TLH13: Ready to begin the journey ...

[TLH13]

Hi !

 

This if my first time on the site- just registered today ! Getting ready to begin tapering off 10 mg of Celexa that I have taken for 10 years. I began taking it for general and social anxiety as well as PMDD. I have tried several times before to get off the drug but have been unsuccessful due to extreme withdrawal symptoms. So this time I'm going to do my homework FIRST and prepare myself a little bit better. I'd like to try to work with a physician who specializes in this area and who supports a homeopathic approach. I am open to any information/ suggestions and looking forward to getting to know others who may be in the same predicament. Thanks for creating this site !!!!

[Jemima]

Welcome to the forum, TLH13. Here are some tips on getting off of Celexa:

 

Tips for Tapering Off Celexa

 

There is a lot of more general information on tapering off SSRIs in the 'Tapering' discussion that may be helpful.

 

Please put your drug history in your signature, like so:

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/893-please-put-your-withdrawal-history-in-your-signature/

 

Your signature will appear in all of your posts and having your drug history handy will help us to offer the best advice that we can.

 

I'm very glad that you're researching what to do before starting your taper. We get far too many people who quit taking their drug(s) and don't find our forum until they're desperately sick. You'll find lots of good information here and friendly, gentle support.

[basildev]

Hi TLH13,

 

Welcome to the forum. I'm glad you've done your research.

 

Take is slowly and listen to your body.

 

I wish you the best of luck.

[flower]

Myself and a few others have been tapering Celexa. We can help each other..I am on 10mgs also. Did you ever take a higher dose? What was the major symptom for you in WD? Anxiety pain? Sorry for being so nosy just curious because of my situation. I wish you well,flower.

[TLH13]

First time I tapered years and years ago , I tried it cold turkey at the advice of my family doc. Didn't go so well. Then I tried several other times at a much slower rate but still had extreme difficulty the smaller the dose became. Last summer I tried tapering slowly again until I was down to nothing but once I got there (3months later) I became a different person. Couldn't control my emotions. At times I was full of rage then I'd be crying. My self esteem was in the crapper.... Was just a bad scene. My relationships suffered. I actually debated leaving my fiancé ! I had absolutely no patience or tolerance for ANYTHING. I felt like a monster. Finally I couldn't take it anymore and went back on it. Within hours I was back to myself. I will never go through that again .... Currently reading the book The Antidepressant Solution... Hoping for some inspiration

[Altostrata]

Joseph Glenmullen is pretty good about tapering and monitoring for withdrawal symptoms, but suggests a taper that's too fast for people who are very sensitive to dosage changes.

 

It sounds to me like you might need to taper for 6 months or more.

[TLH13]

Absolutely ! Do you know of any specific guidelines I can follow that use a 6 month taper ?

[Altostrata]

Read this http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1024-why-taper-by-10-of-my-dosage/ and the other pinned topics in the Tapering forum.