Posted by Shelley in Seattle on March 8, 1999, at 13:17:30
In reply to Re: Meds, therapy & ever-present depression , posted by Pat on March 8, 1999, at 12:54:41
>>Shelley- I identify so much with what you've written. I'm new to this website - I 've only been coming here about two weeks, I think. I just feel like I have no one to talk to that understands what I'm going through. Finding this website by accident was a godsend. Everyone here seems to know so much about depression and all the meds and terms, and I feel kind of stupid cause I don't know all this stuff, but I'm learning.
Well, Pat - don't feel bad! We are all learning as we go along :-)
>>I feel embarrassed that I'm seeing a psychiatrist. I feel like I should be able to get off all the drugs and just handle my life like everyone else.
I don't think there is anything to be embarrassed about re: seeing a psychiatrist. I view it as going to a doctor and trying to get well, which we do for every other kind of thing that is bothering us. And by going, you are trying to help yourself to figure it out instead of just wallowing in it - that can be seen only as positive! And what about people who take heart medicine everyday, or insulin for diabetes? Depression (et al) is just as serious and life-threatening. So please don't sell short your efforts J
As for Celexa, I would recommend starting VERY slowly if you have had strong reactions to other SSRIs. I had a very strong reaction to Zoloft, but when I tried Celexa I started at 5 mg/day (that's one quarter of the pink pill! If you get a pill-cutter from the drug store, it is not hard to come up with four reasonably even pieces), I had almost no side effects. I slowly worked my way up to 20mg over about 2 weeks, and then worked up to 60mg (though you may not need to go that high!). It took a bit longer to get a full response that way, but for me it was worth it - I am a life-long insomniac and I had no sleep disturbance with Celexa (still don't even at 60mg, whereas Zoloft kept me up half the night), and any other side effects (like dry mouth) were mild enough to deal with. The sexual dysfunction-thing went away after nearly 2 months (totally went away!). So if you get Celexa tomorrow, my opinion is to start slow and hang in there with it if you can. Good luck, Pat - and let me know what happens!
poster:Shelley in Seattle
thread:3482
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990301/msgs/3489.html