Several years on Celexa, worsening side effects.
Posted , 6 users are following.
Some basic info: I am a 20 yr old female and I have been on 40mg Celexa for about 2 years, and was on it a year before that for about another 2 years. Around May of this year, I began noticing that I was severely fatigued all the time, and it has gradually gotten worse. I cannot make it through the day without at least 2 naps, and even then I am forcing myself to keep my eyes open and my brain is extremely foggy (can't think straight, can't focus or remember well). I was thinking maybe I had a thyroid problem, but have any of you experienced this as a side effect?
In addition, the last month and a half or so, my depression has come back in full force. I am crying every day and my extreme irritability is beginning to once again ruin my relationships. Have any of you dealt with this? If so, what solutions have you found that work?
Initially I was seeing a psychiatrist, but now my PCP prescribes the medication, and for the time being, I am unable to afford going to a psychiatrist. I am hoping to get a few opinions before I go to my PCP so I can have an idea what to expect.
Thanks in advance.
0 likes, 13 replies
gloria20 heather58505
Posted
I have been on 20's Citalopram for about 5 years and all was OK until bout 6 month ago, then felt sick all the time - no appetite & weight loss. I am allready skinny so went to my Doc and he told me how to reduce from 20's to 10's gradually. Have been doing this for the last 12 weeks and am still having probs. If you look at the side effects of these tablets you will see that it's the tablets that's causing our problems. Good luck and keep in touch. It helps to read other peoples experiences
with these horrible tablets.
katecogs heather58505
Posted
The meds don't usually stop working. Has anything stressful happened in your life in the run up to you beginning to get side effects?
Also get a full check over as physical illness can bring on the symptoms again - the initial tiredness might due to be something else entirely.
Last thing - has the brand of tablets changed? Different companies manufacture these meds and many people report that their symptoms have return when they have a different brand.
K x
john059 katecogs
Posted
Good morning Miss K. These meds sure sure arent agreeing with me anymore. I have been on the reduced dose of 25 mg's for 19 days now and I feel real crappy. I thought since Ive been reducing by 2.5 mg's that this would go smoother. Any suggestions for me? Hope you had a nice Xmas and enjoy your day.
katecogs john059
Posted
Morning John (or rather its evening here now) ;-)
Oh, sorry to hear you're having a bad time with these ..... just to recap, you're withdrawing to come off completely aren't you?
How crappy are you feeling .... what symptoms are you having?
Mmmm ..... when I got down to my last dose of 2.5mg and needed to reduce it further, I crushed it and took half of that 1.25mg ....... just divided it with a knife. You could try crushing it and taking a little of this to make up your dose and decreasing it this way maybe?
Don't forget Christmas can be a strange for a lot of people - the excitement, busy, even the gloom for some ..... all of this can bring about symptoms at times.
Maybe wait a week for Christmas festivities to pass, see if anything changes, if need be increase a little maybe, wait til you settle again and then consider reducing by even less.
john059 katecogs
Posted
Good day Miss Kate. I missed ur reply! Sorry. Yes my plan is to get off Cit completely. I'm now down to 25 and was gonna lower to 20 tomorrow. Its been 3 weeks since I lowered from 27.5 mg's. I just dont feel right. Got the smog feeling in my brain. Thats the worst feeling. I'm just hoping to lowering every 2 weeks in hopes of being off this soon. Sure is easier said than done. Hopefully as I lower my dose the side effects wont be as harsh. Enjoy your evening...
katecogs john059
Posted
Morning John
Maybe if you've got that smog feeling then don't lower your dose just yet - just wait a while and see if that feeling lifts. There shouldn't be any hurry to get off the meds. I always paused if I felt unsure at any time.
Weird meds aren't they.
john059 katecogs
Posted
Hi Miss Kate. I went down to 20 mg's today. I didnt get ur message till now. Weird. Anyway I dont feel too bad. Still a little foggy but its manageable. I'm still exercising and I'm sure that helps. I've also have been doing a lot of reading about withrawing off Cit. My pharmacist has advised me that going down by 5 mg's every 2 weeks is totally doable. I shall take it 2 weeks at a time. If I only reduce by 2.5 mg's every 2 weeks I am ok with that. If I have to stay at a level a little longer I'm ok with that also. Have a gr8evening and I hope all is well with you.
katecogs john059
Posted
My messages appear all over the place and sometimes I don't get any either, so I often miss stuff too.
Oooh down to 20mg!! Sounds good. So you're down to half now? Yes reduce by whatever dose you feel comfortable at. Hope it continues to go well.
K
john059 katecogs
Posted
katecogs john059
Posted
Hi John
Yea my mail keeps ending up in my junk mail as well as other folders ???
Overdoing things at Christmas and New Years can take its toll on your body for a little while - it can happen. Its thatsort of 'Monday blue' feeling but over-exagerated by an already poorly body.
Indeed - one day at a time. You'll get there.
K x
grammy09 heather58505
Posted
Same things for me I have been on it for 4 years now and I'm losing it. I just signed up here to. I just like horror movies n sleeping now lol ugh
monica62597 heather58505
Posted
I took celexa for five years and weaned off no problem!Tried to go back on them and had horrendous side effects second time around!They worked great for me before!I have known and heard of antidepressants pooping out after some time on them for some people and those people have switched meds!My friend got up to the full dose of zoloft and it stopped working for her so she switched to Paxil.I spoke with another girl who took Prozac for years and it stopped working and she switched to lexapro.My doc said that happens sometimes and they don't know why.I am currently trying to take Prozac since celexa was so bad for me this time around!I lived it before!It worked so good for five years and I never should of weaned off it!
john059 monica62597
Posted
Hi Monica. I was on Effexor for 7 yrs and then it seemed I hit a brick wall. Was only on 75mg's too. So the Doc upped me to 150. Didnt do anything so he put me on Bupropion. After 3 months it didnt help. So i have been on Cit for almost a whole year. Started at 10 mg's and worked my way up to 40. Really didnt feel any benefits of that either. So I started reducing in Sept with the hopes of getting off Cit altogether. Now down to 20 mg's and having 3 good days followed by a no so good one. Hope to be off these meds by the spring. Hang in there.