Hi Mac,
The brain zaps were the least of my problems coming off the Celexa. But, as you stated, they do definitely interfere with driving and functioning at work. I had just recently retired when I stopped the drug cold turkey. I was 49 years old. So, I totally understand how now is a good time for you to try and cut down/taper.
Everybody's nervous system is so different. I did a lot of reading on forums about stopping this drug and many, many people strongly urged me and warned me not to go cold turkey. They said it can wreak havoc on your system that may be irreversible.
So, please be careful in your decision.
It seemed to me, though, that so many people were tapering for such a long time.....years....and I just didn't want to do that.
The brain zaps lasted about 5 days. Some dizziness lingered. The waterlogged feeling in my head and ears lasted quite a while. Ringing in my ears too. The nausea lasted months and months. The emotional agitation actually was a delayed withdrawal symptom. Be careful, it might sneak up on you after a few weeks.
It was so difficult for me..... the extreme irritability. It was dreadful...... but I am so much better now. I'm so glad it's behind me.
I wanted to mention that I made a mistake in my earlier post. I have been on the Celexa for closer to 20 years. I still can't believe how much time flew by while I was numbed on Celexa. It did help me as my job and life was very stressful.
Being retired now makes it easier to be off of the medication.
Let me know how you are doing if you get the chance.
Hello! I hope many people that ask the same question can still read this post. I suffered from cronic depression. I took celexa 40mg for about 5 years. I had been admitted into mental health facilities during this period, to be exact 4 times wanting to end my life.
The last episode 1 week ago was the closes ever and the police almost broke in my house.
This is when someone told me " if God created the earth and skies, why cant you ask him to help you?, if he created the world out of nothing, dont you think he can cure you?"
I was touched, and l decided to believe!!! I look up the sky and said, there's nothing imposible for you God so l give you myself to you. I stopped all medications to sleep, to wake up, for depression for whatever, and prayed for help.... l Have never been this happy!!!!! I sleep with no pills, l wake up refresed, l sing, smile and care about my kids like l had never ever before!!!!!
Please dont let anyone tell you you cant! If youcan realize that there is a God that created this world and created you, all you need is to believe in him and ask for help. There is nothing imposible. He created you and wants the best for you!!! Im a miracle!!!! And l wish all the people suffering as much as did can find hapiness as l did. Best wishes to all!!!!!
Jonnybravo
I know it's been over a year you posted this but I'm going thru the exact same thing right now same years same dosage ... how long did it take you to full feel back to normal, when did ur withdrawal symptoms finally end because I am in hell right now!!! I'm desperate to know if this is gonna end soon
I quit those but had to taper. It was pure hell. You need to taper down this is what I did. I was on 10mg for two months only. I cut them in half for two week and then that would be 5mg. And then I stopped. This is what helped me. Vitamin D I found out I was super low so i was taking 10,000IU everyday still taking them. And NAC amino acid research both that helped like a lot the NAC with panic attacks and OCD. Pray also that helps put you in postivie light god can do miricles. SSRI are evil I wish I would of known facts before I started taking them. Good luck
I agree my anti depressant is the devil ... never again ... but I quit cold turkey a week ago its too late to turn back im past the brain zap stage and dizzy spells. I was feeling ok I was sleeping ok for what I expected ... I thought that was it I thought I was almost done but this weekend I started getting severely way to much energy where I couldn't even sit still to watch tv.. I been working out cause that's the only thing that has helped but only very little last night I cried laughed had nightmares couldn't stop shaking I kept having angry thoughts I just couldn't control myself I kept moving from the bed to the living room and not to mention my sex drive has gone from completely having any to having one of a teenager!! I literally am turned on all the time!! I sometimes think I'm possessed! This sounds crazy I know I'm sorry I just wanna know how much longer of this I have to go being only a week!!!! Or am I peaking right now ?!?? Omg this is so embarrassing to be posting !!! I'm a female 36 5ft 140 pounds losing weight rapidly !! Due to not eating for days to eating like a man randomly please help
How long did the symptoms when moving your head last?
figured I would tell my experience on celexa. i am from the states amd this is my 2nd go at celexa. 1st time was years ago due to crazy anxiety and not so much depression. however the anxiety leads to it. started @ 20 for awhile and it worked then cut to 10. did that for a year or so and started drinking after 4 ys of sobriety. after some time of increased drinking i figured one had to go. so quit the celexa. got wasted bout every day for a few years and the anxiety in the mornings and evenings from hangovers got too much that i had to go to ER. told dr. i would get back on celexa because it had worked in the past. also quit getting wasted although have a beer from time to time but whilst on the celexa and some kind of ptsd from the anxiety, i just couldn't really enjoy the buzz..anyways, at some point i cut from 10mg to 5 and was fine for awhile. but in my head the thought of "i don't want to be on these forever..although it works per se, you cant really be yourself. kinda like a holding pattern permanently". that plus an unresolved issue with my daughter i have only seen once 17 ys ago, who now has had some interest in me although not as much as i would like due to my poor patience skills, andthe emotion from that coupled with running out and not being able to get more without doing a physical (costly) i cut down again to 2.5mg daily then every other day. 3rd day without and its a bit wierd. i sorta have weened i guess. feel some sorta anxiety but out it aside. sleep kinda there and kinda not. sex was fine on it mostly but hard to finish. now after a few days off it, it is easy to lose confidence and finish..hope this passes. i hope its not my head luring me into a false sense of security but i feel like the time on it helped and has ran its course. and my body is starting to tire of it. obviously I can't go back in time to the person I used to be well before the anxiety etc. but i miss that guy amd have gained some wisdom since and feel like i need to do it. wish me luck. same goes for all of you people as well
I have been taking 5htp 50 or 100mg at night for anxiety and it works. research it b4 taking. make sure it has vit b6 with it works better.
also get a multi vitamin and some fish oil (that helps with inflamation of the brain and is very good for mood)
fish oil.. i have heard this and been meaning to give that a try so i will. what is 5htp? a typo?
Hi johnnybravo,I was on 40mg celexa a day for 8 years and I like you ran out.I just decided to quit cold turkey,yes I know they say DO NOT STOP COLD TURKEY but I did..So far I have been off of them for 19 days now and I have experienced several mild withdrawls..Small brain zaps,mood swings and some light headaches..But I keep myself focused on cleaning or positive communication with other people..I do not go by everything that I read on here because everybody is different..Because some suffer severely from coming off of celexa doesn't mean we all will experience the same horrible side effects..Stay positive,stay focused and away from negative people lol ..So far I'm doing OK,yes I have a lil mood swing now and again and maybe a small cry all of a sudden but you can do it...If I can,anyone can..Hang in there,don't go back to taking a pill just to make yourself feel better when you feel that you can't handle what's NATURALLY gonna happen after a sudden stop from celexa..And I'm not here to preach,but it also helps a great deal to pray and ask god to help..Because he will...Take care,hang n there and keep on pushing..You got this 👍