I hate Celexa, I don't want to take it anymore, but I don't think I have a choice. I feel horrible right now. I quit taking it several days ago, but I just now took one because my family is about to disown me as I am right now. I keep having brain shutters and horrible mood swings. I am a stay at home mom with 4 kids and I don't think I will ever have a choice but to stay on this stuff. Every time I try to quit taking it, I just about lose my mind. I don't want to take it though because I've gained so much weight and I am so hot and sweaty all the time. If anyone can help, please let me know. I've been on 40mg per day for over 4 years.

Hi and Welcome http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

Did you step down off your medicine? You have to step down extremely slow. I was on paxil for 4 years at 40mg and either the paxil stopped working for me or I developed depression and the paxil just wasn't strong enough to help with that but my doctor stepped me down really fast on getting off the paxil but I was also starting effexor with pretty much evened everything out. I think you should try and get off of it if you don't want to take it anymore cause since you have took it for so long you run a risk of becoming immune to it and it not helping you anymore anyway. Y ou might need to do like I did....If you feel you still need medication to help you then I would tell my doctor and see if there is a medicine that could possibly fit you in a better way and stepping down off your medicine might now be as hard with another medicine.

[This message has been edited by west virginia girl (edited 01-04-2003).]

Thank you for your response. My doctor asks me every time if I really think I need Celexa anymore because he would like to see me get off of it. I finally decided maybe he was right, but I guess I really didn't have a plan. I feel better right now just knowing that I took a pill and knowing that I will be okay again soon. I just know that I never had a weight problem until I was diagnosed (by a different doctor) as being very depressed and put on Celexa and Lorazapam. I felt so much better once the meds took effect, but I am tired of battling this weight problem. All I know is that I don't have the freedom to experience any "down time" because I have children who depend on me to be "okay". So many times I just want my whole world to just stop for a day or two so that I can catch up and figure things out, but we know that can't happen. It's so annoying.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer last October, I was so distressed that my doctor put me on Zoloft saying that it would help me deal with my disease and would also help me loose weight. In addition, I couldn't get a nights sleep, I would be exhausted at 8:00 p.m. and wide awake by midnight. Then at about 5:00 a.m. I would fall asleep and wake as late as noon. My doctor then suggested that I take Ambien to help me sleep. About two weeks ago I questioned my husband as to why some lights had been turned off and furniture moved. He was surprised to realize that I had no memory of being up during the night on several occasions, one of which he actually said we had a conversation. He believed that I was awake. Actually I guess I was sleep walking. Fortunately, I never left the house in my vehicle, he was parking behind my vehicle since there were days when I wouldn't leave the house. As an accountant I was asked to help audit the local Chamber of Commerce books... what had once been a simple task now became almost impossible. There were days when I couldn't convince myself to take a shower, then dressing was a major chore. Sometimes I would find myself staring at my hanging clothes, unable to make a decision about what sweatshirt to wear. Okay, I had had enough! Cold Turkey I quit both medications. Since then I have had "shocks" and "disconnected thoughts." Scared that I had developed a neurological disorder and unable to discribe what was happening to my husband, I decided to get on the web and do some research. I went to google and in a moment of clarity, typed "brain shutters" because I was making a desperate attempt to describe what has been happening to me. Amazed, Google found one hit and that's how I found your postings. Now at least I know I'm not alone and that I'm not crazy!

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Janelu
Eagle Lake, Texas

[This message has been edited by Janelu (edited 02-08-2003).]

brain zaps or shutters seems to be a major withdrawal symptom from ssri antidepressants. there is quite a bit of info and personal stories to be found on the web. and i know there are people here who have also gone through this.
i figure i will be on celexa forever. if i forget to take it then - by like 3 p.m. - i am in a corner hysterically crying. yuck.

anyway - you are not alone.

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(the truth is out there)

Hi everyone! I was put on Paxil about 6 years ago for anxiety and depression. It totally turned my life around for the better. I started on only 20mg a day, but after awhile I had to be bumped up to 30 then 40mg. I decided to stop taking it because I thought I was getting immune to it. I was off of it for awhile, then my symptoms came back, so my doc put me on Prozac. That I did'nt like at all! A couple of years ago, I went to my Gyn for a checkup and asked her to put me back on Paxil (since it worked wonders when I first started it). She said "you really don't want that do you! It causes bad weight gain" So she gave me Celexa. I still have all the weight on that I gained before. I'm about 60lbs. over what I should be. I think that all ssri' cause weight gain really. Have you ever had your Thyroid checked? That could be causing your weight and your depression. If I were you, I would defenitly ask your doc about that. I hope you can find an answer because I know how it feels to be saddled to an antidepresant. Good luck!

Hi

I was on Celexa 20mg, when coming off it I had to do it very slowly. My doc said to do it by taking the 20mg everyother day. I did this and the brain zaps came along with vision problems, although this happened it was bearable for me. I did this for as long as it took for these side effects to go, I then went on to 10mg everyother day same again until the side effects passed. I then stopped altogether the side effects were the same but took longer to pass but each time they were bearable. You can do this much slower than me, perhaps go down by 5mg each time. Shave tablets if you need to, whatever you do its a start and that alone will give you a boost. Just dont expect no side effects just bearable ones, you are not alone dont feel that you are. Be brave and hang on in there honey.

Take care
Lizzy XX

PS dont know if you know but people have ended up in the ER doing this COLD TURKEY !!

[This message has been edited by Lizzy H (edited 02-09-2003).]

About 2 years ago, I quit taking my meds (Celexa and Trazadone) after I was taking them for 3 years. I was getting sick of the fact that my family always got on my case whenever I was sad or angry. Whenever my grandmother passed away, I remember my Mother telling me, "Jennifer- Did you forget to take your medication again?????" Just because I was devistated and crying. I got so fed up that I quit cold turkey. Not only my meds- but also seeing my Dr.'s. BIG MISTAKE. Celexa helped me when I was going through some really tough times, but please- don't ever quit like I did. Gradually go off your meds, and with your doctor's assistance. I want to go back to see my Psychologist again, but I feel like a jerk since it has been 2 years since I quit showing up for my appointments.