Celexa Withdrawals

[CLR128]

I have been taking Celexa for about 1 1/2 years now.  I have not been myself for the last 4-5 months, crying easily, tempermental, foggy, tired, exhausted. I decided I couldn't live like this anymore, it was effecting my life, my relationships, my kids, my job so I decided to quit taking them.  Now I'm having withdrawal symptoms.  I'm extremely angry, exhausted, dizzy, nausea, numb feeling, how long with this last.  I did not taper off the drugs, I just stopped cold turkey about 5 days ago.  

[lifewithoutmeds]

Wow... It amazes me that:

a) ppl try and cold-turkey any drug instead of tapering... big mistake!

b) ppl don't realize that the reason they feel as though they dont need antidepressants anymore is because the antidepressants they're taking are actually working!

Hoping things get better for ya....   - RJ.

[catlady90]

I am taking citalpram which is a generic version of celexa.  I have  been taking it for about two and a half years now.  I went through a phase where I believed that I did not need medication, and that I could fix myself with diet and exercise.  I stopped taking it cold turkey also.  That was a terrible mistake.  I felt the same symptoms that you are describing.  I was incredibly dizzy and I even threw up a few times.  I informed my psychiatrist of how I stopped without weaning myself off of it.  He told me that it could cause permanent damage to my memory (if I continue to start and stop drugs without weaning).  I talked with a different psychiatrist and was told the same thing.  If I were you, and you are still experiencing withdrawl, I would take about half a pill one a day for a week or so, and then maybe a quarter of a pill every day for the week following.  Then on the start of the third week, go without.  I was told that it should be about a two - three week weaning process.  Let me know how it goes!  GOODLUCK!

[amanda714]

About two weeks ago, I also decided to stop taking my anti-depressant, mirtazapine, without slowly tapering off.  I felt that I no longer needed to take my medicine because I am no longer depressed.  In addition, my psychiatrist expressed that he believes that I no longer need to be on an anti-depressant.  He laid out a plan in which I will slowly taper off of the drug within the next couple of months.  I was feeling so confident, happy, and emotionally strong that I felt that I did not need to work towards tapering off.  It was a huge mistake of mine to abruptly discontinue my medication.  A major side effect of my action was the re-emergence of depressive symptoms.  Now, I am back on mirtazapine and am following the medical advice of my psychiatrist.

I feel that it is within your best interest to contact your physician immediately to discuss your issues with citalopram.  Your physician can work with you by assessing your situation and needs; thereafter, the two of you can decide on a better and safer solution than abruptly discontining your medication.

[M4Y0U]

If you think you can manage it cold turkey then I don't suggest to go back on the medication, you already have 5 days done, I think after 1 months the symptoms should be done. If your symptoms gets very worse on day 7 then I would suggest taking half a dose, see how you react and cutting each week to reach 1 month or two. Call your pharmacist or your doctor for any information, I can't give you medical advices here, those are only suggestions.

Any change in your medication/dosage/schedule must be addressed with a qualified physician.

M4