Strange withdrawal symptoms from depakote?

[20mg]

Because of difficult circumstances, I've been forced to stop my medications cold turkey. I take 20 mg of citalopram (celexa) and Depakote (I forgot the dose but it's calibrated to my weight) for depression and mood stabilization and I've been experiencing alarmingly strange and uncomfortable side effects of the withdrawal.

I feel sluggish, weak, and dizzy. I feel like my head is both floating and too heavy. It is as though I've mildly lost touch with reality, and it's very hard for me to react as sharply and quickly as I normally would. It's difficult for me to even write this question in an articulate and concise fashion. I expected to feel emotional side effects from the withdrawal of citalopram, such as irritability and depression. But these physical sensations, such as dizziness, distant-mindedness, and a general feeling of being "impregnated in the head" are all very unexpected. Has anyone experienced similar withdrawal symptoms from either of these medications? I'm trying the best I can to get refills of my prescriptions because I would do anything to feel normal again. There are times when I feel that I would rather die than feel this way.

[bradbartlett]

I'm not good at tapering down anything.  I just want off the med completely.  Trying to get my life back.  What works for me is Klonapin and Ambien not alot else, been drug resistant to almost everything and tired of it.

How hard will it be?  I'm afraid.

Brad

[jay3874]

I too have lost healthcare coverage. I take 2000mg/day of Depakote. I was fully aware of having to go through withdrawal but this time was completely different then any other time. I too am feeling sort of "out of this world" dizzy, cannot focus my eyes just general blah. I'm currently going through the process of applying for disability for both mental and physical reasons. Until and if I get approved I'm working with my Dr and getting on whats called "safety net" One good side effect of going off the Depakote is I am finally able to sleep. I'll trade the sleep for having the meds though, maybe I can go through the day without crying at the slightest thing.

[paranoid_cataclysm]

I had to also quit psych meds abruptly due to difficult circumstances.  The doctor I went to couldn't prescribe them and ran out of samples she was giving me and the Centers for Mental Health couldn't give me any due to me not being a client yet at the time.  I went through really bad withdrawal symptoms as well as stopping suddenly is hard on the brain.

[ILADVOCATE]

This has happen from abrupt withdrawals from many psychiatric medications. If you don't have coverage you could be eligible for emergency Medicaid which could then transition into standard Medicaid. If you are working you could be eligible for the Medicaid Buy In for Working People with Disabilities. There is also the Patient Assistance Program where the medication companies can cover a person who has insurance gaps. Basically these side effects can occur and will continue to and its understood you had to stop it because of coverage being stopped but some of those ideas might work to obtain coverage so that you could get the prescriptions filled again.