![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Reesa on October 24, 2003, at 22:58:29
Hello All
Comments or anyone being able to relate to this post are welcome:
#1 I have been on celexa for about a little over a year now, it's helped a lot & I've seen dramatic improvement..I feel the depression demons again though. It's horrible, I feel like I'm back at square one..sleeping for 12 hrs at a time, hopelessness, no motivation, lack of energy. I'm not even off of them yet, but I fear that I might have to go back on. I'm scared, and worried, and feel really anxious. Has anyone experienced this after starting to come off of their antidepressant, and how long has your doc recommended you stay on whatever you're taking? thanks, any feedback at all is very helpful
Posted by Ron Jones on October 24, 2003, at 23:07:14
In reply to Getting off of Celexa, posted by Reesa on October 24, 2003, at 22:58:29
Why are you stoping the drug.Sounds like you may have rebound of your illness.The illness comes back when you stop the drug.mental illness is very strange.Do you have a family history of mental illness?maybe inositol or fish oil could help.Do not stop a drug cold turkey or you will have problems.
Posted by Reesa on October 24, 2003, at 23:30:37
In reply to Re: Getting off of Celexa, posted by Ron Jones on October 24, 2003, at 23:07:14
> Why are you stoping the drug.Sounds like you may have rebound of your illness.The illness comes back when you stop the drug.mental illness is very strange.Do you have a family history of mental illness?maybe inositol or fish oil could help.Do not stop a drug cold turkey or you will have problems.
I'm suffering from depression, and my doctor felt that after a year on the drug I would be fit enough to start slowly getting off...I'm not stopping cold turkey, but it seems I might have to go back on again...my only fear is will I have to go on again for how long..is it possible that some people need to be on forever?
Posted by galkeepinon on October 25, 2003, at 0:31:35
In reply to Getting off of Celexa, posted by Reesa on October 24, 2003, at 22:58:29
Hello, I felt this exact same way you describe when coming off Effexor. My doctor got me off of it and I started Lexapro. I had to start Lexapro QUICK!
Maybe go back on the Celexa or talk to your physician about an alternative:-)
Best wishes.> Hello All
>
> Comments or anyone being able to relate to this post are welcome:
>
> #1 I have been on celexa for about a little over a year now, it's helped a lot & I've seen dramatic improvement..I feel the depression demons again though. It's horrible, I feel like I'm back at square one..sleeping for 12 hrs at a time, hopelessness, no motivation, lack of energy. I'm not even off of them yet, but I fear that I might have to go back on. I'm scared, and worried, and feel really anxious. Has anyone experienced this after starting to come off of their antidepressant, and how long has your doc recommended you stay on whatever you're taking? thanks, any feedback at all is very helpful
Posted by glenn on October 25, 2003, at 4:01:34
In reply to Getting off of Celexa, posted by Reesa on October 24, 2003, at 22:58:29
Same drug, same lenth of time, my doc who is excellent says, episode 1 you stay on 6 months after feeling well, episode 2 18 months, episode 3 a life sentence I am afaid!
As far as coming off goes, take half the time you were on it, ie 6 months, use the liquid celexa and reduce in 1 mg steps say every week or two.
Do not be afraid to up the dose if necessary temporarily and at the end maybe go even slower and in smaller units. YOU NEED THE LIQUID FOR THIS!!!!Glenn
ps I think most docs are ignorant *********s, this one seems very caring and knowledgable!
Posted by jaynee on October 25, 2003, at 13:42:44
In reply to Getting off of Celexa, posted by Reesa on October 24, 2003, at 22:58:29
You may want to do your own research on this. I have seen a few shrinks and they all say something different when it comes to how long I should take an AD. The best advice I got was I should take it for at least 2 years, and after that it is up to me whether I want to continue taking an AD. Because I have had at least 4 bouts of clinical depression, most pdocs thought that 2 years was the minimum. My bouts seem to come every 5 to 6 years for me, with stress or without stress. I have also heard the "3 strikes and your out rule", and I think it is crap. There is alot of great info on the internet if you really dig. I would get a good pdoc and experiment, because only you can really know if something is wrong or not.
here is some good info, a place to start:
http://www.psychiatrist.com/supplenet/index.html
http://www.freemedicaljournals.com/
http://www.emedguides.com/index.jsp
Posted by jaynee on October 25, 2003, at 13:48:14
In reply to Getting off of Celexa, posted by Reesa on October 24, 2003, at 22:58:29
To make your search a little easier:
Posted by jaynee on October 25, 2003, at 13:49:33
In reply to Re: Getting off of Celexa, posted by jaynee on October 25, 2003, at 13:42:44
Posted by Reesa on October 25, 2003, at 13:56:32
In reply to A good reference site, posted by jaynee on October 25, 2003, at 13:48:14
I've been on celexa for a year and slowly starting to taper down now for the past month. My therapist had suggested to me that a good idea would be to avoid getting off of AD's during the winter/fall....So as I started to notice the signs of depression coming back (Ie:sleepiness, lack of energy, oversleeping, no appetite ect) i mentioned to my doc what my therapist had said about getting off the AD in the winter...OH well, he absolutely agreed with that right away and suggested I get back to the full dosage..Hmmmm yes i would say I am pretty skeptical in following my docs advice, and prefer doing my own research, consulting with my therapist, and then finally checking in with the doc lastly for confirmation. I almost feel as if he's only good for signing over the drugs. Does anyone else feel the same about their doc?
Posted by ann33 on October 25, 2003, at 17:47:06
In reply to Yes doctors are pretty ignorant, posted by Reesa on October 25, 2003, at 13:56:32
I am taking effexor for more then 1,5 year.
My doctor is not interested at all how this will end up... He just say that I should continues to take the drugs forever. I dont agree but he does not seem interested to solve the problem only to sign the receipt.
Posted by glenn on October 25, 2003, at 18:08:03
In reply to Re: Getting off of Celexa, posted by jaynee on October 25, 2003, at 13:42:44
If three strikes and your out means you are finished then that is rubbish, the point is that the more you experience depression, in general the more likely it is to return. It therefore makes sense if you have found a med that works but have gone off it twice,( in spite no doubt of efforts to avoid a recurrence)the depression returns, it is only sensible to stay on the med.
I am on "strike" 2, I will stay on it for life no problem if it returns, why take all the risks associated with untreated depression? or are you saying there is something wrong/ weak about being on a medication for life??
Posted by Reesa on October 25, 2003, at 20:10:51
In reply to Re: Getting off of Celexa, posted by glenn on October 25, 2003, at 18:08:03
> I don't believe there is anyhting wrong in staying on meds for life. It seems everyone is on some med or another for life to relieve or improve their health, whether it be diabetes or thyroid, or even depression. And if in the end I have to be on AD's for the rest of my life then so be it...I just want to know where someone draws the line..I thought AD's are supposed to relieve the problem after having used them for x amount of time. But it seems that everyone is different and that for some being on AD's for a year will clear up the problem..but for others it just doesn't cut it. I am just curious to see if I'll have to take this for the rest of my life, and the only way I'll know for sure is through trial and error. It seems no amount of research will give me this answer, I just have to figure out in the end what's right for me, and if I can cope without them in the long run.
If three strikes and your out means you are
finished then that is rubbish, the point is that the more you experience depression, in general the more likely it is to return. It therefore makes sense if you have found a med that works but have gone off it twice,( in spite no doubt of efforts to avoid a recurrence)the depression returns, it is only sensible to stay on the med.
> I am on "strike" 2, I will stay on it for life no problem if it returns, why take all the risks associated with untreated depression? or are you saying there is something wrong/ weak about being on a medication for life??
Posted by Katt on October 25, 2003, at 23:11:35
In reply to Glenn I agree, posted by Reesa on October 25, 2003, at 20:10:51
they're just plain stupid!!!!
Posted by galkeepinon on October 26, 2003, at 0:21:37
In reply to Re: Yes doctors are pretty ignorant, posted by ann33 on October 25, 2003, at 17:47:06
> I am taking effexor for more then 1,5 year.
> My doctor is not interested at all how this will end up... He just say that I should continues to take the drugs forever. I dont agree but he does not seem interested to solve the problem only to sign the receipt.Maybe find another doc;-)
Posted by glenn on October 26, 2003, at 5:50:31
In reply to Glenn I agree, posted by Reesa on October 25, 2003, at 20:10:51
I apologise reesa if I was a bit harsh in my reply, one of the problems I sometimes experience with my med, I am working on it!!
I would also like to see if I can do without meds, but I am not willing to risk my whole career again, the first time this illness cost me 2 years off work, the second 9 months, so if it even looks like its coming back again, meds for life!!
I am lowering my celexa very very slowly as it does have some very positive effects on my personality ( when I was a kid if anyone came to our house I would put a paper bag over my head and hide behind the settee till they had gone!!)
and maybe if I can get down to 5-10 mg I might just stick at that, we'll see!
But good luck in whatever you decide and you are right at the end of the day the best judge for yourself is yourself!All the best
Glenn
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.