Anyone who needs a little support, go to www.paxilprogress.org. I know it is a different drug than celexa, but they all act in the same inappropriate manner by shutting down the p450 enzyme in the liver, increasing the amount of seretonin in the blood...   (Fri Mar 7 14:48 2008)

Dee,
Your doctor is your worst enemy. Welbutrin is an SNRI. It blocks the metabolites in the liver that metablilze seretonin and noepinephrin. Switching to celexa, which is an SNRI is not going to help you. Doctors just have no clue as to what they are doing. You go to them with a problem, they consult ther PDR, and hand out some drugs that the pretty little pharma rep gave to them. They will give you something to destroy your brain, then give you a benzo like xanax, to combat anxiety. You cannot sleep, you are always on edge, you end up with some sort of psycological "disorder" (manufactured by the drug companies), and you are left a buned out shell of what you used to be. They tried to give my mother-in-law prozac because she was sad when her father was dying of cancer, and she was starting to go through menopause. I SCREAMED. This lady didn't need prozac, or any other mind altering drugs. She needed to reduce her stress.

I told her to take topical progesterone, and she turned around just fine.

Fact: Doctors don't know what ssri's do to the brain

Fact: There is no evidence of a lack of neuro transmitters.

Fact: There is no way of measuring the level of seretonin in the brain...

I pray for anyone in distress anywhere, and God bless and help those whose lives were destroyed by doctors who dished out meds that they know nothing about.   (Fri Mar 7 14:44 2008)

Well i'm on wellbutrin 100 mg a day. Doesn't do anything for me. I have anxiety 24-7. I' switching to celexa at the first of the year. I'm 52 years old and they tell me this is menopause can anyone relate to this.   (Sat Dec 22 14:44 2007)

TonyS, I am extremely sad to hear that antidepressant medications have been such an awful experience for you. I can assure you that I do not, nor have I ever worked for any type of phama company or anything even remotely similar...in fact I do environmental work.

I can only speak from my own experience with Celexa (as that is the only SSRI I have ever taken). For me, this medication saved my life. It was the anxiety that was destroying it. Since my last post, I am now down to 10 mg every 4 days, and will soon be off it entirely. I have had not had any withdrawl symtoms of note and am looking forward to continuing my life managing my anxiety with out medication.

I think that everyone one on this site just wants to share their own knowledge and experience in the hopes of making someone else feel a little less alone. I most certainly have a healthy respect for any medication that alters my brain chemistry. I also want to do the best that I can for any child that I might be blessed enough to bear...but as a woman with anxiety, I just wanted to share that in my research, there are options for managing anxiety while pregnant and working with a doctor you trust is the best option. While your baby may experience some withdrawl after birth it is short term...that is better than having both mother and child dead because of suicide.

So to all those all those mothers, or want-to-be mothers out their with anxiety, I hope you have found what works for you and I welcome your prayers for my journey into motherhood.

   (Thu Dec 13 14:04 2007)

Well honniebun, tell that to the women who have experienced this. These drugs are bad. If you are going to university now, then your are getting the good old college try by the drug companies, that give money to the university and they sell their poison to the students. You are so wrong on every level. Babies that are born and look physically normal, end up going into withdrawal right after birth if the mother is on an SSRI or an SNRI.

I wonder which drug company Hunniebun is working for.

You want to know the truth about these drugs, come live with me for a few days. If you want to read about the truth about these drugs, go to a great forum www.paxiplrogress.org.

These drugs destroyed my life, as well as many other lives. They help nobody...

If you are so smart, hunniebun, you can read any medical jurnal to find out that doctors and researchers don't know or understand what the increase of seretonin does to the brain and body. Besides the fact that there is no way to measure the amount of seretonin in a living person's brain/body.

If you want to have people who come here looking for help destroy their lives, then continue to push these drugs, if you really want to help them then tell them the truth.

The truth is the truth if everyone doesn't believe it, and a lie is a lie even if everyone believes it.

The greatest folly of human is to sacrafice health for hapiness.   (Thu Nov 29 7:20 2007)

I am currently weaning off Celexa 1/4 a week after taking 20 mgs for 3 years. I am also so starting Paxil to replace it eventually. Has anyone else done this? My symptoms are currently increased PA's, depression, crying and worst of all pain. My muscles are killing me. I can not get comfortable. Is there a list of symptoms I can look up? Also does anyone know approx. how long the withdrawl seems to last on average? (Thu Oct 4 8:52 2007   (Thu Oct 4 8:55 2007)

Hi All,

I am new to this website and was happy to see that there are others like me, who are currently being treated with Celexa for anxiety, but who want to start a family. I have been researching everywhere to help me make an informed decision regarding staying on medication or going off medication while trying to concieve.

I have search only reliable sources and I am a university degree in science, so I have been trying to decipher the info out there. Having said that, I was very distrubed to see the comment made on June 25th about potential birth defects. I think that this kind of fear-mongering on websites where people come to find support and help is sad. There is currently no evidence to support the conculsion that celexa causes defects. In fact, there are published reports indicating the opposite.

I have found and ordered a book from Amazon, called Mood and Anxiety Disorders During Pregnancy and Post-Partum (Lee and Nonans, 2005), which provides a summary of issues, treatments and risks. It is important to be informed and to work with your doctor, it is my understanding that the benefits of SSRIs during pregnancy can outweigh any potential risks. (as anxiety can cause it own set of issues during pregnany!)

As for me, I am planning to work with my Dr to slowly wean off the daily 20 mg of celexa before having a baby, but I know that if I need to continue with the medication, that a low dose will likely result in a happy pregnancy and healthy baby. Since I have been sharing my experience with friends and family, I have been in touch with several women who have taken medication during pregnancy and have had healthy/perfect babies!

If you want to chat more about this, or if you have any info that might be helpful, I would love to hear more!   (Wed Aug 15 14:43 2007)

Hi All, Just happened to stumble upon this site and finding it to be informative. I have been on a few different ADs over the past 4-5 years starting when my Dad took ill. Most recently Celexa for about 1.5 yrs. It did seem to help but really affected my libido. When my prescriptions started to run low this past time ,I figured I would try to wean myself off from 30mg on down to see how I handled it. I did so going from 30 to 20 to 10 then 5mg over the course of about a month. That was about a month and a half ago. For the first 4 weeks or so I felt fine and the sexual side effects went away. But then about 2 weeks ago I suddenly nosedived . I feel depressed deeper than before and I am Extremely Anxious. I feel like my mind and body are racing all the time. I cant calm myself. I have a appointment with my Primary Doctor next week who has prescribed my meds to date. Also going to see a Pysch. in a few weeks. Any advice on a medication that may help ? Thank You   (Wed Aug 15 8:31 2007)

I just joined and was reading your post jamie from Feb...how did you do?   (Fri Aug 10 21:58 2007)

I've been taking lexapro/celexa for four years now, but now I've decided I'm going to try to get off of it very slowly because we would like to have children. How long after I've stopped taking it completely will it remain in my system (even the smallest amount)? I just want to be sure I'm doing it as careful as possible.   (Tue Jul 24 13:23 2007)

You must withdrawal SLOWLY over like a year. Birth defects, women who conceived on this dug are noticing birth defects like babies being born with their HEART on the outside of their bodies. This is the truth, look it up. These drugs kill.   (Mon Jun 25 8:20 2007)

I am currently taking celexa for depression and anxiety. I have only been on the drug (20mg) for about 2 months. My husband and I have decided we want to start trying to get pregnant. I don't want to continue taking this drug while I'm pregnant. What is the best way to come off of this drug and will it have any effects on me trying to get pregnant?   (Wed May 30 16:27 2007)

I decided to check back here for the first time in several months and saw your post. I weaned off VERY slowly also and after the initial withdrawal subsided, I did have a period of few symptoms and then suddenly I didn't feel "right" again. Kind of like a rebound. I figured that my body had the medication in it for so long that it would take time before it was completely adjusted to being without it. I didn't go on it initially for anxiety or depression and I am still working with doctors to resolve my medical problems, but am glad to be without the side effects of the SSRIs.

If you can bare it, please wait a while before making a decision about going back on them. Give yourself a fair shot at being without them and then determine if you "need" something. I pray you find the right answer for you.   (Mon May 21 11:57 2007)

3 months after I took my last pill I had horrible rebound depression. That was January 1, 2006. The booze doesn't help matters, thinking that is what sent me down the spiral. I was never ever depressed before. These drugs have a way of messing with our livers and pancreas, such that they don't work quite right. Please say good bye to these pills and stay off of them completely. Go to www.antidepressantsfacts.com and learn more.   (Wed Apr 4 11:55 2007)

A quick history on me: My marriage ended three years ago and I became severely depressed. Effexor very effectively helped me cope for the first year then, after getting off it too soon, I switched to Celexa, 40mg, and had very good results. Other than a few manageable side-effects I felt perfectly normal. So normal, I stopped using it too soon twice and had to climb back on board. My counsellor, a former Celexa user, told me how she had successfully avoided withdrawal by weaning over a year and getting to the point where she only nibbled the pills. I decided that was a wise approach so a year and a half ago I dropped to 20 mg then 6 months later I was on 10 mg, in May I was on 5 mg then went to 2.5 mg in July and about 1 mg in September. I stopped completely in November. The entire time I was on Celexa I felt great, even through the weaning. I was certain I had successfully weaned until Saturday morning past. There was my familiar depression/anxiety coming back and I have been in it's grips (though not 24/7) now for 4 days.
There ARE a few things that might very well have triggered its return (some heavier than normal drinking Friday night, the drawn out end of a 4 month relationship) and if that is the case I will determine in the days ahead whether or not to climb back on the Celexa train. But my question is this: Has anyone ever done a taper as drawn out as mine and had withdrawal symptoms start 3 MONTHS (or more) after their final "nibble"?

Knowing this may be withdrawal would certainly help me stay committed to being off the pill. But, knowing that clinical depression is very real, severe and debilitating, I won't hesitate to resume a small dose of Celexa if it's more likely I still have work to do on me before finally saying goodbye to Celexa.

Any advice is welcome.

Jamie   (Tue Feb 27 13:10 2007)

Long time.
So I had weaned off by last July and had one of the worst PA's in my life on July 4th. I think what it was was that I went out drinking the nite before and was "coming down" from that in the morning and had way too much coffee. All in all, a bad combo.
Anyways, I have been completely off of celexa now since july.
Also gave up alcohol in september. Have been MUCH, MUCH better. It seems that the next day after going drinking I often had bad PAs...
Also good news, we are expecting our first child in May so it has helped me to get out of my own head.
I hope everyone is well and staying strong!

Peace dave (Fri Feb 2 18:57 2007)   (Fri Feb 2 19:00 2007)

Is everyone okay? This is the first I've checked back since my correction on the 27th and was surprised that no one has posted since December 23rd.

I hope all is well.    (Thu Jan 4 22:14 2007)

I just noticed that I said, "I, like Lena, can only speak from my experiences,..." I meant to say Rose. Sorry about that.

   (Wed Dec 27 15:57 2006)

I feel like I have so much to read everytime I check back here because my visits have been far less. I guess I can consider that a good thing, but at the same time I don't like that so many people are suffering and I want to help. I, like Lena, can only speak from my experiences, but I know that I was greatly helped by others who offered me hope when I was at a really low point in my life.

Once I weaned it seemed like I'd feel great for awhile and then go through a week or two of not feeling so great. Those times seem fewer and further between now. Thank God!

Ellie - The fish oil isn't a magic pill, but did help. It is probably because it contains Omega-3 fats. Omega-3s are high in two crucial fatty acids. One is DHA. The human brain is highly dependent on DHA - low DHA levels have been linked to depression, schizophrenia, memory loss, and a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's. Researchers are now also linking inadequate intake of these omega-3 fats in pregnant women to premature birth and low birth weight, and to hyperactivity in children. The more I read about it, the more I think that everyone should be taking fish oil. "Low levels of DHA cause reduction of brain serotonin levels and have been associated with ADHD" That was taken directly from Wikipedia when I looked up DHA. I know that the Christmas shopping and all the busyness this time of year can cause us to focus less on ourselves, but if you can get to a health food store or a pharmacy and pick some up, it may help you.

I hope that you are all able to enjoy your holidays and that this upcoming new year is a time for renewed hope and new beginnings. I pray for complete mental, physical, and emotional healing for us all. May God bless everyone of you.   (Sun Dec 24 15:16 2006)

Hi Lena. I apologize it took me so long to get back here. I do understand what you are saying. I think that both you and I are trying pretty hard to be supportive and I can see you really don't mean any harm.

For me, anxiety disorder has come up 4 times in my life - lasting approximately a year every time. During that period of time, I went to work, raised some kids, and generally went about life as needed. The difference during the bad times is that I felt like I was constantly worried - that is part of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). No one ever knew I had it or noticed I had anything bothering me - I hide my feelings very well.

I think what I want to get across to folks here is that anxiety can take the form of awful panic attacks, but it can also show as overwhelming worry that overshadows your life and gives you things like migraines or stomach aches. All can be very debilitating.

I've done a variety of things. The SSRI antidepressants helped me get things straight. But they are NOT a cure; doctors who say they are - well, they're full of you know what. During my latest bout of anxiety 2 years ago, I took celexa to help me be able to take cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). My thoughts were so racing, that I couldn't grasp what needed to be understood in the therapy. But once I finished the therapy I went off the drug. Guess what! No more anxiety. Do I think for one moment that the celexa cured it? No way. What took care of it was the therapy.

I liked when Cathy put her words 'FOR ME' in capital letters when she was telling about her own experience. My story is mine as well. My true belief is that CBT is the answer for the vast majority of people - maybe some have the condition so badly they need medication, maybe not. I won't judge them.

In conjunction with my therapy there have been a couple of books that helped a lot. The newest one (and maybe the best) is 'When Panic Attacks' by David Burns. This book completely describes not only what anxiety is but yes, HOW to deal with those thoughts and what to do to get better. It is NOT easy to do, BUT will work for many. My therapist supported me through the exercises. The other book is 'Calming your Anxious Mind' by Jeffrey Brantley and it goes into the benefits of mindful meditation.

So to Lena, and to all here. Find your own best path, it will be different for us all. Maybe you're taking meds on some mistaken diagnosis; maybe you're dealing with anxiety disorder and have decided to take them. I don't follow the thinking that the drugs are evil. Like anything they can be dangerous and unfortunately they are being severely overprescribed for things not even related to anxiety or depression.

But do NOT be afraid of anxiety disorder. It is treatable and it can be beaten. For those here not dealing with anxiety disorder, I am sorry that you have either been misdiagnosed or that your doctor has erroneously given you this drug as some kind of magic pill. I do wish you all the best as well. Withdrawals for all of us inclusively can be terrible - hang in there people, it will get better!

To all, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!   (Sat Dec 23 2:23 2006)

Zoloft works the same as Celexa. It too will cause damage to your baby while in utero. You need to wean off these drugs slowly but stay off of them. The doctors don't know how they work. They cause mania in all cases. That is why you will feel better in the beginning. They will turn on you, they turn on everyone. Go to this site

WWW.ANTIDEPRESSANTSFACTS.COM

It helped me get through the toughest withdrawal, it hit me hard, and I still am having problems with it. But by all means, go off of it, they are BAD news. Do some research. You will find that they are not good. The site I posted is not selling anything, it is written by a person like me who had a horrible experience with the drug. You will go through hell, but you will make it out on the other side.

Peace, Love and strength

Merry Christmas everyone!!!!   (Fri Dec 22 10:51 2006)

Denae
I think stoppomg celexa cold turkey is unwise. Talk to your OB about switching you to zoloft. You really dont need to feel uncomfortable or experience any additional physical changes at this point in your pregnancy then you already are and I think zoloft is known to be safer.
Why are you on celexa -depression or anxiety?
I am around 7 months pregnant with my first baby.    (Wed Dec 20 22:00 2006)

I am 34 and have had anxiety problems since I was a teenager. About 6 years ago I was put on celexa and never thought about getting off until recently. I tried last fall, and was unsucessful. I again tried this fall and got off for 3 months with supplements and just recently started to feel extremeley anxoius. Although, I am also pregnant, have little to no social support and live in an isolated area in rural canada. So I have a lot of things that could contribute to situational anxiety/depression, lack of light, etc.
I am on zoloft now and plan on continuing throughout my pregnancy and post partum, but eventually I really want to get off of this stuff-IS IT POSSIBLE?? Did anyone else get off and then at around 3 months start feeling crappy again?? I feel like it made my anxiety worse.
Also, a note to Denae, I was on Celexa for the first 6 weeks of pregnancy and they switched me to zoloft. I do not necessarily think that your babies club foot is because of the celexa. It could just be a random birth defect.I have heard of so many others who have taken celexa during pregnancy.   (Wed Dec 20 21:56 2006)

I am just entering my 6th month of pregnancy and have just had an ultrasound that confirmed that the baby has a club foot. There is an added concern now of the baby developing a lung defect that could ultimately cause death.

I am just wondering if there has been anyone else that has had to take celexa while pregnant and what the outcomes were on their baby. I am very devestated that I was not made fully aware of these risks and that they had been downplayed as rare and less likely with celexa than other ssri's risks.

My OB has now advised me to stop cold turkey and so that is why I am at this site looking for what I should expect with withdrawl.   (Tue Dec 19 18:48 2006)

Ellie, What kinds of thoughts do you have? I have some wierd, not-like-me thoughts, I am just wondering.   (Sat Dec 16 16:20 2006)

I've been continuing half the dose and was planning to take fish oil along with it but I haven't had time to get it at all cause work and holiday shopping have been occupying my time. But when I react to something emotionally (eg. fighting with a difficult family member) I obsessively let it linger and get the best of me and someimes my thoughts just scare me though I know it's really not me. When I'm not having these issues I feel totally fine now and even optimistic about the future now that I'm employed and have decided to do a masters degree next year if all goes well.    (Fri Dec 15 15:58 2006)

Go to these sights
www.drugawareness.org
www.antidepressantsfacts.com
www.labelmesane.com   (Tue Dec 12 19:42 2006)

recently i stopped taking celexa, or the generic equivalant. i was taking 45mg daily for about 2 years. as with all the other ssris i,ve been on it worked for awhile then it didn't. i've been on every ssri that exits and never have the withdrawls been so bad.i'm a depressed anxiety compulsive by nature so suffering is second nature to me. but i thought iwas going mad.my doctor had me off in just 6 weeks and i've been totally celexa free for over aweek. maybe free isn't the right word for it. now that i know there are many suffering the same fate as i it made me feel better if not but a little. i am still on boprpion 150mg twice a day and xanax as needed. as soon as ifeel better i will get off of the welbutrin. i'm not crazy i'm keeping the xanax at least i know its addictive. to say ssris are not addictive is ridiculous for my body to reaact this way without, how else could you describe it. well i wanted to say something that might help some else so here it goes. what i do to deal with this with drawl is exercise,work or do anything to keep my brain busy with something else. when emotionally gets really bad i let it have control until it wears itself out. i consider it seperate from me cause no way is it a part of me. i'm an opptimist and when things are bad i am in my element,so i tell my self tomarrow it will be better. last but not least pray,Jesus loves me no metter how disturbed i might be. i have read over what i wrote ,not very helpful. sorry.   (Sun Dec 10 8:58 2006)

wow! i am so glad i am not the only one out here feeling this way.    (Sat Dec 9 16:56 2006)

I just tried to quickly catch up here, but there is so much to read since I've last been on this site. I want to add that I am one of those people that took quite a while to wean from the medication. When I was completely done, I experienced bouts of anxiety which I KNOW were part of withdrawal because I wasn't put on the medication for anxiety in the first place. Even though I knew that, I still kept questioning if what I was feeling was part of withdrawal or if that was just me and how I would always feel off the medication. I had to keep telling myself that I took SSRIs for about 6 years, and they weren't going to get out of my system overnight. I had to give it time and see how I felt. I feel a million times better now than when I first weaned in early June. I can honestly say that while weaning and immediately following, I had some strange thoughts that were completely "not me". I can't explain why that happens to some people, but I am glad that I was able to come here and read through what others wrote, and also e-mail Tony, because it helps to know you are not alone.

I haven't been on here in awhile because I started to feel like I wanted to put the experience I had with SSRIs behind me, but I felt compelled to check back because I care that others are going through some things that I in many ways can relate to. One of the most difficult battles is the battle that goes on in our own minds. I personally have sought God to free me from that battle, and I have to say that He did not just take me out of that battle, but he definitely brought me through it. I questioned many times as to why I had to go through what I did, and I believe that we get stronger and grow from every trial we have to go through. We learn a lot about ourselves and others and who we ultimately need to put our faith in. It isn't the doctors because they are only human and don't have all the answers. I am thankful for doctors, but now realize that no human being is our saviour.

The hardest part of weaning for me was not knowing if what I felt was withdrawal or ME. Tony kept encouraging me that it was the withdrawal, and it was. I can't speak for anyone else as to whether what you feel is withdrawal or not, but besides the physical symptoms there were also many emotional ones as well. My best advice is to hang in there and go slow!!! I don't know why withdrawal was so difficult for me, I am particularly sensitive to medications, which may be why; but I had to wean off by shaving down my pills. Anymore than that at a time was too much to bear.

Ellie, I don't know what dose you are down to now or how long it has taken to get there, but maybe you are going too fast. Don't go any lower until you feel better and please talk to someone who will listen and can empathize with you. Don't pressure yourself to get off these, and please don't give up. You WILL feel better. I remember having days that I thought I might never feel better. You WILL.   (Fri Dec 8 23:47 2006)

I feel like breaking something one minute, killing myself the next and hurting someone the next cause I feel trapped and things being said to me are part of it too it's not all inside my head and I'm not normally like this. I take half a dose now I wonder if it is the pill after all or just the issues I'm going through.    (Tue Dec 5 3:34 2006)

Go to www.antidepressantsfacts.com and www.drugawareness.org. This time will be difficult, but you will make it through. Everyone sturggles going off these damn things. Please take care of your self, and do what makes you feel better. It will get better.   (Sun Dec 3 18:28 2006)

Wow! I have been on Celexa coupled with Wellbutrin for a year. I am in the process of getting of the Celexa and am having a hell of a time. I am down from 40 mg/day to 30 mg/day and it has taken me six weeks to come this far. I didn't notice any huge differences until about a week ago. Since then my withdrawl symptoms have been continually getting worse even though I am going off the medication so slowly. I am very depressed and anxious. My appetite is waning and my vision gets blurry. I am very irritable and have to think about every single thing I do or say because I don't want to make people feel bad just because I am having a rough time. Oh, I am also tired to the bone. Does it ever get better?   (Wed Nov 29 22:26 2006)

Lena, Just remember that these drugs do mess you up. You will get back to normal, be patient with yourself, don't blame yourself, and look and pray for better days, the fact that you felt normal is a positive sign, those good feelings will soon outweigh the bad and you will be back to normal. Peace love and strength.   (Wed Nov 29 8:36 2006)

I didn't want to sound like you would not believe in youself or like you would not be a strong person! not at all. Sorry if ti came across like that. And I am absolutely in favour of seeking help and going to a therapist/psychiatrist and think it is sad that lots of people still might feel ashamed of it and don't talk about psychological problems cause it is somehow stigmatized. When I first started feeling bad (which was a different feeling than now..more phyisical tension and I was constantly thinking about my heartrate), I decided to get help straight away cause I didn't want to be passive or guts it out, but I wanted to get better.
My life situation was stressful then and is new and probably confusing now. I have to get settled in a completely new place, so that takes time, too.
To be honest, your post just scared me cause I don't think I have a serious anxioety disorder. I am very sensitive at the moment, and tend to react negatively towards many things, but I don't really panic or anything. I still blame it on w/d and take it as a good sign that the crying spells have stopped. So I hope that I will (even if slowly) get better. It has only been 12 weeks. I get easily scared and start thinking " i' ll never feel really happy or carefree again", but I somehow get out of these dark holes and try to think positive.
And i think i might also be over dramatic sometimes. I am not THAT bad. I can go to work, I go out on the weekend, I can sleep, eat, go for a swim or a run..so i am quite lucky, I guess.
Hope I made myself clearer this time, Rose.
   (Wed Nov 29 3:15 2006)

Hi Lena. Actually I do agree with some of what you're saying. One of the things I've learned is how to deal with negative things in life. My problem had been that I used to deal with stuff a lot better until I went through my patch of anxiety. And it just threw me for such a loop that I needed some support. But if you don't that's okay too.

One thing - I do trust in myself and I also believe that time can cure many things. If you don't have anxiety, that's great. I certainly did and it was to a level that I needed the help. I am a strong woman who like most people can accomplish what needs to be accomplished. I am in no way ashamed of going to therapy; it gave me support when I needed it and I'm forever glad and blessed that I went.

Hopefully Tony will check in and can give you some ideas about the withdrawal questions you are asking. Best of luck to you.    (Wed Nov 29 0:24 2006)

Thank you Rose for your reply.
I appreciate it, but it sounds like you almost want to convince me that I DO have anxiety disorder and it has got nothing to do with w/d...
I know what my reasons were why I felt tense and bad before I was put on the drug. i was going through a lot of pressure and emotional chaos at the time and I reacted straight away. Felt bad, went to a therapist. And yes, we did talk, as well. There wasn't much to dig into. I don't have any traumatizing experiences and I know why I felt the way i did.
And now I am in a new situation again which sure is a factor why i am not feeling 100% and have to get used to things, start a new life. But all my symptoms and worries are actually "official" w/d symtpoms and I am sure therapy and other coping skills are great, but I am actually also a believer in trusting in yourself and time healing things, so if everyone got therapy after feeling not great for a while, the wqaiting rooms would be even fuller.
There are just times in life where people don't feel as carefree or good and that doesn't mean that they have a severe anxiety/depression disorder.
I believe that i am still getting used to living without celexa and that intensifies my negative feelings at the moment, as well as a new step in life.
I don't want to run to a psychiatrist again every week and try to find things that might be wrong with me, if you know what I mean.
I can always control my negative emotions myself and know what to do. And I am still convinced that this is mostly w/d and will pass.
   (Tue Nov 28 20:37 2006)

Hi Lena. I can hear what you're saying. I didn't have much of the withdrawal symptoms you are talking about - a very slow taper and I was mostly okay.

To be honest, what you are describing does still sound like mild anxiety and depression. I don't know if when you were taking cipralex you also did therapy or something related? The thing is, the drug is NOT a cure for anxiety or depression, just a tool to try and control it. For some of us it's a good tool, for others (like Tony) it's a very bad experience. Some doctors like to see it as something that can stand alone, so we take it and hopefully feel better. But even if we do feel better it is only for as long as we take it! So yes, you could be having some withdrawal, you could also be having a recurrence of anxiety or depression. Lena, it could be that what you were experiencing before the drug was the beginning of anxiety/depression and it has worsened during the time you took the drug.

The good thing about this is that it doesn't have to be forever! I can hear your worry that you've got brain damage or that this will carry on for years. But put yourself in control! I mentioned a book awhile back by David Burns called 'When Panic Attacks: The New Drug Free Anxiety Therapy That Can Change Your Life'. I have read this whole book and can tell you that there are MANY things that can help and that I actually covered in therapy. You might want to take a look at it for a couple of reasons. 1. It might be all you need to get yourself and your thoughts in control. 2. It will show you some of the things a good therapist will be teaching you if you go into therapy.

I cannot stress enough how much therapy has done for me! I am no longer taking cipralex, and I am NOT experiencing overwhelming anxiety. I would say that like everyone else in the world I get anxious from time to time - but never so bad that I can't control it and let it pass. (I never had depression so didn't have to work on that).

It isn't easy to find a good CBT therapist BUT once you do, they can change your world.    (Tue Nov 28 15:33 2006)

Hi, it's me again.
I haven't posted for a while, but that neither means that I was really bad nor that I am completely over the withdrawal.
It has only been 11 1/2 weeks since I stopped celexa, but this withdrawal and the thoughts about withdrawal seem to be with me for such a long time already. So I can't really tell if I am getting better or not cause it all seems one big "blur" of me being somehow worried. Sometimes I think I am really being over-dramatic cause i think compared to others, my withdrawal isn't that bad.
I never had these infamous zaps, I don't feel "zombie"-like or in a daze, I don't have any memory or concentration problems. no physical symptoms anymore (they were really midl and went away after a week). My problem now is basically that I am thinking about withdrawal every day and about how "not normal" I am and how my brain might be damaged which then spirals into lots of negative thoughts. I am still observing myself and how I feel and comparing then with "how would I have felt without withdrawal" or "how do other people feel". Really not what I should do, I know.
And I still feel somehow "oppressive" and can't enjoy things like I used to (or maybe it is just like I WANT to!) and have a strong sensitivity for situations and places (which is something I have always had > I am sensitive to optical input) which I trace back to me feeling everything still very intense, especially negative things.
BUT...I had two very good days last week, where I felt really close to being "normal" and during the whole last week I was mostly in a quite good mood. I could enjoy myself when i went out in the evening (not 100% like I think it should be, but on the other hand, who is 100% carefree??), and - what maybe really is a sign of improvement - I haven't had a crying spell for over 2 weeks now and no argument with my boyfriend.
So that's the current situation. I just lost track of where I am and if i improve and how bad it all is so it would be great if someone of you guys could give me an "objective" view. Am I doing alright?
So my "symptoms" are really bearable, the only thing that makes me totally depressed is thinking that this will go on for years. I can stand this all for now, but i don't wanna feel like this for a year or longer. That makes me desperate!!!
PS: Another question: has anyone noticed that being under the weather affects the symptoms? I have a virus (feeling weak and feverish, sore throat) and since i felt it coming, I am much more sensitive to negative thoughts again and feel a bit closer to tears again. Any connection?   (Tue Nov 28 4:13 2006)

no problem, we all make mistakes :) Tony, although you are facing a lot, you seem like the kind of guy who fights for his beliefs and wants to be heard and for people to benefit from it. While I may not agree with several things you've said, don't underestimate yourself cause when you get better(and I know you will) you can really use those skills for a good cause. Sometimes things like these give us lessons in lives that create opportunities to go further, like a calling or something. Think about what I've said if it makes sense.   (Mon Nov 27 20:09 2006)

Tony, I understand your concern about the drug. I am not a doctor so I don't think there is any way I could or should try to convince you that this is all withdrawal or not. But whether it's withdrawal or in fact anxiety or depression is besides the point. I admire that you have tried the therapy route. You are saying that they might help - do you think it might be good to stick with therapy and move forward from here? I realize that anger can be helpful and I understand why you're angry. But I also think it could hold you back from recovery if you focus only on that.

I am past the drug part. It worked for me, but it is honestly the therapy that has been the thing that's changed my life. I hope you'll go back to therapy Tony. A combination of talk therapy with cognitive behaviour therapy has been what's worked for me. Maybe it could be the answer for you too?   (Wed Nov 15 18:13 2006)

Rose, Thanks for the post. I have tried therapists, 3 in fact. I do think I would benefit from them, but I also know that it could take several years to recover from the damage done by these drugs. I was fine but lacking sleep before I went on them, now I am all messed up. I do blame the drugs because of that. It takes sometimes years to recover from an atypical withdrawal. Some people are even committed for their problems. You want to see some real terror, look for natalie's post on this site. I was talking with her letting her know she would get better and she just dropped off the face of the earth. I was emailing her from home and she was having the same reaction to this drug that I am having. I just think she was more scared than I was, or the doctors really got a hold of her. These drugs are bad, evil, they kill the mind and the soul. I just want to feel like I felt before them. I want hope for the future, that I since lost after withdrawal. I consider myself as educated as any of the therapists, and more educated than the ones who want to put me back on meds. I just want to let people know that you can feel like crap and still live, survive and beat this stuff.   (Wed Nov 15 8:03 2006)

Hi Tony. Well, I'm going to dive in here even though I don't know really all your circumstances. So I hope you'll bear with me? Tony I haven't read back superfar in this forum, but what I have read in a way puzzles me about you. You are this guy who reaches out well to others and is really supportive.

But I notice that even though there have been a few suggestions that you should at least consider therapy, you don't seem to want to give it a try.

So I can hear the pain in your voice when you at the end of your last post wish you could do something to feel better. Look, I honestly don't know what is right or wrong for every single person. But Tony, everything here points to you getting some solid support from a therapist.

Now, maybe you've had a bad experience with a therapist in the past. I gotta tell you that they are for sure not all created equal. There's some crappy ones. I also gotta tell you that MY therapist has done an incredible job with me. It was NOT my time spent using celexa that has helped me overall. It helped a bit, but when I went off it it is ME that is doing well now.

Maybe because you had a bad experience with a doctor you figure you don't want to talk to any professionals now - of any kind and that includes psychologists, which most therapists are. Tony, if you can find a therapist who deals specifically with anxiety and depression, you will be SO blessed!

Maybe you figure that since a drug caused this (and I will not say one way or the other what caused this for you), but maybe you figure that it will just go away on its own? Thing is Tony, after over a year you are going to have to face the fact that this is NO LONGER a drug issue. If the drug did trigger anxiety in you, treat the anxiety now! Because I can tell you that your patterns of thinking,the way you view things, your perspective, will be affected by the anxiety - and that does not get better over time, only worse. And the ONLY thing that will work is finding someone who can help you work it out.

Tony, please do not put this off. I don't know where you live. In my case I looked to my nearest city which has a university hospital. But a lot of hospitals have anxiety and depression clinics within their mental health sections. Please give them a call - anonymously if you want and get some info. Or look it up on your internet - there are probably sites that will help you. In your search engine type your city name plus 'anxiety clinic' or even just start with 'mental health' and call them and get some info.

I don't blame you for wanting to go drug free - that's always the best I think. If you can.

Tony, you've helped so many others. How about helping yourself? There's lots of people here who obviously care about you.   (Tue Nov 14 20:52 2006)

You know, I was feeling really good about two months ago. Now I feel like crap all over again. A year and two months. That is a very long time to feel like crap from taking a medication that is supposed to help. I wish there was something I could do to feel better.    (Tue Nov 14 7:12 2006)

Sorry, It was me, meant for you. Sorry   (Mon Nov 13 10:23 2006)

what are you imitating me for?    (Mon Nov 13 3:32 2006)

You can also switch to a liquid to be more precise in taper. Take your time like 3-4 months or slower.   (Sat Nov 11 9:08 2006)

Hi Ellie. I can understand your concerns about herbals. It is very true that there are some that should not be mixed together or with other meds. Just because something is natural doesn't mean there can't be negative interactions. If it was me, I would put in a call to the psychiatrist, leave her a message to let me know about any possible interactions between the oil and the half dose of celexa. I didn't take them together so I don't feel I should advise on this one.

In terms of whether herbals can work on not - I truly believe they DO work! I mentioned I like vitamin B complex - that really did make a difference for me with my anxiety. I found the omega 3 (fish oil) to work as well, although for me it was not as dramatic as what others here are saying. This is one of those things that I think you have to try and see how it works for you.

One last thing - if you feel really uncomfortable during the taper, don't be afraid to contact your psychiatrist about going a little slower. By cutting your dose in half, you are taking a fairly big step. It could go well, but don't be hard on yourself if it's a bit too much at one time. There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking it slow - it's kinder to your body. I can hear you when you say that you don't want to have the chemicals in your body, but remember that they are playing a role right now and to be fair to yourself by weaning off in a gentle way.   (Fri Nov 10 21:27 2006)

Thanks for understanding. Tony I will check out the website you recommended.

What I should mention is that I suggested the 10mg dose, but without mentioning that I will soon get some fish oil to have at the same time as taking this new dose. At first she was saying 20mg is recommended and that's the minimum but judged on the other things I was telling her she told me to try it and see how it goes. So far I think I'm okay but was extremely drowsy this morning, I hope it's not a side effect, I really hope not. My family and friends are worried that I'm taking chemicals at such a young age and the idea worries me too because of long term affect that may appear later on. I hope I'm not doing the wrong thing taking half a dose and fish oil. I've never taken anything herbal before and am a little bit skeptical about whether it really works or is really natural.   (Fri Nov 10 14:22 2006)

Oops, sorry you two. I was just getting into a weird groove there, wasn't I? Anyway, my apologies; I'm glad you could see who I intended the posts for! (sigh). I'll be more careful when I type in the names.   (Thu Nov 9 20:10 2006)