I want to feel normal again!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2003
I want to feel normal again!!
6
Tue, 09-07-2004 - 7:15pm
Hey, everyone. I just wanted to post to see if I can get some advice regarding my decision to go off of Celexa. A few of you have had experience with this drug and other antidepressants, so maybe you can help me. I'm a little worried about the side effects I am experiencing from going off Celexa. I posted a message about having fatigue, dizziness, and just not feeling like myself. Well, I am finding that the symptoms come and go...and some days are worse than others. Today I am finding that I am SO lightheaded, and it's hard to get anything done. I'm trying to study for my exam which is a week away, and it's really hard to do anything while I feel so spinny!! For those of you who have experienced withdrawals and these kinds of symptoms from going off an antidepressant, do you have any tips on how you dealt with it? I need to find ways to lessen the effects, and I'm not sure if that's even possible. I just want to feel normal again! I plan to go to another ivillage board and see if there are some professionals who can give me some advice. I'm not planning on going back on the Celexa, I just want to get past these withdrawals! And I don't want this to interfere with my exam! ~Sabrina
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-31-2004
Tue, 09-07-2004 - 7:28pm
Im sorry that this isnt working well for you Sabrina! I just started quitting smoking today and just a few mins ago I went through heart palpatations for no reason at all. Its weird.

But if you are really concerned, then call your doctor!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Tue, 09-07-2004 - 7:46pm
Sabina Did you titrate down off of your dose? I have never used Celexa but have use others. Most of them do better if you take a lower and lower dose for about 3 weeks. Otherwise all I can say is be patient. The symptoms will lessen over time.

Good luck! Hugs, Brenda

Hugs, Brenda 

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2003
Tue, 09-07-2004 - 8:01pm
no, I sort of went cold turkey. I didnt' really think about the fact that I'd probably have withdrawal symptoms! I just didnt' want to pay full price for the drug, since I dont' have benefits anymore after starting a new job. ~Sabrina
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-2004
Tue, 09-07-2004 - 8:05pm
I am not trained to give medical advice so I won't --- but your situation is one that is on the National Counseling Exam that I will be taking next month.

The correct answer is to encourage you to talk to the doctor who prescribed the medication. Talk to him about why you want off and the side affects you are having.

As a friend, your mental health is very important to all of your friends on this board. With an exam coming up and the additional stress, going cold turkey might not be the best idea. Talk to your doctors - there might be things you can do to allieviate the symptoms.

Positive thoughts coming your way.

furry

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2003
Tue, 09-07-2004 - 8:23pm
Thanks for your input, furry. I know that is probably the best thing to do, but the thing is that I don't have a family doctor anymore. Good doctors are very hard to come by here, or any doctor at all!! I haven't had many positive experiences with doctors, and the one who put me on the Celexa ended up overmedicating me with all kinds of other stuff...she said my BP was too high, and it was, but she put me on 2 different pills, and then she put me on something for high cholesterol that I didn't really need because my cholesterol was only slightly elevated, and the good cholesterol was up too, which is good. Another doctor I saw at another time had told me that a lot of the pills she put me on were not necessary. I've pretty much lost faith in doctors, and I go more on what I feel for myself, and I do my own research. It might not have been the best time for me to go off, but there's always going to be some stress in my life...I've posted a message on the Andidepressants board, so hopefully someone there will be able to tell me what I can do to alleviate the symptoms!

Thank you for your compassion! ~Sabrina
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2003
Wed, 09-08-2004 - 7:52am
I'm doing some research online and I'm finding that even if you do wean yourself off the drug, you may still experience these withdrawal symptoms. I'm reading some message from posters who DID gradually wean themselves off, and they still feel like crap. This really sucks, and I hope and pray that I never need to go on antidepressants again! ~Sabrina