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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Miss Amy on April 10, 2001, at 19:23:07
In reply to Re: serzone questions!!!, posted by cher on April 10, 2001, at 18:55:33
I was a bit snippy too everytime I upped my dose---but i was REALLY snippy before I ever started the meds. Now I am rarely snippy. I think it was a side effect for me that went away after getting used to the dose--and before that a sign of my depression that also eventually went away. Does that make sense? : )
Keep at it and see if you level out. It can take serzone a couple months to stat working sometimes. Good luck!
Posted by Christi on April 10, 2001, at 22:46:26
In reply to Re: serzone questions!!!, posted by cher on April 10, 2001, at 18:55:33
> > I've been taking serzone 100mg in the am and 100mg in the pm. the month before i took 50mg 2 x per day. I know i have only been on the higher dose for almost 1 week yet i feel so damn emotional and snippy. Sheesh, i can get upset when something bothers me. I feel i am getting to upset - making a big deal out of nothing - maybe. Are these just side effects that will most likely go away? I know i am not being very patient but i feel a bit of anxiety too. I'm unsure if the medication has not taken effect or if the medication is not right for me. How long do i have to wait? Please answer - someone!! Thank's. cher
I took serzone for a full month, and I'm sorry to say, in my case, my symptoms haven't gone away. I too was overreacting to everything, and felt FULL of rage, which isn't me. My doctor gave me xanex to take as needed, which helped, but not enough.I saw him yesterday, and he wants me to go on Prozac, which I have taken and done fairly well on in the past, except for anxiety still being a problem. I can't wait to get this serzone out of my body, because I can't stand feeling and acting so hateful! I hope you get to feeling better.
Posted by cher on April 12, 2001, at 0:38:30
In reply to Re: serzone questions!!!, posted by Christi on April 10, 2001, at 22:46:26
OKAY, I AM NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS MEDICATION ANY MORE. I AM CUTTING DOWN TO HALF OF WHAT I AM TO BE TAKING. I GUESS I WILL NOTIFY MY DOC. I HAVE BEEN WAY TO ANGRY. MAKES ME WONDER WHAT EVERY ONE MUST BE THINKING OF ME. DON'T WANT TO FEEL OUT OF IT ANYMORE. SO I HOPE I WILL FeeL BETTER WITH OUT ANY MEDICATION. IT HAS BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE I HAVE NOT BEEN ON ANY MEDS. JUST HAVE CHANGED THEM. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IS FEELS LIKE TO ME ANYMORE SO HERE I GO YA ALL. I HOPE IT'S A POSITIVE OUTCOME. HAVE TO WEAN MY SELF OFF SERZONE. I'M SURE MY DOCTOR WILL WANT TO TRY ANOTHER MEDICATION. I'M NOT SURE IF I WANT TO OR NOT. MAYBE I SHOULD SEE IF I AM OKAY WITH OUT ANY FIRST. WHAT DO YOU THINK? CHER
Posted by e503 on April 12, 2001, at 8:30:47
In reply to Re: serzone cutting down and getting off it. , posted by cher on April 12, 2001, at 0:38:30
ME TOO!!!! I was up to 150 mg. serzone at night a few nights ago. I just didn't take any two nights ago and yesterday felt MUCH better, except a little anxiety -even thought about taking a SMALL Small dosage during the day - but did not. Problem is though, that I was wide awake at 1 in the morning and got up every hour or so. Not good sleeping. So, any ideas what I should do? If I took 50 mg. or more at one time I slept for HOURS. Has anyone ever taken LESS than that amount and shown serzone to be somewhat effective? HELP!
Elise
Posted by Kathy99 on April 12, 2001, at 12:05:11
In reply to Re: Celexa and side effects -- do they end?, posted by Rieel on September 14, 2000, at 14:50:09
I was doing fine on Paxil but my doc put me on Celexa to see if it would be better for the sexual anorgasmia that resulted from the Paxil. The side effects are REALLY bothering me (on the Celexa) and I never had had any side effects on the Paxil. Has anybody here ever made a successful switch from Paxil to Celexa? I'd like to know whether I should wait it out for the next few months or ask to go back to Paxil. By the way, the Wellbutrin I'm also on has REALLY helped my libido.
Posted by SalArmy4me on April 12, 2001, at 12:33:49
In reply to Re: Celexa and side effects -- do they end?, posted by Kathy99 on April 12, 2001, at 12:05:11
But how is your mood on Celexa, as opposed to Paxil?
> I was doing fine on Paxil but my doc put me on Celexa to see if it would be better for the sexual anorgasmia that resulted from the Paxil. The side effects are REALLY bothering me (on the Celexa) and I never had had any side effects on the Paxil. Has anybody here ever made a successful switch from Paxil to Celexa? I'd like to know whether I should wait it out for the next few months or ask to go back to Paxil. By the way, the Wellbutrin I'm also on has REALLY helped my libido.
Posted by Christi on April 12, 2001, at 15:12:25
In reply to Re: serzone cutting down and getting off it. , posted by cher on April 12, 2001, at 0:38:30
> OKAY, I AM NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS MEDICATION ANY MORE. I AM CUTTING DOWN TO HALF OF WHAT I AM TO BE TAKING. I GUESS I WILL NOTIFY MY DOC. I HAVE BEEN WAY TO ANGRY. MAKES ME WONDER WHAT EVERY ONE MUST BE THINKING OF ME. DON'T WANT TO FEEL OUT OF IT ANYMORE. SO I HOPE I WILL FeeL BETTER WITH OUT ANY MEDICATION. IT HAS BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE I HAVE NOT BEEN ON ANY MEDS. JUST HAVE CHANGED THEM. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IS FEELS LIKE TO ME ANYMORE SO HERE I GO YA ALL. I HOPE IT'S A POSITIVE OUTCOME. HAVE TO WEAN MY SELF OFF SERZONE. I'M SURE MY DOCTOR WILL WANT TO TRY ANOTHER MEDICATION. I'M NOT SURE IF I WANT TO OR NOT. MAYBE I SHOULD SEE IF I AM OKAY WITH OUT ANY FIRST. WHAT DO YOU THINK? CHER
My doctor has me cutting my dose in half every 3 or 4 days. I hate this stuff! It's hard for me to even take a half dose, because I feel mean everytime I put this stuff in my body. I do think you should let your doctor know what you have in mind, though.
Posted by Kathy99 on April 13, 2001, at 12:09:09
In reply to Re: Celexa and side effects -- do they end? » Kathy99, posted by SalArmy4me on April 12, 2001, at 12:33:49
I've only been on for 3 weeks, so it's probably too early to say, but so far it's not as good. I've been feeling a bit "uneasy".
Anybody have something positive to say about switching from one drug (that worked great) to another (that is supposed to be "better"?
Posted by john hryniuk on April 20, 2001, at 5:57:25
In reply to Re: Antidepressants Beware!, posted by Veronica on March 7, 2000, at 12:05:01
I first started taking celexa with welbutrin about 7 months ago. About 1 month ago the side effects really started to show and Im worried.
For example last night I got home at 6pm and fell asleep till 1 am watched tv at 1am till 2 am and then went back to sleep till 7 am. HOLY thats like 12 hours sleep and Im still groggy. Has anyone experienced this? Im getting off celexa if its that.....the welbutrin should do it at least the side effects of just that are cool enuff....ie: increased sex drive and being upbeat.
John
Posted by KARAsweet on April 23, 2001, at 14:58:18
In reply to HELP- CELEXA BEING TIRED, posted by john hryniuk on April 20, 2001, at 5:57:25
I had to get off Celexa the first time because it made me so tired.. my moods were great, but I was sleeping more often and always exhausted.
Now I'm back on it and getting tired again! Good luck with getting off it. :)
Posted by TRISH on May 7, 2001, at 15:32:42
In reply to Re: HELP- CELEXA BEING TIRED, posted by KARAsweet on April 23, 2001, at 14:58:18
I started taking celexa 3 weeks ago and have felt pretty good. Recently, I am getting irritable again, short fuse and over reacting to situations.
Please advise..anyone!!
Posted by stjames on May 7, 2001, at 17:45:14
In reply to IS IT STILL EFFECTIVE, posted by TRISH on May 7, 2001, at 15:32:42
> I started taking celexa 3 weeks ago and have felt pretty good. Recently, I am getting irritable again, short fuse and over reacting to situations.
>
> Please advise..anyone!!james here....
AD's don't start working for 4-8 weeks.
Posted by mila on May 7, 2001, at 20:38:07
In reply to Re: IS IT STILL EFFECTIVE, posted by stjames on May 7, 2001, at 17:45:14
Hi,
what you felt during the first 3 weeks was probably due to the placebo effect (hope is the best AD on earth), now the celexa started kicking in. It made me overreact like never before in my life.best
mila
Posted by SLS on May 8, 2001, at 7:37:42
In reply to Re: IS IT STILL EFFECTIVE, posted by stjames on May 7, 2001, at 17:45:14
Hi Trish.
I agree with both Mila and James. What Mila describes is not unusual. Sometimes irritability and an anger that takes you by surprise reflect the beginnings in an improvement. It is unlikely that a true clinical antidepressant response has occurred within the first two weeks, although you may possibly have experienced a positive initial "blip" or "tickle". It is more likely that you are only now beginning to see the more complete response. Your course of improvement might be relatively gradual, taking weeks or even months. This is a good thing.
To me, the irritability seems like a return of "reactivity" that depression has previously squashed. I guess it depends upon the type and severity of the depression. For some, it is a mild to moderate depression that produces a more or less static state of irritability. For others who are first entering a more severe depression, this state of irritability might be transient, as they pass through it on the way to a more melancholic or vegetative depression. These are just my impressions based on experience. They are not fact.
Good luck.
- Scott
Posted by sar on May 10, 2001, at 11:22:08
In reply to Re: IS IT STILL EFFECTIVE, posted by SLS on May 8, 2001, at 7:37:42
Feeling irritable and truly angry were, for me, the best & most significant sign that I was improving after a long depressive episode. I'd been a self-blaming doormat for a year...anger wasn't what I was looking for as my mood improved, but when I felt it I knew that it was completely righteous.
(I don't know if you can relate to this, but I thot I'd throw it in just in case.)
sar
Posted by Nellie on May 14, 2001, at 22:27:36
In reply to Re: serzone questions!!!, posted by Christi on April 10, 2001, at 22:46:26
For anyone taking Serzone--here is what I recently learned when I went to a new psychiatrist. My GP had me taking 150 mg daily. my psych immediatley boosted me to 450 daily with the possibility of going as high as 600 mg. Because it makes me feel sluggish, he has me take it all at night. I found at low doses it worked very well for anxiety, but did nothing for weepiness. The new higher dosing is helping that. It is not, however, helping the free-floating rage and irritibility which, for me, is tied somewhat to my menstrual cycle. For this we are trying one of the newer anti-siezure meds-Topamate. After two weeks this seems to be kicking in, but has it's own set of "interesting" side-effects". The person who develops an effective mood stabalizing drug without side effects will rule the world!! Good luck to everyone searching for the right med./comb.
Posted by SalArmy4me on May 14, 2001, at 23:19:04
In reply to Re: serzone questions!!!, posted by Nellie on May 14, 2001, at 22:27:36
Have you tried any of the other anticonvulsants? I believe that you might be able to get rid of that irritability and have less side-effects on the new Depakote ER or Tegretol XR.
Posted by ChronicWorrier on June 1, 2001, at 17:32:34
In reply to Re: Celexa and side effects -- do they end?, posted by sheryl on January 24, 2000, at 18:23:10
Has anyone had problems with bruising and bleeding gums while on celexa?
Posted by Toryalai on June 11, 2001, at 17:15:40
In reply to Re: Sexual side effects?? Re: Celexa and side effects?, posted by Cindy W on December 29, 1999, at 10:46:24
Dear Cindy - my lover has recently stated using Celexa and her sudden sexual disinterest in me is shocking (I'm a good catch and skilled lover:-) ! ). I also have not found any professional references to sex drive side effects in women, but cannot ignore the correlation that I am observing. She, however, does not seem to be conscious of this change, or at least, willing to discuss it. Although her sex drive in quasi inexistant, when aroused, after no more than two minutes of foreplay, she is saturated and pleasure becomes an irritant. Is this familar in any way? Do you also experience severe mood swings when you are not completely punctual with your meds (3-4 hr delay)? I hope that you find a solution to own troubles, and that your use of this medication is transitory. All the best, Toryalai
> > hi, i'm 21 and in college... i just started taking celexa last week after a battery of other anti-depressants. i read the stats for sexual side effects in men (6% problems with ejaculation, 3% impotence) but i can't find any for women. i already have 'problems' having an orgasm -- something i am starting to think really contributes to my depression at times, and my main concern is whether i will be experiencing sexual side effects from celexa.
> > it really pisses me off that there isn't some drug yet that doesn't interfere with your sex drive. Basically, i'm looking for some advice from other women. Thanks.
>
> Rachel, I've tried Prozac, Serzone, Luvox, Zoloft, and now Effexor. I had trouble with desire, arousal, and reaching orgasm with Prozac, Luvox, and Zoloft, but no problem with Serzone and none (so far!) with Effexor. The SSRI's are infamous for sexual dysfunction. Serzone and Effexor are newer non SSRI type antidepressants. Hope this helps.--Cindy W
Posted by mike schultz on August 3, 2001, at 21:51:41
In reply to Re: Celexa and side effects -- do they end?, posted by Bob on January 24, 2000, at 19:03:48
> Hello,
I have been taking celexa since late May/01. I have not had an ejaculation since that time. My interest is sex is virtually nil. I can not even masturbate. Actually I feel as if I am a eunuch without benefit of testosterine patches. I am taking 20mgs daily...all the other side effects have been insignificant. It has leveled off my highs and lows and I have a sneaking suspicion it has also taken away much of my creative writing drive. This reaction has not made me depressed but to be honest, even though I am 70, I miss sex either with someone or by my self.
Posted by Rebekah W on August 27, 2001, at 10:52:29
In reply to Re: Celexa and side effects -- do they end?, posted by Jody on February 2, 1999, at 21:06:27
Hi everyone..my doctor just put me on Celexa and the only side effect I seem to have is insomnia, but it's getting better. Jody, I'm wondering if you've been misdiagnosed. It sounds to me like you might be manic, not major. My husband was on several different meds, and nothing worked until he was properly diagnosed. His extremes in moods go from very sad to highly aggressive and angry. He needed two meds one to lift the saratonin, and the other to stabalize his moods, (lithium). From what I've read about Celexa, it should not be used for manic depression. You really should talk to your Dr., and if he doesn't seem to answer your questions, by all means go elsewhere. Keep in touch.
-Rebekah
> Hi all...my name is Jody and I was on Celexa for about a month and a half. I quit taking it about 3 weeks ago. I was having really bad side effects...my anger got worse, diarrhea, dry mouth, I was constantly clinching my teeth, very tired and my sex drive went downhill. I am just now losing the side effects after 3 weeks of being off the medicine. My questions are...1) My doctor told me that Celexa is the same thing as Prozac but without the side effects. Is this true?? I felt like I was worse on the meds than off of them. I am now finding myself having really bad mood swings...one minute really giddy and happy, the next angry and (what I think is) mildly depressed. Right now I don't know how I feel and what I should feel like.
>
> Just felt like sharing. Thanks for the ear.
>
> -Jody
>
>
> > > Hi, Tom:
> > >
> > > My experience with Celexa has been different, but it does seem that the side effects are getting milder. I didn't have the drowsiness problem (in fact, just the opposite!) I did have slight nausea but only for the first 3 days or so. I am just noticing that the constipation is clearing up, but the dry mouth is ever-present so I just drink a lot of water! The sexual delay is also still there -- but getting better.
> > > My doctor, and the MD I work for, both seem to think that these side effects will decrease. So far, they seem to be right.
> > >
> > > Good luck, Tom!
> > >
> > > Shelley
> >
> >
> > >I've been on celexa for around 2 months. The side effects do go away eventually. Although I still do have an upset stomach occassionally. My sex drive has gone down (I am a female.) and it sucks. I still have sex often, but my 'drive' has decreased. Celexa has helped with some depression and anxiety, but I am still quite anxious. Hope this has helped.
Posted by genvieve on May 21, 2002, at 22:59:33
In reply to RE: Sexual side effects from Celexa, posted by Dennis on January 26, 2000, at 13:18:36
I've been on Celexa for over a year now and the sexual side effects (basically lack of desire) are really starting to bug me. I'm also on Depo Provera which is a contraception and it also has both the side effects of sleepiness and decrease in sex drive. Has anyone else seen the commercials for Wellbutrin lately? I saw one that they now have a kind that doesn't have the sexual side effects. Does anyone use this?
Also I have a really hard time remembering to take my med in the morning does anyone have a trick to remember?
Posted by lavender2 on May 23, 2002, at 12:08:43
In reply to Sexual side effects?? Re: Celexa and side effects?, posted by Rachel on December 28, 1999, at 10:54:35
Hi I am on my 2nd week of 10mg/day of celexa. My sex drive has actually increased and sex in general is better. I realize that is not a typical reaction, but it probably has something to do with being depressed and no sex drive going hand in hand.
I have had terrible stomach problems - I can't be too far from a bathroom - ever. Does this go away? thanks everyone
> hi, i'm 21 and in college... i just started taking celexa last week after a battery of other anti-depressants. i read the stats for sexual side effects in men (6% problems with ejaculation, 3% impotence) but i can't find any for women. i already have 'problems' having an orgasm -- something i am starting to think really contributes to my depression at times, and my main concern is whether i will be experiencing sexual side effects from celexa.
> it really pisses me off that there isn't some drug yet that doesn't interfere with your sex drive. Basically, i'm looking for some advice from other women. Thanks.
Posted by babyBella on July 14, 2002, at 15:17:50
In reply to Celexa and side effects -- do they end?, posted by TomJay on February 2, 1999, at 14:35:58
I know you posted awhile ago but one thing that worked very well for me (I've been taking celexa for over 2 years now) is to take it at night, then you sleep better and don't have to worry about being tired all day. Also, with almost any new pill you will experience sleepiness until your body adjusts
Posted by oona on July 15, 2002, at 22:55:36
In reply to Re: Celexa and side effects -- do they end? » TomJay, posted by babyBella on July 14, 2002, at 15:17:50
> I know you posted awhile ago but one thing that worked very well for me (I've been taking celexa for over 2 years now) is to take it at night, then you sleep better and don't have to worry about being tired all day. Also, with almost any new pill you will experience sleepiness until your body adjusts..
Hello All,
I am still tired in the afternoon and I have been taking Celexa for three months.
How long does it take to level off without feeling like napping in the afternoon? My boss would be a little upset to see me draped over my computer snoring at two thirty in the afternoon!
Also is there an easy site to go to to read up on Celexa (I am just being to lazy to surf and my computer is slow).
Thanks,
oona
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