Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 972148

Shown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Celexa - Tapered Off - Who has been there?

Posted by KathrynLex on December 2, 2010, at 0:53:12

I was looking for a current thread about people who have recently stopped taking Celexa. Has anyone "been there, done that?" (I've sifted through some older threads and they've been helpful but I'd like to get advice from some people who are actively participating in the board.)

This was my tapering schedule:
40 mg to 20 mg - 3 weeks
20 mg to 10 mg - 2 weeks
10 mg to None - 1 week

The side effects along the way have been uncomfortable but now that I'm medication free my body seems to be in complete revolt. How long should I wait before being worried about the insomnia, dizziness, and just not feeling all there? I'm thinking two weeks and then I'll call my doctor.

 

Re: Celexa - Tapered Off NOBODY?

Posted by KathrynLex on December 2, 2010, at 16:32:10

In reply to Celexa - Tapered Off - Who has been there?, posted by KathrynLex on December 2, 2010, at 0:53:12

I feel pretty alone in this. My withdrawl symptoms are awful today, I hope it's temporary. Today is day 5 and my moods are swinging so much it's making me physically ill. In hindsight I should have tapered more slowly, but I feel like I've come this far I should stick it out another 9 days.

 

Re: Celexa - Tapered Off NOBODY?

Posted by Christ_empowered on December 2, 2010, at 18:21:09

In reply to Re: Celexa - Tapered Off NOBODY?, posted by KathrynLex on December 2, 2010, at 16:32:10

I took celexa years ago. The tapering at first went well, then I had deep depression and anxiety that was worse than what I'd been treated for initially.

I didn't get the symptoms you describe, though. I had somewhat similar problems getting off Paxil, though. I've heard that some doctors will give Prozac to help get people off of other antidepressants. Prozac has a long half life, so once you've taken it for a while it'll self-taper.

 

Re: Celexa - Tapered Off NOBODY?

Posted by KathrynLex on December 2, 2010, at 19:10:55

In reply to Celexa - Tapered Off - Who has been there?, posted by KathrynLex on December 2, 2010, at 0:53:12

I feel pretty alone in this. My withdrawl symptoms are awful today, I hope it's temporary. Today is day 5 and my moods are swinging so much it's making me physically ill. In hindsight I should have tapered more slowly, but I feel like I've come this far I should stick it out another 9 days.

 

Re: Celexa - Tapered Off Thanks Christ_empowered

Posted by KathrynLex on December 2, 2010, at 19:17:02

In reply to Re: Celexa - Tapered Off NOBODY?, posted by Christ_empowered on December 2, 2010, at 18:21:09

Christ_empowered,

It helps to know that tapering off Celexa was a miserable experience for someone else. If things don't get better in the next little while I may go get a scrip for Prozac, as you suggested.(I took it many years ago and going off it was relatively painless.)

Thanks for your comments.

K

> I took celexa years ago. The tapering at first went well, then I had deep depression and anxiety that was worse than what I'd been treated for initially.
>
> I didn't get the symptoms you describe, though. I had somewhat similar problems getting off Paxil, though. I've heard that some doctors will give Prozac to help get people off of other antidepressants. Prozac has a long half life, so once you've taken it for a while it'll self-taper.

 

Re: Celexa - Tapering Off_Update

Posted by KathrynLex on December 2, 2010, at 19:35:26

In reply to Re: Celexa - Tapered Off NOBODY?, posted by KathrynLex on December 2, 2010, at 19:10:55

After my earlier post things went from bad to worse. I was overwhelmed with some of the most self destructive thoughts I've had in years. Those were accompanied by irrational thoughts and anxiety. After several hours of feeling completely disassociated from myself (I don't know how else to describe it) I finally took .5mg of Klonopin and approximately 10 mg of Celexa. It's hard to estimate how much Celexa I had since I'm breaking up 40 mg tabs.

It's been about 40 minutes since I took those and I feel a bit better. Not great, but better. The dizzy spells aren't quite as bad.

If my brain is functioning a bit better tomorrow I'll try to figure out a plan of action for how to tackle this. Clearly it's VERY bad idea for me to stop taking it entirely. I'm not sure where to go from here though. I really, really hope that today was the worst of it...I'm completely drained.

There are some posts above that suggest not to cut your dose by more than 10 percent per week. That seems like a good approach. It's frustrating that this such a long, painful process but I guess that's the nature of the beast. I'm surprised I feel this way because I'd been cutting my dose in half every 1-2 weeks and it was working fine until I went off completely.

Now I just feel tired. Spent.

What's more, none of my friends and none of my family takes medication. They really don't understand its need and any time I explain it them they look at me like I'm from a different planet. It's hard to be so isolated during such a difficult process.

 

Re: Celexa - Tapering Off_Update » KathrynLex

Posted by Phillipa on December 3, 2010, at 0:13:11

In reply to Re: Celexa - Tapering Off_Update, posted by KathrynLex on December 2, 2010, at 19:35:26

I stopped paxil l0mg after two years was on benzos and just had brain zaps first day so doc said to just bite a bit less each day off the pill and in two weeks was off no withdrawal and didn't go on another ad for a few years. Phillipa

 

Re: Celexa - Tapering Off_Update )) Phillipa

Posted by KathrynLex on December 3, 2010, at 1:23:56

In reply to Re: Celexa - Tapering Off_Update » KathrynLex, posted by Phillipa on December 3, 2010, at 0:13:11

I'm so glad you mentioned that. I've been considering taking that approach. I think that's what I'll do tomorrow and see how it goes.

> I stopped paxil l0mg after two years was on benzos and just had brain zaps first day so doc said to just bite a bit less each day off the pill and in two weeks was off no withdrawal and didn't go on another ad for a few years. Phillipa

 

Re: Celexa - Tapering Off_Update

Posted by FluffMama on December 3, 2010, at 3:30:19

In reply to Re: Celexa - Tapering Off_Update, posted by KathrynLex on December 2, 2010, at 19:35:26

Oh my freaking WORD. Going off Celexa or many of the drugs similar can be a dangerous nightmare. Have you ever heard of http://www.theroadback.org/ - website that helps people taper off stuff successfully? The only thing I don't like is that he recommends (and then sells) supplements to help ease the withdrawal, but most of the stuff you could just buy at a health store.

You have to taper off this stuff VERY slowly and I mean like ridiculously slowly. Does your doctor know you are doing this or are you just fed up? Don't worry about your family and friends thinking you are weird - lots of people with depression and anxiety find solace in boards like this and get their sole support from them!! I sure do! If you are surrounded by people with archaic (or just uninformed) opinions about depression/anxiety and the biological basis of it, could you try not discussing it with them at all? Like, freeze them out of your life in that area. Then, if they notice or ask you a question, you can say, "I really felt like you weren't very supportive the last time I mentioned it so I'm only talking about this area of my life with certain people. I hope you understand." Then hopefully they will feel like crap. LOL!!!

 

Re: Celexa - Tapering Off_Update » FluffMama

Posted by Phillipa on December 3, 2010, at 20:03:53

In reply to Re: Celexa - Tapering Off_Update, posted by FluffMama on December 3, 2010, at 3:30:19

I didn't have any problem stopping the paxil. It was easy for me. Just a bit less each day. Phillipa

 

Re: Celexa - Tapering Off_Update

Posted by KathrynLex on December 4, 2010, at 2:43:34

In reply to Re: Celexa - Tapering Off_Update » FluffMama, posted by Phillipa on December 3, 2010, at 20:03:53

Well it's 1 a.m. and I'm still awake but today was MUCH better. I took 10mg of Celexa in the morning(no Klonopin needed...for now) and all the side effects I had have pretty much vanished. I'm going to start taking a little less each day and see how that goes. I NEVER want another day like yesterday...that was a whole new level of h*ll.

 

Re: Celexa - Tapering Off_Update

Posted by mellow on December 5, 2010, at 3:12:22

In reply to Re: Celexa - Tapering Off_Update, posted by KathrynLex on December 4, 2010, at 2:43:34

> Well it's 1 a.m. and I'm still awake but today was MUCH better. I took 10mg of Celexa in the morning(no Klonopin needed...for now) and all the side effects I had have pretty much vanished. I'm going to start taking a little less each day and see how that goes. I NEVER want another day like yesterday...that was a whole new level of h*ll.

I wish I would have seen your message earlier. You are going to be fine. I am 12 weeks off Celexa and feel great. I am almost off my antipsychotic too.

I think you just went way too fast. I went from 20 down to 10 and stayed there for a full 8 weeks. Then I just dropped off
the 10mg dose and hoped for the best. The hardest part for me was the the severe anxiety for the first weekend. I had to take extra risperdal to stay calm. Use your klonopin to sleep!

Then I had crying spells and and really hard time sleeping for a couple of weeks. But it gets better!!! You will feel so much better on less drugs. If you have to try doing 10 mg for another 8 weeks or so and then take another shot at it that is no big deal.

I'm in the same boat. My doc says we can get to a sinlge dose of lamictal in the morning if I keep working hard. Recovery is possible!

Mellow

 

Re: Celexa - Tapering Off_Update » KathrynLex

Posted by FluffMama on December 5, 2010, at 8:42:50

In reply to Re: Celexa - Tapering Off_Update, posted by KathrynLex on December 4, 2010, at 2:43:34

The withdrawal effects will come when you are completely off the medication for the first time but shouldn't be bad if you taper off sloooooowly. Take it by week. One week at 10 mgs. Some can go 50% less each week, but I have found that is too drastic of a drop.

I would cut the 10 mgs pills in 1/4th and then take 10 mgs the first week, 3/4th the next week, 10 and 1/2 the next, etc. and even that may be too quick. But every person is different - you might just have an easy time of it! :)


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