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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Deneb on June 27, 2005, at 19:20:58
Hi people
When I was still seeing my p-doc, everytime I reported that I was upset or seemed upset she would up my dose of Celexa. She would give me enough repeats for a year. My personality is such that my moods are pretty unstable. I'm uncertain as to whether or not it is related to some sort of "imbalance". When my p-doc went on maternity leave, I was left with a year's worth of repeats for 50mg Celexa. Now I'm just taking them like vitamins like my GP suggested. I still get upset every now and then, but it is normal for me.
So...I'm I taking too much Celexa? or too little? Or should I just not take it at all? I mean, if I were still seeing my p-doc, would she have increased it more? Or maybe I'm doing ok so I should take less? Am I taking the right amount? How do I know if I even need it? Maybe I could save a bunch of cash by just not taking it. It seems so silly for me to take medication when I'm ok. I don't think there's really anything wrong with me other than having some really poor coping mechanisms.
Deneb
Posted by linkadge on June 27, 2005, at 19:27:13
In reply to Am I taking the right amount of Celexa?, posted by Deneb on June 27, 2005, at 19:20:58
It seems to me that you may be on a little too much.
Ask yourself which dose increase seemed to make any effect on your mood anxiety etc. Most people have a dose which seems appropriate, and then beyond that there seems to be little benefit.
There were many times that I did better on less antidepressant.Cut back say 10mg or so, for a little while and see how it goes. You may find you feel normal with fewer side effects.
Whatever you do, don't go off it cold turkey, just reduce a smidge now and again to see what is really best for you.
The "right" dose depends on so many things, including metabolism, and individual biochemisty.
Linkadge
Posted by Deneb on June 27, 2005, at 20:01:45
In reply to Re: Am I taking the right amount of Celexa?, posted by linkadge on June 27, 2005, at 19:27:13
> Ask yourself which dose increase seemed to make any effect on your mood anxiety etc.
I honestly don't have a clue. I have a very poor memory about these things. I could be totally sad one day and then happy the next and it would seem to me that I'd always been happy.
> Most people have a dose which seems appropriate, and then beyond that there seems to be little benefit.
I don't have any idea about whether taking SSRIs even does anything for me. Somehow or another I went from 25mg of Zoloft to 150mg of Zoloft maybe two years ago??? (Poor memory about these things). I never noticed any difference...then again maybe I cannot be objective about myself...who knows?
> Cut back say 10mg or so, for a little while and see how it goes. You may find you feel normal with fewer side effects.On Zoloft I had a few minor side effects when first starting on it, but on Celexa it seems like I don't have any side effects at all. I have muscle twitches every now and then, but it is kind of fun and doesn't bother me.
Hmmm...yes, I think I will cut back...it will be less of a hassle for me to keep having to split the pills. I'm sure I can cut cold turkey without any problems, but whatever. It might be fun for me to experiment on going cold turkey though...see if it really does anything at all.
Thanks Linkage
Deneb
Posted by linkadge on June 27, 2005, at 20:11:31
In reply to Re: Am I taking the right amount of Celexa? » linkadge, posted by Deneb on June 27, 2005, at 20:01:45
You may want to try some fish oil, if your mood seems a little unstable. I did very well on a combination of fish oil and low dose celexa.
The alternative board can be good at filling in the "holes" that psychiatry sometimes leaves.
Linkadge
Posted by Deneb on June 27, 2005, at 20:39:26
In reply to Re: Am I taking the right amount of Celexa?, posted by linkadge on June 27, 2005, at 20:11:31
> You may want to try some fish oil, if your mood seems a little unstable. I did very well on a combination of fish oil and low dose celexa.
>
> The alternative board can be good at filling in the "holes" that psychiatry sometimes leaves.
>
> LinkadgeThe thing is, I *like* being a little unstable...it is fun. I just don't like it when it interferes with life in a significant way...like with school.
I'm actually liking things very much right now...just enough instablity to keep things exciting. Maybe I'm even a little *too* stable right now. I could go for just a bit more despair sometimes and a little bit more euphoria. I'm not sure it has much to do with meds though...I think it has more to do with circumstances for me...or maybe not. :-) Who knows?
Deneb
Posted by SLS on June 27, 2005, at 20:44:42
In reply to Re: Am I taking the right amount of Celexa? » linkadge, posted by Deneb on June 27, 2005, at 20:39:26
> Who knows?
Not me.
I think you might need to evaluate what it is you really want to have happen with your mental health.
Do you want to be a manic-depressive?
- Scott
Posted by Deneb on June 27, 2005, at 20:52:17
In reply to Re: Am I taking the right amount of Celexa?, posted by SLS on June 27, 2005, at 20:44:42
> I think you might need to evaluate what it is you really want to have happen with your mental health.
>
> Do you want to be a manic-depressive?Huh? I'm not sure I understand. It's not like I'm going to become bipolar if I stop taking SSRIs right? I know there are similarities between borderline personality and bipolar II, but from what I understand, a bipolar illness occurs pretty much independently of life circumstances, whereas the instability from BPD is very much influenced by life circumstances.
I would not want to be manic-depressive, but I must admit that it might be fun for me to try it out if possible in order to understand it.
Deneb
Posted by SLS on June 27, 2005, at 21:32:36
In reply to Re: Am I taking the right amount of Celexa?, posted by Deneb on June 27, 2005, at 20:52:17
> > I think you might need to evaluate what it is you really want to have happen with your mental health.
> >
> > Do you want to be a manic-depressive?
> Huh? I'm not sure I understand.You seem to be attracted to instability.
> It's not like I'm going to become bipolar if I stop taking SSRIs right? I know there are similarities between borderline personality and bipolar II,
OK, that explains a lot. You didn't mention that you were BPD. Well, I think my original question is still a valid one. If you are BPD, and you want to make some changes in the degree to which it manifests and influences your life, it may be that you need to try other modalities of treatment. I don't think Celexa monotherapy is going to do the trick. I believe people with BPD do better taking a drug like Trileptal and combine it with a drug like Zyprexa. Also, a specialized form of psychotherapy known as DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) is often successful. My guess is that you already know these things.
> but from what I understand, a bipolar illness occurs pretty much independently of life circumstances, whereas the instability from BPD is very much influenced by life circumstances.
That sounds about right to me. However, I think both illnesses have biological and psychological components, although their relative contributions may be different. I have seen some pretty remarkable turn-arounds in young women with BPD. Each of them recognized that they had BPD and honestly believed that they would be better off if it were treated properly. Many BPDers say that they enjoy their mood lability. These successful women say that they much prefer the mood stability that their treatments have afforded them. The transition was not always an easy one. For some, it took a leap of faith in the judgment of the professionals who treated them. For others, they went kicking and screaming.
You have to want. You also need to be treated by people who specialize in BPD (if that is indeed the condition for which you have sought treatment).
Good luck.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on June 27, 2005, at 22:03:08
In reply to Re: Am I taking the right amount of Celexa? » Deneb, posted by SLS on June 27, 2005, at 21:32:36
I'm sorry. My first attempt at writing this paragraph was confusing. I think this makes more sense:
...Many BPDers say that they enjoy their mood lability. I have seen some pretty remarkable turn-arounds in young women with BPD. Each of them recognized that they had BPD and honestly believed that they would be better off if it were treated properly. These successful women say that they much prefer the mood stability that their treatments have afforded them. The transition was not always an easy one. For some, it took a leap of faith in the judgment of the professionals who treated them. For others, they went kicking and screaming.
- Scott
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on June 27, 2005, at 22:13:53
In reply to Re: Am I taking the right amount of Celexa? » linkadge, posted by Deneb on June 27, 2005, at 20:01:45
> Hmmm...yes, I think I will cut back...it will be less of a hassle for me to keep having to split the pills. I'm sure I can cut cold turkey without any problems, but whatever. It might be fun for me to experiment on going cold turkey though...see if it really does anything at all.
>
**please** don't try to go cold turkey. Even if the med isn't doing anything for you that doesn't mean that it will be easy to just stop taking it. I know that some folks have had a hard time getting off of this med. I myself haven't taken it, but experienced a terrifying (to other people), difficult, and lengthy w/drawal from Paxil. So please take care of yourself.Do you see a therapist with whom you could discuss this decision? You could ask if s/he has seen changes in the past yr, if s/he thinks the med is helpful. Also, if you cut back or discontinue s/he could tell you if you seem to worsen. I know that I can't always tell for myself.
Best,
EE
Posted by Jen Star on June 27, 2005, at 22:36:34
In reply to Am I taking the right amount of Celexa?, posted by Deneb on June 27, 2005, at 19:20:58
hi Deneb,
when I decided to quit Lexapro (which is 1/2 of the Celexa molecule, so it's basically the "same" medicine), I tapered down just in case.I too was pretty sure I wouldn't experience any really horrible withdrawal, esp. since I didn't really have any start-up issues, but I didn't want to throw myself into a tailspin. I cut my dose by 1/2 for 2 weeks, then by 1/2 again, then down to every other day, then nothing. I was able to quit without any side-effects.
For some people, they probably CAN go cold-turkey without issues, but if you DO have issues, I don't think it would be fun. The way people describe it, side-effects of withdrawal make daily coping sort of awful.
Some people keep a mood journal when starting & stopping a medicine, or even just while on it, to see how it is helping. That way you don't have to rely on a sometimes-faulty memory!
take care,
JenStar
Posted by Phillipa on June 27, 2005, at 23:19:04
In reply to Re: Am I taking the right amount of Celexa? » Deneb, posted by Jen Star on June 27, 2005, at 22:36:34
When I first started seeing a pdoc my husband made me write down what I took, when, and how much, and how I felt that day. I have 8 years of legal pads. But I can go back and review what did what. Fondly, phillipa
Posted by Bill LL on June 28, 2005, at 12:16:13
In reply to Re: Am I taking the right amount of Celexa? » linkadge, posted by Deneb on June 27, 2005, at 20:39:26
You seem like you are doing very well right now with basically no bad side effects. Leave things alone!!! Don't change your dosage of Celexa. A lot of people take 60 mg or more so don't worry about your dosage.
> > You may want to try some fish oil, if your mood seems a little unstable. I did very well on a combination of fish oil and low dose celexa.
> >
> > The alternative board can be good at filling in the "holes" that psychiatry sometimes leaves.
> >
> > Linkadge
>
> The thing is, I *like* being a little unstable...it is fun. I just don't like it when it interferes with life in a significant way...like with school.
>
> I'm actually liking things very much right now...just enough instablity to keep things exciting. Maybe I'm even a little *too* stable right now. I could go for just a bit more despair sometimes and a little bit more euphoria. I'm not sure it has much to do with meds though...I think it has more to do with circumstances for me...or maybe not. :-) Who knows?
>
> Deneb
>
>
Posted by Deneb on June 28, 2005, at 19:42:41
In reply to Re: Am I taking the right amount of Celexa?, posted by Bill LL on June 28, 2005, at 12:16:13
> You seem like you are doing very well right now with basically no bad side effects. Leave things alone!!! Don't change your dosage of Celexa. A lot of people take 60 mg or more so don't worry about your dosage.
I haven't changed my dose. I was feeling pretty upset last night so I just said, "What the heck...maybe I'll just keep things the same for now...besides, I had already split a few pills and may as well take them."
It is no biggie, whether I change things or not. My p-doc obviously gave me enough repeats for a year for a reason, so what the heck...she has more experience with these things. I'm not comfortable being my own p-doc right now. I'm sure even a p-doc needs his/her own p-doc to not treat oneself. :-)
This is the end of the thread.
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