Tapering AD (Celexa/Citalopram) and Xanax (Alprazolam) at the same time.

[[Se...]]

I’ve been on both Celexa and alprazolam for more than 10 years.  I was taken off Celexa 30mg more than a year ago crossing over to Zoloft. It didn’t go well.  It seems I should have been tapered down on the Celexa while increasing Zoloft.  Nope.  Took 25mg Zoloft, then 50mg, briefly 75mg before I couldn’t take the side effects anymore.  Psychiatrist took me off Zoloft 25mg at the end of August, 2018.  I think I was suffering from discontinuation syndrome but the docs know it all and said IF that was true, it would have lasted just a few weeks.  Well, there’s documentation that’s false. It can last for months to, God forbid, years. 

 

I was off all antidepressants from the end of August until late November when my primary reinstated me on Celexa.  I started at 5mg and it took forever to get to 20mg.  As soon as I got there I started to taper off.  It wasn’t working and I remain nauseated, have paresthesia (burning skin), dizzy, no appetite and I’ve lost 50 pounds.  Food is unappealing and I don’t have much of an appetite either.  I force myself to eat but am unable to tolerate carbs.  My sugar goes really high making me feel worse.  I’m not diabetic and have had extensive blood work done to be sure.  I stopped eating gluten because I also have hypothyroidism (Hashimoto’s) and gluten isn’t good for thyroid issues. 

 

I’ve been tapering off alprazolam since the end of August, 2018.  I was at 4mg/day and am now at .84mg/day using DLMT.  I’m currently at 6mg/day of Celexa using Rx solution.

 

My question? Has anyone tapered off BOTH...an AD and a benzo at the same time? I’m not sure which is the culprit making this taper almost unbearable.  Maybe both?  I’m wondering if tapering both is creating more havoc. 

 

I’d appreciate your input/experience.

 

Thanks.

💜

 

[[Fo...]]

Wisdom on here is finish benzos solo , rest and come off AD at ten per cent.

Dick

[[Se...]]

Thanks Forty!  I appreciate your input.

[[Fo...]]

Good luck!

[[AZ...]]

Hi Septgirl

About a year ago I did a too rapid taper off Paxil that I’d been on for 12 years because it stopped working. 2 months later I hit major Paxil withdrawal and so I decided I’d just try lexapro as an alternative.  Boy was I dumb. My body reacted badly to the new AD with major anxiety etc. because I was already in withdrawal, but I stayed on lexapro 10 mg and started taking Ativan daily for the symptoms.  After a few hellish months I’m now on steady doses of lexapro and Ativan.  The advice I’ve seen is to taper only one psych drug at a time, and the Benzos are so powerful and affect so much the thinking here is to do them first.

 

So I’m tapering slowly the Ativan, and when done will begin a very slow lexapro taper after some time off the benzo.  Most of my hellish experience has probably been because of the rapid tapers and instability.  A very slow taper remaining stable as possible is my plan.

 

Good luck to you!

 

[[Se...]]

Thanks AZ!  These ADs are a huge problem.  I regret reinstating in November.  I’m pretty sure Celexa pooped out on me even long before the discontinuation a year ago when the doc put me on another AD.  That was a HUGE mistake too! 

 

I’m still mulling over my decision.  If I can taper Celexa at a minuscule rate, I may.  I have Rx solution and can go down tiny increments at a time.  I certainly wouldn’t taper as my doc suggested...5mg/month!  That’s ridiculous even though right now I’m at a sub therapeutic dose of 6mg/day. 

 

For now, I’ve resumed the benzo DLMT.  Still debating the antidepressant.

 

Thanks for your insight.

 

💜

[[go...]]

I waited about 1.5 years after getting off of benzos to taper my AD.  I'm not sure I could have done both at the same time.  For me, tapering the AD (Zoloft) was a walk in the park compared to tapering benzos (I know others have different experiences).