What are the side effects when you stop taking Celexa?

Answer

I had been on Celexa for about 3 months when I started to feel MORE agitated and restless. I also had some hand tremors. I decided to cut my dose in half and see what happened. I felt great for about two weeks and then it hit me like a ton of bricks: severe stomach cramps, nausea, bloating and abdominal pain, lower back pain, dizziness, excessive tiredness and insomnia. Four the next two weeks I thought I was pregnant as my period was also quite late. I went to see my doctor, convinced that I was quite ill and he just said it was odd but that he didn't know what it could be. I mentioned to him that I had changed my dose and he didn't seem to think it was related. I came home scared and depressed. I decided to do some research and discovered that all of these symptoms are from Celexa withrawal. I decided to go back on and proceded to gain about 5 pounds on 2 weeks. Thats on top of the six I had already gained in the previous three months. I continued to have ther same withdrawal symptoms and then came the bowel problems, blood in the toilet gave me the biggest scare yet but my doctor was indifferent. I decided then and there to get off of this poison once and for all. I went cold turkey about a week ago. The nausea and cramping lasted for about three weeks. It was AWFUL! Worse than any flu! But I only have mild stomach pain every once in a while now. Emotionally, I feel very unstable but it is easier for me to handle this than all the physical side effects. I have feelings of self loathing, and a desire to harm myself. I have felt deep sadness and then complete numbness. I am used to feeling this was, periodically so it is not so difficult to handle (it is like a BAD case of PMS)but I am frustrated most of all by the wieght gain and yet I've heard of people gaining 20 or ever 40 pounds on this medication. Will I ever lose the weight? How long will the drug's remnants effect my metabolism and hormonal balance?

Anyone out there get back to normal after using this drug?

A. MacDonald

I originally started taking 10 mg of Celexa to alleviate my severe PMS symptoms. It definitely eliminated my PMS and that part was great. After a few weeks of taking it, it also eliminated my sex drive and caused me to be in a constant state of "who cares" about everything. Things I should have cared about -- I didn't or couldn't. After taking it for about 9 months, I noticed that it didn't work very well anymore and the PMS was returning. I called my Dr. and she upped my dose to 20 mg. I really quit caring about everything then and I no longer wanted to participate in life. However, it was not from feeling sad or depressed -- I couldn't feel anything so that certainly was not it. I just didn't feel like doing anything. I would compare it to being in a slight to moderate state of sedation. I decided to wean myself off and reduced to 10 mgs for about 3 weeks and then to 5 mgs for another 3 weeks before going off it completely. I have been off the Celexa now for about 6-8 weeks and at first my symptoms from not taking it were relatively mild -- starting with a return of my PMS in the first couple of weeks to emotional intense highs and lows to utter feelings of despair and not caring if I die by week 8. I have never had any thoughts like this BEFORE taking Celexa. Today I had to go back on it and am afraid to go off again. My husband said he didn't even know who I was and was seriously contemplating a separation due to the crazy mood swings, my constant crying and he said I also acted very angry at everyone all the time. If you do not take Celexa and can find a natural herbal remedy to control irritability - do that instead. This drug is dangerous to your mental health! The drug companies are creating drugs that force you to stay on them or suffer huge difficulties.

First answer by ID0406906757. Last edit by Cholladay. Contributor trust: 0 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 99 [recommend question]