Celexa during Ativan taper...

[[mo...]]

I started this ativan nightmare in an attempt to more smoothly ramp up on a low dose of celexa (citalopram) in November. I started with 2.5 mg in November and then bumped it up to 5 mg by the end of December and have been on 5 mg since. I actually felt the celxa "kick in" and take the edge off of my anxiety about 4-5 weeks after bumping it up to 5 and I was feeling great, although I was still on .5 mg of Ativan (I roriginally was prescribed 1 mg/day but I tapered myself down to .5 mg very innocently, not realizing I had to taper more cautiously than that). Long story short, I am probably feeling some of that orginal cut now, although that was weeks ago but more recently I started a taper plan (13 days ago) and have been dry cutting .125 mg from a .5 mg pill of ativan for the past 6 days. I was feeling OK for the first 10 days of the taper but now my sleep is horrible and I'm having awful insomnia and other w/d symptoms. My question is, would ramping up on the celexa somehow mitigate this w/d for me? I would only go up say 2.5 mg to make my total celexa 7.5 mg (a baby dose). Has anyone had luck with smoothing out their benxo w/d with an SSRI like celexa? I need a relief and I know time is the best healer but I have two kids and a lot of stress at home--I am looking for smoething to take the edge off this insanity before it destroys my family! Any experiences/ thoughts? Thank you...

[[fi...]]

Paxil has helped me out with sleep, anxiety and appetite issues.  However, it has not helped out with issues incurred when I cut too fast.  If I were you, I would hold longer before tapering again.  My doctor wants me to taper at .125 mg. of Klonopin per MONTH.  Due to a failed detox, however, I have been on the same amount for 12 months.

 

Don't worry about holding too long.  You will know when your body is ready to handle the next cut.

 

That's my experience, anyway.

 

Wishing you well ...

 

fg