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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 Smeegle on August 24, 2004, at 22:43:45
I have about a week before my next appt and my pdoc wants me to start the switch over from Effexor to Celexa. Looking for opinions and/or experiences with this medication for severe depression.
Smeegs (dreading the switch, but resigned)
Posted by D minor on August 24, 2004, at 22:54:45
In reply to Input on Celexa pls? the good, bad /or ugly, posted by Smeegle on August 24, 2004, at 22:43:45
Hey there,
I've been on Effexor and Celexa. Effexor made me sick to my stomach. I had shakes and vomiting and had to come off of it. Because of my strong side-effect reaction they put me on Celexa.Celexa did absoulutly nothing at all. Which is good and bad. Good because it's so gentil there weren't any side effects. Bad because it did not lift my depression. BUT, I know now that my depression has nothing to do with serotonin and everything to do with dopamine. Which means SSRIs don't work for me. I ended up on Remeron and Wellbutrin.
Good luck with the Celexa, it may work for you
Dm
Posted by Smeegle on August 24, 2004, at 23:04:44
In reply to Re: Celexa : the good, bad /or ugly, posted by D minor on August 24, 2004, at 22:54:45
I gained 50 lbs in six months on Remeron and it didn't help at all. Just made me eat like crazy. So far no bad feedback on this list or others re: celexa. Still feeling the need to research it more thoroughly. I will not go thru this withdrawal garbage again. I didn't have it with Prozac, Zoloft (which I was on for two years and stopped cold), Remeron or Depakote.
Thanks for the input!
Smeegs (not near as down as last night, but still down)
Posted by krisdance83 on August 24, 2004, at 23:37:20
In reply to Re: Celexa : the good, bad /or ugly, posted by Smeegle on August 24, 2004, at 23:04:44
http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp?drug=20822&name=CELEXA
Posted by gardenergirl on August 25, 2004, at 8:20:49
In reply to Re: Celexa : the good, bad /or ugly, posted by krisdance83 on August 24, 2004, at 23:37:20
I was on Celexa for several months. I added Wellbutrin to it, because it wasn't really helping. I had zero side effects from it, and I was on a moderate dose (I forget the exact number).
I think Celexa is a good med, but SSRI's just don't work for me. I am now on an MAOI, which has finally been the right med.
Good luck to you. Give Celexa a good college try. Don't worry about going up in dose, either. Make sure you get to a good therapeutic level before deciding if it is helping or not.
Warmly,
gg
Posted by ravenstorm on August 25, 2004, at 10:56:55
In reply to Re: Celexa : the good, bad /or ugly, posted by gardenergirl on August 25, 2004, at 8:20:49
I had a really weird reaction to celexa. It would knock me out for four hours, then wake me up to the point that I would shake and shake and could not stop moving. It was horrible and I only made it for a week before I had to stop.
I have not heard of anyone else having this bizaree reaction and know several people who have been very happy on it for years.
Good Luck.
Posted by Jasmineneroli on August 25, 2004, at 22:28:08
In reply to Re: Celexa : the good, bad /or ugly, posted by ravenstorm on August 25, 2004, at 10:56:55
Hello: I'm back on Celexa right now, having been off it for nearly two years. I found it very helpful for GAD with mild, occasional depression, but had digestive side effects and headaches both times, for about 2-3weeks, which then subsided. I also had a bit of insomnia, so had to take it in the am. This was at a low dose (10mg).
During the original course, my dose was increased to 20mg after a few months. I didn't get a repeat of the above side effects upon increasing, but eventually sexual SE's kicked in and a sudden worsening depression made me discontinue it after a total of 12 months. I tapered it off over 2 weeks and had no withdrawal effects at all.
I have tried Effexor, Buspar, Moclobemide, Remeron and Paxil, all with horrible side effects, worse than with Celexa, and most with no therapeutic effects. I'm very sensitive to serotonergic drugs and my pdoc is leaving me at a low 10mg of Celexa for now (along with a very low dose of Klonopin to help the anxiety). The plan is to augment with Wellbutrin at a later date.After 2 weeks on round 2 of Celexa, the side effects are beginning to go and I'm feeling less irritable and overwhelmed (a major part of my GAD - but also feelings associated with depression).
As you can see from the various posters, everyone reacts in individual ways to drugs, and unfortunately, it's a trial & error kind of thing.
I encourage you to give Celexa a try, because if it doesn't work for you, it is easy to stop! Which may be a negative way to look at it, but you probably are sick of the bad withdrawals from some of the drugs you've been on - and it's a point worthy of consideration!!!
Very best of luck with your decision, keep us posted on how you do.
Jas
Posted by crazychickuk on August 26, 2004, at 13:04:12
In reply to Re: Celexa : the good, bad /or ugly, posted by Jasmineneroli on August 25, 2004, at 22:28:08
Hi when i took it, i ended up in hospital cus it raised my blood pressure and hrt rate badly.. i think i just had a severe panick attack.. i have this reaction to all ssri's..
My freind is currently on it and is doing really well.you wont know till you try it.. could be the miracle drug for you..
Posted by ethel basset on August 26, 2004, at 22:33:03
In reply to Input on Celexa pls? the good, bad /or ugly, posted by Smeegle on August 24, 2004, at 22:43:45
Hi
I take 10mg. of Celexa every other evening and 150 mg of wellbutrim on the alternating evenings and it seems to be a good combination for me.
For me, Celexa has been the mildest antidepressant, and like someone else said, it is easy to stop. I am trying to get by with taking the minimum amount of medication with which to have a good quality of life, without being spaced out. I have stopped Celexa several times and have had no withdrawal symptoms. I went back on it because I became moody, weepy and somewhat bitchy when the Celexa wore off, which is due to my depression rather than withdrawal symptoms.
It also doesn't seem to cause weight gain as some of the other meds do (Paxil is the worst!!!)
Good luck and God Bless You.
Ethel
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