![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by LisaDC on October 4, 2008, at 10:30:45
New to this site and see lots of knowledgeable people are here. I've googled the web and really can't find other symptoms such as I'm getting, so I want to put it here to see if what I'm getting is normal.
I've been on Celexa for about 2 years now for depression I experienced through a divorce. I was also having terrible anxiety at the time.
2 years later, I'm doing much better and my MD weaned me off the Celexa over a 2 mos. period. I took my final dose about 5 days ago and here is what I've been experiencing.
a. Extreme Fatigue - I find it so hard to get out of bed in the morning. It's like I'm drugged. Even with a huge cup of coffee, I can't seem to get my day going. This is my biggest problem right now.
b. Increased anxiety which was all but gone before beginning the taper. It's not too bad and using Xanax or benedryl to control this so it's not all that bad.
c. Those brain Zaps I read about... Boy is that a strange feeling, but I see this is kind of normal.
d. Nausea
e. Hot and cold flashes, almost like the flu when I have the chills, can't seem to get warm, even under warm blankets.
I guess my question is how long does all of this last, and...... This fatigue I'm getting, is this Normal. I have read that people get fatigued, but this is rediculous. I can barely move and sleeping in excess of 12 hours per day. Even with that amount of sleep, I feel like I need more sleep once up and out of bed.
I just need some reasurrance that this is all normal and I will make it through it. My Doctor tells me he never heard of such side effects.
If anyone can send me some advice, I would appreciate it.
Posted by Phillipa on October 4, 2008, at 10:51:16
In reply to Need help with Celexa Withdrawal.. Extreme Fatigue, posted by LisaDC on October 4, 2008, at 10:30:45
Welcome to babble. You weaned down on the celexa right? Are you functioning well in life if so then maybe you're still adjusting back to where your brain was before the celexa? What does your pdoc say? Love Phillipa
Posted by elanor roosevelt on October 4, 2008, at 11:11:04
In reply to Need help with Celexa Withdrawal.. Extreme Fatigue, posted by LisaDC on October 4, 2008, at 10:30:45
if your doctor had half a brain you would be advised to go back on the celexa and pray it will work as well as it was working
good luck
Posted by azalea on October 4, 2008, at 11:33:05
In reply to Need help with Celexa Withdrawal.. Extreme Fatigue, posted by LisaDC on October 4, 2008, at 10:30:45
Sounds like you're experiencing discontinunation syndrome. The half life of citalopram is 35hrs so in 7 days (5 half lives), it should be essentially out of your system.
You could restart the Celexa and see if your symptoms improve. Take it for a while until you feel back to normal and then taper more slowly, perhaps over 4 months. Could consider asking your doc about the liquid formulation of Celexa to make a very smooth and gradual transition. Post if you'd like suggestions for a taper schedule.
> New to this site and see lots of knowledgeable people are here. I've googled the web and really can't find other symptoms such as I'm getting, so I want to put it here to see if what I'm getting is normal.
>
> I've been on Celexa for about 2 years now for depression I experienced through a divorce. I was also having terrible anxiety at the time.
>
> 2 years later, I'm doing much better and my MD weaned me off the Celexa over a 2 mos. period. I took my final dose about 5 days ago and here is what I've been experiencing.
>
> a. Extreme Fatigue - I find it so hard to get out of bed in the morning. It's like I'm drugged. Even with a huge cup of coffee, I can't seem to get my day going. This is my biggest problem right now.
>
> b. Increased anxiety which was all but gone before beginning the taper. It's not too bad and using Xanax or benedryl to control this so it's not all that bad.
>
> c. Those brain Zaps I read about... Boy is that a strange feeling, but I see this is kind of normal.
>
> d. Nausea
>
> e. Hot and cold flashes, almost like the flu when I have the chills, can't seem to get warm, even under warm blankets.
>
> I guess my question is how long does all of this last, and...... This fatigue I'm getting, is this Normal. I have read that people get fatigued, but this is rediculous. I can barely move and sleeping in excess of 12 hours per day. Even with that amount of sleep, I feel like I need more sleep once up and out of bed.
>
> I just need some reasurrance that this is all normal and I will make it through it. My Doctor tells me he never heard of such side effects.
>
> If anyone can send me some advice, I would appreciate it.
Posted by LisaDC on October 4, 2008, at 11:55:12
In reply to Re: Need help with Celexa Withdrawal.. Extreme Fat » LisaDC, posted by azalea on October 4, 2008, at 11:33:05
W0W...quick responses...Thanks everyone
I'm not experiencing any depression off the medication, so I don't feel the need to go back on it.
Like I said, the main thing I'm getting is Fatigue like there is no tomorrow. The other things I listed I can deal with and have read up on as being normal.
My main thing is that I feel like what is described with those who have Mono... All I want to do is sleep but not because I'm depressed, but because I can't seem to wake up. I'm like blah, no energy whatsoever. I drank 3 cups of coffee this morning, the strong stuff, and I'm still sleeepy.... I'm not taking any other med right now, so I had to be the withdrawal as I have read that fatigue can be part of it.
My problem and big question is that this just seems like more than fatigue to me. I must still be withdrawling as I am getting those zappy sensations in the head and believe it or not some anxiety, which I don't understand how one can have anxiety when so sedated.
I would appreciate any more input any of you might have. I will keep drinking coffee I guess.
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.