Celexa Cold Turkey Withdrawal - I'm in hell

[nhagerty74]

I started Celexa for "mild" anxiety and stress back in November.  It gave me increased nervousness and anxiety from the start, but I decided to "tough it out" like so many people told me I should do and give it a chance to work.  I only took it for 2 months.  The anxiety that the drug caused seemed like it started to get better and then just hit me with panic attacks and crying spells that I did not have before taking this drug.  I started on 20mg and only tolerated that for a few days and then dropped to 10mg for the remainder of the time I was on it.  I only took 5mg for about the last few days I was on it.  Anyways, my Dr. told me to just stop taking it, no taper.... and I was out of the med at that point also.  That was 3 weeks ago.  About 5 days after stopping, all hell broke loose in my mind/body.  Here is what I'm experiencing:  CONSTANT ANXIETY and nervousness, uncontrollable crying and feeling depressed, dry mouth, no appetite, diarrhea, can't concentrate.  I also had a cold right after I stopped it, but that went away.  I have xanax that was given to me to help while I "adjusted" to the drug in the first place.  I went to the ER yesterday morning because I couldn't take it anymore and they did nothing for me.  The Dr. told me that there was no magic pill that was going to fix this at this point and that I should take .5mg xanax 3 times a day for now.  The anxiety and crying are so bad in the morning sometimes that I can barely function and get out of bed.  I had a couple of days where I thought I felt some improvement, but it was short lived.  A pyschiatrist at the hospital told the Dr. I dealt with he believes since I didn't tolerate the drug well to begin with, then quit cold turkey, and also I take Protonix which they said made the drug stay in me longer than normal is causing this, but offered no solution/time frame.  I'm very sensitive to most drugs I've ever taken also.  I don't want another to put another antidepressant in my body.  Will this end?  I'm so scared of how I feel right now.   I feel extremely hopeless.

[nhagerty74]

I'm on ativan and I think it's making me depressed.  I think benzos might be part of the problem.  I'm sorry for so many posts but I'm really scared of the way I'm feeling.

[nursegirl6572]

Well, you always have a choice.  If you feel strongly that the meds are the primary cause, then I would agree that maybe you should give it a go without the meds.

Are you still on Klonopin?  That may be an option at this point...taking that regularly, every day, 2-3 times daily.  That may stabilize you until you can give this all some time.  If you're already on it, you may need a dosage increase.  It's someting to ask about anyway.

Go into the appt with an open mind, and be sure to write down all of your concerns and questions ahead of time...so you don't forget to ask anything.

Best of luck..let us know how the appt goes.

[nhagerty74]

I don't know what to do.

[nhagerty74]

only tolerated the Prozac for 3 days because of the anxiety it caused and the ativan is making me feel depressed.  starting on all of these drugs ruined my life.  before I was offered any medication I could have dealt with everything through therapy n now these medications and withdrawals have me in such a mess I don't know who I am.  I'm seeing a psychiatrist for the first time next week and I'm sure she is just going to write another prescription....what choice do I have it this point?  I think I'm losing my mind.  I feel so alone and hopeless.

[birdie0907]

Lots of people find a med that works after searching, someitmes for a long time, so there is hope. If you stick it out with the prescribed dosage until the 18th then you will have an idea how well you can handle it when you discuss your situation with him.

[nhagerty74]

They only kept me one night in the stress management unit.  I met a pyschiatrist who agreed I was extremely sensitive to these meds and cases like me can be rare so not alot of docs see them.  He switched me ativan for the anxiety (1 mg twice a day).  Isnt helping that much actually.  And also gave me a presription for 5 mg prozac.  He said since I tolerated that when I was younger maybe it could help get me back to "normal" but didn't want to prescribe a higher amount.  Well I took my first pill yesterday and woke up feeling sort of like I drank a bunch of coffee, the feeling like when I first took the celexa, but just not as bad.  I don't know what feelings are from at this point or what to do.  I can't talk to the Dr who prescrbed the stuff because he only deals with the people inpatient and i don't have appt with a psychiatrist until 2/18.  I've never seen her before so she doesnt even know my situation yet.  Do I keep taking the prozac til I see her or just stick with the ativan?  I think maye this prolonged withdrawal has put me into a real depression that I didn't have before and I feel like there's no hope for me now.