celexa

[emsflight]

Hi.  I suffer with depression and fibromyalgia.  So 4 years ago my doctor pur me on Celexa at 20mg daily and either 5 or 10mg of cyclobenzaprine at night.  I also take pantoloc 40mg daily.  Well I was having a flare up in october and finally thought I was over it.  I was looking on the internet for some herbal remedies for fibromyalgia and found this product called activive, it also sell under the name vivarol.  Anyhow I ordered it and before taking it I consulted my doctor, who told me to be careful because it can increase serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine, because I am on celexa.  Well the normal loading dose is 1 activive in the am and one in the pm.  Shortly after, about three days I started getting a flushing feeling in my face and abd cramping and diarrhea.  So I stoped the ativive and celexa for 3 days.  I started to feel a little better and so I restarted taking celexa.  I was good for a day and a half and then same symptoms.  So I stopped celexa again.  I saw my doctor who basically said I told you to really think about this herbal stuff, as there is not enough medical info on it.  So he instructed me to stay off celexa for at least 5 days and then restart at 10 mg daily.  So I started and three days later the same thing.  He said I might be suffering from excess serotonin in my system and may not need celexa any more, so I can either stop it all together, or take it every other day.  So I skipped a day and felt fine, then took it last night and I got more muslce tension in my neck and abd cramping along with diarrhea again.  Should I just stop the celexa?  I don't feel depressed anymore, and my doctor thinks that my body may have had a jumpstart with the herbs to start making its own stuff.  Also, the cyclobenzaprine is chemically similar to a tri cyclic antidepressent.  I need some advice as my doctor is gone away now for two weeks?  What should I do?

[emsflight]

Thanx for the reply, but I am still having withdrawl symptoms, such as general malaise, and tired all the time, as well as abdominal discomfort.  You think I should just stay off the celexa and only take the 5 mg of Cyclobenzaprine every night leave it at that??

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

You have basically answered your own question. You are much better off without any medication, and if you don't need it, you shouldn't take it, especially since you are already on an effective medication, the tri cylic.