![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Shortelise on June 28, 2005, at 17:52:33
No doubt there is a lot written here about this med, so forgive me for repeating a question that has surely been asked again and again.
I've been on 20 mg's of celexa daily for three and a half years. With my doc's knowledge, I would like to taper and stop taking it now.
I figure I can go to 15 mg's, then 10, then 5, then 0. But how long should each phase of tapering take? If it takes a month or six months or a year to taper off it, that's fine with me. I would like to do it as painlessly as possible.
Any info would be gratefully received.
Thanks
ShortE
Posted by meg7 on June 28, 2005, at 17:52:34
In reply to celexa discontinuation - how?, posted by Shortelise on June 27, 2005, at 13:01:40
Hi ShortE,
I have also been on celexa for several years and have recently gone off.
After getting to 10 mg for several weeks, I lowered to 8 for a week, followed by 8, 5,3 and 1, each for a week. I have been off for several days with no problems so far except mild sensations of electrical "zaps" in my head, or whatever they are called.
I think it is best to make very small gradual changes in the dosage.
Have you asked your doc how it is best to taper?
Good luck,
Meg.
Posted by Shortelise on June 28, 2005, at 17:52:34
In reply to Re: celexa discontinuation - how?, posted by meg7 on June 27, 2005, at 13:29:09
My doc and I did talk about this. I would like info from those who have actually done it.
Did you go from 20 mgs to 10 mgs? Straight to 1/2 the dose or were you on a smaller dose to begin with?
How did you titrate the pills like this? Does it entail cutting them into tiny bits? I think this is what I will need to do, and have the nice little one-sided razors blade to do it with.
As for the brain zaps - what is that like?
Thanks very much Meg.
ShortE
Posted by Phillipa on June 28, 2005, at 17:52:34
In reply to Re: celexa discontinuation - how? » meg7, posted by Shortelise on June 27, 2005, at 13:51:23
Try the withdrawal page. Dr.Bob will rediredt it there anyway. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Shortelise on June 28, 2005, at 17:52:34
In reply to Re: celexa discontinuation - how? » Shortelise, posted by Phillipa on June 27, 2005, at 21:42:58
Thanks Phillipa, I posted on the withdrawal page but no one responded.
I am not concerned about withdrawal symptoms, but a discontinuation technique.
Thanks again
ShortE
Posted by MGOLDW on June 28, 2005, at 17:52:34
In reply to Tried withdrawal page, posted by Shortelise on June 27, 2005, at 23:47:31
Hi! I used to take Celexa 40mg. I tappered off by reducing 25% of the dose and staying at the new dose for 2 weeks(2 weeks at 30mg, 2 weeks at 20mg and 2 weeks at 10mg). I had no withdraw problems at all. I took it for 2 years.
Good luck
Posted by meg7 on June 28, 2005, at 17:52:34
In reply to Re: celexa discontinuation - how? » meg7, posted by Shortelise on June 27, 2005, at 13:51:23
I went down from 20 mg to 10 slowly, the same way I got down from 10.There is something called a pill cutter, or slicer, which makes it much easier to cut a pill into quarters and eighths.
The brain zaps feel like electrical currents. I have heard many going off these meds complaining of these sensations, and I think they usually appear when you go off too quickly and not gradually enough. My "zaps" are not that bad.
I think you can't go wrong if you take it slow and talk to your doctor if any problems or doubts come up.
Good luck!
Meg.
Posted by Shortelise on June 28, 2005, at 17:52:34
In reply to Re: Tried withdrawal page, posted by MGOLDW on June 28, 2005, at 11:42:01
Thanks very much Gold. This is just the info I needed.
Last night I tried my little pill cutter to cut the pils into half and quarters, and ended up with a crumbly mess. Argh.
I shall prevail! It's time to try life without meds.
Thanks again.
ShortE
Posted by Shortelise on June 28, 2005, at 17:52:34
In reply to Re: celexa discontinuation - how?, posted by meg7 on June 28, 2005, at 13:55:33
Thanks Meg.
As I wrote to Gold, my pill cutter made a mess of things. Crumbs, and Ugh! is it ever bitter. I will try to day with a cutting board, sitting at the kitchen table and maybe I'll have better luck.
Thanks very much for answering. More than any doc, I trust experience!
ShortE
Posted by SLS on June 28, 2005, at 20:02:42
In reply to Re: celexa discontinuation - how? » meg7, posted by Shortelise on June 28, 2005, at 14:50:51
This is what worked for me (flexible-dosing):
If you get "stuck" at 10mg or 5mg, and you find the withdrawal effects too uncomfortable, you can use the small pieces of tablet as a PRN whenever you feel the symptoms appear. You end up using very small amounts throughout the day as you would aspirin for a headache. Try to take only the amount necessary to get you through 6-8 hours without symptoms - no longer. When they reappear, simply take another small dose. You should find that it takes less and less drug to get you through the 6-8 hours, or that the smaller amounts last longer. At some point, you will no longer be able to reduce the dosage any further. That's when you stop taking the drug completely.
You don't need to be a hero. It is better that you not spend too much time in a state of withdrawal before your next dose, or it will get worse and last longer. Precision is not necessary when splitting pills. You will just wait longer before the withdrawal symptoms reappear and you take your next dose. This flexibility encourages the body to re-regulate itself at an optimum rate.
Of course, if you have no trouble tapering using a different method, you can disregard this post entirely. :-)
Good luck.
- Scott
- Scott
Posted by Shortelise on June 29, 2005, at 0:30:21
In reply to Re: celexa discontinuation - how?, posted by SLS on June 28, 2005, at 20:02:42
Thanks SCott.
I so appreciate the info I am getting here.
ShortE
Posted by Sebastian on June 29, 2005, at 8:32:56
In reply to celexa discontinuation - how?, posted by Shortelise on June 27, 2005, at 13:01:40
Go down a notch and when you feel normal again go down anouther one. You have to be used to the feel of that dose. If you go down a notch and don't feel good go back up till a later date.
Posted by Shortelise on June 29, 2005, at 8:32:56
In reply to Re: celexa discontinuation - how?, posted by Sebastian on June 28, 2005, at 19:32:10
Thank you very kindly, Sebastian. That is great advice and I will use it.
ShortE
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Withdrawal | 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.