The Honest Truth.

[catburgler]

Some of you may have seen my posts in the past.  Here is my story.  I have chronic back pain at 32.  I am 6'6'' which doesn't help with the pain.  I used to be a workout nut.  In the gym everyday even with the pain as I found it helped me.  Well four years ago, I got married and became less disciplined on my workouts.  I went from 5 days a weed to two or three.  My back problems got worse and I was prescribed lortab.  That let to percocet.  Then to roxicodone.  For three years, I only used as directed.  I usually took 1 to 3 lortab or percocets a day.  Usually after 6pm.  Then came the roxi's and a doctor willing to prescribe.  i began taking 4 7.5's a day, then 4 15mg a day and then 4 30mg a day, and then I went haywire.  I got up to 300mg a day.  Without sounding vain, I had too much to lose to let that go on.  So I started tapering.  That was Thanksgiving.  Within a month I was down to 45mg a day.  I took a step back to 60mg a day and I have been there for about 3 months.  I was prescribed celexa because I told my doctor I was having severe anxiety but I didn't tell him why.  The celexa worked against me as I not only took that step back but I also lost my will to quit.  Now I am off of the Celexa, started working out at least 4 days a week again, and I am gonna pick the taper back up.  I don't have much trouble on the days I workout, but on the other days even though I have been on 60mg for 3 months I still have terrible anxiety.  I know 3 months is surely enough at this level.  Should I go ahead and drop again to 45mg or stick on this a little longer and let the celexa completely leave my system.  The reason being is that I have read that coming off of Celexa can take months for it to leave your system, I've been off about 2 weeks, and that it can cause anxiety too.  
I received some incredible help on here the last time and even though my taper stopped for a while, I think finding this site and getting down from such a high amount may have already saved my life.  I need some friends and some advice for this.  I have tried cold turkey but that is just not the way for me.  I have self discipline so I can taper.  Me being able to stick with this dose for so long surely proves that.  I have to say that I honestly dread taking each dose now.  I don't want to feel euphoric anymore.  I am completely honest but I can't stand the WD and anxiety that CT causes.  Thanks for any help.

[catburgler]

Thanks for the comments.  The celexa gave me a constant feeling of lightheadedness all of the time.  I had planned taking another AD but after I got off of it I noticed that my concern for myself returned to get off of the pain pills.  I have to feel that concern to beat this, but the anxiety is awful.  So at this point an AD just isn't what I need.  I have read other people who have said that AD's were great but their desires to break addiction was curved along with the depression or anxiety the AD was treating.
Thanks again, Anybody else?

[ladyboop]

1st, I think that website the road back, is down right now. I tryed to google it. and the one that looked like the one you are talking about said it was closed for updating. Did not say when it would be back up.

I have taken celexa before. and it will help anxiety. So there for it only makes sence that once you stop the med. the anxiety will come back...

  Good luck with that. sorry I could not be more help...

[songwriterdelta]

Go a a websight called The Road Back and read about their program of tapering--and to avoid the chronice anxiety-- and what they use.  It does work on celexa ands drugs like that.--mostly antidepressantds,. benzos etc. Ity just might help you.--I used it successfully. songwriterdelta in pensacola

[cathy5841]

i have not heard that about celexa and have never taken it.  o wonder if the anxiety is caused from lowering your dose though being you have been on that dose for 3 months.  maybe it caused from knowing you are trying to get off the pills.   the addiction will cause crazy things trying to get you to use or continue usring.  sorry i couldnt be of more helo\p.  maybe someone with more knowledge will be along.  it is late so if you dont get answers post again in the morning.