Citalopram question
I'm just curious to hear about anyone who DID or DID NOT have success with Citalopram. I've been on it for about 13 weeks and my dosage was raised 3 weeks ago. I'm still coping/adjusting to the side effects but I'm not ready to abandon it just yet. I'm waiting to see if I have a panic attack or not and how quickly my body copes with it to decide if the side effects and my current state of being are worth it or I should try a new med. If anyone DID switch to something that worked for them I would like to know what that was.
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Guest
Hi jilldo 
I took Citalopram (Celexa) for five years. After initially being afraid of it and after some dosage adjustments when I finally did get on it for good... I was at 60mg daily.
I have OCD and it definitely helped with the anxiety, but I stil had residual depression and a big problem with still not having any drive. It was still really hard to make myself do things while I was on it and I still wanted to sleep all the time.
That being said... there could be several explanations for why I had no drive. That could have been from the depression still being present or because of an effect of the med... I will never know. The depression was definitely still there though and so the Celexa was not real great for me at tackling that, and the OCD was still there to a degree as well, albeit diminished for sure.
I tried augmenting it near the end as I really felt like it wasn't working at all anymore. It was just my feeling though, it may have still been doing as good a job as it could and some life changes I was having were making it seem like it wasn't because I wasn't handling them well.
Of course... isn't the med supposed to help with that?
Anyway, I had an ok experience with it and it allowed me to go to school full time and even work while I was in school... a minor miracle. I am glad I took it in retrospect and sometimes wish I was back on it because I haven't been able to get back on anything since.
I wish you the best and encourage you to stay on it. You can always augment. But they are right, side effects should go away after a while when you are on a fixed dose.
Best wishes.
michelle
I took Citalopram (Celexa) for five years. After initially being afraid of it and after some dosage adjustments when I finally did get on it for good... I was at 60mg daily.
I have OCD and it definitely helped with the anxiety, but I stil had residual depression and a big problem with still not having any drive. It was still really hard to make myself do things while I was on it and I still wanted to sleep all the time.
That being said... there could be several explanations for why I had no drive. That could have been from the depression still being present or because of an effect of the med... I will never know. The depression was definitely still there though and so the Celexa was not real great for me at tackling that, and the OCD was still there to a degree as well, albeit diminished for sure.
I tried augmenting it near the end as I really felt like it wasn't working at all anymore. It was just my feeling though, it may have still been doing as good a job as it could and some life changes I was having were making it seem like it wasn't because I wasn't handling them well.
Of course... isn't the med supposed to help with that?
Anyway, I had an ok experience with it and it allowed me to go to school full time and even work while I was in school... a minor miracle. I am glad I took it in retrospect and sometimes wish I was back on it because I haven't been able to get back on anything since.
I wish you the best and encourage you to stay on it. You can always augment. But they are right, side effects should go away after a while when you are on a fixed dose.
Best wishes.
michelle
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Guest
Michelle,
Thanks for the response. I started out at 20 mg for 10 weeks and then was raised to 40mg because I didn't feel I was getting better and kept getting an upset stomach. I lost 35 pounds in the 13 weeks and once I realized that the upset stomach was part of the side effect of Citaloptam it actually helped kept my "panic" in check rather than over react thinking it was the onset of an attack. It has now been a full week without a major attack--a couple minor flare ups I was able to put out--and I've cut my dosage back to 30 mgs in hopes of getting back to the original dose of 20mgs. At least there I didn't feel the side effects as much. I'm getting started on the anxiety course tomorrow and hopefully now that I'm eating better and losing weight everything will kind of just fall into place and I can be normal again. I hope.
Thanks for the response. I started out at 20 mg for 10 weeks and then was raised to 40mg because I didn't feel I was getting better and kept getting an upset stomach. I lost 35 pounds in the 13 weeks and once I realized that the upset stomach was part of the side effect of Citaloptam it actually helped kept my "panic" in check rather than over react thinking it was the onset of an attack. It has now been a full week without a major attack--a couple minor flare ups I was able to put out--and I've cut my dosage back to 30 mgs in hopes of getting back to the original dose of 20mgs. At least there I didn't feel the side effects as much. I'm getting started on the anxiety course tomorrow and hopefully now that I'm eating better and losing weight everything will kind of just fall into place and I can be normal again. I hope.
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Guest
I realize these posts were from a year ago but if you all keep up with them, or if anyone else is taking Citalopram...I would love to hear your experiences with it. I've been on it for almost a month now & think it is a great med...besides the incescent yawning. Its not like I'm tired, just like my body wants more oxygen or something. I still feel a little weird (almost tingly skin) but I think its helped my axiety/OCD alot. Anyone else care to talk about it, I would love to hear what you have to say. Thank you.
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Guest
Hello, I take citalopram and been on it since April 2008 for the second time around for antiexty and depression. I have experience side effects with this medicine, such as, sweated hands and feet and some confusion . Last time it work great on my antiexty and depression, but I do not feel this way this time around with it.I am taking 20mg of it. I am hoping that in time I will feel better. I wish you the best of luck.
I can related to the tired, yawning and the confusion. I just went to my doc today, and she suggested taking my citralapam at supper/dinner time. Because it does have that effect; it takes 4 hours to "peak", and will help in my sleeping. I have taken it for a couple of years (along with wellbutrin), and it worked great for (me any way) right away. It can really be a struggle to allow the time for these meds to kick in. I have been on so many different meds and my hopes is to get off them with this program. If any one has ANY input on going off meds having clinical depression PLEASE I would love any put. Best to all of you!
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Guest
JoyceAnn,
I can completely relate to you. I am on my second "go around" of anxiety and depression this year. I took Celexa last year for it and it really helped me and I didn't have side effects. But I was irresponible and I stopped taking it without talking to a doctor. Well my anxiety started back up this year and they put me on Celexa again. But this time I had major side effect of upset stomach and fatigue feeling. I also don't think it's helping me as much the second time around. But who knows, that could all be in my head. Wihtout a doubt though it has helped me some.
I can completely relate to you. I am on my second "go around" of anxiety and depression this year. I took Celexa last year for it and it really helped me and I didn't have side effects. But I was irresponible and I stopped taking it without talking to a doctor. Well my anxiety started back up this year and they put me on Celexa again. But this time I had major side effect of upset stomach and fatigue feeling. I also don't think it's helping me as much the second time around. But who knows, that could all be in my head. Wihtout a doubt though it has helped me some.
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Guest
HI: I Started taking Citalopram in November. I am on 20 mgs. I started out with 1/4 of a pill, then worked my way up. The drowsiness was a real problem with me and the upset stomach. I now take it with my supper- in the middle of the meal, and I have no problem. At first, the drowsiness was terrible! I would be drowsy even during the mornings! But after keepng at it and taking it faithfully, My body is now used to it. I also know when I haven't taken it - or have been sick and cannot keep anything down. LIke they always say - don't just quit using an anti-depressant! I was in such a black depression, I never want to go there again!
If I can encourage anyone - hang in there.
As far as getting help for my depression, I have a great Therapist. I have made some great strides in dealing with issues in my past. I was at first diagnosed by a Psychiatrist as having Severe Depression, Anxiety and Post Traumatic Stress Syndrom. It's a journey, but it's well worth taking the journey to get the help I need. Yes the program thru Stress Center helped a lot.
take care!
If I can encourage anyone - hang in there.
As far as getting help for my depression, I have a great Therapist. I have made some great strides in dealing with issues in my past. I was at first diagnosed by a Psychiatrist as having Severe Depression, Anxiety and Post Traumatic Stress Syndrom. It's a journey, but it's well worth taking the journey to get the help I need. Yes the program thru Stress Center helped a lot.
take care!
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Guest
Anyone currently taking citalopram??? Or those who experienced side effects????
I've got terrible nausea, yawning, some insomnia, sweating, thirst, some ringing in ears & tingling skin....basically all of the common side effects.
I'm on this for a variety of reasons but it is really helping me. The doctor just up-ed my dose from 20 to 40mg 2 days ago. My side effects sky rocketed. But, my question is this because my dose is too high or is it because my body is just getting used to the increase. If this is just an initial reacation I will tough it out. Otherwise, if these are long lasting, I may need to talk to my doctor and go back down.
If anyone has experienced this please let me know.
Thank You,
Jittery Daze
I've got terrible nausea, yawning, some insomnia, sweating, thirst, some ringing in ears & tingling skin....basically all of the common side effects.
I'm on this for a variety of reasons but it is really helping me. The doctor just up-ed my dose from 20 to 40mg 2 days ago. My side effects sky rocketed. But, my question is this because my dose is too high or is it because my body is just getting used to the increase. If this is just an initial reacation I will tough it out. Otherwise, if these are long lasting, I may need to talk to my doctor and go back down.
If anyone has experienced this please let me know.
Thank You,
Jittery Daze