Posted by Bill L on December 4, 2000, at 12:42:09
In reply to reducing dosage, posted by Annette on December 4, 2000, at 9:38:50
Annette- I'm not a mental health expert- but my take on this is as follows. If your depression initially began as a result of a traumatic event, then maybe you could go off the medication. But most people on antidepressants have an ongoing "endogenous" depression and need medications for life.
If I were you, I would not go off of the Celexa. Maybe you could try lowering the dose to 30 mg for 2 months and see how you feel. Then you could either raise it back to 40mg or try lowering it to 20 mg. But give it atleast 2 months at 30mg.
Depression can be extremely hard to deal with. Consider yourself lucky that you now have a treatment that works. Do more research on Yohimbine and ask your doctor about it. I have heard that Yohimbine usage, in some people, can elevate their blood pressure. But you could monitor your blood pressure and see if it gives you that effect.
I've had jaw clenching all my life which actually got less severe when I started Celexa. Your dentist can give you a mouthguard to wear when you sleep. Also you could try exercise for weight gain. But my advise would be to make the fight against depression your number 1 priority and try to handle the side effects by other means.
> I've been on 40mg. Celexa +150mg. Wellbutrin for a year and a half. Have had sexual side effects the whole time-although gingko biloba helps and yohimbe REALLY helps (but I quit that because I kept reading that it was very dangerous).
> I've gained twenty pounds over the past year, and lately I've been experiencing new side effects-getting worse instead of better-including fatigue, sleepiness,yawning, jaw clenching, memory and recall problems, etc., although emotionally I feel fine-no depression at all.
> I'm going to try reducing my dosage of Celexa to 20mg, and I'm going to take it at night instead of in the morning in the hope of reducing side effects (especially the weight gain), and weaning myself off of it alltogether.
> Has anyone else had such a late onset of symptoms?Do you suppose that I just no longer NEED such a large dose? And what can I expect to experience as I go off the drug? Withdrawel symptoms?
> Thanks for any input that you have.
poster:Bill L
thread:49887
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001130/msgs/49897.html