Wish me luck...goodbye, Celexa!
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Wish me luck...goodbye, Celexa!
| Thu, 09-02-2004 - 9:46pm |
I just wanted to share that this is my first full day "Celexa free."! I started taking an antidepressant when I was struggling to make ends meet during school, when I had no income and desperately needed to finish school. I had to settle for delaying some of my program so that I could start working full time again, and all the stress and anxiety I was experiencing through this time was making me fall into a depression. Anyway, that was more than a year ago, probably closer to a year and a half, and this week I've decided that I don't want to take it anymore. Part of the reason is because since I've moved and no longer have a fulltime job with benefits, I would rather not spend the money on the drug, since it's pretty expensive. I just don't think I need to take it anymore, anyway. A lot has changed this past year, I've gotten engaged and moved in with my fiance, and I've finally completed my nursing diploma, and those are the two main things that have made me the happiest in the past year. I don't need to take a pill to cope with life anymore, I'm happy! Andre (my fiance) is my antidepressant! I could not ask for a better man to share my life with, he is everything and more than I ever thought I could be blessed with! We're a team now, and we're strong together, and without him, the depression that I was going through at the time would have been a whole lot worse. He was my saviour at the time...he was my comfort, and he lent me money...and now I get to marry him! Everything in my life has fallen into place, and I don't think that it's necessary to take an antidepressant anymore.
I'm a little nervous about going off of it, though. One reason is because I don't have a family doctor, so I don't really know what effect going off of it might have on my body. I know that Celexa is a drug that you have to wean yourself off of, and I'm almost going cold turkey...well, the last 2 days that I took the drug, I had cut it in half, but that's only two days, so hopefully I don't experience any ill effects of going off it. I told Andre that he has to sort of help me gauge my moods and behaviours, to see if I seem different, or more edgy, or bitchy, or sad during this next week. We'll see if I feel any different. I also think that not taking this drug might help me lose weight faster, because antidepressants can sometimes slow down weight loss. It's a little scary doing this without the supervision of the Dr, but I'm a nurse, and I'm very aware of my body and when something is not right, I always question it and get to the bottom of it. If I feel any different during this next week, I'll definately see a Dr in a clinic or something. I wish I had a family Dr, but it's so hard to find one these days, at least where I'm living.
Anyway, I just wanted to share. If anyone has experiences with antidepressants and going off of them, I'd appreciate your input! ~Sabrina
I'm a little nervous about going off of it, though. One reason is because I don't have a family doctor, so I don't really know what effect going off of it might have on my body. I know that Celexa is a drug that you have to wean yourself off of, and I'm almost going cold turkey...well, the last 2 days that I took the drug, I had cut it in half, but that's only two days, so hopefully I don't experience any ill effects of going off it. I told Andre that he has to sort of help me gauge my moods and behaviours, to see if I seem different, or more edgy, or bitchy, or sad during this next week. We'll see if I feel any different. I also think that not taking this drug might help me lose weight faster, because antidepressants can sometimes slow down weight loss. It's a little scary doing this without the supervision of the Dr, but I'm a nurse, and I'm very aware of my body and when something is not right, I always question it and get to the bottom of it. If I feel any different during this next week, I'll definately see a Dr in a clinic or something. I wish I had a family Dr, but it's so hard to find one these days, at least where I'm living.
Anyway, I just wanted to share. If anyone has experiences with antidepressants and going off of them, I'd appreciate your input! ~Sabrina

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Im pulling for ya girl! Im not trying to throw a wrench into your decision, just want to make sure you stay ok is all :) Let us know how things are going! And if in doubt, get a doctor!
That's fine. I'm an experienced Celexa girl myself, and when I've gone off it, I haven't even weaned myself. My doc is fine with this, he respects that I know my needs and body better than he ever could... if I come in and say "I need back on" he writes a scrip. If I go in for my yearly and say "I went off of it 2 months ago" he says ok. (Of course there's more talking than this, but you get the drift.)
Celexa actually doesn't have much effect on weight, but of course YMMV. There's always that risk, but Celexa's is very very low.
Anyway, congratulations and good luck!!! Let me know how it's going (:
- Yav
"What is an 'Oprah'?" - Teal'c, SG-1
Just remember, it's ok to "need" a pill, if you start feeling that anxiety and depression again. Personally, I hate putting "fake cr*p" into my body, I won't take Advil until I can't stand it anymore, but when it comes to an anti-depressant, I willingly take it to save my sanity and protect those around me (:
(I not only suffer from depression, but I'm bipolar and OCD as well! ugh!)
- Yav
"What is an 'Oprah'?" - Teal'c, SG-1
Several years ago I was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, and took Prozac for it, also had DBT and cognitive behavior therapy. I had been depressed since I was 20 or so, but had the symptoms of BPD since 16 (and I thought I was unusaully bitchy and difficult!)but no one diagnosed me until 1998.
I have never taken Celexa, but am on Effexor, which I need to get off before I have a REAL seizure. Right now I am having nocturnal myoclonus, it is heaviest as I as falling asleep, but I continue to jek, twitch, and do the samba in bed all night. I ever flipped out of bed one night, and our bed is a custom built platform bed, so when you are laying down, you are THREE FEET off the floor. Enough said. Lucky I didn't break my arm.
Antidepressants are not a cure all, a happy pill (unless you have a cool doctor and they adore you)and should be utilized as a stepping stone/therapy enhancer to changing thoughts and behavior. Sometimes when you are so depressed, or even manic, it is hard to get stuff done when you are emotionally bouncing around. Antidepressants 'smooth' out the pattern, and boy, did I get a LOT done once I was pointed in the right direction ! I already KNEW what I needed to do, but I was in such a state, it was more difficult than what I could handle on my own. A big part of the process in knowing you have a problem, knowing you need to change, and the willingness to do so. I had a great amount of insight into my problem, which in turn better helped me cop with it. Antidepressants 'shut up' the BPD and kept a lid on it long enough for me to have some 'mental breathing room'and get my act together, which sounds exactly what you did as well.
The Effexor I take is an SNRI and has a short half life in the body, and when I was taking 150mg and I missed a dose...well, lets just say the two-day headache was all I needed to never forget again. I am now back on 75mg, and will wean down to 37.5 as soon as I can. My NP lets me play around with the dosage (we have a great relationship, and she trust me and my judgement, probably because of my NREMT license)and she is so ON with things..I adore her. She is as fruity as a fruit bat (I want to call her Stellaluna)but she is wonderful. She also give me tons of samples for something she may have prescribed so I can skip my co-pay if possible. I was so damn sick once, with all the stuff she gave me from the office, the prescription retail value was over $350.00. Can you see why I love her?
I am wishing you the best with getting off your Celexa, and I am glad you have such a supportive partner (Kyle is a big help as well..when he isn't irritating the living poop out of me, LOL!)
Feel free to email me too! barking_shark@msn.com (underscore line between barking & shark)
Amy
Let's go shopping !
*snort*
Amy
- Yav
PS edit: I don't mean to offend anyone by my stereotypes, but if we can't laugh at ourselves, then we've got nothing (:
"What is an 'Oprah'?" - Teal'c, SG-1
Yeah, we'll through a binge in there to round things out, cover all the bases !
Amy
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