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Glimmery: removing Celexa and withdrawal symptoms

Glimmery
Glimmery
in Introductions & Ongoing Recoveries

Featured Replies

  • Author
On 9/24/2026 at 9:12 AM, Chippy said:

It can be so hard I know. Best to only do what you can. IF it is genuinely urgent (the wd brain and society will tell you everything is!) than of course deal with it, anything else that is too much, just let it go. Easier said that done, however I think you have to stop and give yourself permission to let go. Peace is what the nervous system needs :) x

Thank you so much for these incredibly empathetic and wise words. You are absolutely right: in stressful times, the nervous system needs peace and quiet above all, and the constant pressure to get everything done immediately is often artificially amplified by external expectations or inner restlessness. It feels good to be reminded of that. Still I have to do those things and there is a huge pressure, when the rent is due, the deadlines are real, and the stakes are high. You cannot simply "let go" of things that keep your life running, and the pressure that comes with that.

Celexa (other trade names Cipramil, Ctp, Seropram, Citalopram, Cipram)

first prescribed 2004

2004-2005: 5mg, upped to 10mg

2005: weaned off

2007: went back on, got severe issues, probably withdrawal already

2007-2010: 10mg

2010: upped to 20mg

2013: went down to 10mg and after a while 5mg (thought it was a pretty low dose and I was on step away of dropping..... little did I know)

sure I had some symptoms, but thought it was something else

2013 - 2019: 5mg

2020: 2,5mg for a few days or weeks, as the doctor recommended

2020: stopped in Feb, felt great, then such BAD WD, which went worse and worse, doctors thought it was a burn out and put me back on Celexa in Aug, took 5mg, after a few days 10mg, I also got prescribed opipramol for sleeping (had the worst sleeping problems in my whole life) stopped opipramol after two nights: made me fell hang-over and I got unreal headaches

2021: 10mg Celexa, bad WD until July, and a wave in September and October

2022: 5mg, then I tried to come off again, got WD symptoms again, realized it was WD before

2022: research about WD and tapering, removed Celexa really slowly

2022-2025:5mg tapering to 0 in steps

2026: free from the drug, but not symptom free

similarities between escitalopram (lexapro, cipralex) and Celexa: Citalopram is a racemic mixture of two mirror-image molecules (R- and S-citalopram). Escitalopram is the pure active S-enantiomer. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17675913/)

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional, Shared words are personal views or based on general information.

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  • Some0n3
    Some0n3

    im sorry to hear that.. i have days like those too where i just basically do nothing and thats okay! sometimes just existing is enough. its a tough one to have so many obligations while in WD though.

  • Saar8srl
    Saar8srl

    Love, I hope this means deep heeling for you. You’re a survivor and had beaten this before twice . Can’t even imagine how that must be for you. Even in hard times you talk to me, show interest and cal

  • Chippy
    Chippy

    It is a pleasure. As I said, you have to do what you genuinely need to do, only you can decide what is a priority and what you are able to do. There are plenty on here who still need to work etc but

  • Author

Wave gets worse, no evening window..... tension and can't do anything

Celexa (other trade names Cipramil, Ctp, Seropram, Citalopram, Cipram)

first prescribed 2004

2004-2005: 5mg, upped to 10mg

2005: weaned off

2007: went back on, got severe issues, probably withdrawal already

2007-2010: 10mg

2010: upped to 20mg

2013: went down to 10mg and after a while 5mg (thought it was a pretty low dose and I was on step away of dropping..... little did I know)

sure I had some symptoms, but thought it was something else

2013 - 2019: 5mg

2020: 2,5mg for a few days or weeks, as the doctor recommended

2020: stopped in Feb, felt great, then such BAD WD, which went worse and worse, doctors thought it was a burn out and put me back on Celexa in Aug, took 5mg, after a few days 10mg, I also got prescribed opipramol for sleeping (had the worst sleeping problems in my whole life) stopped opipramol after two nights: made me fell hang-over and I got unreal headaches

2021: 10mg Celexa, bad WD until July, and a wave in September and October

2022: 5mg, then I tried to come off again, got WD symptoms again, realized it was WD before

2022: research about WD and tapering, removed Celexa really slowly

2022-2025:5mg tapering to 0 in steps

2026: free from the drug, but not symptom free

similarities between escitalopram (lexapro, cipralex) and Celexa: Citalopram is a racemic mixture of two mirror-image molecules (R- and S-citalopram). Escitalopram is the pure active S-enantiomer. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17675913/)

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional, Shared words are personal views or based on general information.

2 hours ago, Glimmery said:

Wave gets worse, no evening window..... tension and can't do anything

Love, I hope this means deep heeling for you. You’re a survivor and had beaten this before twice . Can’t even imagine how that must be for you. Even in hard times you talk to me, show interest and calm me down . That means you have some kind of power and peace inside of you, thank you for being there for me and let’s focus on meeting each other in the future ❤️. Love Sarah

01-2018 fluoxetine 10 mg two weeks

02-2019 started Sertraline 150 mg with 10 sometimes 5 mg oxazepam for sleep- my sleep was not ok after 150 mg but I felt good

01-August 2025 in one moth quit Sertraline because of the symptoms (gaining wait, vertigo, low mood)

12-2025 quit oxazepam

04-2026 because of major brain zap RI 25mg one week, up to 50mg next week and get depressed and quit. This was a high dose.

I also started oxazepam again

17-Mei 2026 RI 10 mg 3 days and 5mg 2 days in the hospital.

21-5 CT Sertraline

I felt better after 5 days and then crashed

27-6 quit oxazepam

Symptoms:

Depression, anhedonia, DPDR

Reinstatement Zoloft 2026

9-8 RI Zoloft 1mg

31-8 RI Zoloft 2mg

3-9 RI Zoloft 3mg

I always take magnesium and fish oil

    •
    • Love 2
    17 hours ago, Glimmery said:

    Thank you so much for these incredibly empathetic and wise words.

    It is a pleasure.

    17 hours ago, Glimmery said:

    You cannot simply "let go" of things that keep your life running, and the pressure that comes with that.

    As I said, you have to do what you genuinely need to do, only you can decide what is a priority and what you are able to do. There are plenty on here who still need to work etc but literally physically cannot and I realy feel for them, if you can manage to keep up with the pressures you mention here that is a good thing. Just be kind to yourself where you can. xxxx

    I’m not a medical professional and cannot offer medical advice. I only offer my thoughts as support. Please speak to your health practitioner about your care. This is a peer site where we support each other on our taper/recovery journeys. 

     

    If you are from the UK please make sure you fill in a 'Yellow Card' report for the MHRA. It is you doing your bit to help make a difference.

    Please take the time to do it today 🙂 https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk

    For US members details here.

    •
    • Love 2

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