Afraid of Celexa

Rowan · Post by **Rowan** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 10:52 am

I recently went to a new psychiatrist, as my old one retired.

In the past, I was on Zoloft & klonopin. I had stopped both when I became pregnant, but when I lost the baby, I had to go back on the klonopin due to my extreme panic disorder. I didn't go back on the Zoloft.

After seeing a new psych doctor, he feels I need to be on something in combination with the klonopin, and he prescribed me 10mg Celexa. I have yet to start taking it because I am afraid of the side effects. I never had a problem with Zoloft, so he said Celexa would be fine, as it has less side effects.

Anybody out there who was given Celexa for panic and/or generalized anxiety disorder, and have success? I have a root canal in 2 days, and another OBG procedure in 4 days, and I'm afraid if this does something bad to me, I won't be able to get through the appointments.

Any info would be great. Thank you

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 7:59 am

Rowan,,

A doc tried to taper me off Ativan and put me on Celexa at the same time for depression.
I became deathly ill afer the start of the taper plus the Celexa...He told me to keep taking it until my body adjusted but I tossed it.

That left me with an botched Ativan taper that was making me much worse so I had to go back to the original amount of Ativan and start the taper slowly using compound pharmacy and a company that had special supplements that have helped me...

Stay away from any anti-anxiety or anti-depressant meds...While they can be effective for a time you will eventually get withdrawal syndrome while you are on them,,,start upping the dose,,,adding more of this or that drug,,,finally you are at the upper limits and very sick,,,then you have to taper each drug slowly one at a time..

Don't let that all that happen ..

Write me at katinkamoberg@yahoo.com if you need help in the process..

I'm .20mg Ativan twice a day right now down from .50 and it is a living hell..

Karin

Originally posted by Rowan:
I recently went to a new psychiatrist, as my old one retired.

In the past, I was on Zoloft & klonopin. I had stopped both when I became pregnant, but when I lost the baby, I had to go back on the klonopin due to my extreme panic disorder. I didn't go back on the Zoloft.

After seeing a new psych doctor, he feels I need to be on something in combination with the klonopin, and he prescribed me 10mg Celexa. I have yet to start taking it because I am afraid of the side effects. I never had a problem with Zoloft, so he said Celexa would be fine, as it has less side effects.

Anybody out there who was given Celexa for panic and/or generalized anxiety disorder, and have success? I have a root canal in 2 days, and another OBG procedure in 4 days, and I'm afraid if this does something bad to me, I won't be able to get through the appointments.

Any info would be great. Thank you

mmk22 · Post by **mmk22** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 8:17 am

I am not on Celexa, but I take Lexapro 10mg. I wouldnt let posts like the one above scare you into not taking medication. I have Lexapro tpo be a good AD for me and it has stopped my anxiety. There is nothing wrong with needing medication to help you get by. I would do CBT along with the meds to get even better results.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 3:00 pm

I was on celexa for about 6 months and with no or very little side effects. I went off of it with no real problems I went off very slowly.
I have been off of it now for about 3 months and I wish I had not stop taking it now. I was doing so good I thought I was better but now I know I WAS BETTER because of the celexa.
I just hope that when I go back on it that it will still work for me, because I did the same thing with zoloft and when I tried to go back on it,It didn't work for me.
Good luck and God Bless!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 3:31 pm

Hi, I'm on Celexa too. Have been for a number of years. I am trying to gradually cut my mg's down now that I am on the program. I wish you luck, and hope going back to it will help you once again. I had tried going off a different med at one time. But found out I needed something yet. I think we get put on meds by the doctors to help us, but it doesn't take care of the problem itself.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 9:31 am

I have also been on Celexa for about 9 months. The only side effect that I have noticed is that in the beginning it made me tired....but I'm always tired anyway. Other than that I think that it works quite well. There are days that I forget to take it and I don't even notice (as long as I don't forget more that one day) I don't think you should be scared of it. I agree with Tanzanite, It doesn't actually take care of the problem, but it might take the edge off while you complete the program so then you can help yourself. Best of luck to you!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 10:13 am

i started taking celexa when i started the program. (i am starting session 4 now) I feel much better than the complete mess i was before. I know the program is doing most of the work, but i also feel the celexa helps take the edge off, while i sort through myself during the program.

Dianelynn · Post by **Dianelynn** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 1:03 pm

Thank you so much for the input guys!

I took the Celexa for 2 days, and was feeling very spaced out, more panicked, and weepy. So, I stopped it because I knew I needed the root canal and it was just bad timing to start it.

Next week, once I go back to finish the root canal {which really hurt btw! AND I had to take 1 mg of klonopin to get through it} I will try the Celexa again. My question now is: How long will I have those side effects? Any ideas?

Thanks!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 1:15 pm

SE are usually at there peak in weeks 1 & 2 and then things start to subside. I would stick with the meds for at least 6-8 weeks to see how they effect you, dont continue to start and stop them, this can do more harm then good. They need to build up in your system to feel the good benefits. Stick with them you can do it!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:55 am

I have been on Celexa off and on for over a year. Last year when my anxiety started, they put me on it and it actually helped. I didn't have any side effects. So I thought I was better and I stopped taking it without talking to a dotor. That was a bad idea. My anxiety came back within the last 3 months and they put me back on Celexa. I think it is helping, but I have been dealing with stomach pains and emotional craziness. I get the urge to cry and feel sad for no reason. But everyone is different. So it really depends.