Weaning off Celexa

[smitty59]

I've been taking Celexa for about 4 months now, and I'm thinking about stopping it.  I've gained over 10 pounds, but the worse side effect I'm having is joint and muscle pain.  The joint pain is keeping me from doing a lot of things I like or need to do.  It started 2-3 months ago....just out of the blue.  I've been off Celexa for the past 6 days because I ran out of it and had no refills--until I went to my psy. doctor and spent $90 for him to write me a prescription. (Ugh!)  Anyway, I have no side effects right now from not taking the pills for the past week, and even though I now have a new prescription I can fill, I'm thinking about not filling it.  I would like to hear from others who have weaned off of Celexa, either by yourself or with the help of your doctor.  Did you do it cold turkey or a little at a time?

Smitty59

[smitty59]

Thanks for your response.  Now that it's been a week for me without Celexa, I'm going to try a few more days and see how I do.  I have a prescription waiting for me to pick up at the pharmacy, so I can always pick it up if I feel I'm not ready to go cold turkey.  As you said, I am fortunate not to have any side effects so far.  I actually quit alcohol cold turkey 4 months ago (after drinking nearly every day for years), so I might be able to do the same with my antidepressant!  Time will tell...

Good luck to you.
Smitty59

[M4Y0U]

Since you already been on it for 4 months and because of the nature of the med itself and that you are fortunate enough to not experience any withdrawal symptoms I would suggest you quit it cold turkey. Anyway, for your own information withdrawal symptoms are supposed to start one week after not takin the drug and some people really used to the drug can experience symptoms as soon as they are skipping a dose.

I did quit Cymbalta (duloxetine) which is an SNRI (i was gettin a norepinephrine reuptake inhibition as well as the serotonin reuptake inhibition, cold turkey about 2-3 months ago and I had withdrawal symptoms for 1 month. I had terrible brain zaps and I was less outgoing and more aggressive.

The choice is yours, slow (months) and more comfortable (not that much tho) while tapering or maximum 1 month of it and be med free and symptoms free?

Best of luck,
M4