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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by MarieMurph on April 18, 2001, at 21:02:00
I am a sophomore in college... and for some reason this year, I developed extreme anxiety and panic attacks, which has resulted in depression. When I am around my freinds and stuff, I'm not as depressed, but my major problem is the anxiety. I am unable to drive far, alone, or even work. My main problem, is the uncontrollable affects of the anxiety(extreme hot flashes, light headedness, etc.) I was wondering if anyone knew if this drug, Celexa, works well for anxiety as well as depression, or simply just depression, alone. And if so, how doesit work?? do most of the side affects, such as the sexual side-affects, subside after a few weeks?? I am now on lorazepam, to be taken whenever i feel extreme nervousness, it helps, but its just not enough for the depression and generalized anxiety. I was on paxil for only a few days, and had to stop. It made me sooo sick, I couldn't sleep, eat, my vision was blurred, i was about 100X more anxious than i was before, and i got a rash and hives all over my body. I hope someone can help me?!
Posted by SalArmy4me on April 18, 2001, at 22:52:31
In reply to Paxil to Celexa, posted by MarieMurph on April 18, 2001, at 21:02:00
Most people find Paxil to be extremely tolerable, and I think its 100% more tolerable than the MAOIs I took. But it may not be for you.
Celexa is very similar to Paxil, and will work for anxiety and panic also. But I don't think that you will find it to have less side-effects--although some people do.
Posted by vlvtelvis on April 18, 2001, at 22:54:04
In reply to Paxil to Celexa, posted by MarieMurph on April 18, 2001, at 21:02:00
I'm on celexa for anxiety and depression. It keeps me from feeling like my soul is on fire i guess. I've got a bottle of klonopin that chew on when stuff gets real bad.
It was around the end of my sophmore year of college that i started having extreme anxiety problems as well.
Celexa, like other SSRI's , will take a month to six weeks to come to full effect, so be patiant with it. Even then you might have to have your dose boosted a bit, so hang in there and don't give up on it. It's often that side effects experienced in the initial weeks of treatment will fade in time, if you can stand it that long.
Good luck
> I am a sophomore in college... and for some reason this year, I developed extreme anxiety and panic attacks, which has resulted in depression. When I am around my freinds and stuff, I'm not as depressed, but my major problem is the anxiety. I am unable to drive far, alone, or even work. My main problem, is the uncontrollable affects of the anxiety(extreme hot flashes, light headedness, etc.) I was wondering if anyone knew if this drug, Celexa, works well for anxiety as well as depression, or simply just depression, alone. And if so, how doesit work?? do most of the side affects, such as the sexual side-affects, subside after a few weeks?? I am now on lorazepam, to be taken whenever i feel extreme nervousness, it helps, but its just not enough for the depression and generalized anxiety. I was on paxil for only a few days, and had to stop. It made me sooo sick, I couldn't sleep, eat, my vision was blurred, i was about 100X more anxious than i was before, and i got a rash and hives all over my body. I hope someone can help me?!
Posted by Bill L on April 19, 2001, at 9:28:48
In reply to Paxil to Celexa, posted by MarieMurph on April 18, 2001, at 21:02:00
I think Celexa is an excellent drug to try in your case. It works very well for both my anxiety and my depression. Please be patient with it and give it at least 2 months to kick in and for any side effects such as drowsiness to subside.
> I am a sophomore in college... and for some reason this year, I developed extreme anxiety and panic attacks, which has resulted in depression. When I am around my freinds and stuff, I'm not as depressed, but my major problem is the anxiety. I am unable to drive far, alone, or even work. My main problem, is the uncontrollable affects of the anxiety(extreme hot flashes, light headedness, etc.) I was wondering if anyone knew if this drug, Celexa, works well for anxiety as well as depression, or simply just depression, alone. And if so, how doesit work?? do most of the side affects, such as the sexual side-affects, subside after a few weeks?? I am now on lorazepam, to be taken whenever i feel extreme nervousness, it helps, but its just not enough for the depression and generalized anxiety. I was on paxil for only a few days, and had to stop. It made me sooo sick, I couldn't sleep, eat, my vision was blurred, i was about 100X more anxious than i was before, and i got a rash and hives all over my body. I hope someone can help me?!
Posted by jimmygold70 on April 19, 2001, at 13:37:14
In reply to Paxil to Celexa, posted by MarieMurph on April 18, 2001, at 21:02:00
Celexa might be good for you, and so any other SSRI: Zoloft, Prozac, Luvox
> I am a sophomore in college... and for some reason this year, I developed extreme anxiety and panic attacks, which has resulted in depression. When I am around my freinds and stuff, I'm not as depressed, but my major problem is the anxiety. I am unable to drive far, alone, or even work. My main problem, is the uncontrollable affects of the anxiety(extreme hot flashes, light headedness, etc.) I was wondering if anyone knew if this drug, Celexa, works well for anxiety as well as depression, or simply just depression, alone. And if so, how doesit work?? do most of the side affects, such as the sexual side-affects, subside after a few weeks?? I am now on lorazepam, to be taken whenever i feel extreme nervousness, it helps, but its just not enough for the depression and generalized anxiety. I was on paxil for only a few days, and had to stop. It made me sooo sick, I couldn't sleep, eat, my vision was blurred, i was about 100X more anxious than i was before, and i got a rash and hives all over my body. I hope someone can help me?!
Posted by Kathy99 on April 22, 2001, at 12:22:48
In reply to Re: Paxil to Celexa, posted by jimmygold70 on April 19, 2001, at 13:37:14
If Celexa doesn't work out, don't give up on the other SSRIs. I had terrible side effects on Celexa, both physical and mental, and every day was a new challenge. I finally went back to Paxil, on which I have never experienced many side effects. Pretty strange how different they were... and it's also a bit strange to me that Celexa has the reputation of having "fewer side effects".
Posted by Daveman on April 23, 2001, at 23:25:58
In reply to Re: Paxil to Celexa, posted by Kathy99 on April 22, 2001, at 12:22:48
Kathy:
That's so funny, my experience was exactly the opposite (Paxil wiped me out, took away my sex drive, did nothing for my depression/anxiety; Celexa has returned me to "normal" with almost no side effects). It amazes me how differently each of us respond to each of these medications! Just so long as you don't give up 'til you find the one that works for you:)
Dave
> If Celexa doesn't work out, don't give up on the other SSRIs. I had terrible side effects on Celexa, both physical and mental, and every day was a new challenge. I finally went back to Paxil, on which I have never experienced many side effects. Pretty strange how different they were... and it's also a bit strange to me that Celexa has the reputation of having "fewer side effects".
Posted by Teri on August 16, 2001, at 19:05:19
In reply to Re: Paxil to Celexa, posted by Kathy99 on April 22, 2001, at 12:22:48
Hi I am weaning off Effexor XR because it made me so sick. I'm taking Klonopin starting today 1mg/3xday and it's wiping me out. I had so much panic, nausea and anxiety on the effexor that Xanax helped temporarlily but my new Pdoc said that Klonopin would work better and longer. He wanted me to take 2 at night instead of Ambien and one in the morning, also to start 10mg of Celexa to help with the Effexor XR withdrawals. I ended up in bed all day today from being so drugged. Does anyone have any experience on Klonopin and Celexa? After the effexor Xr experience I'm really afraid to try another SSRI but maybe the Klonopin at lower doses may help. he also mentioned a drug to start later called Lamuctal (a seizure medicine?) for anxiety and depression since I have a hard time tolerating ad's. Anyone heard of using this instead? Thanks teri
Posted by Daveman on August 17, 2001, at 23:12:15
In reply to celexa and klonopin, posted by Teri on August 16, 2001, at 19:05:19
Hi Teri:
I take Celexa 40 mg. per day and find it very mild in terms of side effects. Effexor is not strictly speaking an SSRI (someone else can chime in here with the details) so a bad reaction to it does not mean you will react badly to Celexa.
As for Klonopin, it is the longest lasting of the benzos. If Xanax helped you, odds are Klonopin will too. I must say I'm surprised your doc is starting you at 1 mg t.i.d., but it is really not my place to second-guess your doc; Klonopin is quite sedating at higher doses (I use it p.r.n. for sleep). There is no conflict with Celexa and Klonopin of which I am aware. Hang in there, good luck and keep in touch!
Dave
Posted by Saffy on October 8, 2003, at 0:57:24
In reply to Re: Paxil to Celexa » Kathy99, posted by Daveman on April 23, 2001, at 23:25:58
> That's so funny, my experience was exactly the >opposite (Paxil wiped me out, took away my sex >drive, did nothing for my depression/anxiety; >Celexa has returned me to "normal" with almost >no side effects). It amazes me how differently >each of us respond to each of these >medications! Just so long as you don't give >up 'til you find the one that works for you:)
>Hmm... interesting. I was on paxil for 2 or so months this summer. After a rough breakup with my long-distance fiancee, working in a job I hate, a lot of other life changes, and just all-out crap I couldn't stand being depressed anymore (as I'd been depressed for just over 2 years but it finally reached a peak) so I went to my doctor, she just spit out a 20mg prescription for Paxil with as many refills as I could handle, and that was that (I unfortunately couldn't get in to the follow-up appointment).
Paxil worked WONDERS... all initial side-effects aside, once it kicked in I was happy, productive, friendly, a LOT calmer, less irritable... all the things I used to be. I was my old self again, with a couple added benefits like some minor weight loss and I could stand being in crowds for the first time.
Unfortunately, it had one major sexual side effect. This was a big part of the reason I stopped taking it.
Here I am, back in school, failing courses and almost never leaving my apartment... sulking, thankfully my NEW girlfriend comes by and drags me out once in a while and she's very understanding.... But I finally got in to see a psychiatrist for the first time (as part of a depression study at my University) and he has prescribed me Celexa, saying it may have less side-effects.
Glad to see one or two people have had luck with it reducing side-effects; has anyone else?
I'd just like to know... because it's going to take a long long time to really find out for sure. I lost my abilities on Paxil within the first 2 weeks... and then it took about a week to get them back. I just like to be reassured that the wait is well worth it, because if I have to lose one thing to be able to function again and get my life back again I'll just have to survive =P
-Saf
This is the end of the thread.
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