Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 13662

Shown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Paxil vs. Celexa

Posted by Harmony on October 22, 1999, at 15:06:06

I am currently on Paxil and have been for about a year and a half. Recently I have noticed it's not working as well. I did the same with Zoloft, and I have tried Prozac. Prozac made me numb emotionally. Zoloft made me very nauseous. I am considering trying Celexa. My main concerns are:
Loss of sex drive (I lost it with most of these I have tried, but seemed to find it with new interests, probably more mental than chemical. Now can only achieve orgasm with aid of marijuana)
Weight gain (I have never experienced this, and would really rather not)
Memory (When I am not on an antidepressant, my memory is very useless.)
Body sweats (Not with any other than maybe Prozac, don't' remember, was on it about 4? years ago)
Anger (The contributing factor to being on this, can't control)
Emotional (See above)
Nausea (I have a tempremental stomach)
This ended up a rather long history, but I could really use SOME input. Not much on the web about Celexa yet. Thanks.

 

Re: Paxil vs. Celexa

Posted by jamie on October 22, 1999, at 21:47:16

In reply to Paxil vs. Celexa, posted by Harmony on October 22, 1999, at 15:06:06


You've been around the circle with the SSRI family. Why not try a different class? I was thinking about all the side effects you are concerned with. I think a combination of Wellbutrin and Remeron would suit you fine. They have counteracting side effects. And they are usually sex-friendly. Either one alone would not fit what you're looking for, but the two together would.

Other than that, I can't think of anything that fits what you want, except perhaps Serzone. I think you've been around the block with SSRI family enough times. Just another option to think about.

 

Re: Paxil vs. Celexa

Posted by Craig on October 23, 1999, at 19:14:28

In reply to Re: Paxil vs. Celexa, posted by jamie on October 22, 1999, at 21:47:16

> My guess is that is Jamie is right about the SSRIs. I did Prozac for a year and felt very empty, non-sexual. Cocaine was the only thing to bring back any passion/libido to my life...so you can see where that was leading.

It's interesting that pot makes you get off sexually. Only on Prozac could I tolerate pot after years of herb making SUPREMELY nervous, paranoid, and almost psychotic. Its anxiety attributes seem to counteract the anti-anxiety of Paxil.

As far as Remeron goes, you'll have to see for yourself, but I took it for one day (at 30 mg), and could not stay awake (despite five cups of coffee) nor could I stop eating. I would have gained ten pounds by the end of the week had I not stopped. They switched by to Serzone, which, after 11 days, seems fine. Sex drive is great, appetite is slightly lower (it can be nausiating). I don't know yet whether it will make me empty or if it will work with my intense social anxiety/focusing. Jamie seemed reluctant to suggest it (I'm surprised he thought of Remeron first). If you're out there, J, perhaps you could tell me why...:)

 

Re: Paxil vs. Celexa

Posted by jamie on October 24, 1999, at 3:53:30

In reply to Paxil vs. Celexa, posted by Harmony on October 22, 1999, at 15:06:06

Actually serzone is a good choice. No particular reason I mentioned remeron first. Either one. Weight gain is common with serzone too after the initial nauseating feelings go away. That's why I think wellbutrin should be in there.

Sorry bout your bad try on remeron. You probably already know that 30mg was way to high to start. Most start at 7 1/2 mg and increase it slowly. 30 right from the get go is like getting hit with a sledge hammer.

 

Re: Paxil vs. Celexa

Posted by Harmony on October 24, 1999, at 19:38:15

In reply to Re: Paxil vs. Celexa, posted by jamie on October 24, 1999, at 3:53:30

Just another question... I have been studying the SSRIs lately and notice some people list more frequent urination as a side effect. i haven't found this isted in any of the clinical studies.
Not exagerating, I have to pee a minimum of 5 times, sometimes within 10 minutes of eachother, before i can even fall asleep. I have no problems with sleep, except I want to do it ALL the time. This is something which has been an ongoing joke with my friends for a while now and I just thought I was a freak.
Now I'm hearing about other people with the same problem. ?????

 

Re: Paxil vs. Celexa

Posted by Cindy on October 24, 1999, at 21:26:05

In reply to Re: Paxil vs. Celexa, posted by Harmony on October 24, 1999, at 19:38:15

> Just another question... I have been studying the SSRIs lately and notice some people list more frequent urination as a side effect. i haven't found this isted in any of the clinical studies.
> Not exagerating, I have to pee a minimum of 5 times, sometimes within 10 minutes of eachother, before i can even fall asleep. I have no problems with sleep, except I want to do it ALL the time. This is something which has been an ongoing joke with my friends for a while now and I just thought I was a freak.
> Now I'm hearing about other people with the same problem. ?????
The increase in urination is something I've noticed too...possibly because of the anticholinergic side effects (increasd thirst so I drink lots and lots more water and pepsi and fruit juice and have to get up all night and pee).
The Serzone, however, is a blessing...it makes me feel a lot less depressed and does not interfere with desire, arousal, or orgasm!
The nausea only happens if I take it on an empty stomach. I have not noticed weight gain (in fact, I'm losing the 7 lbs I gained during only two weeks on Zoloft!).
Serzone does tend to make me dizzy and one time has caused a very strange "ocular migraine" (moving zig zag lines in one eye for about 20 minutes; no headache pain or anything). My psychiatrist says many SSRI's cause visual side effects.
Anyway, I don't want to make a commercial for Serzone, but having tried Prozac, Serzone, Luvox, and Zoloft, I highly recommend Serzone (I have depression and OCD; hope later to add back an ssri without getting the sexual side effects!).--Cindy

 

Re: Paxil vs. Celexa

Posted by Craig on October 24, 1999, at 22:55:03

In reply to Re: Paxil vs. Celexa, posted by Cindy on October 24, 1999, at 21:26:05

Thanks for the good word about Serzone (no, I don't own stock). I was almost afraid to ask on line because I figured someone would write in about side effects and I'd obsess over looking for them. I'm going to give it a chance and I doubt want to sabbotage another effort to get better...

Interesting about the SSRIs and urination. On Prozac, I woke up EVERY morning at 6:15 with slight tremors and the need to pee. A year later, I find that has reoccured strangely. I think, however, that that me be related to occasional ecstacy (MDMA) use. My hands seem to shake regularly also. Any thoughts?

 

Re: Paxil vs. Celexa

Posted by Harmony on October 25, 1999, at 10:15:42

In reply to Re: Paxil vs. Celexa, posted by Craig on October 24, 1999, at 22:55:03

> Thanks for the good word about Serzone (no, I don't own stock). I was almost afraid to ask on line because I figured someone would write in about side effects and I'd obsess over looking for them. I'm going to give it a chance and I doubt want to sabbotage another effort to get better...
>
> Interesting about the SSRIs and urination. On Prozac, I woke up EVERY morning at 6:15 with slight tremors and the need to pee. A year later, I find that has reoccured strangely. I think, however, that that me be related to occasional ecstacy (MDMA) use. My hands seem to shake regularly also. Any thoughts?

I only get shaky when I haven't slept enough. I sleep 10-12 hours per night and if I get less I am almost delusional. My equilibrium is off and I get really spacy. I go to the doctor today and have printed out an inordinate amount of info on Celexa for him to review. I've wondered about herbal supplements I can add to the SSRI for help with the side effects?


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