genlady: Celexa taper questions

[mammaP]

Genlady are you still taking the hydromorphine? 

[genlady]

Genlady are you still taking the hydromorphine? 

 

At the time of that post, yes.  I didn't take any today to see if it made a difference and I feel the same..... crappy.  

[mammaP]

You have been taking it for a while now so will need to taper it, cold turkey will add opiate withdrawal, it will probably be better to stick with it until your upcoming surgery is over, you will need some pain relief. I wish I could make this better for you, I would in a heartbeat. Would you add the hyromorphone to your signature for us? It is important that there is a full list of what is taken and when changes are made. Sometimes symptoms change and we try to work out what is causing it, if we have the info to hand it is easier to see what is happening. 

[Frogie]

Day 64- I was awake most of the night feeling reved up, headpain/burning and burning sensation all over my body.I also suffered with the Chorea Movements for two hours, finally getting to sleep at 4 a.m. I received three hours sleep,then had a two hour sleep after breakfast. I also experienced shortness of breath or breathlessness all night, so I was deepbreathing so I wouldn't panic. The past week I have been experiencing pain in my arms and hands. Having my blood pressure takenis very painful. Sometimes I cannot move my fingers, like my hand is not functional.

Hi genlady:

 

I hope you feel better soon.

 

I noticed that you take synthroid. I just started the generic 2 days ago. I'm nauseous for about 2 hours after I take it.

 

I just wondered if that happened/happens to you?

 

I really appreciate you answering my question.

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

[genlady]

 

Day 64- I was awake most of the night feeling reved up, headpain/burning and burning sensation all over my body.I also suffered with the Chorea Movements for two hours, finally getting to sleep at 4 a.m. I received three hours sleep,then had a two hour sleep after breakfast. I also experienced shortness of breath or breathlessness all night, so I was deepbreathing so I wouldn't panic. The past week I have been experiencing pain in my arms and hands. Having my blood pressure takenis very painful. Sometimes I cannot move my fingers, like my hand is not functional.

Hi genlady:

 

I hope you feel better soon.

 

I noticed that you take synthroid. I just started the generic 2 days ago. I'm nauseous for about 2 hours after I take it.

 

I just wondered if that happened/happens to you?

 

I really appreciate you answering my question.

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

 

 

I take Levothyroxine and have for about 30 years.  I haven't noticed any side effects from it.  Give it some time, the effect should subside. 

[genlady]

​ I am taking the Hydromorphone again.  I only missed two doses, so no harm done.  I am still experiencing all of the above symptoms still with increased chorea movements when the stress from too much sound or activity.  I practice deep breathing all the time for the anxiety and other self help techniques to get me through the rough times.

 

​I did sleep better last night

 

[Frogie]

 

 

Day 64- I was awake most of the night feeling reved up, headpain/burning and burning sensation all over my body.I also suffered with the Chorea Movements for two hours, finally getting to sleep at 4 a.m. I received three hours sleep,then had a two hour sleep after breakfast. I also experienced shortness of breath or breathlessness all night, so I was deepbreathing so I wouldn't panic. The past week I have been experiencing pain in my arms and hands. Having my blood pressure takenis very painful. Sometimes I cannot move my fingers, like my hand is not functional.

 

Hi genlady:

I hope you feel better soon.

I noticed that you take synthroid. I just started the generic 2 days ago. I'm nauseous for about 2 hours after I take it.

I just wondered if that happened/happens to you?

I really appreciate you answering my question.

Take care,

Frogie xx

 

I take Levothyroxine and have for about 30 years.  I haven't noticed any side effects from it.  Give it some time, the effect should subside.

I'm glad it's just a side effect.

 

Thanks for answering my question, I really appreciate it.

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

[genlady]

I had a thought today about the trouble I'm having coming off the Celera Celexa. Would it be a good idea to change to a different drug, then come off that one?   The chorea movements could be a side effect of the Celex Celexa

 

a.  Even if that symptom were gone, I could handle the rest better.  And IF I switched, which drug would I choose?

Edited April 21, 2017 by ChessieCat
Corrected spelling

[nz11]

This site doesnt make drug recommendations.

You will have to talk to your doctor.

[mammaP]

Your nervous system is unstable with the changes, and switching drugs can make things much worse. We can't recommend drugs as we are here to help people taper off them.  I've just read back through your thread and there have been a lot of changes since you joined us with quite a few supplements, acupuncture and the keto diet. More than anything you need stability, I know that it is so hard and that you feel like you have to DO something, anything to ease things but sometimes the best thing to do is nothing.  I noticed that you were taking naproxen, are you still taking it? There are some horrific side effects with it. 

[ChessieCat]

It's very important to learn non drug coping techniques.  Learning Acceptance is also very helpful.

1. Acceptance
2. Acceptance and Mindfulness
3. Claire Weekes' Method of Recovering from a Sensitized Nervous System
4. "Change the channel" -- dealing with cognitive symptoms
5. Change cognitive framing - Redirect - Another Way
6. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) for anxiety, depression
7. Cognitive Behavior Therapy lessons
8. Guided Meditations, Calming Videos, Sleep Hypnosis
9. Non-drug techniques to cope
10. Yoga for calming (very simple poses can help greatly)

[genlady]

Today was a better day with the burning sensations.  I have had better sleep for two days now.  My heart races sometimes with the anxiety, which hasn't been as severe either.  I still have sweating and chills, muscle and joint pain, headache, back pain.  

[mammaP]

I am glad you have had some better days Gen, and hope they continue to get better. 

[genlady]

Well, that was short lived.  I had no sleep last night because of chorea movements for three hours continually.  The burning sensations are again severe with burning in my chest which feels like anxiety, but I'm not sure.  I have noticed I am experiencing weakness in my hands and arms, sometimes dropping things, not able to hang on to them.  I don't know whether this is from the withdrawals or not.  

[Junglechicken]

Well, that was short lived.  I had no sleep last night because of chorea movements for three hours continually.  The burning sensations are again severe with burning in my chest which feels like anxiety, but I'm not sure.  I have noticed I am experiencing weakness in my hands and arms, sometimes dropping things, not able to hang on to them.  I don't know whether this is from the withdrawals or not.

 

Hi Genlady,

 

I'm experiencing weakness in my hands and arms as well.

 

Have no idea why, it's been like this for the last couple of days.

 

JC

[genlady]

I'm having a horrible time remembering to take my hydromorphone because I'm not in that much pain.  Would stopping 1/2mg still give me withdrawals?  My doctor is phoning me in the morning and I need an opinion.  I forgot to take it all day yesterday because I was busy.  How can you tell whether I am having withdrawals from the opiod  or the Celexa?  

[genlady]

My doctor phoned me this morning and we decided to incease the Hydromorphone to .5mg every four hours instead of every six hours to control my pain better and also to decrease the withdrawals symptoms.  I can already feel the difference.   My symptoms remain the same however, not as severe:  insomnia, sensitive hearing and light, blurred vision, burning sensations all over my body, headaches, muscle and joint pain, sweating and chills, dizziness, cognitive difficulties.

[mammaP]

I'm glad that you are feeling a bit better Gen, and that the even dosing is helping. it is good to hear. 

[genlady]

8 May 2017:  I have short periods of time during the day when the burning sensation in my head and body is lower, but it is always there; most severe upon waking or even after a nap.  The Chorea Movements have been a lot less and my sleep has been not bad the last two days. The longest has been 7 hours sleep.  I still have dizziness, sore eys, restlessness, flu-like aches and pains, anxiety, sweats and chills, abnormal visual sensations, ringing in ears, blurred vision, restless legs, sensitive to light, runny nose/congestion, itching skin,   I'm having surgery on 18th of May for a biopsy and will have to deal with anethesia.  I'm hoping it doesn't upset my nervous system too badly. 

[joy2730]

I may or may not have done something stupid this morning, I have only taken 18 mg citalopram, due to too many drops falling out, so it will be interesting to see how this pans out.

 

I would have made up some fresh but am curious to see if this works.  18 mg is much easier for me to mix up and take.

 

My husband has so little tact in life, I am home for a few days (I work away a lot) and he noticed two things, and said them to me, 'Your bum is really big' and 'You eat all the time', both things I agree with, and partially blame the citalopram.  He is a good man in many many ways, and actually in his own way he is trying to help, but it does hurt in a way that he doesn't understand.

 

I have explained to him I don't think the citalopram helps my weight/appetite, but he is a Yorkshire Dales farmer and isn't into to empathy etc, it doesn't help.  My daughter is visiting me this morning and I will confide in her.

 

By the way I have stocked up on laxatives and pain killers for withdrawal headaches - how I wish I could give the bill to the manufacturers of my citalopram.

 

I have also started on fish oil supplements, 3 a day.  I will update my signature when I am next back at work and have more time.

 

My sleep is fantastic and so is my mood.  I am being honest about my drop as that is the only way.

[genlady]

May 12, 2017:  It is 2 am. and I am once again unable to sleep.  The cold burning sensation all over my body is testing my patience.  I do not however have the chorea movements which is a blessing.  I'm grateful I have my cosmetic business to keep my mind off the withdrawal symptoms.  

Symptoms I'm still having:  insomnia, rhitinitus, sore eyes, burning sensations, sweats/chills, anxiety, headaches, forgetfulness, cognitive difficulties, edema in extremities ( new), mood changes, muscle and joint pain, abdominal discomfort.  

[genlady]

May 14, 2017:  4 am. and I haven't been able to sleep yet tonight.  The burning in my chest is making it difficult to take a breath.  I have broken out in a rash on y right wrist again ( a red mark that resembles a bruise)  I get those from time to time for some reason.  Other symptoms: anxiety, ringing in the ears, sensitive to light and sound, painful muscles and joints, edema in legs and feet, headache, abdominal pain.  It is going on two months since my last taper and nothing is getting better.  I forget to take the hydromorphone at the correct time which complicates things.  I think I need to phone the doctor again.    My pain levels have gone up as well. 

[genlady]

May 15 @ 1 a.m.  Not sleeping again tonight.  I am wondering if by stopping the Glycine, my legs and feet have swollen?  They are hard and painful.  I have been sitting with them elevated, but this does nothing. I've put cold packs on them too which helps with the pain, but nothing for the swelling.  It is going on three months since I tapered from 50mg to 40 mg.  and the withdrawals are still going as strong as ever.  I feel tired but wired at the same time which is very uncomfortable.  

[mammaP]

Have you seen the doctor about the swelling Gen?   

 

I am a Yorkshire born lass and spent a lot of time in the Dales, Yorkshire men say it like it is and don't realise that their 'honesty' can be brutal! 

[genlady]

Have you seen the doctor about the swelling Gen?   

 

I am a Yorkshire born lass and spent a lot of time in the Dales, Yorkshire men say it like it is and don't realise that their 'honesty' can be brutal! 

MammaP,  I have surgery this week, but I have made an appointment for next week with my doctor.  They have gotten somewhat better today since using powdered Magnesium Citrate.  I had run out of my Magnesium for about two days, which could have been the reason for the water retention, but its safe to be sure.  

[genlady]

May 22:  The withdrawals symptoms have been severe for the majority of the time with very small windows during the day of mild symptoms.  The burning sensations throughout my entire body is the worst.  Other symptoms that have not lessened are anxiety, sweating/chills, ringing in the ears, flu like pain in muscles and joints, dizziness, Chorea movements, fatigue, insomnia, memory problems, cognitive problems.  I see my doctor tomorrow about the leg and feet swelling and weight gain.  I believe it is due to the increase in Celexa that happened in March.  I have had to cancel my physio treatment because I haven't felt well.  One thought I have had to bring up with my doctor is to taper the Celexa with the help of increased amount of opiods until I am off the Celexa, then taper off the Opiods.  

 

I am suffering from back pain and joint pain from my right hip, so the pain medication wouldn't hurt.  

[mammaP]

How did the surgery go Gen? I am sorry that you are feeling so bad, the drugs during and after surgery will have affected you too but hopefully will start feeling a little better soon. Opiates will not cover celexa withdrawal because they are a different type of drug.  

 

Have any of your drugs changed since you filled out your signature? I can't remember and don't have time to read back through the thread right now so if they have changed it will be great if you can update for us. 

 

Is there a pattern to the symptoms? Worse before doses or after, in between or persistent all the time?

It is very helpful to write notes on paper to track symptoms. I used an appointments diary that has a page a day with times. It is easy to use and the times are all there. This would help to see if it was any of the drugs causing the problem as well as withdrawal. 

I wish we could make it better for you, I can't take it away but I can send you a Mamma hug (((Gen)))

[genlady]

MammaP,  thank you for the hug.  My signature is up to date.  I take my Celexa once a day in the morning; the Lyrica twice a day, once in the morning and once at dinnertime.  The only pattern I have noticed and logged is my symptoms get worse around bedtime or 10 pm.  There is no pattern during the day.  In the past it has been about four days of hell, followed by one day of half hell.  Anyway,  I saw my doctor today and together we now think the Celexa is harming my liver ( my liver enzymes are higher than normal), the water retention is possibly from the Celexa, and the Chorea Movements are probably from the Celexa.  Conclusion, I need to come off the Celexa.  

 

After my hip surgery in January I was taking hydromorphone for pain and the withdrawals disappeared.  Hydromorphone does have sedative properties that calm my nervous system.  I have chosen to taper off the Celexa .5mg  at a time, possibly every two weeks.  That depends on how I feel of course.  My hydromorphone was increased to one mg. in the evening when my symptoms are the highest.  I know it is not the whole answer to the withdrawals,  but it is better than nothing.  

 

Even though 10% taper is the common way for people to taper, I need to get rid of the Celexa because it is harming my body.  

 

As for my surgery I had last week, a biopsy was taken to check for Cancer and the results from that haven't come in yet.   

 

I feel I am not stable because of the surgery medications, Celexa withdrawals, an because I was on Celexa and other drugs for so many years my body has become inflammed.  I'm hoping my withdrawals can be tolerated and I will stabalize faster using the hydromorphone.  

[genlady]

May 24:  Day one of taper.  I had a good 8 hour sleep last night for the first time in weeks.  My symptoms are not as severe today, but remain the same ones:  They are not constant all day long thank goodness, but wax and wain throughout the day.  Ringing in the ears, sore eyes, headache, burning sensations, anxiety, chorea movements, muscle/joint pain or weakness.   

[mammaP]

I am glad that you had a good sleep and hope the hydromorphone helps.  I had to get off a drug very quickly because of fluid retention years ago, it was literally killing me. I felt loads better after I was off it but then went into withdrawal and started something else, that was a very long time ago and didn't know about withdrawal! 

[genlady]

June 8:  Today I tapered down to 30 mg. Celexa.  The Chorea Movements have become less frequent.  Symptoms I still experience are:  Burning sensations, sensitive to sound and light, headaches, muscle and joint pain increase, dizziness, sweats/chills, insomnia, anxiety, breathlessness, increased heart rate with palpitations

[scallywag]

Good to read that you've noticed an improvement in the Chorea movements.  That's likely a hopeful sign for your other symptoms.

[genlady]

Because of side effects which were affecting my lungs, liver and kidneys, I have needed to taper Celexa very quickly.  Starting from 50 mg. to 40 mg., then 5 mg. every two weeks.  You would think I would have worse than normal withdrawals, but I haven't.  The withdrawals have been just as severe doing it at 10% per month as it has been doing it quickly.  I'm not saying everyone should do it this way, in fact I wouldn't recommend it.  I didn't have a choice.  I suspect I will have contracted withdrawals for some time even after finishing my last dose the end of August.  My body just could not tolerate the effects of this anti depressant any longer.  I have been on it for over 10 years which is not a good thing.  I have had this problem with other medications in the past as well... my body just starts to shut down. .  The symptoms I still have are:  ringing in the ears, sensitive to sound and light, headaches, chorea movements, dizziness, insomnia, anxiety, burning sensations, blurred vision, sinus problems,  to name the frequent ones.   I'm wondering if anyone else has had to taper faster than 10% per month and has done it successfully

[scallywag]

genlady, I've moved your post/question to your introduction topic so that all your information, questions and answers are in one place.

 

Thanks for sharing your experience with expediting your taper to reduce or eliminate adverse or "side" effects. That can be a difficult decision to make and I'm glad your choice has worked out in your favour.

 

 

[joy2730]

Hi Genlady

 

I do not wish to rain on your parade in any way, but the first time I tried to withdraw from citalopram I did it quickly and got to 7.5 mg and thought I had cracked it, but all of a sudden, with 30 mins I became very ill indeed.

 

This will probably not be true for you, but everything went wrong all of a sudden for me.  Just be careful and don't be surprised, that is all I am saying.  However, equally it may work well for you1  Hope so!  Joy

[genlady]

Today, I am starting my next taper to 25mg. Celexa.  This is the lowest I have ever gotten on this medication or any other without switching to another one.  I'm a bit nervous about how I will do , but still optomistic.  I'm still experiencing moderate withdrawal symptoms with small periods during the day of mild.  Symptoms remain the same:  insomnia, chorea movements ( mild), anxiety, burning, ringing ears, sensitive hearing and eyes, blurred vision, forgetfulness, muscle/joint pain, muscle tension, GI problems, coldness.  No word yet about my next hip replacement.  Hopefully this fall.