5 pill to a 30 mg pill which I split and cut with a nail file. ) 

 

First two weeks daily anxiety attacks, unbearable restlessness, buzzy feeling in whole body, very unstable nerves, jittery 

Waking up with feelings of horror and fear every night . Sweating like crazy every night. Diareea. 

Then akatisia symptoms entered  - terrible body anxiety, the only thing helping a bit was Visteral 

Terrible generalised anxiety 

The last two weeks:  derealisation, "looking out from a glass" feeling, almost daily , high anxiety and some anxiety attacks. 

Last 5 days  - akathisia seems to have gone ( really hope so!) , the high buzz in the body seems to have gone done a little bit, derealisation feeling a little bit less. Severe dizziness introduced it self. Really tense stomache and throug up on monday. High daily anxiety, but seem to manage it a bit better the last two days.. , but still very painful. Withdrawal anxiety gets worse by thinking that this will never end and that I am doomed for life. 

Very thankful for advice how to proceed. 
In the Swedish facebook forum I am in the tell me to stay put   - in order to stabilize from this 8 week period of going up and down. 
I have been a bit worried about my LARGE taper  - it is about 30 %  - ( I didnt know better and was desperat to come of the 15 mg dose)  - Will I be able to taper from here without adverse consevences? I have been thinking about going up a few mg , maybe to 12,5 mg  or 12 mg   - scared that the drop I have done is to hard to manage? But on the other hand I dont want to mezz things up. 

What do you think? Very thankful for advice. 

 

[Altostrata]

Welcome, cia.

 

Are you taking any other drugs? What times of day do you take your drugs, with their dosages? How's your sleep?

 

In what form are you taking citalopram?

 

Over the last week, how has your symptom pattern changed?

[ciasim]

Hi! so glad you taking your time to answer. 

I feel really helpless att the moment. At the moment I have severe Insomnia. I have never hade problems with sleeping before I went on the higher dose 8 weeks ago. No there is not such a thing as sleepiness in my body, It has been like this every other day this week, 

 

I take citalopram in pills of 30 mg that I split and cut down with a nail saw,. 

 

Over the last week things have changed like this: 

I have severe trouble sleeping, can find any tiredness in my body. 

I have less akatheisa feeling in my body 

This Monday I had a very bad stomach ache and threw up. Definitely withdrawal, 

Intense buzz inside head  - increased

Dizziness and vertigo increased

Bad smell in nose have increased  - have it all the time  Like phantom smell 

Have had feelings of derearlisation

Have had intense anxiety every day  - which I think I have been able to manage a little bit better the last two days ( not getting panic attacks) 

Worst of all , this evening I have a d a song in my head on repeat, cant get rid of it. I am afraid I am going into a psychosis,

 

So thankful for your help 

 

 

 

 

[Katy398]

Hi Ciasim,

Welcome to SA I’m so sorry you’re in the thick of withdrawal and what you’re feeling is far more likely to be withdrawal symptoms. Everyone here knows how horrific withdrawal can be. You’re in the right place for support. The collective wealth of moderator knowledge here, is far,  far greater than any individual GP or Psychiatrist could possibly hold. 

 

I want to share my early mistakes, so others may learn from them. It helps me through my suffering somehow.

 

I was in such neurological mess when I found SA, that I found it challenging to work through the moderators links, questions and advice. By the time I’d worked through it, for me it was too late to reinstate safely and I couldn’t take the risk. 

 

Please breathe, read through their support carefully, get help to read through it if need be and then make your decisions ultimately they will always be your decision, moderators will only advise. 

Hang on in there Ciasim help is on its way.

Apparently everyone gets better it’s just a matter of time.

Take care Kx

 

[ciasim]

Thank you so much for replying,. Means a lot.

 

Ive read a bit on the site already about reinstating and updating. 

It was three weeks ago I went down the last time  - 
Do you mean that I should think about reinstating? 

 

Can I ask you how to get help from the moderators? 

 

I am also curious about your timeline  -.cant really follow,,, a little bit foggy. Would you please elaborate on your journey? Are you med free? 

 

[Katy398]

Hi Ciasim,

I Fast tapered between Sep Oct Nov Dec 2018 last dose 20 mgs lexapro last week of Dec. I did everything wrong and  under supervision of a psychiatrist.

I found  SA March 2019 by the time I’d worked everything out I was out of the 3 month reinstating period. 

I have to keep working, so I was afraid as symptoms can get worse after the 3 month period. What I was going through was bad enough,  I couldn’t imagine  coping with getting worse. So I stayed off the drugs and now I’ve coped with withdrawal symptoms daily for 10 months and who knows when they will subside. 

 

Reinstating is done to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and then folk stabilise/taper/ stabilise slow enough, to again alleviate symptoms,  until they are drug free and symptom free, living a fulfilled happy life. That’s the plan anyway. 

 

Reinstating is your choice. You are within the time frame and your symptoms may go as soon as you start taking the drugs again. 

 

Altostrata is the moderators who started this site. You can ask directly in you post Please  can I have advice from a moderator. I think what happens is that they  take turns, so all posts get read by at least one moderator.

 

make sure you answer Altostrata’s questions this is important  in order for them to help you. 

 Hope this helps,

Take care look after yourself 

Kx

[jozeff]

Hi Ciasim,

 

Welcome to this forum!

 

I'm sorry to hear you are struggling so much. You are absolutely not lost, let me tell you that.

 

I advise you to check my topic because it sounds a lot like my story.

 

You have, most likely, been messing around with your dose to many times lately. I strongly advise you to stop altering your dose and try to get stable. This is going to take a while but trust me on this: the more you try to desperately find your correct dose right now, the more your brain is going to try to adapt and make things harder.

 

I went up and down in dose quite a few times (citalopram). I switched to 15, 20, 25 back to 15 back to 20 etc..... Then Decided to taper from 25 to 16.5 too fast and felt horrible. Then I went up to 18.5 to counteract WD and that kicked me in the face again. I stayed on 18.5 mg for 8 months just to stabilise. After that I started to taper very, very slowly....about 1 % per week. Down to 13.5 mg right now and that is hard enough.

 

You have to try to calm down and try not to focus to much on your symptoms and misery. I know it's  very hard but if you focus to much on everyting you keep fighting and struggling and that makes your brain even more tired. 

 

Take each day at a time. Your current healing is most important now. No sudden changes.

 

SLeep, modest exercise, lots of water are important now for you. Not too much sugar, keep your insulin steady, that might help you cope with anxiety better.

 

I would not take too many supplements..I tried a lot of stuff in my desperation like: potassium vitB12, nutritional yeast, 10 sorts of vitamins, Calcium, lithium, zinc, copper solution, iron, vitamin d etc...etc.

 

The more you take the harder it is to notice what is helping you and what isn't. 

 

What helped me also is say "cancel cancel" every time a bad negative thought pops up. Remember, you symptoms are most likely not causes by your health but by your mental state right now. I had everythin checked..heart, bloodwork but everything was always perfectly fine.

 

 

One last thing: is is possible for you to dissolve your tablet and accurately take your dose.? Cutting pills is pretty unreliable and we want as little fluctuations as possible right now.

 

Good luck! If you have any questions don't  hesitate to contact. You are going to be fine, it just takes some effort now and some good advice!!

 

cheers

 

jozeff

 

 

[ciasim]

Thank you so much for replying, means a lot. 

So your experience of going up was not good, is that correct? 

Did you stabilze on 18,5 mg after 8 months? 

Did you have any windows during that time? 

I am really having a hard time, and you are right about not focusing on symptoms but I feel so scared, 

Yesterday I stared to have this tune looping in my head. It is horrible. Still there. 

 

Could you please tell me what symptoms you have had during withdrawal? 

 

I take visteral every 3 day to cope, even though I don't want to, Heard that it can mess with citalopram levels. 

Do you know anything about that? 

 

All the best, very thankful for your support

 

Could admin please read my story?

Uncertain if I should updose, reinstate or hold? 

[ciasim]

Joseff, my doctor suggested I taper with liquid ECITALOPRAM instead . He said they are very alike and I don't know what do do... 

 

AMDIN  - What do you think of that, switching to Ectialopram for liquid tapering? I am weighing at the moment and hart to get the dose right, 

 

 

[ciasim]

Admin: what is your take on reinstating/ updosing? 

 

I get no sleep 

 

Thanks 

[jozeff]

Hi ciasim,

 

This is not medical advice, just my opinion....

 

If I were you I'd stay at 11.8 mg citalopram because:

 

- you have been on that exact dose for 3 weeks now and possibly are getting used to that amount of citalopram.

- changing again now might make things worse.... maybe not but you don't know. Getting more symptoms now is the last thing you need.

- until recently you have been taking 10 mg for years and 11.8 mg is in that range more or less.

 

You have been messing around with doses for 7 weeks now. This could very well be corrected if you stop juggling with meds now. My opinion, no medical advice.

 

Let me add that people on this website helped me way, way more than any medical professional could ever dream of.

 

Citalopram made me feel on top of the world at first. After a year or so I started messing around with dose and things got worse.  Symptoms were: anxiety and panic attacks (worst one happened in Sweden, where you live😉), pounding heart, dreadful feeling, depression, nervousness, irritability, crying, hopelessness and nausea, stiff muscles, fatigue. Not all together but every day a bit of this or that.

 

Also windows happened a few days here and there but I tend to have daily fluctuations. Mornings are quite good, noon is awful, evenings are mostly completely normal!

 

I never truly stabilized but things got a bit better and I learned to cope with a lot of stuff.

 

My libido turned to non existing on citalopram btw.....

 

I hope the mods can give you some advice on possible supplements and dose.

 

I make my own solution. I don't know if escitalopram  is the right stuff for you (it is a chemical brother of citalopram but certainly not the same drug, it's a bit complicated but you can find a lot of info if you just google it).

 

Personally I would not switch to liquid escitalopram. You can easily make your own solution or buy a scale so you can weigh pretty accurately.

 

 

Cheers and keep the faith!!!!

 

Jozeff

[jozeff]

I would personally not jump to Lexapro immediately. Perhaps the mods can be of good advice here 

 

I found the following online.......just copy pasted it. Not my personal info!

 

 

 

 

 

The main differences between Celexa and Lexapro are:

• Celexa is a branded version of citalopram and Lexapro is a branded version of escitalopram
• Citalopram is a mixture of two stereo-isomers: R-citalopram and S-citalopram. Stereo-isomers are compounds that have the same chemical formula but differ only in their arrangement of atoms. Escitalopram contains only one isomer, S-citalopram
• Lexapro is also FDA approved to treat generalized anxiety disorder. Both Celexa and Lexapro may be used off-label to treat other conditions
• Celexa is only available in tablet form whereas Lexapro is available in both tablet and liquid form
• The equivalent dose of Lexapro is approximately half of that of Celexa.

 

 

 

Good luck!!

 

 

Jozeff

[ciasim]

Thanks Jozeff. I really appreciate you reply. Means the world. I am in a quite bad place at the moment. I have suicidal thoughts

i will go to the emergency room, but I don't want them to give me more medicine, but I need something for sleep.

 

Do you take anything for sleep? 

 

I have read that melatonin can be good - any experience? 

 

Thank you so much! 

 

[jozeff]

I use oxazepam for sleeping sometimes... This is addictive so be careful with benzos..

 

Please go to a professional or a doctor if you are feeling so suicidal now.

 

You have to take it by the hour now, just keep breathing. Is there someone in your family or friends who can help at the moment?

 

You're going to survive just let them help you right now. You can return here and talk and get advice when you solve this problem now.

 

 

Sending hugs!!!!

 

 

Jozeff

[ciasim]

Thanks Jozeff. 
I really appreciate your concern and your post. 

I went to the ER. 
Got Melatonin for sleep and another more "heavy" sleeping pill that I am planning not to take. 

 

The doctor I have need to get license for liquid Celexa, and I think it will take time. 

 

Really unsure about what to do -. updose or not. 

I am drowsy of not sleeping at all tonight and the Melatonin, will go to bed and get some sleep . 

 

Love to stay in touch
 

[ciasim]

ADMIN , could you please take a look at my profile and se if updating would be a good idea? 

 

Thank you very much 

 

[jozeff]

Hi ciasim,

 

How are you today??

 

I've read somewhere that the moderators are very very busy at the moment.  Maybe private message one of them??

 

Cheers

 

Jozeff

[ciasim]

ADMIN - Could you please help me. Can I go back on meds? 

Suffering really badly. 

 

[Altostrata]

Hello, cia. What time of day do you take citalopram? How do you feel before and after you take it? What is your sleep schedule?

 

Are you taking any other drugs? In the last 2 months, have you taken any antibiotics, etc.?

 

My guess is escitalopram will not be an improvement over citalopram, they are siblings. Fluoxetine (Prozac) might be better, but let's see if we can get you settled on citalopram first.

[ciasim]

Hi! So thankful for your reply. 

I take the citalopram at 11 pm.

I got antibiotics two months ago after an IVF procedure ( trying to get pregnant) 

 

I get no sleep at nights. Highly alert. 

At evenings my stomach feels “electric “ and if as something is stretching and pushing inside. This is my LEAST problem. But it might say something ? ( not a normal feeling, def related to withdrawal) 

 

Daytime I am restless and very anxious. Talking a lot, seeking reassurance with everyone. Babbling and saying the same things over and over again. Suicidal ideation almost every hour. 

 

Thank you 

[Altostrata]

On 11/11/2019 at 1:09 PM, ciasim said:

After 3,5 week I had enough and went down to 12,5 mg. Then another hell started. Severe withdrawal symptoms. Panic attacs every day, extrem anxiety 24/ , unable to stand stil, extremly nervous.

 

About what date was this? Is this when you were taking the antibiotics? Did you get a rash on you leg at the same time?

 

Did your bad symptoms start while you were taking the antibiotics?

 

Have your symptoms changed in the last week?

[ciasim]

I am hospitalized since 3 days. Withdrawal symptoms to bad. Feel very lost. The increased citalopram to 15 mg two days ago. Feel very shaky, no one understands.

 

 

[Altostrata]

Do you feel better or worse on 15mg citalopram?

 

Please answer my questions about the antibiotic. You may have experienced an adverse reaction to it.

 

16 hours ago, Altostrata said:

 

About what date was this? Is this when you were taking the antibiotics? Did you get a rash on you leg at the same time?

 

Did your bad symptoms start while you were taking the antibiotics?

 

Have your symptoms changed in the last week?

 

[ciasim]

I didnt get rash while on antibiotics, but I hav got itchy spots now, I trace it to the antihistamines I take but not sure? 

Feel more shaky these days after increasing citalopram to 15 mg.Doctors give me minimal dose of Zyprexa for sleep. I gave in, cause was totally sleepless for many days. The Zyprexa make me feel zoned out. 

 

I took antibiotics 20 September. Through needle at hospitals once. 

 

Very thankful for your advice 

[India]

On 11/16/2019 at 3:05 PM, jozeff said:

I would personally not jump to Lexapro immediately. Perhaps the mods can be of good advice here 

 

I found the following online.......just copy pasted it. Not my personal info!

 

 

 

 

 

The main differences between Celexa and Lexapro are:

• Celexa is a branded version of citalopram and Lexapro is a branded version of escitalopram
• Citalopram is a mixture of two stereo-isomers: R-citalopram and S-citalopram. Stereo-isomers are compounds that have the same chemical formula but differ only in their arrangement of atoms. Escitalopram contains only one isomer, S-citalopram
• Lexapro is also FDA approved to treat generalized anxiety disorder. Both Celexa and Lexapro may be used off-label to treat other conditions
• Celexa is only available in tablet form whereas Lexapro is available in both tablet and liquid form
• The equivalent dose of Lexapro is approximately half of that of Celexa.

 

 

 

Good luck!!

 

 

Jozeff

In the UK, liquid citalopram is available. I take it.

[jozeff]

Hi ciasim,

 

Are you still in hospital? I'm very sorry to hear you are struggling so much. Things are not lost!

 

You jumped a bit up and down in dose lately and that might have sensitised you cns immensely. This shall pass, it takes time to heal.

 

I know you will get better but you don't see that right now. When you're in the Abyss you only see walls. I know, I have been there, my wife has been there and several friends have been there! All on ssri!!!

 

We all managed to get out of the pit. No always super happy but manageable and that is ok.

 

We wish you all the best and sending you hugs from the Netherlands!!

 

 

Cheers

 

 

Jozeff

 

[Sassenach]

Hi Ciasim

 

Are you still in hospital?

Are you in a psych ward or a general ward?

Did you admit yourself?

Have you been forced to take any drugs?

 

Sassenach

[ciasim]

Titled:  Polly drugged after hospital stay help needed

 

I was switched from celexa to sertraline 10 weeks ago, 

Got know help from sertraline because of celexa withdrawals. 

Unfortunately I accidentally lowered my dose of sertraline from 100 to 50 mg about 22 days ago.

 

Was also put on 300 mg quiatapine 10 daya ago.

Weny back up to 75mg 6 daya ago and all symptoms have gone way worse,  then last 4-5 days Dizziness,  derealisation and disorientation has become unmanageable.

 

I am in hell if this won't stabilize or if it gets worse. 

 

Should I go back to my previous dose 50 mg? 

It's been 6 days

So thankful for your help.  I am really despairing 

Edited February 22, 2020 by manymoretodays
merged from tapering forum back here, to introduction, title added

[ciasim]

Please moderators in desperate need of help!!!

[ciasim]

Title:  Help needed.  Poly drugged.  Suicidal.

 

I walk in a dreamworld, there but not there, feel disoriented and dizzy in an odd way. It is extremely stressful. Body and mind feels a bit disconnected. Withdrawals from celexa after switch to sertraline. Sertraline don't do anything. Unfortunately I have been going much up and down in dosage with the sertraline because of misunderstanding and diverse opinions with doctors. I am unfortunately also on 300 mg quetiapine since 12 days. Regarding the sertraline I originally was on 100 mg, then went down to 50 mg, then back to 100 for a couple of days and then 50 again. 6 days ago my doctors updosed me to 75mg. Since 5 days back Ever since i went up to 75 mg my symptoms have become 10 times worse. It could be the quetiapine also of course Anyone! Please ive me some advice! Should I stay on 75 mg or go back to 50 mg? What about the quetiapine? ( which I hate) Does the updose mean I am kindled? I am solely responsible for my own decisions. But what would you do if you were in my shoes?

Edited February 22, 2020 by manymoretodays
merged to introduction, title added

[manymoretodays]

Hi ciasim,

I just merged your recent posts back here to your introduction page.  This helps keep your most pertinant information together for us.

5 hours ago, ciasim said:

I was switched from celexa to sertraline 10 weeks ago, 

Got know help from sertraline because of celexa withdrawals. 

Unfortunately I accidentally lowered my dose of sertraline from 100 to 50 mg about 22 days ago.

 

Was also put on 300 mg quiatapine 10 daya ago.

Weny back up to 75mg 6 daya ago and all symptoms have gone way worse,  then last 4-5 days Dizziness,  derealisation and disorientation has become unmanageable.

 

I am in hell if this won't stabilize or if it gets worse. 

 

Should I go back to my previous dose 50 mg? 

It's been 6 days

So thankful for your help.  I am really despairing 

 

ciasim,

Can you give us approximate dates of the changes in medications?  Year, month, and day would be helpful.

10 weeks ago= approximately 2 and 1/2 months ago, so.......mid December of 2019?

Did you CT(cold turkey) off the celexa at this time too?  Were you still on the 11.8 mg of celexa, before cold switching to sertraline 100 mg?

Did you start the quetiapine at 300 mg on February 12th?

And then stop it?

You note that you went back up to 75 mg(with the quetiapine) 6 days ago.

And are presently on 50 mg of sertraline.

 

 

 

If possible try and do an update to your signature: Please put your withdrawal history in your signature

Example:

2001–2002 paroxetine 
2003  citalopram 
2004  paroxetine
2008  paroxetine slow taper down to 2016 Aug off paroxetine
2016  citalopram May 20mg  Oct slow taper down
2018  citalopram 13 Feb 4.6mg 15 Mar 4.4mg 29 Apr 4.2mg

 

If you edit your signature, the new one replaces any prior signature. It will appear in your signature under all your posts, even your old posts. If you want to save the information in the old signature, copy it and save it in a file on your computer or in a post in your Introductions topic.

 

(As of 12/31/13: Signatures are limited to 12 lines of text.)

How to add or edit your signature

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When you are done, Click on the big black Save button at the bottom

 

If you could clarify a bit more for us, that will be helpful.  Meanwhile, I will bring your recent posts to the attention of the other moderators.

And oh ciasim, so sorry it has been so tough for you, it does sound like you are having a very rough go of things right now.

 

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

Edited February 22, 2020 by manymoretodays

[manymoretodays]

36 minutes ago, ciasim said:

I walk in a dreamworld, there but not there, feel disoriented and dizzy in an odd way. It is extremely stressful. Body and mind feels a bit disconnected. Withdrawals from celexa after switch to sertraline. Sertraline don't do anything. Unfortunately I have been going much up and down in dosage with the sertraline because of misunderstanding and diverse opinions with doctors. I am unfortunately also on 300 mg quetiapine since 12 days. Regarding the sertraline I originally was on 100 mg, then went down to 50 mg, then back to 100 for a couple of days and then 50 again. 6 days ago my doctors updosed me to 75mg. Since 5 days back Ever since i went up to 75 mg my symptoms have become 10 times worse. It could be the quetiapine also of course Anyone! Please ive me some advice! Should I stay on 75 mg or go back to 50 mg? What about the quetiapine? ( which I hate) Does the updose mean I am kindled? I am solely responsible for my own decisions. But what would you do if you were in my shoes?

 

Hi again, ciasim, @ciasim

It's best to keep posting right here now, on your original introduction topic.  Can you bookmark it?  So helpful to have all your information in one place.

I posted above as I was not clear from your previous post, just what drugs you were referring to in some of your questions and comments.

 

I see the following now, in this post above that I just quoted.

Going up and down in dosage with sertraline. Present dose is 75 mg, for 5 or 6 days.  Worsening symptoms. 

12 days now of quetiapine 300 mg dosage.

 

For now ciasim, for right now, if I were you, I would stay at your present dose of 75 mg of sertraline.  And give your poor dysregulated nervous system a chance at stability.  Often, when frequent changes are made, it can be tougher for the body, especially the nervous system to achieve stability.  And it appears that you have had quite a few changes now, in the recent past.

 

What times do you take your drugs currently?  Please list, right here, on your introduction page, the time(s) on the left, and then the drug(s) by name, and also note the dosage too.

That will be helpful for us.

 

And if you can, update your signature to reflect some of these more recent changes too.  I gave you the how to's on that above.

I don't know if you have been kindled.  What symptoms are worsened right now or in the last 5 days?  I think of course, you are very sensitive right now, with the WD(withdrawal) from celexa having been so abrupt(I think anyway, not sure)

Here's, from your signature, what we had last October:

Citalopram ( Celexa) 2011-2015 20 mg 

Citalopram (Celexa) 2015- Sept. 26 2019 10 mg 

Citalopram (Celexa) Sept. 26- 15 Oct 2019 15 mg 

Citalopram (Celexa) 15 Oct 2019  - 22 Oct 2019 12,5 mg

Citalopram ( Celexa) 22 Oct 2019 - until today 11,8 mg 

 

 

So, if I was in your shoes, I would just stay put now with your present drugs and doses.  And then be patient with us too.  Again, another moderator should be by fairly soon to look at your case too.  I'm including another link here for you too, and I want you to take a look at it:

For those who are feeling desperate or suicidal

And ciasim, please get some help on the ground(or locally) if you need to.  We are only an internet forum, after all, and would love to help, around the WD and tapering issues, but cannot provide emergency care.

 

And hang in there.  (((((ciasim))))

Best.  L, P, H, and G,

mmt

Edited February 22, 2020 by manymoretodays
added link

[ciasim]

 

Went on citalopram 11 years ago. 

Have been on a low dose , on and of 10 mg the last 8 years. No problems. 

Then I got a personal crisis summer 2019 and decided to bump up citalopram from 10 to 15 mg. Severe symptoms. I decided to lower the dose 3.5 weeks lager6. Then another hell broke loose.

Frequent panic attacks, which I never have had before. Unstable gait.  Akathisia Songs in head. Extreme restlessness and anxiety. Not my old one.

Waited for 5 weeks until I went to er. 

They put me back on citalopram and added mitrazapine. Saw som6.improvment moodvise every other day. Was deeply traumatized because of doctors disbelief in withdrawals and akathisia. 

Went of mitrazapine after 10 days because of extreme stomachs ache.

After 10 days on a higher dose of citalopram ( 20 mg) doctors told me that they didn't  think I improved fast enough so they more or less forced me to change to sertraline. They made an crosstaper for about 2,5 weeks. So citalopram was out about 27 of December. 

 

Increasing to 100 mg quite fast. 

During the crosstaperinf I had a few good evenings mixed with anxious days. 

 

After 10 days on 100 mg of sertraline , 20 th of January. I was sent back home. The sertraline didn't do much , I like a headless chicken with no aim or purpose. Always on the edge. 

I started soon to feel like my head and body was in someway separated. Extremely distressing. 

When I came home I made the huge mistake to lower myndose of sertraline to 50 mg ( from 100 mg) 

I

My feeling of being outzoned and being on the edge started a few days after that. 

I got suicidal- not because of depression but because of my functioning couldn't read, couldn't watch TV and I just walked around like a robot with body and mind strangely separated and a feeling of my legs " walking themselves"  I had then been on 50 mg for 11 days. 

 

 

I was put back at the psychiatric ward  were my dose was put back to 100 for 5 days.

 

 

I was then moved ro another hospital,  at this time the body mind separated feeling had lessened a lot. 

 

At the new hospital I was put on 300 mg quetiapine,  that was 11 days ago. 

My sertraline dose was lowered to 50 mg again, for 5 days because doctors wanted me to change meds. 

Either go on venlafaxine or back on citalopram. 

I refused and then my sertraline dose was put back up to 75 mg. 

 

Since about 7 days ago I have had severe dizziness derealisation,  feeling spaced out and disoriented,  it has increased and become worse each day up to today. I walk around in a dream land, and my legs feels like they walk themselves. 

It is extremely stressful and I am suicidal because of this. Not because of I don't like life. 

 

I am in this state now and feel hopelessness. It was 11 days ago quetapin 300 mg was introduced and 6 days ago 75 mg of sertraline was upped from 50.

 

Please help! Should I go back to 50? Do something about the quetiapine? 

I am despairing 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ciasim]

Thank you so much.  Please take a look at my new post with dates.

I take sertraline 75 mg in 8.30 am 

And 300 mg  quetiapine 8 PM