the truth about celexa

due to my bf's death i got mild depression and EXCESSIVE anxiety...all i did was read on the the net forums about ppls bad experiences this and that....i already think im border line obsessive compulsive so for the first 4 months i refused to take it because of what "somebody" said on the net, and as a result i suffered. Finally my mom said either take ur meds or get out (bc i was in and out of emergency bc of panic attacks and what not)
I started taking celexa thinking i was going to be sedated, have seizures and all the "side effects" ppl wrote....anyways, i had NONE....i take 20 milligrams every day and im totally fine, its done nothing but good, im not drowsy no seizures, i still would have great sex life, my anxiety is gone....i feel like i got my life back....so to put a flip on all the negativity out there, it didnt happen to me, and im a very sensitive person, i get knocked out by neocitron....so yeah my advice TAKE EVERYTHING WITH A GRAIN OF SALT, AND DONT MAKE ANY JUDGEMENTS UNTIL YOU'VE EXPERIENCED IT YOURSELF thanks. ;-)

Thanks for your post Princess. I am like you, I had been scared to take Celexa. You have given me hope to try and see what it does for me personally.

I fully agree. My doc told me about the possible side-effects with the emphasis on 'possible' and also told me not to expect too many. Celexa is pretty mild where it comes to that. Unfortunately the nature of the disease that we have to take it for, generally leads us to expect the worst in just about anything. I have finally learned to look beyond that and come to grips with reality vs. anxiety.

Thanks so much for your post. I just received a RX for it and I've been panicked to take anything. I have two siblings that are drug addicts and one that is an alcoholic. I'm beyond stressed to take anything, but your post made me feel a bit better.

I have been reading your posts Princess and Meerkat and am impressed with your words. I have been dealing with anziety for a long time. I have been on Trazodone for ever and am now making the switch to Celexa, which is scarry for me. Thank you for being in this forum and helping others. It really means so much.

Glad to hear it helped you darling. We sufferers have to stick together and support each other. OH ya sorry about your bf's death. I cant even imagine the pain of that. Life has some harsh lessons that is for sure. And we are not made of stone. Its easy for people to say, toughen up, but until they can get in your brain and feel what your feeling, they dont have a clue, People need to distigmatize mental illness. Half of this world is mentally ill they just dont admit it for fear of shame.

I was on Zoloft for years for Depression/Anxiety. It worked okay for me but was horrible getting off, as I had to when breastfeeding my now two year old daughter. Just went back to doctor for anxiety and anger issues. Don't really feel depressed but just on edge and angry all the time. Dr. prescribed Celexa so I'm hopefull that it will work for me - hated Zoloft.

Amy V, I'm interested to hear how Celexa works out for you. I just received a RX for it as well. I have a very silmilar situation...post birth of #2 I have gradually been experiencing more and more anxiety and anger issues. I was on Zoloft for years for anxiety. It worked okay for me and them suddenly just stopped working.I went off it when preggo and bfing.

You guys all sound very optimistic and I wish you all the best. With the right amount of work, most people can eventually be free of the drugs as well.

It is more than possible to manifest the life experience you deserve and to rid yourself of many depression and anxiety issues.

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i have been on 20 mg celexa for about 2 yrs. My husband died then and i was having a very difficult time getting through that. I have tried to go off and depression sets in and i really don't want to live my life like that so I go back on the meds. It takes the edge off and I feel normal again.

Starbucks wrote:

Amy V, I'm interested to hear how Celexa works out for you. I just received a RX for it as well. I have a very silmilar situation...post birth of #2 I have gradually been experiencing more and more anxiety and anger issues. I was on Zoloft for years for anxiety. It worked okay for me and them suddenly just stopped working.I went off it when preggo and bfing.

So far I've only been on it 4 days. I've been experiencing a few more side effects than with Zoloft but overall I think it has made me more relaxed and less angry all the time. I will have to wait and see after a few weeks how I feel. Side effects aren't too bad: loss of appetite, nausea first day, drowsy, metallic taste. I will probably take at night to see if that helps.

I just started myself. The anxiety is there but i have Xanax until hte Celexa kicks in. They say it takes a week to 4 weeks to get 100% results. i cant wait. Whoever said to toughen up has no idea. Stay Positive!!!

By the way, i take it at night and was wondering if anyone took it in the morning. I have this crazy idea that the pill is used up while you sleep. Is this a valid assumption?

Hi Stavros,
The pills are not used up while you sleep. As you mentioned it takes 4 to 6 weeks to get to max. effective level for this stuff and and every day when you take it, it builds and conditions your system to get to that proper level. Once that level is reached, every pill essentially is a maintenance-dose to keep that level where it is supposed to be. Since the half-life of citalopram is fairly long, meaning that it takes a long time to leave your system, the dosage level remains fairly even. What you are talking about are the immediate side-effects that wear off during the night. Those you normally can do without and have relatively little to do with the desired functioning of the meds.
I happen to take my meds in the morning right as I get out of bed and then wash it down with a cup of strong coffee so that I don't get drowsy from the immediate SEs. By the time I get to work, I'm at least halfway 'with-it' and can start my workday with at least the modicum of a good mood.
At about 2100hrs (9pm) I tend to zonk-out and I'm down for the count at 2200hrs. I sleep well, but sometimes the vivid-dreams wake me up.
Just my $0.02
Be Well
Meerkat

Amy V wrote:

<quoted text>
So far I've only been on it 4 days. I've been experiencing a few more side effects than with Zoloft but overall I think it has made me more relaxed and less angry all the time. I will have to wait and see after a few weeks how I feel. Side effects aren't too bad: loss of appetite, nausea first day, drowsy, metallic taste. I will probably take at night to see if that helps.

i was taking it at night cuz it was making me drowsy, but now it keeps me up, so i guess ill take it in the morning now.

celaxa has saved my life. i had panic attacks at celexa has helped about 90% which i rate as very good. I was even scared to leave my house. Now i can even go to walmart. It does make me very very very tired though.

princess wrote:

due to my bf's death i got mild depression and EXCESSIVE anxiety...all i did was read on the the net forums about ppls bad experiences this and that....i already think im border line obsessive compulsive so for the first 4 months i refused to take it because of what "somebody" said on the net, and as a result i suffered. Finally my mom said either take ur meds or get out (bc i was in and out of emergency bc of panic attacks and what not)
I started taking celexa thinking i was going to be sedated, have seizures and all the "side effects" ppl wrote....anyways, i had NONE....i take 20 milligrams every day and im totally fine, its done nothing but good, im not drowsy no seizures, i still would have great sex life, my anxiety is gone....i feel like i got my life back....so to put a flip on all the negativity out there, it didnt happen to me, and im a very sensitive person, i get knocked out by neocitron....so yeah my advice TAKE EVERYTHING WITH A GRAIN OF SALT, AND DONT MAKE ANY JUDGEMENTS UNTIL YOU'VE EXPERIENCED IT YOURSELF thanks. ;-)

wait till you have to get off of it. I never had any problems on it, but now am a basket case and worse over since my doctor took me off, its hell

just got my Rx for celexa, i'm a bit nervous to start, since ive had bad experiences with zoloft and another drug (can't remember the name) in the past, and since then refused to get back on meds. It's been a very rough year and half and the 'bad harmful' thoughts come stronger and more often each day. I dont know what else to do, everyone is suffering along with me (my husband, my dog, my family, my friends, my job...)
I feel some hope now after reading many of your posts. I'm glad i happened to come across this site.

This is a good post. i too have felt very glad to have citalopram (UK name for Celexa. It has completely erased my horrible anger and mood swings, paranoia and depression. But I am permanently exhausted now I've been on it for 7 weeks. Might ask for dose to be reduced. I need more energy than this to get through the day but wouldn't go back to that anger for anything (also came on after birth of kids...)

My girlfriend's mother died bout a year ago and for about 6 months takes celexa, 20-40mgs every morning, but when she forgets to take it she becomes very irritable and cranky and depressed. you know kind of like a drug addict. The pills are terrible and people should not be prescribed them. Her family doctor prescribed them when she went in for a check up. thats rediculous he's not a psychiatrist, but he does get a kickback like all doctors for doing so, and people do love money. You people need to fight the power before the pharmaceutical companies driven by the government take over. Do you know that people of all ages, that take anti-depressants commit suicide everyday. Im only 22 and already know three. Before you follow suit you need to know the facts. Everyone of you are so proud of these drugs and to be on them. If that was a lie there wouldn't be a forum talking about them. At least my girlfriend is embarrassed to admit she takes these drugs and everyday its a struggle to figure out how to get her off of them.