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Celexa Withdrawal
Due to a very serious bout of depression 20 years ago which went on for 6 solid years, I have been on anti-depressants for that long. Celexa being the latest, since Serzone was taken off the market. In the last 14 years, I can honestly say that my life has come together full-circle, slowly but surely. I am happy and successful. I had to make several changes through this process (in terms of relationships, personal growth and thinking patterns) and I must say I feel fulfilled. I have often questioned what life would be like without that pill. Is it me that created the success or is it the medication? I may soon find out the answer...
I have been extremely busy at work over the past 4 months, which is not at all unusual. But, for the first time ever, I ran out of medication. The pharmacist would not advance me the medication and was quite rude about it and the doctor, with whom I had an appointment scheduled for next week, would not fax a prescription, as it's against his policy. As a side-note, this is the doctor I have been seeing for the past 20 years. Granted, I am peeved as I feel that he has now put me in a very precarious and uncertain position after all these years. But ultimately, I cannot blame anyone but myself.
So, bottom line is this, I have been off Celexa for 7 days - after 20 years of being on medication. I am experiencing some physical withdrawal symptoms - day 3 was the worst, as I felt as though I was in another dimension and was very nauseous. I now have some cold like symptoms as well and still feel slightly off balance physically. Mentally I feel fine - I am functioning as normal.
By the time I see the doctor, it will be 11 days without medication. Now I'm beginning to question whether I should restart the medication at all? The way I see it, if after 20 years of being on medication, the doctor took the chance of leaving me without my Celexa for almost two weeks, is it really worth restarting? Since I have withdrawal symptoms now - what will happen when I start my medication again? Will it even work the same way or is this a point of no return?
I need a few informed opinions and some guidance, as I am honestly quite confused as to what I should do at this point and quite frankly I'm a little scared as well. Thanks!
I have been extremely busy at work over the past 4 months, which is not at all unusual. But, for the first time ever, I ran out of medication. The pharmacist would not advance me the medication and was quite rude about it and the doctor, with whom I had an appointment scheduled for next week, would not fax a prescription, as it's against his policy. As a side-note, this is the doctor I have been seeing for the past 20 years. Granted, I am peeved as I feel that he has now put me in a very precarious and uncertain position after all these years. But ultimately, I cannot blame anyone but myself.
So, bottom line is this, I have been off Celexa for 7 days - after 20 years of being on medication. I am experiencing some physical withdrawal symptoms - day 3 was the worst, as I felt as though I was in another dimension and was very nauseous. I now have some cold like symptoms as well and still feel slightly off balance physically. Mentally I feel fine - I am functioning as normal.
By the time I see the doctor, it will be 11 days without medication. Now I'm beginning to question whether I should restart the medication at all? The way I see it, if after 20 years of being on medication, the doctor took the chance of leaving me without my Celexa for almost two weeks, is it really worth restarting? Since I have withdrawal symptoms now - what will happen when I start my medication again? Will it even work the same way or is this a point of no return?
I need a few informed opinions and some guidance, as I am honestly quite confused as to what I should do at this point and quite frankly I'm a little scared as well. Thanks!
Contact your pharmacist if you can't see your doc for ideas, as they have lots of information and see lots of people. 10 mg is very low, so there is lots of potential to increase your dosage if that is necessary.
The max effect occurs in 8 weeks, so you may still have more benefit to come. Perhaps you just had a bad night. Is there a specific issue that is causing the panic, and is it resolvable? Do you also take something for panic attacks?
The max effect occurs in 8 weeks, so you may still have more benefit to come. Perhaps you just had a bad night. Is there a specific issue that is causing the panic, and is it resolvable? Do you also take something for panic attacks?
Hi - I started on 10mg of Celexa 25 days ago. I am apparently one of those that responds quickly to the medication and have been happier then I have been in years these last few weeks. Last night I went to bed late and as soon as my head hit the pillow, I started with a terrible anxiety attack. It went on for two hours until I just fell over tired and went to sleep. This morning I woke up to discover that I do not feel any better. Has anyone ever heard of breakthrough anxiety at such an early stage? Also, my husband started me on this vitamin and supplement regimen yesterday and I am wondering if there could be some interaction with what I took..nothing crazy...your basic multi-vitamins, vit C, D, etc. Any thoughts are appreciated!
You have both been so wonderful and supportive! I am feeling really sick today - extremely dizzy. I phoned the pharmacy where this came to pass and finally spoke to the owner. She was very empathetic and apologized profusely, as this is not the way the whole episode should have been handled. She mentioned that the pharmacist was a temp there (due to a severe shortage apparently) and with no hesitation agreed to advance me until my appointment on Tuesday. I am so relieved.
I've had to go to a walk-in clinic to get a small amount, my GP won't do phone refills either - with the exception of once - when her medical partner was on vacation and it would be 3 weeks until I could get in. I went at one point a week as well w/out meds. Day 3 was pure hell. I've been going to my pharmacy pretty much for the last 20yrs give or take a bit, they can here advance up to 3 days, if you're broke and have a script on file, but only for meds that aren't benzo's and pain meds, i don't blame them.
Personally, I think you are doing well over the long haul, with both meds and your own work. Your type of dep. requires meds to be healthy, but I am one, like you know that it's not the cure, but it helps facilitate and eases symptoms. I've seen too many folks here, that as soon as they feel better they stop their meds, and have a worse crash then they did before, and it's been studied that it will get worse each time you do it. Not a pleasant thing to think of. I'm not sure why many folks think it's an embarrassing ailment, that it's shameful not to be able to handle it on their own. Epileptics and Diabetics need it, if folks realized that this too is a medical condition we wouldn't see so many horrid stats.
I'm glad to hear such a postive post, that we can lead relatively normal lives :)
All the best,
LCC
Personally, I think you are doing well over the long haul, with both meds and your own work. Your type of dep. requires meds to be healthy, but I am one, like you know that it's not the cure, but it helps facilitate and eases symptoms. I've seen too many folks here, that as soon as they feel better they stop their meds, and have a worse crash then they did before, and it's been studied that it will get worse each time you do it. Not a pleasant thing to think of. I'm not sure why many folks think it's an embarrassing ailment, that it's shameful not to be able to handle it on their own. Epileptics and Diabetics need it, if folks realized that this too is a medical condition we wouldn't see so many horrid stats.
I'm glad to hear such a postive post, that we can lead relatively normal lives :)
All the best,
LCC
Doc told me I could go back on it, as 7 months was near her minimum to be on it. I gathered from that, that restarting will be back where you left off. Are you not able to call your pharmacist for this info, just to make sure?
Don't hold that perceived rudeness against the pharmacist. Others on this board have unjustifiably complained about the same thing. One man even tried to register a formal complaint against the "rude" pharmacist who insulted his intelligence by insinuating that the patient didn't understand they couldn't get more meds than were prescribed.
My take is the pharmacist is being asked by the patient to break the law, so there is reason to get extremely firm with the patient. He would lose his job, but probably gets asked too many times every day to risk it by giving out unprescribed medications by patients.
Don't hold that perceived rudeness against the pharmacist. Others on this board have unjustifiably complained about the same thing. One man even tried to register a formal complaint against the "rude" pharmacist who insulted his intelligence by insinuating that the patient didn't understand they couldn't get more meds than were prescribed.
My take is the pharmacist is being asked by the patient to break the law, so there is reason to get extremely firm with the patient. He would lose his job, but probably gets asked too many times every day to risk it by giving out unprescribed medications by patients.
Don't waste a minute agonizing over doc's policy. You need to focus on watching your moods to make sure you are ok without Celexa.
I reread your post and you are only in day 7. I would phone the pharmacist to get some emergency information. I presume you know about the pings and brain zaps that some people get.
Are you not able to get to a walk-in clinic for a tiny refill, to help you taper, until you see doc ? Maybe a hospital? A drop from 40 is large.
I am in your position, except 5 months clean. I monitor myself at least twice daily to ensure I am still happy. I have some routines too, like looking at myself in the mirror a few times a day to make sure I can smile without forcing it. I read about that in a book by a counselor who said the rules in the monastery he lived in were that he was forced to smile each morning. He pulled his lips apart by the corners since he wasn't a morning person.
The effects can linger for a while, so it may still be Celexa in you that has you up, or you may have recovered. If you have a second depression, the odds are like 90% that it will be a chronic problem, so that is why you need to keep checking your moods.
Write back.
I reread your post and you are only in day 7. I would phone the pharmacist to get some emergency information. I presume you know about the pings and brain zaps that some people get.
Are you not able to get to a walk-in clinic for a tiny refill, to help you taper, until you see doc ? Maybe a hospital? A drop from 40 is large.
I am in your position, except 5 months clean. I monitor myself at least twice daily to ensure I am still happy. I have some routines too, like looking at myself in the mirror a few times a day to make sure I can smile without forcing it. I read about that in a book by a counselor who said the rules in the monastery he lived in were that he was forced to smile each morning. He pulled his lips apart by the corners since he wasn't a morning person.
The effects can linger for a while, so it may still be Celexa in you that has you up, or you may have recovered. If you have a second depression, the odds are like 90% that it will be a chronic problem, so that is why you need to keep checking your moods.
Write back.
Thanks for your response!
I was on 40mg. I still feel as though my head is in the clouds and feel quite nauseous, but I am hoping beyond hoping that this is the worst of it.
As you said, I did not have a choice in this matter and quite honestly, I am quite scared as I don't want to end up where I was 15 to 20 years ago. Rock bottom doesn't begin to describe where I've been. Again the nagging question remains: Was it me that got over the depression or was it the medication that did it for me? I honestly don't want to find out that it was the latter, without proper guidance. And if the medication needs to continue, so be it.
I will go to see the doctor on Tuesday as scheduled and will also express my disappointment, because he left me in such a predicament. He knows where I am now and he also knows where I've been and we're talking two different people. So why, because of a self made policy, would he leave me with no choice but to be off medication for almost two weeks?
Just venting, sorry! ON A POSITIVE NOTE: To anyone out there who feels that they cannot cope, I am living proof that there is life after depression - and a fulfilling one. Keep fighting! Even after this incident, which just blew me away temporarily, I know that the fighter inside will always come out, even if she's a little jittery and a little scared right now. Fight On - It's worth the battle.
I was on 40mg. I still feel as though my head is in the clouds and feel quite nauseous, but I am hoping beyond hoping that this is the worst of it.
As you said, I did not have a choice in this matter and quite honestly, I am quite scared as I don't want to end up where I was 15 to 20 years ago. Rock bottom doesn't begin to describe where I've been. Again the nagging question remains: Was it me that got over the depression or was it the medication that did it for me? I honestly don't want to find out that it was the latter, without proper guidance. And if the medication needs to continue, so be it.
I will go to see the doctor on Tuesday as scheduled and will also express my disappointment, because he left me in such a predicament. He knows where I am now and he also knows where I've been and we're talking two different people. So why, because of a self made policy, would he leave me with no choice but to be off medication for almost two weeks?
Just venting, sorry! ON A POSITIVE NOTE: To anyone out there who feels that they cannot cope, I am living proof that there is life after depression - and a fulfilling one. Keep fighting! Even after this incident, which just blew me away temporarily, I know that the fighter inside will always come out, even if she's a little jittery and a little scared right now. Fight On - It's worth the battle.
Wow. That is a very interesting story, going cold turkey on Celexa and not having withdrawal side effects. For anyone reading, do not do this because the withdrawal mental effects can be unnecessarily agonizing and pointless. In your case, you had no choice the way you describe it, so I am not passing judgement.
What was your dose? You should talk to a pharmacist immediately though for information.
I tapered from 30,20,10 and broke them into 5s every 2 weeks per my docs orders, so it was a 6 week affair before I was off. I was lucky enough to not get side effects either, but you are super lucky, so far.
She told me 2 weeks is as long as I needed for each taper, as there was no residual effect from the higher dose by 2 weeks. My PURELY WILD guess is you are in the clear for side effects in 3 days, if you have none by then.
What was your dose? You should talk to a pharmacist immediately though for information.
I tapered from 30,20,10 and broke them into 5s every 2 weeks per my docs orders, so it was a 6 week affair before I was off. I was lucky enough to not get side effects either, but you are super lucky, so far.
She told me 2 weeks is as long as I needed for each taper, as there was no residual effect from the higher dose by 2 weeks. My PURELY WILD guess is you are in the clear for side effects in 3 days, if you have none by then.
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