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Suggest Ways To Deal With Withdrawal Symptoms When Weaning Off Celexa
Question: My Psychiatrist & I have been weening off of Celexa & beginning me on Zoloft. I Have had a horrible withdrawal. I am completely off Celexa.& am taking 100mg of Zoloft per day. I am also taking 45mg of Buspar & 3 mg of Xanax& 150mg of Wellbutrine for smoking cessation. I am smoke free for 5months. I Am experiencing much discomfort. I also have microscopiccolitus, therefore I have frequent bouts of acute diaries. For this I take 3 mg of Entecort. My Psychiatrist is most involved & I see a therapist weekly. My diagnosis is ptsd & acute anxiety. Please any advice. Thank-You
Brief Answer:
Sertraline is better option
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM
Celexa (Citalopram) and Zoloft (Sertraline) both are anti-depressants of same class. Both have almost same efficacy in PTSD and anxiety but Zoloft is relatively safe to use. The drug is safe to use in cardiac, renal patients and also in individuals more than 60 years of age.
When one drug is replaced with other drug of same class even then withdrawal can occur because of improper doses. Currently you are taking 100 mg per day and this is good enough dose.
Even after months of smoking cessation individuals may continue to suffer discomfort or anxiety. This is called protracted withdrawal. You are already taking Buspirone 45 mg, Alprazolam 3 mg and Bupropion 150 mg per day and still having discomfort. As per my opinion you should consult your psychiatrist to increase the dose of Bupropion to 300 mg per day if possible. Increase in dose of drug will help in decreasing discomfort and will reduce craving. Buspirone and Alprazolam will control anxiety.
Apart from that other medicine like Varenicline can also be used as discomfort is persisting. Though it is normal to have discomfort of nicotine withdrawal even after 5-6 months still change in dose or medicine can reduce anxiety. Varenicline is nicotine agonist drug and this will help to reduce anxiety and discomfort further. You can consult your psychiatrist for that also.
Entocort is a steroid drug and this drug has good use in microscopic colitis. You can continue to take the drug as prescribed.
Thanks, you can ask again if you have more doubts.
Sertraline is better option
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM
Celexa (Citalopram) and Zoloft (Sertraline) both are anti-depressants of same class. Both have almost same efficacy in PTSD and anxiety but Zoloft is relatively safe to use. The drug is safe to use in cardiac, renal patients and also in individuals more than 60 years of age.
When one drug is replaced with other drug of same class even then withdrawal can occur because of improper doses. Currently you are taking 100 mg per day and this is good enough dose.
Even after months of smoking cessation individuals may continue to suffer discomfort or anxiety. This is called protracted withdrawal. You are already taking Buspirone 45 mg, Alprazolam 3 mg and Bupropion 150 mg per day and still having discomfort. As per my opinion you should consult your psychiatrist to increase the dose of Bupropion to 300 mg per day if possible. Increase in dose of drug will help in decreasing discomfort and will reduce craving. Buspirone and Alprazolam will control anxiety.
Apart from that other medicine like Varenicline can also be used as discomfort is persisting. Though it is normal to have discomfort of nicotine withdrawal even after 5-6 months still change in dose or medicine can reduce anxiety. Varenicline is nicotine agonist drug and this will help to reduce anxiety and discomfort further. You can consult your psychiatrist for that also.
Entocort is a steroid drug and this drug has good use in microscopic colitis. You can continue to take the drug as prescribed.
Thanks, you can ask again if you have more doubts.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
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