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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Cassie on May 16, 2001, at 12:36:13
Hello
I wrote a while back about starting Celexa and feeling rotten. I was and am on 10 mg and I felt SO TIRED all the time that it hindered my life. I was having anxiety attacks again, which I take Xanax for and have not had in years. I also now have sexual problems and I just feel like I am in a stupor all the time. I have decided to get off this stuff. Been on 4 weeks at 10 mg. I plan to cut to 5 mg tonight and take 5mg for 2 weeks or so then stop. Does that seem logical or will I get all shocky and sick? I recall being on Paxil for a few days and stopping and getting the oddest shocks running through my body. They were so unnerving! Anyway, I can't really think of any other way to go off unless I do 10mg, then 5mg ever other night for a while then do 5mg a night and off. Anyone have problems getting off the drug and what is the best way to do it? My doctir said to just stop. I think not. Been there, done that and I won't put myself through it again.Thanks!
Cassie
Posted by SalArmy4me on May 16, 2001, at 13:29:44
In reply to Withdrawal from Celexa, This is CRAZY, posted by Cassie on May 16, 2001, at 12:36:13
I found that Celexa withdrawal syndromes are rare in the literature. There were only two case reports of it documented (as of October 2000):
1) Fernando, Antonio T. III MD. Schwader, Patrick. A Case of Citalopram Withdrawal. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology. 20(5):581-582, October 2000.
2) Benazzi F. Citalopram withdrawal symptoms. Eur Psychiatry 1998;13:219-20.Besides, the two case reports above describe the main symptom of Celexa withdrawal (assuming this is a consistent recurring phenomenon) as dizziness--mostly light-headedness, which came on very suddenly but lasted only a few hours. The patients had no further symptoms in the next few days.
Posted by roo on May 16, 2001, at 13:51:31
In reply to Re: Withdrawal from Celexa, This is CRAZY » Cassie, posted by SalArmy4me on May 16, 2001, at 13:29:44
They say prozac has no withdrawal symptoms either--
but I am hear to say, it sure does. The thing is,
you just don't feel it until a few weeks later instead of
immediately. But back to the celexa question. Yes,
I think it definitely makes sense to try and taper
down as slowly as possible. I am doing this with prozac
now, and even tapering by 5 mg increments, I still feel
the withdrawal, but I don't think it's as bad as it would
be if I just stopped cold turkey. Good Luck, Cassie, I am
trying to taper too, and I know how disturbing the symptoms
can be. I think we can sometimes think it's our depression
coming back when it could be withdrawal symptoms. Also look
into ways you can raise your seratonin while tapering off the
celexa--maybe sam-e, or 5 htp or some other natural way could
help ease the withdrawal. There's been a book written on how to
correctly go off your meds, and they definitely recommend: SLOW.
Try and be good to yourself--Hang in there--Ruth
Posted by Cassie on May 18, 2001, at 1:35:23
In reply to Re: Withdrawal from Celexa, This is CRAZY, posted by roo on May 16, 2001, at 13:51:31
Thanks to you both for your info. The Celexa never really made me feel any different (dose was probably too low) so I don't worry about depression coming back. I do worry about the "shocks" and dizziness. I am having a terrible headache problem since I went down to 5 mg so I decided do do 5mg 1 night and 10 the next for a week or so then 5 mg for another week, then 5 every other day for yet another week and then off. Now, I know I probably still do need something (I am wavering between the exercise, dietary, herbal method and trying something else) but I have searched for something with few side affects (and Celexa was one that seemed to have few) and I came up with Serzone and Effexor. Neither seems to have sexual side affects or somnolence as a major side affect like Celexa did with me. Does anyone have experience with either of these two? My sister and father are on effexor and seem ok (??).
Thanks for being here, your support is so appreciated.
Cassie
Posted by Christina on May 18, 2001, at 7:25:10
In reply to Re: Withdrawal from Celexa, This is CRAZY » Cassie, posted by SalArmy4me on May 16, 2001, at 13:29:44
I'm withdrawing from Celexa and I have had terrible side effects. It has been nearly a month, and I still have dizzyness, confusion, brain shocks, headaches and flu symptoms. Maybe some people don't notice it because they go from one Med to another.
Everyone reacts differently, but it has been difficult for me.
> I found that Celexa withdrawal syndromes are rare in the literature. There were only two case reports of it documented (as of October 2000):
>
> 1) Fernando, Antonio T. III MD. Schwader, Patrick. A Case of Citalopram Withdrawal. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology. 20(5):581-582, October 2000.
> 2) Benazzi F. Citalopram withdrawal symptoms. Eur Psychiatry 1998;13:219-20.
>
> Besides, the two case reports above describe the main symptom of Celexa withdrawal (assuming this is a consistent recurring phenomenon) as dizziness--mostly light-headedness, which came on very suddenly but lasted only a few hours. The patients had no further symptoms in the next few days.
Posted by cole on May 18, 2001, at 14:17:26
In reply to I beg to differ... » SalArmy4me, posted by Christina on May 18, 2001, at 7:25:10
Sal,
I'm willing to bet you can't find much literature on it because it's a newer med. I've known several people who've withdrawn with the typical SSRI discontinuation syndrome.
cole
Posted by PuraVida on May 18, 2001, at 21:58:53
In reply to Re: Withdrawal from Celexa, This is CRAZY, posted by Cassie on May 18, 2001, at 1:35:23
I'm on Serzone, and have been happy with it until by Dr. reduced my dosage too fast (I was too sedated at 600 mg) I just posted to the latest serzone thread with details - my advice - go slow (up or down.) It's worked for me for a few years now.
Liz
> Thanks to you both for your info. The Celexa never really made me feel any different (dose was probably too low) so I don't worry about depression coming back. I do worry about the "shocks" and dizziness. I am having a terrible headache problem since I went down to 5 mg so I decided do do 5mg 1 night and 10 the next for a week or so then 5 mg for another week, then 5 every other day for yet another week and then off. Now, I know I probably still do need something (I am wavering between the exercise, dietary, herbal method and trying something else) but I have searched for something with few side affects (and Celexa was one that seemed to have few) and I came up with Serzone and Effexor. Neither seems to have sexual side affects or somnolence as a major side affect like Celexa did with me. Does anyone have experience with either of these two? My sister and father are on effexor and seem ok (??).
> Thanks for being here, your support is so appreciated.
> Cassie
Posted by SLS on May 18, 2001, at 22:01:48
In reply to Re: I beg to differ... I agree, posted by cole on May 18, 2001, at 14:17:26
> Sal,
> I'm willing to bet you can't find much literature on it because it's a newer med. I've known several people who've withdrawn with the typical SSRI discontinuation syndrome.
> coleSee:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010515/msgs/63461.html
Posted by Cassie on May 20, 2001, at 21:14:46
In reply to Re: I beg to differ... I agree, posted by SLS on May 18, 2001, at 22:01:48
I have read, with interest, the experineces of everyone who was kind enough to share with me. I have been doing the 10mg, 5 mg, technique for a dew days and will stay that way for a while, then 5mg for a while. No shocks but I have a headache every day and recently started waking up in the middle of the night for no reason. My heart is pounding and I am wide awake with a million thoughts running through my head. I never wake up at night, if anything, I sleep like a rock. I don't know if it is the Celexa or what. I want this out of my system and I am getting very leery of any other SSRI's. Seems while some work for people, there are more problems than sucesses...and the idea of withdrawal symptoms every time I try to come off one that may not work for me seems extremely upsetting.
I have to keep going in my job and as a Mom and lately I have found myself either sleeping (when on Celexa) or feeling horrible both while on and getting off the stuff.
I almost think I am better off feeling unmotivated than like this.
Thanks again for all your help and insight!
Cassie
This is the end of the thread.
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