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 Feb 21 2006, 05:27 PM
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Forum Super Administrator
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Stopping Citalopram(Celexa, Cipramil, Seropram) © Discontinuation Effects or Withdrawal Symptoms  It is best to consult a physician before discontinuing SSRIs. Specific information on the effects of stopping taking Citalopram (Celexa, Cipramil, Seropram) was not available from the sources consulted at the time of writing, but the discontinuation effects of stopping other SSRIs include: * dizziness * vertigo/light-headedness * nausea * fatigue * headache * insomnia * abdominal cramps * chills * increased dreaming * agitation * anxiety ------------------------------ Discontinuation of Treatment with Celexa © During marketing of Celexa and other SSRIs and SNRIs (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors), there have been spontaneous reports of adverse events occurring upon discontinuation of these drugs, particularly when abrupt, including the following: dysphoric mood, irritability, agitation, dizziness, sensory disturbances (e.g., paresthesias such as electric shock sensations), anxiety, confusion, headache, lethargy, emotional lability, insomnia, and hypomania. While these events are generally self-limiting, there have been reports of serious discontinuation symptoms. Patients should be monitored for these symptoms when discontinuing treatment with Celexa. A gradual reduction in the dose rather than abrupt cessation is recommended whenever possible. If intolerable symptoms occur following a decrease in the dose or upon discontinuation of treatment, then resuming the previously prescribed dose may be considered. Subsequently, the physician may continue decreasing the dose but at a more gradual rate If you have any questions, discuss them with your doctor or healthcare professional. For additional information about Lexapro or Celexa, call the Forest Professional Affairs Department toll-free at 800-678-1605, extension 66297.
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Be Well....
~Lindsay ♥, Forum Super Administrator
Founder, depressionforums.org
Forum Super AdministratorDF member since Dec 2001  ---- "I cannot make my mark for all time...those concepts are mutually exclusive.
"Lasting effect" is a self -contradictory term. Meaning does not exist in the future, nor do I.
Nothing will have meaning, "ultimately."
Nothing will even mean tomorrow what it did today. Meaning changes with the context.
My meaningfulness is in the here and now. It is enough that I may be of value to someone today.
It is enough that I make a difference now." ~Lindsay
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May 9 2009, 01:38 PM
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QUOTE (Pitou @ May 9 2009, 03:12 PM)  Well, it's been 7 weeks since I stopped my 20mg of Citalopram (having tapered off with the help of the doctor).
The 'brain zaps' have much reduced, and are almost gone now, although if I have coffee or alcohol, they can come back a little bit, or if I am tired.
Definitely miss the support of the tablets though. I am not feeling as well in myself as I was, and notice much more all those little things that used to bother me. But hey, that's life! And I am still happy in my job, so I guess I am doing OK, compared to some.
Hang in there guys, it does get better. Yeah, I stopped taking Citalopram somewhat suddenly due to a prescription mix up and was then prescribed a 10mg dose. It's beem about 3 weeks since the last pill and I'm still getting the dizziness and strange electrics shocks as the day wears on. It's a bit dissappointing as it's a couple of months since I took the pills regularly, but hell maybe it'll go away in time. In truth the tablets weren't much help as they events that lead to me being down were out there, and my reaction was entirely normal and understandable. I guess the medical profession sees it all through the lens of illness which focuses on individual morbidity and ignores the societal context entirely. Despite the supposed depression, real sleeplessness and inability to concentrate I still managed to pass 3 professional exams in the last 3 months. And with less effort and more easily than supposedly well ex colleagues. You just have to grit your teeth, ignore the naysayers and get on with it! You might doubt yourself, you may not appreciate the results, but you can still get there. You could even prove to be exceptionally good. Personally, I think that the whole depression thing is seriously misunderstood. Yeah people were getting at me, threatening me with violence, being abusive, demanding, completely unreasonable and there was less than no support from my ex employers. Hell, they even directed callers to me, as I could deal with it! We're not so far removed from other primates as we'd like to think and physiologically ill prepared for modern life with it's intrigues, pitfalls and litigiousness. It is what it is, you just have to discover how to adjust. And it could take you some time.
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May 16 2009, 06:44 AM
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Well here's my story, I have been taking 20mg of Celexa for just 3 months. I felt GREAT, a total queen of Zen. Nothing bothered me, nothing stressed me out. (I was put on celexa for anxiety not depression by the way. I have a way of WORRYING obsessively about EVERYTHING)
So things are great, but for some reason I would have "goofy" spells. I would just blank out and repeat things or forget things. These were very quickly over, but weirded me out none the less.
I also noticed that I CRAVED all sweets and carbs. I have always been slender, but suddenly I wanted SUGAR!!! I looked at my butt in the mirror one day and thought "well that's getting bigger, oh well". After having that "zen" thought I realized "Holy Crap! I'm gaining alot of weight!" So I quit cold turkey.
I have not had Celexa in 4 days now and really the only side effect has been mild diareaha (gross I know) and hot/cold spells. Other than that I'm good.
I am currently trying to "train" myself to eat less again. And lay off the cereal and candy bars! LOL!
Anyway, I loved Celexa in and of itself, but I don't want to stop caring how my body looks and or feels. Did I mention that a free for all carb addiction also surprisingly makes you VERY sleepy and lethargic?
Good luck to everyone out there and tell me if you have a story like mine.
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May 16 2009, 06:47 AM
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QUOTE (Tropical24 @ May 9 2009, 02:26 PM) I was put right on 20mg for a month. My doctor told me just to stop taking them, no tapering off. Apparently he likes abruptness lol.
It's been 5 days and there's only one change I'm certain of. I'm having quick but frequent bouts of derealization when I stand up and start walking. I also had these at the beginning of treatment.
I've been experiencing an upset stomach and weight loss. I've had periods of feeling too warm at times. But I was feeling ill a few days before stopping Celexa, so I'm not sure if this could be withdrawal or a bug. Maybe it's a combo of both.
I'm supposed to be starting a new med in 2 days. This time I'm supposed to gradually increase. :p Wow, I hope I have the weight loss side effect! I put on several pounds in just the 3 months I took Celexa. 
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May 16 2009, 08:49 AM
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QUOTE (postalpaish @ May 16 2009, 12:44 PM) Well here's my story, I have been taking 20mg of Celexa for just 3 months. I felt GREAT, a total queen of Zen. Nothing bothered me, nothing stressed me out. (I was put on celexa for anxiety not depression by the way. I have a way of WORRYING obsessively about EVERYTHING)
So things are great, but for some reason I would have "goofy" spells. I would just blank out and repeat things or forget things. These were very quickly over, but weirded me out none the less.
I also noticed that I CRAVED all sweets and carbs. I have always been slender, but suddenly I wanted SUGAR!!! I looked at my butt in the mirror one day and thought "well that's getting bigger, oh well". After having that "zen" thought I realized "Holy Crap! I'm gaining alot of weight!" So I quit cold turkey.
I have not had Celexa in 4 days now and really the only side effect has been mild diareaha (gross I know) and hot/cold spells. Other than that I'm good.
I am currently trying to "train" myself to eat less again. And lay off the cereal and candy bars! LOL!
Anyway, I loved Celexa in and of itself, but I don't want to stop caring how my body looks and or feels. Did I mention that a free for all carb addiction also surprisingly makes you VERY sleepy and lethargic?
Good luck to everyone out there and tell me if you have a story like mine. Hi Postalpaish, You have just described what Celexa does to me and I hadn't really realised it before. I'm eating SO much and am so lethargic probably because of that. Glad you're not having too hard a time coming off it. I missed a dose by mistake and I'm being tortured now!!! Let us know how you get on. PRT xx
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To see a world in a grain of sand And a heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand And eternity in an hour. |
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 May 23 2009, 05:22 PM
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Hi all :) I am new to the forum but old to SSRI use I guess. I have been on 3 different SSRIs. Started with Prozac, the second I can't remember just now, the third and current is Celexa which I have found the best. All in all, about 10 years on the SSRI drugs. Just now I am about 6 weeks into reducing my current dose of 40mg down to zero, if it is feasible. The originating causes of the depression are no longer there so I figure I will see if it is possible to get off the meds. I have a medical and auditing background so have found what I can on SSRI discontinuation syndrome. Information is only part of what I need to make this possible, the other part is real life experience, as I see here on these forums. I hope, with your help, I can do this thing.  Research seems to show the discontinuation symptoms kick in about 2-3 days after dropping the dosage, and last (if you are lucky) for a week or so. Depression symptoms, if they recur are likely 3 weeks after the dosage drop. Having been around depression for so long I feel like I know the symptoms, both of overdose and underdose of meds and depression symptoms. Can be tricky to work out whether waking up in the middle of the night is due to which of these 3, but I figure I am good with it now. I know how sneaky the depression can be in infiltrating your thinking - to that end I have made myself up an Xcel spreadsheet with 10 things that affect my mood - family, money, sleep, social life etc. as well as a general mood indictior. That way, if my mood is out of the ordinary down I can check if there is any logical reason for it or just depression coming in. Additionally I have listed all the usual symptoms of SSRI withdrawal and log them as they occur. Helps know that I am not actually unwell. Today's ones are chills, sleepiness, mild headache, slurred speech and shoulder stiffness and aching. I decided on an 8 month program to reduce my dose. 10 years is a long time on the drugs and 40mg a decent dose. First month 1.5 tablets was a big drop at 25% reduction (30mg) and the side-effects were okay but I would not want to have them worse. I am going down 1/4 tablet a month from here on down to wherever I can get to. So I have had 4 weeks at 30mg, currently just 1 week into the 25mg dose and getting moderate side-effects. No signs of depression coming back. Yay. Also very into Eckhart Tolle's books The New Earth and Power of Now. Best I have found for getting my thinking into shape. There ya go. That is me. Thank you for being here. I appreciate you. Cheers!
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Information supplied on Depression Forums by members should not be relied upon and is not a substitute for medical advice from a health professional or doctor.
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Jun 7 2009, 10:52 AM
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At the most, I was on 80 mgs of Celexa. Then gradually got down to 40 and then 20. I'm having a very hard time coming off of 20 mgs. The most disturbing effect is body zaps. Anyone know how long these effects take to pass?
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Dx: Anorexia (in recovery), Major Clinical Depression, Anxiety Disorder, OCD, Post Partum Depression, Personality Disorder, Mood Disorder-NOS
Rx: Wellbutrin, Valium, Trazodone
There is a crack in everything...that's how the light gets in. - Leonard Cohen
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Jun 13 2009, 04:26 PM
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QUOTE (asecretchord @ Jun 7 2009, 04:52 PM) At the most, I was on 80 mgs of Celexa. Then gradually got down to 40 and then 20. I'm having a very hard time coming off of 20 mgs. The most disturbing effect is body zaps. Anyone know how long these effects take to pass? I found it took about 4 - 5 weeks to completely disappear if that's any help.
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Jun 25 2009, 04:18 PM
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Hi all
I have been on 40 mg Celexa for years. About 3 months into cutting it out and currently on 20mg. I have been cutting down 5 mg a month. Lots of probably side effects - headache, muscle ache, tingling. Mild to moderate flu is how it feels for the most part.
ASecretchord - apparently the symptoms usually pass after a month or two. Sometimes they are a lot more persistent. While I am still in cut down mode I expect them to be there pretty much without going away.
Of interest now is a low grade fever - usually around 37.7-38.2 - which has been hanging around for a couple of weeks now. Blood tests show nothing at the moment and it does not appear to be responding to antibiotics. Low grade fever can be a side-effect of starting the meds, I can't find information to show it happens as part of discontinuation syndrome.
Does anyone know of low grade fevers during discontinuing of SSRIs?.
Cheers
This post has been edited by Herald: Jun 25 2009, 04:22 PM
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Information supplied on Depression Forums by members should not be relied upon and is not a substitute for medical advice from a health professional or doctor.
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Jun 25 2009, 05:45 PM
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QUOTE (zeemail @ Mar 20 2007, 12:52 PM) Hello Friends, As you can see, I am new to the Forum and overjoyed to find that there is such a place for people like us. After a search on the withdrawal effects of Citalopram, I stumbled upon the site. (Thank God!) I have read the posts and I will say I am a bit worried as I am experiencing the exact same symptoms as my friend - malfunkshun, Buzzing in he head' caused by eye movement.
General feeling of physical illness.
Dizziness and light headedness.I am on day 7 of the discontinuation - (cold turkey) and as malfunkshun says, the effects have "not let up at all" I need some reassurance that this is not a permanent effect and that I am not somehow brain damaged  and have to live with these symptoms. I am certian someone out there has some real definitive answers and hopefully there is a REAL light at the end of the tunnel rather than a flashlight, that goes off once the battery runs out.  I hope I make sense. Peace and love to you all -  Zee Hi Zee, I have tried to d/c Celexa and Lexapro at different times in the last eight years, and I went back on because of the "zaps" that apparently are associated with the optic nerve b/c they are related to eye movement. Notice at night when eyes closed and asleep things are fine and when you first wake up also, but then as you have been "eyes open" they zaps start, and I could not quit. I'm scared too that this is permanent. I asked my doctor if my brain's ability to function on its own was no longer working, and he said it takes time for the brain to replace the medication--well, apparently that is too long for me, alas I will be on medication forever. The depression that came with the discontinuation was too much for me, so apparently it is not in the cards for me. My doc says I don't produce any seratonin and that my brain is "crashing" w/o any when I don't take medicine. Good luck! I hope you make it out! Zoner
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Jun 29 2009, 10:17 PM
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Hello I started celexa nearly a month ago. And i could really feel it working, i felt like myself again 100%. But i missed my appointment with the Psycologist. So i am out of meds and I have been for about 2 days now. And i'm starting to feel really anxious and dull already. It might because I haven't gotten much sleep. But either way i am starting to feel as anxious and depressed as i did before. Is this normal?
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Jul 12 2009, 07:54 PM
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A follow up to consistent higher than normal temperatures as part of the discontinuation syndrome. Lots of internet research later. The new catch phrase is "cholinergic rebound" which can cause elevated temperatures such as I have. Thus I can now have "Cholinergic Rebound Hyperthermia". With no other symptoms of note all the other less temporary diseases which could cause high temperatures can be set aside for now.
Apart from the elevated temperatures cutting down 40mg to 20mg and still reducing has not been too bad. Just headaches, flu symptoms, tired. Base stuff. At 1/4 tablet reduction a month there is still 4 months to go.
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Information supplied on Depression Forums by members should not be relied upon and is not a substitute for medical advice from a health professional or doctor.
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Jul 30 2009, 02:28 PM
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Hi all.
So I attempted going off Celexa. Was on it for about 3 months. I was still 100% normal for almost 2 weeks before the anxiety and depression started creeping back.....I stopped abruptly and didn't have any withdrawal symptoms. I simply kept forgetting to take it. After a few days of forgetting it I just decided I didn't need them anymore....a week went by and I was still feeling great so I figured I made the right move. Another week went by and I woke up and it's like a switch went off and I was a ball of anxiety and irritable and could feel the depression slowly creeping back, pretty much overnight!!
Anyone else experience anything similar? Feeling good for a couple weeks coming off then feeling symptoms coming back?
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 Jul 31 2009, 12:10 PM
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QUOTE (dddHardTail @ Mar 10 2006, 12:35 PM) I have been taking Citalopram for about five years now. I have not seen any changes except when I tried to come off it. I was worried about the effects it had on some people. When I came off it I got even more depressed. I am not sure what it does for me because I am still depress. I guess it just regulates my depression. I am taking 20mg three times a day. I still do not feel happy though. Should I try a diiferent medicine or what can make me happy and satified with my life???
Very Confused............. Only you can make YOU happy. The pills help with our super fun issues, but we cant leave it up to the pills to do everything. It sucks I know... I wish my pills would just make me happy... and normal so I didnt feel so out of place all the time, but yeah.. if you dont feel your meds are working the way you feel they should just tell your Dr. Its their job to figure out the right pills ... even tho they are really stupid about it sometimes. I know.
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Aug 2 2009, 12:56 AM
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Hi Jerrica
The theory goes that the physical symptoms of going of the SSRI start a few days to a week after stopping the med. E.g. headaches, zaps. The depression type symptoms usually take 2-3 weeks to recur. My mum has the same symptoms as you describe if she goes off cold turkey. She says she feels amazing for a couple of weeks then crashes to worse than previous depression. Go slow :)
Hey dddHardtail
The higher doses of the SSRI can cause exactly the side-effects that you go on them for. Like depression. It makes it confusing as the higher you go to stop yourself the symptoms of depression start comng back and you wonder if it was working. I was on 40mg for 10 years, found I was getting the depression symptoms, the "wave" of bad feelings. I started dropping the dose, 1/4 tab every 1 month, down to 15mg after 4 months and feeling good. Works for me with few side-effects. Best book by a long shot I have read is Eckhart Tolle - the New Earth. tolle has severe depression. The book changed my perspective - like Amsterdam says unfortunately only we can make ourselves happy and Tolle found the way for himself, works for me too.
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Information supplied on Depression Forums by members should not be relied upon and is not a substitute for medical advice from a health professional or doctor.
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Sep 2 2009, 03:46 PM
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QUOTE (Dooin' it @ Feb 21 2006, 07:30 PM) Thanks Lindsay!
I will share my experience of going off in '98.......(currently going off again soon, but only 'cuz I'm switching to Lexapro based on a belief by my pdoc that the *now-generic* Celexa (citalopram) I'm taking is not up to the standards that the brand name meds are.....???........I dunno, I'm just taking his word for it on this one).
Back in '98 I was on it for about a year. It took 4 months (20mg upped to 40mg over the course of a month or so) to get me feeling better again. It was great. It made me (quite literally) 100% normal again. I stayed on for the next 11 months but got the great idea to come off. (Well, maybe it wasn't a completely bad idea....but.......).
At some point I had gone from 40mg down to 20mg which was easy. I really don't recall any effects coming down on it. Then later I went from 20 to 10mg for a 2 week period.........after which I went off completely.
Now here's what I experienced that I think is significant at that point............(read below)..........
A few days after being off completely I noticed that a few times a day I would get what I called "FLASHES". It was as if a flash bulb went off in my brain............or..............like God just hit the "pause" button one time for a split second. It would only last for about a second and surely freaked me out the first time it happened, but I realized it was harmless and dealt with it. IIRC, it happened for about a week (maybe two?) after being completely off Celexa. And again just a few times a day. Nothing major and after that I was fine.
This was all done during the summer time as my pdoc fellt summer was best to do this, so if anybody's thinking of going off, I would also pass on that tidbit of info. I really, honestly and truly believe there is something to this whole seasonal thing as ALL of my episodes in my life have been in Nov/Dec/Jan/Feb. I have NEVER had probelms in the spring/summer/fall.............and summer being the most distant from any of these time frames.
In the interest of contemporary timing of both Forest's SSRi's (Celexa/Lexapro)...............I know there are a lot of folks who are either in-between and/or switching from Celexa to Lexapro. I am now currently one of those people. (I loved Celexa and I won't gamble with my pdoc's intuition and suggest that I wish I would've kept buying brand-name Celexa 'cuz that's all behind me now.....but......)
As of this moment, my doc is asking me to continue my 40mg of Celexa until the Lexapro "kicks in". I know there is one other user on this board who went on a direct switch in a somewhat unusual way (only i.m.o.) because he went from 20mg Celexa to 20mg Lexapro. 20mg Celexa is a very low dose while 20mg Lexapro is a very moderate to healthy dose. Whatever his pdoc's reasoning, the direct switch seemed to have worked. That's great news for those of us making the switch.
My experience will be different as I will assume at this point that I'm going to be tapering off of Celexa starting this Friday. (pdoc appt.) I can't imagine my dose of Lexapro will go anywhere for a while as 20mg Lex is already a very therapeutic dose. I will definitely post here (like I wouldn't anyway?? LOL) to advise people how *this* method of switching works!
I'm assuming the switch will be successful and I will certainly cover my pdoc's reasonings and report back here with that as well......as to why he wanted to do the switch in *this* particular way so that perhaps we can have a better understanding. I will also converse with him as to the contrast of both methods and possibly anything in between and the benefits/consequences of any and all of those methods.
(HAVE I BABBLED ENOUGH YET?????)
Anyway.........lastly, I just want to say that I thank God for drugs like Celexa and Lexapro! They are truly great drugs and I think we are all better off for them. I know they've sped up my recovery in the past and I hope that Lexapro will do the same for me now. Also........if Celexa is working for you, I say STAY ON IT!!! 5 year studies have shown that if you stay on your meds at a maintenance dose, in double-blind studies, you are MUCH better off than if you try to go off just because you don't like being on these drugs. At my last blood test, my liver function was 100% healthy and these drugs are about as harmless as vitamins when taken as prescribed by your doc. Don't fall into the hype that you're "drugged up" if that's a fear that yo have! You are taking medication to help make you well!!! That is a GOOD thing!!!!!!!
Not gospel.......just my .02!! What you are doing sounds like you have a lot of insight and are managing things in your life so they don't manage you.. great advice...after reading what you said i signed up with this site and posted my dilemma.. I may sound selfish but I like the way things have been going since my husband has been on celexa (about a year) not all dramatic just even tempered and hopeful... i wish he had the same respect for his doc,himself and medications as you do..hes quitting celexa cold turkey without the doctors support and i am afraid of the outcome.. been here many times.with him and many differant meds and doctors just when things are stable its time to quit the meds and everything gets turned upside down again...im not a doc so i dont know if one must stay on meds for ever but i think it is so important to work with your doc to manage your health and i wish ther was a loving way to approach this with him that wouldnt be concieved as controlling or not supportive..i am grateful for your words of wisdom...thanks ..i like how you said they are just like a vitamin...
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Sep 4 2009, 02:41 PM
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QUOTE (Etta @ Sep 2 2009, 04:46 PM) I may sound selfish but I like the way things have been going since my husband has been on celexa (about a year) not all dramatic just even tempered and hopeful... i wish he had the same respect for his doc,himself and medications as you do..hes quitting celexa cold turkey without the doctors support and i am afraid of the outcome.. been here many times.with him and many differant meds and doctors just when things are stable its time to quit the meds and everything gets turned upside down again...im not a doc so i dont know if one must stay on meds for ever but i think it is so important to work with your doc to manage your health and i wish ther was a loving way to approach this with him that wouldnt be concieved as controlling or not supportive..i am grateful for your words of wisdom...thanks ..i like how you said they are just like a vitamin... Hi Etta You don't sound selfish. Your husband will almost certainly have a very hard time in the first month of coming off the meds. There is likely to be numerous physical effects (see other places on the forum) as well as a mood crash made worse by the effects of all the physical ones. As for "a loving way". Your post shows a very supportive person and a loving way with words. I doubt the way you are in real life is much different.
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Information supplied on Depression Forums by members should not be relied upon and is not a substitute for medical advice from a health professional or doctor.
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Sep 8 2009, 01:38 AM
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Member No.: 40,412
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Wow. I am so glad I found this website and forum. I've been taking 20MG of Citalopram for a couple years now. My prescription ran out and when I went to refill it, all the refills were gone. So I checked the option for the pharmacy to call my doctor for the refill and it would take a few days. (My pharmacy for some reason changed the way they list how many refills are left on the label so it didn't really say I had none remaining or I would have put in for the refill sooner). It's been about 5 days now (due to the holiday weekend) and I feel like crap. I am feeling dizzy, lightheaded, almost feeling really drunk for a split second or two and even feel a few times when I get up too fast like I'm going to lose my balance (and I'm only 33!). They all started a couple days ago and I had no idea what was going on. I thought maybe I was coming down with something. And I haven't been sleeping well the past few nights, so I thought that might have something to do with it too. Maybe I was just tired (which I've been overly during the day lately too). Plus, I've had the feelings of an upset stomach. I was at the gym yesterday and then all of the sudden got really dizzy and lightheaded and had to leave. I almost felt like I shouldn't have been driving. Moving my eyes and head back and forth quickly made everything worse. All of the sudden I thought maybe all of this was from stopping the medicine cold turkey. So I did a Google search and this forum was the first thing to come up and after reading all the withdrawl symptoms people have had and the list of withdrawls from other similar medications, I kept thinking to myself....Wow, this is exactly what I've been feeling the past couple days. So now I feel better that what I'm feeling other people have experienced. So now when my doctor OKs the refill, I am wondering if i should continue back on it with the full 20MG, or cut them down to 10MG to start coming off of it, which I have been wanting to do. Either way, these symptoms suck! 
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Sep 8 2009, 05:10 AM
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Newbie
Group: Newbie
Posts: 16
Joined: 4-June 09
From: Swindon, UK
Member No.: 37,404
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QUOTE (LAGuy75 @ Sep 8 2009, 07:38 AM) Wow. I am so glad I found this website and forum. I've been taking 20MG of Citalopram for a couple years now. My prescription ran out and when I went to refill it, all the refills were gone. So I checked the option for the pharmacy to call my doctor for the refill and it would take a few days. (My pharmacy for some reason changed the way they list how many refills are left on the label so it didn't really say I had none remaining or I would have put in for the refill sooner). It's been about 5 days now (due to the holiday weekend) and I feel like crap. I am feeling dizzy, lightheaded, almost feeling really drunk for a split second or two and even feel a few times when I get up too fast like I'm going to lose my balance (and I'm only 33!). They all started a couple days ago and I had no idea what was going on. I thought maybe I was coming down with something. And I haven't been sleeping well the past few nights, so I thought that might have something to do with it too. Maybe I was just tired (which I've been overly during the day lately too). Plus, I've had the feelings of an upset stomach. I was at the gym yesterday and then all of the sudden got really dizzy and lightheaded and had to leave. I almost felt like I shouldn't have been driving. Moving my eyes and head back and forth quickly made everything worse. All of the sudden I thought maybe all of this was from stopping the medicine cold turkey. So I did a Google search and this forum was the first thing to come up and after reading all the withdrawl symptoms people have had and the list of withdrawls from other similar medications, I kept thinking to myself....Wow, this is exactly what I've been feeling the past couple days. So now I feel better that what I'm feeling other people have experienced. So now when my doctor OKs the refill, I am wondering if i should continue back on it with the full 20MG, or cut them down to 10MG to start coming off of it, which I have been wanting to do. Either way, these symptoms suck! I sympathise, I'm in EXACTLY the same boat as you. I did some pretty intense exercise yesterday and afterwards I had to lie down cos my head was spinning. On the plus side since being without these pills for a week, I can finally Sleeeeeeeeeppppppppp lol I'm gonna ask about going down to 10mg too.
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Sep 8 2009, 10:03 AM
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Newbie
Group: Newbie
Posts: 16
Joined: 4-June 09
From: Swindon, UK
Member No.: 37,404
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QUOTE (PRT @ Sep 8 2009, 11:16 AM) Benadryl helps the dizziness and nausea. Saved my life when I was coming off! xx oooh, I take that for hayfever, cheers.
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Sep 8 2009, 12:07 PM
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Just Registered
Group: Just Registered
Posts: 2
Joined: 8-September 09
From: Los Angeles, CA
Member No.: 40,412
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QUOTE (PRT @ Sep 8 2009, 02:16 AM) Benadryl helps the dizziness and nausea. Saved my life when I was coming off! xx I will definitely buy some Benadryl today. I'm back at work today and the dizziness is horrible. Plus I noticed I'm spacing out too. hah I found myself staring at the palm tree outside my office window! I think I'll also stop by my pharmacy which is at the supermarket across from where I work to see if there is any updat from my doctor for the refill. I think to slowly come off of this I'll start cutting the 20MG pills in half and then into quarters eventually.
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Sep 14 2009, 12:37 AM
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Just Registered
Group: Just Registered
Posts: 1
Joined: 14-September 09
From: canada
Member No.: 40,597
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I sympathize with everyone on hear. I have taken from 40 mgs to 20 of celexa over the past 4 years. For the past year its been 20 mg, then last december I weaned my self slowly off. Last week I took the final very small amount, and got sick after about 4 days of being completely off. These pills in my opinion are very addictive, over the past week I have suddenly gone gone through hell. The hell of migraines off and on and feeling general sick with no energy. However, I am also a recovering addict (10 years now) so I know what withdrawal symptoms are like & these are bad. I am not depressed in the slightest way either - just sick! I can hardly wait till the headaches stop along with the upset stomach and I will be fine. A little touchy by very okay....
This post has been edited by OkayCorral: Sep 14 2009, 12:38 AM
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Oct 5 2009, 01:34 AM
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Newbie
Group: Newbie
Posts: 9
Joined: 26-August 09
Member No.: 40,020
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I stopped taking celexa because of flat affect, zombie mode and most of all I had no sex drive whatsoever. PDOC and I slowly lowered the dose and discontinued completely 4 to 6 weeks ago. I am now going through hell .. severe anxiety, ocd, seriously depressed.... I would go back on Celexa in an instant if I knew I would not loose my sex drive. This is the most aweful trade off; give up sex and have stability or be a basket case with a normal sex life.
DH would like to see if I can "weather the storm" but I'm not sure I can. PDoc increased my seroquel dose hoping that would help but so far it hasn't. Tomorrow I will ask him to switch me to the SR version and see if that helps. Has anyone else had this experience? any suggestions? I fell like the bottom has dropped out of my life.
This post has been edited by dror: Oct 5 2009, 01:40 AM
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Oct 6 2009, 10:57 AM
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Just Registered
Group: Just Registered
Posts: 1
Joined: 6-October 09
From: Virginia
Member No.: 41,318
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Hi, all! My doc put me on citalopram 20 mg friday after i went in for help. My husband recently lost his job, and i'm a 20 credit hour student in college, and the stress was just getting to me to the point of really bad anxiety attacks. On Saturday I felt more human than i had in several months. On Sunday, i began shaking really bad, and throwing up. On monday, I was so agitated and angry for no reason. I called my doctor and she told me to stop taking the medicine (??) completely, and to come see her when the effects wore off. Anyone know how long I'm going to feel like this? I woke up this morning feeling very dizzy and my face feels numb. Is this normal? please help, I feel really bad.
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Oct 14 2009, 03:12 PM
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Member
Group: Platinum Member
Posts: 4,824
Joined: 20-February 09
From: UK
Member No.: 33,974
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QUOTE (kasanDara @ Oct 6 2009, 04:57 PM) Hi, all! My doc put me on citalopram 20 mg friday after i went in for help. My husband recently lost his job, and i'm a 20 credit hour student in college, and the stress was just getting to me to the point of really bad anxiety attacks. On Saturday I felt more human than i had in several months. On Sunday, i began shaking really bad, and throwing up. On monday, I was so agitated and angry for no reason. I called my doctor and she told me to stop taking the medicine (??) completely, and to come see her when the effects wore off. Anyone know how long I'm going to feel like this? I woke up this morning feeling very dizzy and my face feels numb. Is this normal? please help, I feel really bad. Hi Kasandara, I'm sorry that you haven't had a response up until now. Sometimes these threads are overlooked a little. If you're around, I would love to know how you're doing now? I would imagine you were still experiencing start-up effects and that you shouldn't suffer for too long as you were on it for such a short time. Your start-up effects were completely normal though. Hope you're doing better. PRT xx
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To see a world in a grain of sand And a heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand And eternity in an hour. |
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Nov 11 2009, 11:18 AM
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Just Registered
Group: Just Registered
Posts: 1
Joined: 11-November 09
Member No.: 42,450
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I have been taking celexa for about 3 years or so and got on it after I had my daughter due to post pardum depression. I am back on Celexa now but a few weeks ago I went off it and did not taper it down. I am trying to have another baby through a fertility clinic and I had to stop taking it immediately. I felt horrible. Tired, really irritable and angry, and I think I was in some sort of mild mania. I drove my husband nuts for 2 weeks and probably also my daughter. I have not been diagosed with mania. I even thought I was pregnant during the 2 weeks I was off celexa and I was not pregnant. I think it made me feel so crappy that I assumed I was pregnant. We want to try to get pregnant again and now I am even concerned about tapering off celexa. It really manages my problems with depression and anxiety. It does not get rid of all of it but it manages it.
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Stopping Citalopram (Celexa, Cipramil, Seropram) © Discontinuation Effects or Withdrawal Symptoms |
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Depression Forums - A Depression & Mental Health Community Support Group > DEPRESSION & ANXIETY MEDICATIONS - LOOKING FOR ANSWERS > Celexa® (Citalopram) / Lexapro®/Cipralex® (escitalopram)
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