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Jen's Intro


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I’ve been visiting this website for the past few months and thought I’d join and introduce myself.  I started taking Celexa while in 2004 and have been on Zoloft/Celexa since then.  I tried stopping twice (the first time I stopped for 1 year and the 2nd was about 6 months) after fast tapers and went back on due to anxiety and insomnia.  I have a strong family history of anxiety and assumed that I would be on antidepressants for life.  In 2011 I started taking Celexa again (25 mg) and after about 1 year I had an IBS episode that lasted a few weeks. The symptoms resolved on their own.  Then last winter 2012 I had a more severe episode that lasted several months and was accompanied by flu-like symptoms (joint pain, dizziness).  I saw several doctors and specialists and had numerous blood tests to check for autoimmune diseases and more GI tests: all normal.  My GI doctor recommended an increase in Celexa (to 40 mg) to help with IBS. 

 

Then I got pregnant!  I felt pretty well during my pregnancy but had a few minor IBS/flu-like symptom episodes.  However, about a week after I had my baby, in November 2013, all hell broke loose!  I'm assuming that my hormones impacted my response but the symptoms came back and were 10 times worse.  I had nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, lightheadedness, brain fog, sweating, leg pain & weakness.  I saw countless doctors: GI, Rheumatology, Cardiology, Psychiatry, Nuerology.   And none suggested that my symptoms could be linked to the Celexa.  I assumed that I would have had an immediate reaction to Celexa and not a delayed response like I did.  Then I asked my doctor to switch to Zoloft and after a fast 1 week cross-taper, most of my flu-like symptoms went away.  I still feel brain fog and lightheaded but am doing much better  I have decided to taper off of the Zoloft to see if this resolves all of my symptoms.  My Pdoc at Kaiser recommended a 2 week taper from 25 mg of Zoloft which I know after reading this site is ridiculous.  I plan on doing a much slower taper and look forward to finally being off these nasty drugs.  I am really disappointed that I didn’t realize sooner that the Celexa was the issue because I feel like I really missed out on the 1st 6 months of my baby’s life.  I’m glad I finally figured it out!

2004 Started Celexa (20 mg)

2007-2008 Off Meds

2008 Zoloft (50 mg)

2011 Off Meds for 6 months

2011 Celexa (20 mg)

2012 Celexa (40 mg)

2014 Zoloft (25 mg)

7/2014 Zoloft (12.5 mg)

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Hi Jen

 

Very sorry to hear what you've gone through, especially with a baby to take care of (congrats, btw!), but I'm glad you've found some relief at least for now. Your symptoms all sound like familiar SSRI reactions, if you're sensitized to these drugs.

 

I'm sure a moderator will be along shortly to explain further. You'll no doubt find lots of useful advice for tapering off your Prozac safely plus much more on this site. I wish you the best :)

-

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Jen. When did you do the switch from Celexa to Zoloft? If it was really recent I would hold off on any other changes for a bit. 

 

It looks like you've already cut the Zoloft in half from your sig line. If you're feeling okay, don't make any more changes, stay there for a few months. If you're having any symptoms at all you might consider going back up to 15 or 20 and stabilizing.

 

It's best to start a taper when you're really stable, if at all possible, rather than immediately after making a bunch of changes. Changes in meds don't always just kick in immediately; the symptoms resulting can play out over time, with some disappearing and others appearing. So until you really get to know your own body's responses to changes, it's best to wait a while after making any changes to make sure you're really solid.

Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. 

Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010.  Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea.

 

Feb 15 2010:  300 mg Neurontin  200 Lamictal   10 Celexa      0.65 Xanax   and 5 mg Ambien 

Feb 10 2014:   62 Lamictal    1.1 Celexa         0.135 Xanax    1.8 Valium

Feb 10 2015:   50 Lamictal      0.875 Celexa    0.11 Xanax      1.5 Valium

Feb 15 2016:   47.5 Lamictal   0.75 Celexa      0.0875 Xanax    1.42 Valium    

2/12/20             12                       0.045               0.007                   1 

May 2021            7                       0.01                  0.0037                1

Feb 2022            6                      0!!!                     0.00167               0.98                2.5 mg Ambien

Oct 2022       4.5 mg Lamictal    (off Celexa, off Xanax)   0.95 Valium    Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet 

 

I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion.

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Hi jen, wanted to say hi and welcome, I know what your going through. Plenty of support is here. I'm a mom myself and struggling to care for my 3 kids daily. All hell broke loose for me as well after my 3rd son was born in 2012 and has been an e ticket ride to hell since then.

 

Wishing you peace and healing

Spring of 1998 place on birth control pills for irregular bleeding, high testosterone and one ovarian cyst, stayed on until April 2004, told to take hormone holiday, conceived first son 4 months later-VERY BIG SUPRISE, was told wouldn't be able to have childern or would need reproductive doctor to help. Got pregnant again 2006 with second son easily, then was on/off birthcontrol again until October 2011, concieved 3rd son in October 2011(tried many times to get pregant again when 2nd child was close to 2yrs, hormone problems started again after 2nd child, along with thyroid enlargement.

 

Spring of 2001 celexa 10 mgs-rx'd by pcp for complaints of chronic fatigue, irritability and weight gain, stayed on until June 2005, switched to Lexapro 20mgs for PPD, stayed on Lexapro 6-7 months, couldn't afford to see psyh dr. and Lexapro, saw PCP switched back to 20mgs celexa in 2007, remained on until November 2011, was c/t off due to 3rd pregnancy, baby had umbilical cord defect, seemed ok during pregnancy, except for crying jags here and there. Our miracle baby was born July 20th 2012, healthy except with reflux. One month later the anxiety,restlessness,horrible crying, insomnia and the deepest depression ever. That started the psyh drug nightmare-benzo's,antidepressants, sleeping pills, mood stablizers. Nothing help made me worse, doctors just kept changing the meds frequently. 4 mental health hospitalizations, rapid detox off benzos Jan 2013, horrible withdrawal and still suffering withdrawal symptoms NO ONE BELIEVES ME, I feel like ive been on one consistant drug withdrawal for the past 2 years

January 2014 slow titrate up of lexapro to 20 mgs-horrible side effects!!, was just rapidly taper by current pysh off to pursade me to try an MAOI-no way!!! Was told should consider ECT

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Thank you all for your responses.  It's so nice to have the support and know that I'm not alone.  Skylarblue - Congrats on your 3 babies!  Trying to take care of our baby when not feeling well and being sleep-deprived has been difficult and so I can only imagine how difficult having 3 would be.  To be honest, I'm scared to have any more for fear that I'll get that sick again.  

 

Rhi - thank you for your advice.  I switched over to Zoloft in May after a week cross-taper with Celexa.  Right now I'm taking 12.5 mg of Zoloft and will hold there for awhile to stabilize.  I should also mention that I took benadryl (usually Tylenol PM) to help me fall asleep for years.  Looking at the posts about histamine intolerance makes me wonder what role this played as well?  I've also been looking into how hormones interact with antidepressants as my symptoms became much worse immediately after having my baby, when serotonin & dopamine levels fall.   

 

Also, one troubling symptom I've been having is leg weakness/shakiness.  Is this a common withdrawal symptom?  Before stopping the Celexa I was getting electric sensations and aching in my legs and feet but now it's mainly the leg weakness.

2004 Started Celexa (20 mg)

2007-2008 Off Meds

2008 Zoloft (50 mg)

2011 Off Meds for 6 months

2011 Celexa (20 mg)

2012 Celexa (40 mg)

2014 Zoloft (25 mg)

7/2014 Zoloft (12.5 mg)

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  • Administrator

Welcome, Jen.

 

You could have drug interactions. Please put ALL the drugs you take in the Drug Interactions Checker http://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.html and post the results in this topic.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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I've only been taking the celexa & tylenol pm, and I no interaction shows up on the website. Although I was on pain medications immediately after childbirth.

2004 Started Celexa (20 mg)

2007-2008 Off Meds

2008 Zoloft (50 mg)

2011 Off Meds for 6 months

2011 Celexa (20 mg)

2012 Celexa (40 mg)

2014 Zoloft (25 mg)

7/2014 Zoloft (12.5 mg)

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Ok, that was a pretty recent change followed by a 50% cut in Zoloft, so yep, hang on for a while. Meanwhile you can start learning about tapering options and get everything together for when the time comes. And enjoy your little one! 

 

You'll probably have some withdrawal symptoms in a windows and waves pattern for a while. If you can manage it, keep a daily journal ranking your symptoms on a numerical scale from 1 to 5 or something like that. It's hard for our brains to keep track of those patterns subjectively no matter how much we think we can. 

 

Hang in there, take the healing time you need, and when the time comes, as long as you take it slow and make cuts based on a percentage of your current dose, you should do fine with the taper.

Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. 

Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010.  Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea.

 

Feb 15 2010:  300 mg Neurontin  200 Lamictal   10 Celexa      0.65 Xanax   and 5 mg Ambien 

Feb 10 2014:   62 Lamictal    1.1 Celexa         0.135 Xanax    1.8 Valium

Feb 10 2015:   50 Lamictal      0.875 Celexa    0.11 Xanax      1.5 Valium

Feb 15 2016:   47.5 Lamictal   0.75 Celexa      0.0875 Xanax    1.42 Valium    

2/12/20             12                       0.045               0.007                   1 

May 2021            7                       0.01                  0.0037                1

Feb 2022            6                      0!!!                     0.00167               0.98                2.5 mg Ambien

Oct 2022       4.5 mg Lamictal    (off Celexa, off Xanax)   0.95 Valium    Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet 

 

I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion.

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  • Administrator

Hmmm, histamine intolerance. That sometimes does happen after childbirth. You can test that by going on a low-histamine diet for a week or so and seeing if you feel better. If you do -- then you might have some kind of food sensitivity.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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  • 1 month later...

Please help - for the past 9 months, since I had my baby, I've had brain fog and lightheadedness.  It seems to wax and wane but is fairly constant.  I've also had the flu-like symptoms, IBS, leg pain, and eye floaters, but the foggy feeling is definitely the worst.  It also is much worse in the mornings.  I am feeling pretty hopeless at the moment and am not sure if the brain fog is a manifestation of anxiety or a withdrawal symptom.  I just feel pretty out of it and this sensation ramps up my anxiety.  I work in healthcare and am having difficulty focusing and interacting with patients.  I am really worried about having to quit my job.  I also feel pretty worried about the future and the type of mom I'll be able to be if it doesn't get better.  I know it's irrational to think that I'll always feel like this, but these past 9 months have just been so hard.  I'm struggling to work and take care of a baby while dealing with these symptoms.  My family lives across the country.  I don't know what to do and could really just use some support right now.  

2004 Started Celexa (20 mg)

2007-2008 Off Meds

2008 Zoloft (50 mg)

2011 Off Meds for 6 months

2011 Celexa (20 mg)

2012 Celexa (40 mg)

2014 Zoloft (25 mg)

7/2014 Zoloft (12.5 mg)

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  • Administrator

Jen, where are you with your Zoloft taper?

 

Please put ALL the drugs you take in the Drug Interactions Checker http://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.html and post the results in this topic.

 

Do try to answer all the questions we've asked you above.
 

Many people do better with fish oil and magnesium supplements, see
http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/
http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1300-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/
 

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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I haven't changed the zoloft but feel super sensitive to it, maybe due to the change in meds a few months ago or maybe my hormones after birth? I've been taking fish oil and magnesium, no other drugs.

2004 Started Celexa (20 mg)

2007-2008 Off Meds

2008 Zoloft (50 mg)

2011 Off Meds for 6 months

2011 Celexa (20 mg)

2012 Celexa (40 mg)

2014 Zoloft (25 mg)

7/2014 Zoloft (12.5 mg)

Link to comment
  • Administrator

What is your symptom pattern relative to when you take Zoloft?

 

Your hormones are in a post-partum uproar.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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