Antidepressant withdrawals - Depression Message Board

jlsp · 12-26-2006, 02:39 AM

Hello. I am new to this forum and wanted to share my experience trying to withdraw from paxil and also celexa. I think I might have finally figured out a remedy. If anyone has a similar story, or thoughts to share on this, please respond.

I was given paxil 10 years ago after my house burned down. I began to experience post tramatic stress disorder about fire and would wake up during the night thinking I smelled smoke. It was almost a sleep walking type of experience. So the doc gave me paxil and I should have know it was not a good idea because it took at least 3 weeks of nervous behavior, with insomnia and horrid body aches before the paxil kicked in. But eventually the PTSD subsided after several months, but by then I was hooked on the paxil. I don't know if the paxil had anything to do with the PTSD subsiding it or not.

At any rate, when I tried to quit the paxil I found it was impossible. The withdrawal symptoms were so dibilitating that I could not function in my family life, personal life, job, walking, breathing, sleeping, eating or thinking. So I stayed on the paxil for several years (trying over and over and unsuccessfully, to withdraw gradually) until about 8 months ago when a new doc and I met with a pharmacist/specialist in SSRI's and they switched me to celexa, knowing I eventually wanted to withdraw from antidepressants all together.

About three months ago I decided to try again. One reason is because it wasn't like I was diagnosed with depression or anxiety in the first place, and the other reason is because I now live in Scotland, far from the States, and I don't want to have to deal with the addiction or worrying about filling prescriptions while traveling to other countries. Also, it seems that after 6 months the celexa began to make me anxious and panic stricken for several minutes about an hour after I took my dose.

So this is what I am doing:

I dropped the celexa down from 40 mg. a day, to 20 mg. every other day for 3 weeks. Then 10 mg. every other day for 3 weeks. Now I am on 10 mg. every 4 days, and have been doing that for about a month. I don't know how much longer I will do this before going to 5 days, or if I will cut down to 5mg. every 4 days, or maybe I will shave just a few crumbs from the 10 mg. dose.

I forgot to take my 10 mg. dose once and became extremely ill while on a bus trip to Manchester, England. All my faculities and emotions were totally out of control which included severe vomiting and tremors, and it took about 10 hours after I took my dose, to feel normal again.

Well guys, thanks for reading this long post. I would sure like to hear any similar stories or ideas. I just know I need to get off of this drug. Cheers!

SOE · 12-26-2006, 10:44 AM

The obvious thing I could offer is that you should not be tapering every other day. That puts a real strain on your body and keeps it in a constant state of withdrawal.

It's important to taper every day. If you are suffering, then you are tapering too fast. It's recommended that you taper no more than 10% of the current dose per week.

Be patient with yourself and go as slow as you need to.

Take care.

SOE

oneo · 12-26-2006, 11:31 AM

HI.
i have just read your post.
and please can anyone give me some help and advice.
i have been on anti depressants and sleeping tabltes for 35 years now.
but i have been on a anti depressant called citalopram 30mg a day for 6 or 7 years now. i do suffer with agoraphobia panic attacks and anxiety. i am housebound.
but i really want to try and come of my anti depressants. as i feel that they are not doing my kidneys any good as i keep having problems with my kidneys. and now the doctor is saying to me that if it comes back again. then some how i have got to go to the hospital for tests. and being housebound and not being able to go out side my house there is just no way that i could go and have these tests done.
please help me.
thanks.
sue

jlsp · 12-27-2006, 02:08 AM

Thank you so much for replying to my post. Actually, I am now taking 10 mg. every 4 days, which mean I take it twice a week. For instance, if I take a dose on Monday I do not take another one till Friday. Do you still think this is putting a strain on my body? It seems that on the 4th day I start getting achy until I take my morning dose. The thing is, even when I take as little as 10 mg. a day, I get shakey and ill for about 20 minutes after I take the dose. But that doesn't happen if I skip those 4 days. Sometimes I wish I could just go cold turkey and get through the 3 weeks of horrid symptoms and get it over with, but I'm too frightened to do that. Thanks again.

jlsp · 12-27-2006, 02:20 AM

ONEO, Citalopram is the generic version of Celexa. As you read in my post, I am dealing with trying to withdraw from Citalopram (celexa) myself. I am wondering if, being housebound and agoraphobic, going off of your meds is a good idea. Sometimes I feel as if I don't want to leave my house, but this is a new thing to me and I am wondering if it is because I am in a new country and a little intimidated with all the changes. I never felt that way until I started taking the Citalopram though. What is good for some, is not as good for others. It takes a long time to wean off of the addiction of antidepressants. I didn't know that there might be a possible kidney reaction to some of them. I need to look that up. Anyway, if I were you I wouldn't do anything rash until you hear from other Citalopram users or do more research about the kidney thing. Take care.