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What Are The Withdrawal Symptoms With Celexa?

Posted on Tue, 14 Apr 2015

Question: I am a 76 yr old women. Was on lexapro 5 mg 8 days, lexapro 10 mg 10 days, lexapro 5 mg 5 days,
3 days off, than celeza 10 mg 4 days. Today I took celexa 5 mg. Total 28 days. Need to get off because
very sick and losing weight ( weigh 100 lbs, need to gain and can't). Am taking valium as needed, no more
than 4 mg a day. Need to know best way to get off ssri and just take valium as needed like I did 6 months
ago. If need to taper, how do I do it? XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (25 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
dose tapering or switch to prozac.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I can understand your concerns.

Your last dose of celexa is 5mg which you took today. This you tapered down from 10mg.

I would suggest you to continue with celexa 5mg for another 5 days and then stop.

If you are facing withdrawal symptoms with celexa (or lexapro), other way is to switch to prozac 20mg. Take prozac 20mg for one week and then stop it. As prozac has long half life of one week, there would be no withdrawal symptoms.

Kindly discuss this with your treating doctor.

Hope this helps.

Feel free to discuss further.

Thanks.
Dr. Shubham Mehta, MD.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (46 minutes later)

When would I switch to Prozac? Before I taper or after. Would I take Prozac
and celexa at same time? Sorry - a little confused

Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
prozac alone from today itself.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again.

You can stop celexa now and switch to prozac (prescription drug) from today itself.

Take prozac alone for one week and then stop.

Hope this clears your confusion.

I will be happy to help if you have more queries.

Kindly close the discussion if you are satisfied with the response and give your valuable feedback.

Take care.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (58 minutes later)

Can I taper celexa longer and down to lower dose instead of Prozac?

Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (18 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
can taper celexa longer as well.

Detailed Answer:
Welcome again.

Yes you can taper the dose of celexa.

You can take 5mg of celexa for another 5 days and then stop.

You can choose the either way, whichever suits you. It depends on you experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
Go for prozac if withdrawals are intolerable.

Hope this helps.

Thanks.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar