Wish me luck...goodbye, Celexa!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2003
Wish me luck...goodbye, Celexa!
12
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

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-20-2004
Sat, 09-04-2004 - 3:41am
I just wanted to say congratulations to you, and I'm wishing you all the best in your life. ***Hugs***


Keeyah

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-16-2004
Sat, 09-04-2004 - 11:27am
Hi Sabrina,

First off I wish you all the best - it's a brave step you're taking but you know what you're about so go for it girl. I really don't know if I've suffered from full blown depression but I do know that up until 3 months ago I was in an awful situation at work that would drive me to cry everyday, overeat and become a social recluse - so I removed myself from that situation and am now living in a whole other, happier world. I honestly think if I had stayed in that job (with the stress, anxiety and overwhelming feelings of paranoia) I would have had to seek medical care.

As for finding a family doctor, I'm living in what is apparently the richest province in Canada and it's a challenge finding a doctor here - believe me. However, in a very round about way I managed to find a great one. Not long after flying back from New Zealand I developed a blood clot in my right leg (combination of the pill, smoking and weight - so be VERY careful ladies). I went to the clinic first - not knowing what the problem was - and was misdiagnosed...the doctor told me to massage it as it was only a muscle strain (as a nurse you know the seriousness of doing what he told me).

So after two more days it got horrifically worse - I'm surprised I was even able to walk to the clinic (I was all alone and had no car when I moved here - it was just a wonderful experience). The doctor on shift this time sent me directly to the hospital emergency where they diagnosed it with a simple INR.

So...sorry about the length of this...the oncologist and an wonderful nurse at the hospital set about finding me a great doctor near my home so I could get my injections of hepernan and monitor my INR.

It was a round about and awful way to find a doc but it worked!

Good luck - you can do this!

Cheers

Lisa

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