Rebecca: Hi, 6 weeks off Celexa

[rebecca]

Hi Im Rebecca....been on celexa for 12 years .....spent over 2 years decreasing dosage from 40mg down to 0.  The physical withdrawal was uncomfortable but managable but this emotional stuff is at times unbearable.  The feeling of being so apart from the world...disconnected to my dearest friends and family is the worst.  The crying jags are getting to be really embarrassing also.  I am hoping this wont last for months...as I have read on line....I really would like to stay off these things for good.  By grateful for any feedback.  Thank you.

Edited November 27, 2013 by Petu
Added member name to title

[Petunia]

Hi Rebecca,

Welcome to SA and thank you for posting an introduction.

 

I'm sorry you are still having withdrawal symptoms after tapering for 2 years, unfortunately, even a long, slow taper is no guarantee of someone having no problems when it comes to these drugs.

 

If you could be more specific about your taper, that would be helpful.  Did you make small, regular cuts over the 2 years, or a few large reductions?  What was the last dose you were on before you discontinued completely 6 weeks ago?

 

Are you or were you on any other medications?

 

By putting your medication history and withdrawal in your signature, that makes it easy for members to see your situation and offer suggestions, instructions for doing that are here:

 

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

 

What symptoms are you having now?  Over the 6 weeks you have been medication free, would you say your symptoms have improved, stayed about the same, or got worse?

 

Once we have a clearer picture of your situation, we will be able to offer some suggestions.

 

You will find a lot of friendly help and support here.

 

Petu.

 

 

[Nikki]

Hi Rebecca....welcome

 

I just got off Celexa, so you are not alone.  I am not med free I have been weaning onto Nefazadone.

 

The crying jags are big.  It's amazing that we can (and I did with Lexparo) take 2 years to taper and have WD symptoms.

 

Are you having other issues from the taper?

 

Being disconnected is a part of it too.  That will end.  When feeling so lousy from tapering we sometimes need to just take care of ourselves and lack the motivation to socialize.  That happened to me with Lexapro taper.  Not with Celexa.  Right now if it any consolation I want to come home and just relax.  Not deal with anything, and especially not talk on the phone.

 

Alot of others will be along for you to talk to.  Read thru the site and you will see you are not alone, in the right place and it is a safe place to share.  I just experienced a personal crisis and they people here saved my butt by being here for me.

 

Hugs

[tezza]

Hi Rebecca, welcome to SA! I'm sorry you're having problems after a long taper. Please do provide more info on how you tapered as Petu suggested.

 

If I were you, I'd try 2mg of Celexa and see how it feels. It takes four days for the drug to reach a steady level in the bloodstream.

In the US, Celexa is available as a liquid but you can make your own liquid. It's easier to measure more accurately in liquid form and also makes it easier to decrease by tiny amounts.

 

If you can stabilize on a small amount then you can taper off that more slowly, later on. I will provide a link to help in a moment.

[tezza]

Tapering Celexa:

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/2023-tips-for-tapering-off-celexa-citalopram/

 

Please be sure to look at the links included in this topic, as well.

 

Wish you well!

[Jemima]

Thank you for posting your drug history in your signature.  The method you used of making big cuts in dosage and then taking the drug every other day or every few days is a bad idea as it jolts the brain and central nervous system repeatedly. Stopping Celexa at 20 mg. is equivalent to cold turkey, not tapering, and it is also one of the worst things you could have done to yourself.  Please review the method we recommend:

 

Why Taper By 10% Of My Dosage?

 

Many of our members have found that 5%-7% reductions with a hold of a month or more in between is more comfortable than 10%.  The 10% is a maximum.

 

There's no guarantee this will work, but if I were you I'd go back on a reduced dose of Celexa, say 5 mg., stablize for several months, and then do a slow taper from there. Generally there's a window of about a month when a person can safely reinstate their antidepressant, so six weeks is a bit risky but probably your best bet. Here's another topic to review that may be helpful:

 

About Reinstating And Stabilizing

 

The problems you described are antidepressant withdrawal symptoms.  How I wish you had contacted us for advice before starting your own program to quit.

 

[rebecca]

Thank you for all the responses and links ...I have read more on this site on Celexa withdrawal....wish I knew about this before I came off my meds.  I am going to ride it out and try more exercise and this is the big thing for me...be a bit easier on myself. I use a natural "herb" for insomnia which works very well.  I am reluctant to go back on Celexa.  Again thanks for all your replies, I don't feel so alone anymore.

[Jemima]

Please consider reinstatement.  I'm afraid your withdrawal symptoms may get a lot worse and the longer you wait, the less likely it is that reinstatement will work.

[Altostrata]

Welcome, rebecca.

 

The way you came off Celexa -- skipping doses, going up and down -- may have sensitized your nervous system. This can lead to withdrawal syndrome over many months or years. No blame -- you did the best you could.

 

The nervous system craves stability. Reinstating a small amount, 2mg-5mg, for example, might relieve withdrawal symptoms. You can then stabilize on that low dose over some months, giving your nervous system a chance to settle and re-adjust.

 

Then, if I were you, I'd very systematically lower the dosage to taper off. The link tezza posted for you explains this.

[Ellen042]

Rebecca,

I'm so sorry you're going through all this!  I'm new here, but two years seems insanely long for a taper!  I'm trying to come off another AD, and already mad at myself for not succeeding in two weeks.  Strangely enough, Celexa was giving me seratoninsyndrome, so I had to come off it abruptly, and suffered no withdrawal effects.  Go figure.  Our bodies are all made so differently.  Do you think there's any possibility your body may still need the medicine, and that's whay you're getting these symptoms, or are these symptoms new for you?  I'd be frustrated if someone asked me that question, because the withdrawal symptoms are things that I had never felt in my life before the withdrawal.  I'm not trying to be unsympathetic, just concerned.  On the other hand, might you be open to trying another medicine to ease the withdrawal symptoms?  My doctor recommended Benadryl to ease my AD withdrawal symptoms, and it does help somewhat.  Let us know how it goes, and Happy Thanksgiving!

[rebecca]

Hi ....well I took your advice and have taken 5mg Celexa daily for 3 days now...bit of a headache the first day...but otherwise no physical discomfort.  On the emotional side....HUGE  difference....feel like another person...stopped crying, stopped wanting to kill myself, out of bed and doing stuff....even happy!  So thank you for your concern and support and excellent advise.  I am going to taper as suggested very slowly and incrementally over months.  I can't thank you enough for the support!

 

Rebecca

[Altostrata]

Please give your nervous system the chance to stabilize on 5mg for at least a month before considering tapering.

[mammaP]

Hi Rebecca, I'm glad you are feeling much better and hope it continues for you. 

I would like to echo Alto and advise holding at 5mg to stabilise before starting to taper again.

 

Really pleased to hear that you are able to get up and get on with things 

[Jemima]

I'm relieved to see that you listened to reason. No one knows for sure, but I expected that you'd be really miserable in a few weeks if you didn't reinstate.  Please take it slow and easy from here on out.

[tezza]

I'm glad the reinstatement is helping! You need to go VERY slowly when you begin to taper. Give yourself plenty of time before starting a taper.

[rebecca]

So far so  good.....I will stick with this 5mg dosage for at least a couple of months before I start tapering again. Then I will decrease the dosage gradually from there.  I can't believe how different I feel in just a few days back on Celexa.  Thanks for the good advice everybody!

 

Rebecca

[Altostrata]

Please let us know how you're doing!

[rebecca]

Hi...things are still going well....going to continue on 5mg of Celexa for a few months before tapering again.  Feel so much better...thank you for the support...a good weekend to everybody!

[alex]

Good for you Rebecca;you are doing great.

Don't rush it and you will be fine and Celexa free!

[mammaP]

Hi Rebecca, I am so glad you are feeling better and that reinstating worked for you.