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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jennifer on May 28, 1999, at 11:56:47
I just started taking Celexa yesterday. I just found this web site and am more than a little "freaked out"by the side effects, i.e, weight gain, memory loss, and sexual dysfunction. I have never been on AD's before and my first day on Celexa I was nauseous and sweaty and dizzy. Does this go away after time? I've only been on it for two days and I feel like stopping 'cause I can't handle the nauseous feeling, but will continue if somone can tell me that it will subside. I'm very nervous about being on this, but I hate feeling the way I was. If anyone can help, I would much appreciate it. Thanks for listening. Jennifer
Posted by Tom on May 28, 1999, at 13:09:51
In reply to Nervous Celexa Newcomer, posted by jennifer on May 28, 1999, at 11:56:47
> I just started taking Celexa yesterday. I just found this web site and am more than a little "freaked out"by the side effects, i.e, weight gain, memory loss, and sexual dysfunction. I have never been on AD's before and my first day on Celexa I was nauseous and sweaty and dizzy. Does this go away after time? I've only been on it for two days and I feel like stopping 'cause I can't handle the nauseous feeling, but will continue if somone can tell me that it will subside. I'm very nervous about being on this, but I hate feeling the way I was. If anyone can help, I would much appreciate it. Thanks for listening. Jennifer
I would reduce the dosage right away. If your med is going to work, then it doesn't hurt to start low, slow, and taper up as needed, and as you feel you can tolerate side effects. I generally don't advise anyone to take an AD (being that most of my own stories on them are disasters), but the only way I could tolereate a med early on was starting low and slow. Your pill is probably scored; I would cut it in half. If that's too much, I would go down to a quarter pill. THERE ARE NO LAWS AGAINST THIS. Your doctor may seem to think otherwise...Good luck
Posted by jennifer on May 28, 1999, at 14:33:57
In reply to Re: Nervous Celexa Newcomer, posted by Tom on May 28, 1999, at 13:09:51
> > I just started taking Celexa yesterday. I just found this web site and am more than a little "freaked out"by the side effects, i.e, weight gain, memory loss, and sexual dysfunction. I have never been on AD's before and my first day on Celexa I was nauseous and sweaty and dizzy. Does this go away after time? I've only been on it for two days and I feel like stopping 'cause I can't handle the nauseous feeling, but will continue if somone can tell me that it will subside. I'm very nervous about being on this, but I hate feeling the way I was. If anyone can help, I would much appreciate it. Thanks for listening. Jennifer
> I would reduce the dosage right away. If your med is going to work, then it doesn't hurt to start low, slow, and taper up as needed, and as you feel you can tolerate side effects. I generally don't advise anyone to take an AD (being that most of my own stories on them are disasters), but the only way I could tolereate a med early on was starting low and slow. Your pill is probably scored; I would cut it in half. If that's too much, I would go down to a quarter pill. THERE ARE NO LAWS AGAINST THIS. Your doctor may seem to think otherwise...
>
> Good luck
Thanks Tom. My pill is scored so I will give that a try. You just can't rely on doctors for information can you? Thanks for the reply.
Posted by Mare on May 28, 1999, at 16:01:04
In reply to Nervous Celexa Newcomer, posted by jennifer on May 28, 1999, at 11:56:47
Dear Jennifer -- I started Celexa in February, and had never been on any other AD's before, either. I want to ease your fears with my success story. Yes, at first I was a little nauseous, sleepy, groggy. Most of the side effects have dissipated, thought I do get tired sometimes. As far as weight gain goes -- I have NOT gained weight, and actually lost a few pounds! Gaining weight is NOT an absolute. Please don't be freaked out by what you read here. At first I was, but realized that the posters on this board are a teeny, tiny percentage of AD users. And most AD users do very well. Let's face it, many come here to talk about their problems, but not too many come here just to say "Hey, everything's working out great!" What is your dosage? And, are you also having talk therapy? That's very important. Please give this a chance. I am living proof that depression CAN be managed. I never thought I could be this happy and serene with my life, and believe me, I had been depressed FOR YEARS before I finaly realized I needed professional help. (Always took the blame upon myself for being depressed.) Oh -- I've had no memory loss, either! Not even a smidgen. As far as the sweatiness goes, it really got much better after a month or so. And hey -- I'd rather be sweaty than depressed. I will be away from my computer until Tuesday, but I hope you're feeling better about things then. Please let me hear from you then. ~~ From your sweaty friend, Mare
Posted by Jamie on May 28, 1999, at 22:21:40
In reply to Nervous Celexa Newcomer, posted by jennifer on May 28, 1999, at 11:56:47
> I just started taking Celexa yesterday. I just found this web site and am more than a little "freaked out"by the side effects, i.e, weight gain, memory loss, and sexual dysfunction. I have never been on AD's before and my first day on Celexa I was nauseous and sweaty and dizzy. Does this go away after time? I've only been on it for two days and I feel like stopping 'cause I can't handle the nauseous feeling, but will continue if somone can tell me that it will subside. I'm very nervous about being on this, but I hate feeling the way I was. If anyone can help, I would much appreciate it. Thanks for listening. Jennifer
I have been on CELEXA for a month. For the first week, I was very sleepy and feeling druged out.
When the sleepiness finally went away, I started feeling so good, I couldn't wait for my next dosage. After a couple of weeks, I started leveling off. I started concentrating at work much better. I don't let the little things bother me. I'm not moody (which was a big problem). I didn't gain an ounce of weight, although I am one of those people who react to depression by not eating. There are no sexual side effects. I have found that for the first time in my life (am turning 41 on May 29) that I can deal with family life, work, and keeping fit (I am also a vegetarian and work out every night) with a level head and a good outlook. I hope that CELEXA works for you. If it doesn't, I'm sure that your doctor will work with you to find whats best. Just don't give up. Jamie
Posted by Tomjay on May 30, 1999, at 8:21:31
In reply to Nervous Celexa Newcomer, posted by jennifer on May 28, 1999, at 11:56:47
I'm also a believer. I started taking Celexa around Feb. for depression related to my ADD. At first, I had sleepiness and naseua on 20 mgs, but those symptoms subsided within a couple of weeks. I was also yawning compulsively even when not sleepy, a sideeffect I've heard described by others since. I'm now taking 40 mgs without any side effects at all. No weight gain (lost a few, but part of that is havng the capability to watch what I eat). It's made a subtle but definite impact on my frame of mind. Good luck!
Posted by John on May 31, 1999, at 8:50:05
In reply to Re: Nervous Celexa Newcomer, posted by Tomjay on May 30, 1999, at 8:21:31
> I'm also a believer. I started taking Celexa around Feb. for depression related to my ADD. At first, I had sleepiness and naseua on 20 mgs, but those symptoms subsided within a couple of weeks. I was also yawning compulsively even when not sleepy, a sideeffect I've heard described by others since. I'm now taking 40 mgs without any side effects at all. No weight gain (lost a few, but part of that is havng the capability to watch what I eat). It's made a subtle but definite impact on my frame of mind. Good luck!
Jen, I agree (from experience) with previous replies here, that you should start low and slow. Break the pill in half. Stay there for a week or two, then move up. It is not like a street drug where you will feel a noticeable high or anything, it works slowly over time to readjust your brain chemistry to behave normally. But as you know the side effects are immediately noticed. It's kind of the opposite of getting drunk...when you drink you feel good right away but then get a longer time of feeling real bad. With Celexa or any medicine for depression, expect the hangover first, and then the good results come after the hangover's over. At some point you will notice side effects are so minimal you don't notice them much anymore. It might even seem like you're taking a sugar pill. I was on Paxil for a year and it was like that. I was stupid and figured, "Hey, I feel fine, this pill isn't doing anything, I can't feel any effects any more, I'm cured", and I stopped taking it. Then the depression came back with a vengence, and a re-trial of Paxil didn't work as it did the first time, and now I stuck in a terrible mode of trying to get back to normal again. Bottom line...start low and slow, be patient, the side effects do wear off mostly or completely, and if/when you feel good again...DON'T MESS WITH IT, STAY THERE! John.
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