Posted by Eliza on May 1, 2000, at 12:20:45
In reply to Re: more Celexa sharing, posted by Irene on April 27, 2000, at 18:15:39
I've been on Celexa (20 mg) for almost eight months. For me, it has been a wonder drug. I really don't experience any side effects to speak of (although when I tried to up the dose to 40 mg) it made me very very sleepy. My attitude has improved 100%, my outlook is more positive, and slowly but surely I am making small but important changes in my life, exercising more, moving to a nicer place, etc., and the best news of all, I have been dating someone quite wonderful since December.
I tried Prozac at two different times in the past, 4 to 6 months each time. The best thing about Prozac was the immediacy and intensity of its effect (it was like the world went from black and white to color in a matter of days). Celexa's effect was much more gradual and subtle. I did experience an increase in self-confidence on Prozac, but no accompanying desire to really better my life, just no longer caring about not having achieved much of anything. And then the really bad thing about Prozac for me were some of the paradoxical effects. It made me very sleepy (I would sleep nine or ten hours a night on it, and still have a hard time getting up in the morning) and I GAINED weight. I know they say that's not supposed to happen, but the first time I took Prozac my weight went from 105 to about 120 in six months. I did lose about 5 pounds when I stopped taking it, but I've never lost that other 10 lbs. When I took it again (for only four months), again my weight started to creep up, but I stopped it, because I really didn't want to experience another permanent weight gain.
I went to a psychiatrist this time around with the hopes of being placed on Welbutrin, but she is one of these doctors who doesn't like Welbutrin, and suggested Celexa. It's been (for me) really wonderful.
Hope this is helpful. EVeryone responds so differently to these medications!!
poster:Eliza
thread:20862
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000429/msgs/31834.html