![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Silly_gal on June 29, 2005, at 10:45:09
I'm new to this board. I have had GAD and depression for about 4 months now (I've had other episodes in previous years). I was on Lexapro 20mg and the insurance co. convinced my doc to switch me to Celexa about 2 weeks ago. Since then I have had an increase in anxiety. The last 3 days have been awful. I am also taking Klonipin. I was taking .5mg 3 times a day, and 1 mg. at night. Now I take .5 mg every 2 hrs and still have anxiety symptoms! Can anyone give me advice? Should I increase my Celexa (I am taking 20 mg now). I don't like taking that much Klonipin, but what else can I do? I can't function with this much anxiety.
My p-doc is out until July 6, so I can't ask her.
Posted by ed_uk on June 29, 2005, at 10:56:57
In reply to Increase in Anxiety - p-doc's is out!, posted by Silly_gal on June 29, 2005, at 10:45:09
Hi,
40mg Celexa is required to substitute for 20mg Lexapro. You are probably having withdrawal symptoms from Lexapro. Increase your Celexa dose to 40mg and you will feel better very quickly.
~Ed
Posted by Silly_gal on June 29, 2005, at 11:04:54
In reply to Re: Increase in Anxiety - p-doc's is out! » Silly_gal, posted by ed_uk on June 29, 2005, at 10:56:57
> Hi,
>
> 40mg Celexa is required to substitute for 20mg Lexapro. You are probably having withdrawal symptoms from Lexapro. Increase your Celexa dose to 40mg and you will feel better very quickly.
>
> ~EdThanks for the quick response. I don't know why my p-doc didn't know that. I don't like doing things without doctor's approval, but that doesn't seem like a very big thing, so I'll try it.
Posted by ed_uk on June 29, 2005, at 11:10:47
In reply to Increase in Anxiety - p-doc's is out!, posted by Silly_gal on June 29, 2005, at 10:45:09
PS. Some common Lexapro withdrawal symptoms.....
Dizziness, sensory disturbances (including numbness/tingling of the skin and electric shock sensations - especially in the head 'brain zaps'), sleep disturbances (including insomnia and vivid dreams/nightmares), agitation or anxiety, nausea and/or vomiting, tremor, sweating, headache, diarrhea, palpitations and emotional instability (eg. crying spells).
If you have any of these symptoms, all should disappear when you increase your Celexa dose :-)
~Ed
Posted by ed_uk on June 29, 2005, at 11:13:40
In reply to Re: Increase in Anxiety - p-doc's is out!, posted by Silly_gal on June 29, 2005, at 11:04:54
>I don't like doing things without doctor's approval, but that doesn't seem like a very big thing, so I'll try it.
I wouldn't worry, 40mg Celexa is the 'standard' dose for depression/anxiety. Some people need more, I take 60mg Celexa.
~Ed
Posted by ed_uk on June 29, 2005, at 11:15:17
In reply to Re: Increase in Anxiety - p-doc's is out! » Silly_gal, posted by ed_uk on June 29, 2005, at 11:13:40
PS. See your 'family doc' if the Celexa increase isn't successful :-)
~Ed
Posted by Silly_gal on June 29, 2005, at 11:31:17
In reply to Re: Increase in Anxiety - p-doc's is out!, posted by ed_uk on June 29, 2005, at 11:15:17
Thanks, I will. I worry about over the Fourth of July weekend, since I won't have work to keep my mind occupied (sort of). I do have a regular scheduled appt. with my p-doc on July 8th.
Thanks so much for your advice.
Posted by ed_uk on June 29, 2005, at 12:03:49
In reply to Re: Increase in Anxiety - p-doc's is out!, posted by Silly_gal on June 29, 2005, at 11:31:17
>Thanks so much for your advice.
Post in a few days and tell us how you're doing :-)
~Ed
Posted by ed_uk on June 29, 2005, at 12:45:39
In reply to Re: Increase in Anxiety - p-doc's is out!, posted by Silly_gal on June 29, 2005, at 11:31:17
PS. You've been taking a lot of Klonopin lately - taper back down to your original dose gradually, you don't want to have withdrawal symptoms from Klonopin!
~Ed
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.