![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Disk Error on September 14, 2010, at 20:15:11
So here's my very first post. I've read some older threads about Celexa side effects, but I'd to ask again about drowsiness as a side effect -- and whether anyone can advise on the prospects for asking my dr. to try a different medication. If I did that, how long to come down off of Celexa? What might be an alternative? How long does it take to "ramp up" on some of the well-established alternatives to Celexa?
Posted by Maxime on September 14, 2010, at 21:17:21
In reply to Celexa side effects and prospect of switching, posted by Disk Error on September 14, 2010, at 20:15:11
> So here's my very first post. I've read some older threads about Celexa side effects, but I'd to ask again about drowsiness as a side effect -- and whether anyone can advise on the prospects for asking my dr. to try a different medication. If I did that, how long to come down off of Celexa? What might be an alternative? How long does it take to "ramp up" on some of the well-established alternatives to Celexa?
Hi, welcome to PB!
How long have you been on Celexa? Is it working despite the side effects? If it is working, I would take something to deal with the side effects like Provigil. A lot of people get tired on Celexa.
If you try another AD you are looking at 5-6 weeks to get the full effect. Do you have an anti-depressant in mind?
Maxime
Posted by Phillipa on September 15, 2010, at 0:04:48
In reply to Re: Celexa side effects and prospect of switching » Disk Error, posted by Maxime on September 14, 2010, at 21:17:21
Yes welcome. For me prozac worked instantly very activating though too much so. Celexa also made me very tired. Paxil at one time at l0mg with very low dose xanax worked well. Phillipa
Posted by Disk Error on September 15, 2010, at 8:36:07
In reply to Re: Celexa side effects and prospect of switching » Disk Error, posted by Maxime on September 14, 2010, at 21:17:21
> > So here's my very first post. I've read some older threads about Celexa side effects, but I'd to ask again about drowsiness as a side effect -- and whether anyone can advise on the prospects for asking my dr. to try a different medication. If I did that, how long to come down off of Celexa? What might be an alternative? How long does it take to "ramp up" on some of the well-established alternatives to Celexa?
>
> Hi, welcome to PB!
>
> How long have you been on Celexa? Is it working despite the side effects? If it is working, I would take something to deal with the side effects like Provigil. A lot of people get tired on Celexa.
>
> If you try another AD you are looking at 5-6 weeks to get the full effect. Do you have an anti-depressant in mind?
>
> Maxime
Maxime: I've been on Celexa about 9 months, I think. I was started at 20 mg., and after a few weeks I told my dr. I didn't feel any different, so he notched me up to 40 mg. Definitely feel different at this dosage (and my wife says I'm different), but the drowsiness is sometimes considerable. My dr. would probably agree to let me try something else, but I'm not sure it's worth the process of coming down off of Celexa, and then ramping up on something else (esp. since it seems drowsiness is a pretty common side effect across this class of AD).Thanks -- Disk Error
Posted by Maxime on September 15, 2010, at 19:32:31
In reply to Re: Celexa side effects and prospect of switching, posted by Disk Error on September 15, 2010, at 8:36:07
I think that since it is helping, that you should add Provigil to it (and if you have insurance because it's expensive). If you switched to another med that didn't make you as sleepy, who knows, it may not be the med for you. If you doctor won't let you try Provigil, then you should ask to switch AD. I know it's very hard to switch ADs, but if you can't handle feeling so sleepy all the time, what other choice do you have?
Good luch with whatever you decide and keep us posted.
Posted by Disk Error on September 15, 2010, at 20:49:13
In reply to Re: Celexa side effects and prospect of switching » Disk Error, posted by Maxime on September 15, 2010, at 19:32:31
Thanks, all. Will discuss all this with my dr. soon, including dosage adjustments.
And, just read this on Wikipedia (I also take 40 mg. of the Prilosec medicine every day for continual acid/acid reflux):
"When taken with Prilosec, the clearance of citalopram may be reduced, leading to higher blood levels of citalopram. Prilosec inhibits the CYP450 2C19 enzyme, one of the two primary enzymes responsible for the metabolism of citalopram. Dosage adjustments may be needed due to this effect."
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.