Depression Blog.com

Be extremely careful with this drug. I was on Celexa for 3 years and at first it worked very well. But at three years on the drug I started to have violent reactions to the celexa. I took no other drugs, so it was the celexa. I am now off the celexa, but not before going through serotonin withdrawal syndrome. see:

http://www.healthyplace.com/Communities/Depression/treatment/antidepressants/discontinuation_events.asp

You will not find this term at the celexa site, but it is known to the FDA and I cannot even begin to explain how physically and mentally painful the syndrome is. It is by far the worst pain I have ever felt.

The only thing that makes sense is that the drug built up a store in my system over time, hence the violent reaction - like an a-bomb going off in my head with a half hour of taking the meds, then profuse sweating, dizzyness then nervous energy that will not let you sleep for a few days.

And remember this is after years of no problem on them.

I have recently stopped taking Celexa after three years of use. To me, it was my miracle drug. I stopped using it because I lost my job and could no longer afford medications of any kind. Even my children notice the difference. Au naturale, I have a short fuse. I can laugh deep and loud one minute at my child and then be biting their head off the next. Celexa normalized both sides and brought them more to the middle. Oh, I would still laugh loud and deep and still bite their heads off on occasion. I have been off the drug for 30 days and have had no negative side effects. I am me again, unfortunately, I did so enjoy being more normalized.

Celexa does have a few side effect: insomnia, anxiety, dizziness. But, by far, the worst one for me has been what I call "Celexa Dick". It's a bit hard to get it up sometimes, sometime it's impossible, and I know it's due almost totally to the celexa medication. But there are other things that can cause this, so perhaps it just an isolated incident, but I think it's the celexa.

I am in the uk i think celexa is citralopram here - and for me it has worked wonders - once i got the right dose - been on it for a year and hoping to come off soon - but slightly scared of dependence as now it seems i have no problems - very happy. mind you life generally is good - but what comes first the chicken or the egg?

been taking celexa for 6 weeks now and feel its working for me, i had mild nausea for the first week, but i coped, but now, and for the last 3 weeks ive had diarreah quite badly and was wondering if this is the celexa, i had read it was a side effect, it cant be anything within my diet as thats closely monitored,i wondered if there was anything i could take to help, or if if i should just put up and shut up (i am in the UK)

ting but not with her. are there similar antidepressants that dont have sex releated side effects?

Celexa was bad news in our family. It ran us down one wall and up the other. Husband had multiple rage instances before being discontinued.

Not right for me - is it right for anyhone? Total loss of sexual sensitivity, weight gain, felt 'numb'

Celexa at first was a help, but after a year or two of use, I began to lose my sexuality. Felt so numb that I made an appointment to see an OB/GYN to see if possible surgery may help to regain some form of normality. After running out of medicine and going through a few weeks of withdrawal, its as if I'm 18 again. Oh happy day. LOL

You can possibly receive the same medical benefit from an over the counter product called Melatonin. It also raises the seratonin levels. Much less expensive. Perhaps this is worth looking into. It helps us sleep at night, wake up on time "naturally", helps fight some forms of cancer. Definitely do some research before you try it, but its a thought. Maybe it has less side effects. The sexual side effects are an issue to both male and female. I actually made an appointment to see my doctor, thinking something was physically wrong with me.

I have been off celexa for about a week and three days cold turkey. Saw my medical doc , he told me since I am this far might as well hang in with the withdrawl symptons. I have been looking for natural rmedies to help but not much is out there. Right now I have mood swings which I have to be very careful to monitor so i don't offend anyone( especially my family). Does any one know of anything to take to help with the withdrawl symptons?

I have really bad migrains and i have anitey and depression and i have took a lot of medication for them but i took effector for my depression and my anitey and i had to quit taking them because they were a weightgain so i don"t take nothing thats going to make me gain weight.

been on celexa for 2 years. Has anyone combined it with alcohol and noticed anything? I develop an alter-ego if I have only 2 drinks.

been on celexa for 2 years. Has anyone combined it with alcohol and noticed anything? I develop an alter-ego if I have only 2 drinks.

I began taking Celexa 6/99. By April 2001, I'd lost the central vision in my right eye. I was 37 yrs. old, took no other meds, was in good health and had no family history of ocular disease.
Has anyone else experienced vision problems or vision loss while taking Celexa?

After losing vision while taking Celexa, I visited the Celexa website. Read the animal toxicology report which showed retinal changes in lab rats. I discontinued the med.
I did file a report with FDA & was contacted by them because of the seriousness of my report. Evidently, the FDA can't do much without other reports of a similar nature. I also notified Forest Pharmaceuticals. They also contacted me & referred my report to public affairs dept..
They've had this info for 4 years. No further studies have been done that I'm aware of. Meanwhile, Senior Citizens are being heavily marketed by antidepressant manufacturers like Forest Labs/Celexa. Seniors are most at risk for vision loss - wet macular degeneration - which 3 specialists diagnosed me as having.
I can't be the only one out there with this experience. Can I?

I have experienced quite a weight gain (probably 50 lb.)in the last year after taking Cilexa which is sold as Cirtalopram here. I also have experienced a low libido and little or no ejaculation although an orgasm. Erections have to be coaxed. Other than that it seems to work well for depression and anxiety. I still sometimes experience depression but have beocome quite adept at changing my mood by changing my thoughts or locale. I have gone off of both Celexa and Paxil probably about three times each without ill effect except that the depression and anxiety have returned eventually. I think what I need is a three-week pill. Something to boost me up for a short period of time.

Gord in Canada

Correction to recent post.

Sorry, that should be spelled Citralopram.

Gord in Canada

I have been taking Celexa for almost 2 weeks now and I do notice I am a lot happier. This is the first time in the 27 years of my life that I have been diagnosed as depressed. I had a breakdown at work and the doctor immediately prescribed this drug and I am worried that my physical/mental self is going to become reliant on this drug just too be able to laugh..Can anyone offer some advice? I certainly don't want to become "numb" to the world and after reading these logs I am really worried..

I've been taking Celexa for 3 months. My moods have evened out, which is a plus, but I'm not sleeping well, hardly at all, and that is bad enough for me to try to switch to something else. Other side-effects are extremely dry eyes, decreased appetite, and frequent urination.

have been taking citalopram since may this year,i get on well with them apart from gaining about a stone in weight.I am taking another type of tablet aswell and one of them is giving me insomnia,but i just get up and clean,so my flat is spotless! Could do with sleeping better though,buy generally i feel alot happier.

Hi, I have just been prescribed celexa and haven't started taking them yet. I am doing some research on it before taking it and I'm kind of scared of all these side effects ( weight gain, insomnia, and vision loss) Has anyone tried anything else that doesn't have these side effects or at least the first two.

Yikes, I took Celexa once and it was like a very bad drug trip. I wound up on the floor clenching my jaw, dizzy, light-headed and nauseated. That lasted about 6 hours. Obviously, Celexa didn't agree with me!

Be VERY careful of the Celexa side effects. One thing to note is that it can "increase" your depression while your body adjusts and its "benefits" can be felt, 3-4 weeks. Also note that there is a suicidal aspect that needs to be understood. The Celexa producer makes note of suicide as a possibility on their own web site and you need to make sure that you are reporting anything adverse to your doctor immediately and to take notes each time you take the medication and how you feel. You need to record this to track your therapy. I have a very personal story and perspective as my wife died recently.

I'm so sorry to hear that. I lost my father tragically 9 years ago and I think that's part of the reason why I've feeling depressed. I never had therapy to help me cope with my loss. Thank you and JF for your input, it is very helpful. Now I would like to know if there is something else less side effects or at least not so severe. I want to also hear about vision loss and if anyone has experienced it.

Have been on Celexa for 18 months and have decided to go off of it cold turkey. I'm experiencing MAJOR dizzy spells constantly, and it's been a week now.

Wondering if it's going to stop soon or get worse? Any advice would help!

have been on citalopram 18 months apart from no intress in sex is all the side effects iv had, iv felt great &thankfull iv decided to now go it alone. its been 3 weeks 1st cutting them down but im experiencing very bad heads sickly n dissynes feel quite ill! but ifeel i dont want to rely on them any longer

Update on Celexa: Evidently there has been a link between use of SSRI's and GI bleeding - which could ultimately affect vision in some people (as in my case).

For Veronica - All SSRI's and Antidepressants are not bad and are in fact extremely helpful.
I tried Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft before finding a good fit with Effexor. Effexor has worked well for me.

I have been taking Celexa for a little over a year now. During this year I've noticed significant improvements in social anxiety, and the way I feel about myself- my friends and relatives have noted the changes also.

HOWEVER- there is one huge side effect that this medication has. If I go even two days without it, I experience dizziness, irritability, irrationality, shakes, vertigo, and feelings of extreme frustration, anxiety and depression and almost physical anger. Worse than any other anti-depressant I've tried. This medication should be taken with extreme monitoring by your doctor and do not change doses or stop taking it without consulting he/she.

I just started taking 20mg of Celexa last week and I'm already noticing the sexual side effects. Sex seems to be the last thing on my mind all of a sudden. I was given this drug since my doctor told me it didn't have many sexual side effects, hopefully it wont last that long..

I was put on celexa in Aug 06 and a week after taing it i started having a tinggling traveling up the laft side of my face and head, My Doctor thought i was just stressed but took me off on Sept 29th 06 it is now Dec and im not takeing anything and i still have this tingle off and on all day This NEVER happend untill i took the celexa does anyone else have this problem?This becomes so intense it drives me nuts i find myself rubbing my face and head all the time feels like something is crawling in my hair, HELP

I have been off of Celexa for about a month and a half and above all of the other usual withdrawal side effects I have one lasting one; dont you know how when on celexa you can have sexual side effects that make it hard to get up or have orgasm, now off of the meds I orgasm way too quick rediculously quick and I wasnt this way before I was on the meds. This is extremely frustrating and I am trying to see what I can do about it. p.s. for some of you looking for an alternative, you might want to give this site a look http://healthrecovery.com/HRC_2006/Depression_06/D_OpeningPage.htm

I’m so glad you have created this site to let people learn about these pharmaceuticals. I am reading the post by KhristyLynn on September 28th 2006, who stated that she had lost her vision– I feel so sorry for her and that this had to happen. I wish you peace and hope your vision will be restored.
I have fought a long battle with depression most of my life and when I lost my job and moved back to my parents home many things seemed very dark. I was also breaking up with a girl who I had recently met, because now it was a long distance relationship and I had no idea what would become of me. All these things added up. I went to my doctor who recommended Celexa. He prescribed I take it for four weeks and then make an appointment to discuss the results. Within the first night I took it I could not sleep. I felt more panic stricken than I ever had in my life, my heart was racing, I could hear myself saying “I think I am going to die” those words still haunt me - it was as if someone else was saying it.

Looking back on it, I can’t believe I would keep taking it another few days to ‘see if my body would adjust and positively go from there.’ I guess when you get so down and feel lonely, you will try many things to take away the issue at hand. After I stopped Celexa it still took time to wear off.

My doctor didn’t ask me too many things about my life when he recommended this anti-depressant to me. Later I would get in touch with a psychiatrist who my sister in the medical field recommended. As fate would have it, the psychiatrist’s secretary was so rude I felt like it was somehow not meant for me to go there – you know, you get a ‘gut feeling’. Then you wonder if you should even trust your ‘gut’ after the many mistakes you’ve made.

Nevertheless, I went with my gut.

It is not my doctor’s fault for prescribing me this medicine. It was probably a difficult day for this psychiatrists’ secretary, (who knows what she had do deal with on a daily basis.) The problem was me. No drug, – illegal or prescribed, would change my patterns of thought. Finally, finding a website about considering suicide, I reached out to G-d and his only son Jesus. I won’t get religious or anything on this web blog. I am alive today and though I cannot change my past and still make many, many mistakes, and yes I get depressed! Yet I wake each day not dependant on a drug to make me feel good, not dependant on a job to satisfy me, not dependant on relationships (thought they are important), not dependant on the news to tell me what to worry about today, Not dependant on my ability to succeed. My dependency is on G-d. And I know he is there and that he cares (the only side-effect).

Good luck with your journey, don’t give up, I don’t want you to give up. You are going to make it.

G-d bless

I have recently come off celexa.I been on
the medication to treat my depression from June
29,2006 to Jan.10,2007.The reason for the anti-
depressant is that the treatment(interferon)has
very strong side effects(I need to have the ant-
i-depressant before I recieved the interferon to
treat my Hepatatsis C).I find it quite astound-
ing that both these drugs have many side effects
and that both need to be reexaimined carefully.
But how did the FDA approved of these drugs kno-
wing full well how dangerous they are.I am furi-
ous as how can medicaid reimbused these drugs
without knowing the side effects.Even low income
people deserved better medicines rather than these toxic sluge medications(like anti-depressants) that can ruin anyone health for years to come.

John

I am researching this drug because my 56 yr old girlfriend takes it. Im 42 and I noticed that she doesn't have much of a libido and I am extremly good looking and very sexual. Not to mention I also noticed that she can be emotionally and physically unavailable and I am starting to believe that its this Celexa that she is taking. I think she is only in her second year or two and just the other day she said she was having trouble sleeping. I wonder if these long term effects are starting to act on her. She swears by the stuff but I think that is also one of the side effects, a sort of "Im so happy Im brainwashed effect". No joke!

Had to start Celexa because Cymbalta caused my blood pressure to rise. AFter 2 weeks, started having severe manic/rage episodes and becamse suicidal, which I never was before. Very bad stuff. Worse side effects I've had.

Effexor gave me hemochromatosis When i stoped taking effexor it went away My ferritin was high it is now 28

Kathy - I actually had the tingling head thing before I went to the doctor and he told me it was likely my recent increased stress/anxiety. You know how your eye will sometimes tick for a few minutes and drive you nuts? That's what a little part of my head did followed by the tingling and numbness. I'm worried because I've been having panic attacks for the first time in my life and this is what my doctor put me on to prevent them. I'm not depressed at all. I wonder if I'm taking the wrong drug?...I took my first on a few hours ago. I'll guess we'll see.

I have been taking celexa for a month,, it sucks, I really feel no better,, I was not too bad before I started taking it,, lost my job had career change issues,, but the "celexa dick" is more troblesome than the problems I was experiencing,,I would rather be a tad upset and cum,, than to be upset and not be able to cum,, as well as a change in eyesite,, and seeing unexplained lights in my eyes,, I want off ,, but my Doctor said ,, if you are feeling well ,, keep on it ,,
God bless you all for you input.. I am getting off tonight ,, not by cold turkey ,, but by reducing the meds to 1/2 over the next few weeks ,,
Will post results for those that are interested !!
Good luck to all ,, we need it !!
Best regards,,
PK

Had anxiety disorder,and got perscribed some citralopram,hence whilst i was having a panic attack,otherwise id have never done this stuff.I seem to have sufferd nearly every side effect listed.its really messed me up,if your depressed stick at that,its better than feeling suicidal.

CITRALOPRAM? stick to being depressed its better than being suicidal!

I used Celexa for three years with great results. 20MG dose. No problems with sex or any other negative side effects. December 06 I decided to get off the drug. Always reduce your dose gradually over about a three week period before you stop taking the drug completly, otherwise you will experiance "Head shocks." Not good!

Today I decided to go back on Celexa, as my depression and rage symptoms are back. Some doctors will tell you that using Celexa for a couple of years will correct your problems and you can then stop taking the drug, as you are now cured. Not so.

I have always suffered from depression, and anger issues. I was also diagnosed as possibly being bipolar when I was 19. I was on wellbutrin for a while but I went back to work, and school part time, so I slowly got off of it. I usually just try to ride through my mood swings the best way I knew how. I am now 30 and had my 3rd child. This time I have not been able to get through my depression on my own. My doctor prescribed me leprexo but my husbands insurance wouldn’t cover it. So she put me on Celexa. I was only taking it for 6 days and I experienced vision loss. I have a prosthesis in my right due to cancer as a baby, I only have one eye as it is. My doctor told me to get off of the Celexa. I am petrified that I have ruined my vision for good. Did anyone get there vision back to normal after taking Celexa?

Hello... Have been taking Citalopram for too many years- maybe 5..started with Celexa then insurance would not cover it...I tried to go off it and had whooshing in my head and dizziness evem after a month so...went back on it and in fact went up on dose 3 months ago because of inability to move, function...I am having VITREOUS DETACHMENT... am bothered...told it is the effect of "aging"...I am 56...who should i report this to? My doctor shrugs it off...
Mary

I have been taking celexa for years. I am just realizing that my gaining weight and no libido could be a side effect. I was not very informed. I am out of the meds and going cold turkey. Any advice? Right now I am just feeling very light headed and weak.
Thanks for this site!!

i am currently weening myself off of Zoloft which i took to help cope after being diagnosed with OCD. lately i have been feeling very dizzy and i think it may have something to do with the drugs.
does anyone know if dizziness is a common effect of trying to get off Zoloft? and if it is, why? i would really appreciate any feedback. thanks a lot.

Hey
I've been depressed due to job loss. Dr. prescribed Celexa. I read all this and am worried.
What to do?
Please post B4 I start on the journey....

I've only been on it for a week, but have felt extreme drowsiness. I dont know if i want to continue the use, because it is affecting my work schedule and social life. I feel like staying home on the couch and sleeping.

For all of you who are wanting to get off of the anti-depressants there is a program out there that WORKS WONDERS. Its called The Road Back program. http://www.theroadback.org.

Check out the website and read all the info before starting to get off the medications on your own. There are many supplements that should be taken to build your body back up prior to the weening process. After that there is a very specific protocol to follow to get you off psych drugs most painlessly.

Hi all,

I've been on this drug for 9 days. Unwilling to take any drug like this in the first few months, I yielded to my doctors finally due to continued depression. I've been experienceing fatigue, sleepyhead, no motivation to do anything, nausea, drowsiness, dry mouth, heavy chest, some loss of appetite. I found myself extremely difficult to get up, can't go out because I dare not drive.
I prayed I could tolerate all these side effects and be positive during this transitional period. I would eat right, exercise & connect to friends so that I would win this battle. God bless.

CC

I started taking generic(Citalipram) about two years ago. I recently had an occurence of "Celexa Dick" and it was just annoying. I did have sporadic erections but they kept disappearing. It's like my johnson has ADD or something. The quality of the erections weren't that great either. I have been relying on sleep aids to fall asleep a little too often lately and that probably doesn't help.

Another thing I've noticed is that when it(my penis) is willing to cooperate, it can take forever to finish the job. I have to really strain and wait for the stars to allign to have an orgasm. My orgasms are much more intense though when I begin taking it after a hiatus.

I don't really seem to be able to figure it out though. Sometimes I feel it increases my sex drive while other times it seems to wipe it out. Anybody else experience it as inconsistant?

I had been taking citalopram for about a year and a half with seemingly no side effects. I was only on 20 mg at first, then would go to 40, then back to 20. A few months ago I noticed I was unmotivated and sleepy all the time, which is odd as I am an avid exerciser and mover. I started to feel emotions less or with delayed reactions. I am not sure, but I think I was experiencing some vision loss as well from the drug as time was going on.

I just got off of it cold turkey about a week ago, and my brain tingles and dizziness are starting to fade. I can feel my emotions again, and my sex drive is good so far. I am also far less anxious. My vision seems to be coming back as well.

I am hoping that things will keep getting better as time goes on. The reason I started the drug was due to situational anxiety and depression. Those situations are gone now, so I hope that the good times are here to stay!

I just started taking Celexia 5 days ago, it makes me feel so tired, where I am alomst falling asleep at work. Also, are the any major side effect to drinking while on this medication?

I have taken Celexa for two periods in my life for about a year each, both times for anxiety problems. It worked wonderfully for me-- took me from teetering on the edge to normal within a month. But this second time I have taken it for maybe a few months longer than last time and I started to experience some side effects, particularly weight gain and sluggishness. I've gone off of it now because of that and I am having the most ridiculous withdrawal symptoms! I am incredibly irritable, dizzy, etc., and I am having what other people seem to be refering to as electric shock sensations. It sucks! And there is no information out there about this! So if you're thinking about taking Celexa, know that it's not just for rainy days-- nothing but serious depression or anxiety is worth this.

everyday i keep getting weird visions in my head but each day its the same thing i dont know where it cam e from and when it happens my head hurts and one it is done i cant remember what it is

I have been on celexa for about 7 years now. I was experiencing severe depression after some marital problems and it was hard to smile. After six months of counseling and two years later, I was so ready for something to lift me up I took the sample on the way home. At first I was dizzy, and instead of gaining weight, I think it has helped me keep it off. I feel no ill effects from it (except insomnia) but my doctor has prescribed sonata, a mild sleep aid. I feel very balanced and great in the morning.

My mother took one 10 mg dosage of Celexa and had an extremely bad reaction within 4 hours: palpitations, extreme anxiety, feelings of suicide, nausea, sweating alternmating with chills, raging..things that almost took her to the hospital. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DRUG AND SHOULD BE TAKEN WITH EXTREME CAUTION. Her physician claimed it was safe....her depression was not half as bad as the reaction from taking this drug. Please protect your loved ones from this drug.

I was on Celexa for about 2 years before my doctor asked me to start tapering it off. The taper off schedule was too fast and I suffered worse depression and a weird aray of symptoms so my doctor started me back on the Celexa at a lower dose. I took it for about 6 months and then started the taper off again this time much more gradually. It has been a year now since the last dose and I am still experiencing what I have learned are withdrawal symptoms of this SSRI medication. The things I am experiencing are "zap" feelings in my head, burning face and or tongue, tingly feet and or hands, twitching eye lid, social phobia, extreme low self esteem, poor concentration, poor memory,and sporadic depression. Most comments I have seen say the withdrawal side effects last only a few months at the most. Not so for me!!! It has been going on over a year. Anyone else have this long term ailment from this drug?

I HATE CELEXA! I am on my 2nd week of scaling down and I am a wreck. I feel overwhelmed, short fused, emotional, crying at the dumbest things, cannot concentrate, ugh...I was on celexa for 8 months and became progressively Ill on it (I did not think it was the med as it came on so gradually). My Dr. was so overwhelmed with my plether of symptoms that I was referred to a Rhumatologist to investigate fibro or chronic fatigue. I was dizzy, had major pain in joints and my rt. arm, Severely Exhausted, heavy limbs, heart palpatations, Headaches, Nausea, Dry Heaves, Trouble breathing when I moved around, ear ringing, the list goes on and on. Off the meds for 48 hours and I was a new woman...till the withdrawls started. Now I have a major headache and feel nervous and like I am going nuts. NEVER AGAIN will I take Celexa!!!!

I've been on Celexa three months now. I switched from Paxil and I was having severe side effects with that, so physically, I feel better now.

But the things that worry me are:

--memory loss--I mean to the point where I can't remember what happened the previous day, but also names, phone numbers, appointments, etc.

--violent thoughts--This is scaring me.

--laziness and lack of concentration--I can't get any work done.

As an anti-depressant Celexa only made me feel "numb", and not alive...totally did not work for me.

It also, for the first few weeks made it extremely hard to reach orgasm, which was cool for awhile since I could go all night. But eventually I couldn't even maintain an erection. I stopped taking the junk.

I've started taking Adderall, which I think help significantly.

I HAD A VERY BAD EXPERIENCE WITH CELEXA. I GOT TERRIBLE MOOD SWINGS AND BECAME VIOLENT. I GOT VERY SUICIDEL. I GRADUALLY STOPPED TAKING IT AND WHEN I WAS FINALLY OFF OF IT I GOT SO ANGRY AND ALMOST DROVE MY CAR INTO A BRICK WALL.

CELEXA BAD!!!!!!!

I have been on Celexa for about 6 years now. I have no problems with my eye sight or libido. I have no side affects at all from the medication until I miss a day or two. Watch out on those few days after that occurs. I am like a mad woman with attitude. I can am like Oscar the grouch x 100. I admitted this to my doctor and she did not seem surprised. I also noticed that I can get major headaches when I missed a pill or two. I am considering going off the medication. I was never officially diagnosed with depression so I figure 6 years is plenty to help me self diagnose on the drug. I want to see how things will be without them after so long. Anyone been on Celexa as long ? What are the actual withdrawal symptoms?

I've been dealing with anxiety and depression issues for about 5 years now. In college my doctor prescribed Lexapro (20 then 10 mg) which worked really well. After college, as I was dropped from my parents' insurance, I weened myself off of it. I was fine for a few months, and then symptoms returned.

I went to the doctor to report my symptoms, and he prescribed selexa, or citalopram, because it is lexapro's cheaper predecessor. I have been on citalopram since June of 2006, and for a while it seemed to be working alright, but in the last 5 months or so, I've felt pretty numb and apathetic, unable to get excited or even vent when I needed to. I've felt extremeley needy with my friends and have a lot of trouble concentrating. I've also had frequent thoughts of suicide and decided to take a month-long sabatical from my job because the anxiety was just too much to handle.

My instinct is to ween myself off of all drugs, as I feel like my body is reacting negatively to them, but I fear another relapse into depression. It's been comforting to read these posts, and I can relate to all of you who feel "numb" due to this drug. I have hope that things will get better, and good luck to everyone going through these feelings of despair. You are not alone, hang in there.

I have gone off celexa cold turkey 8 days ago. I am experiencing the electric shocks and dizzyness. How long will this go on.

I also feel closed in and anxious ....with a little paranoia and fear thrown in.

thanks

Henry

I currently take 40 mg of celexa a day. Since increasing my dosage, from 20 mg to 40 mg if I drink wine or beer I sleep deeply. Recently I eve wet the bed then woke up! Has anyone experienced this, I mean I know you are not supposed to drink on this stuff but I like my wine with dinner or at a party. Help !

CELEXA IS DOING GREAT FOR ME!!!

I was on celexa for about a month, i completely lost my sex drive. Ive never been more depressed then i was once i started this medicine. I would not reccomend this to anyone.

I went on celexa for a few months and i also felt extreme drowsiness - absolutely exhausted and wanted to sleep all the time. Plus, i lost my libido (I'm only 24 and have always had a high sex drive) and started grinding my teeth really hard at night. My doc prescribed wellbutrin to take along with celexa to mitigate the negative side effects. Has anyone been on this combination? I don't know whether to just stop taking celexa and try wellbutrin or to try both together...

So the Army decided that Celexia was my answer. I deployed to Iraq for my third time with depression. I was doing great and took the medicine everyday for about 5 months then I started running more missions and would forget my medicine. i would go 2 weeks or so and then start taking it again. I felt great on it but didn't notice any withdraws syndromes over the past 6 months of on again off again medication. I have been able to express my rage with the .50 cal but the only side affect i noticed was no erection.

I was diagnosed with depression in 2000 and was prescribed Celexa 20mg. I took it for a few months, I can't remember now exactly how long, but longer than 3 months. I was also prescribe Adderal because I was also diagnosed with ADHD. It didn't make feel any better. It gave me severe mood swings, I'd cry all the time in private. I came in with just depressed feelings, anxiety, and having had a hard time focusing for years. The Adderal was great. But the Celexa didn't help with my depression. I know I was supposed to gradually go off of it, but I had to quit cold turkey because of insurance reasons. The one withdrawal symptom I noticed was the weird sensation of "head and body zaps", "electric surge down the spine to the toes and back up to my head". It's the same feeling I'd get when I hit my funny bone, only this feeling surges through my entire body. It's set off by sudden noises, loud or faint. It could be someone yelling or abruptly talking loud or a creaking of the furniture at night when all is quiet. It's a very painful feeling I've lived with since I got off Celexa. Sometimes it enrages me because it just cripples me. It's been over 7 years since I've come off this drug and I've been telling myself it'll go away. It hasn't and tonight out of all nights I decided I was tired of living with it and started to look and see if anyone else had the same problems. I've read similarities. If anyone knows what this syndrome is called. How I can get help and what I should say to a doctor when I sit in front of them so they understand me. I would appreciate it very much. I don't want to go on any anti-depressants. I've learned to control my stuff with diet and exercise and just need to set boundaries for people and their crapola. So please, if anyone has any information on what I've just described please share it with me. Thanks!

Was on Celexa for a couple of years. Took 20mg a day. Just weaned myself off over a period of a few weeks as the side effects (dizziness, head shocks) were so difficult to go through. I am still feeling the occasional head shocks and am agitated. I question if I should go back on it.....but, don't think I could ever handle the withdrawal again. Am just trying to get my 'bad mood' under control.

is there ant side effect for penis if we do excersice

I just started on 10 mg for anxiety thay caused depression. I take it in he morning at 9am but I am also on another med, clonazepam, but a very low dose three times a day. this helps my anxiety stay in check and I take my last pill at bedtime. so far I only get a lttle dizzy and lightheaded but it has only been a week. I hope I do not start experiencing all of these side effects. I already take a beta blocker for having a rapod irregula heartbeat. don't need more palpataions. I do fel numb. got into fight with hubby and just couldn't care less.

Am taking 40 mg of Celexa. @250 lbs,52 years old, and post menopausal, who knows what's causing the insomnia, but I do have it very badly. I am getting dizzy since I began to diet, need to lose because of knee problem. I think I ma taking too much. I am very nervous about that vision loss, I have aloss of balance also since I began dieting a week I think you need alot of food to absorb this drug. ??Will be speaking to my doctor

Alex:

I tried Wellbutrin, also because of lowered sexual drive and function. The sex improved a little bit, but I found the Wellbutrin ineffective. I didn't try them together, so can't comment on that. A friend had a very similar experience, she found her sex drive better, but the Wellbutrin wasn't as effective with the depression. She did find, though, that the break from Celexa kept her sex drive going longer, even after she went back on Celexa.

Overall, it has been a good move for me to take Celexa. I was a closet door slammer, and I don't do that anymore. I can really tell the difference!

i read about 20 min of this blogs, and i am going to wheen my self off of them i take 40mg a day, i have ben doing it for abiut 6 month and puy on 50 lb and my left eye started twithching 3 days ago and i wondered what the hell was wrong

Has anyone ever noticed an increase in gas with celexa. mine has become uncontrollable.

I have been on celexa about a year for anxiety and stress headaches. my doctor also prescribed walking everyday. I think that relieved my headaches more than anything. I am on 40 mg and have been missing doses. I notice my sex drive is returning, and i am starting to be able to control my sweet tooth. That became uncontrollable on the celexa, and i never use to crave sweets. I have gained 20 lbs, and have been disorganized and never seem to get enough sleep. I also am a memeber of al anon and have found my spiritual connection with God. Getting beyond this world and seeing that life is just practice for the next has helped more than any medication can. Elliot hits the nail on the head. Thank you all for listening.

I took my first tablet of 20mg as directed by my md. About 3-4 hours later I was hallucinating and went to the ER. I was given benadryl and anti-nausea medication for possible allergy to the medication. However, the ER. Staff argued with me that it was impossible for me to be having such side effects from this drug and did a drug panel on me for street drug use. When that came back negative for street drugs they said they didnt know why I was reacting the way I was. Basically I felt the hospital was calling me aliar. 2 days later I was having what felt like rolling brain freezes that came in waves, nausea, paranoia, shaking, flushing that came in waves. A month later I was still suffering from dizziness, flushing, and elevated anxiety. The whle experience was so traumatic that I am terrified to try any new mediactions. So I suffer without. DO NOT TAKE this medication if you have had any bad experience with this type med in the past.

After another sleepless night and worried I had some terrible disease due to my strange on going symptoms, I started googling my symptoms: nasuea, vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia, agitation and increased anxiety, muscle pain, migraines w/no previous history...etc. I reviewed all types of possibilities but hit a home run when I read the "fine print" of Celexa side effects. I have been on Celexa a few months, started at 20mg, then doc told me I could easily double that - my mind said ok, 2 20mg twice a day. Been doing that for nearly a month. Called the doctor, talked the the pharmacist - no one told me how dangerous this level was. No wonder I feel like I'm dying. I'm very upset at my physician, and myself for not being more careful. I have no prior experice with ANTID's and don't want any more of this drug!

I've been on Celexa 4 or 5 years. For me it only gets more wonderful. Side effects minimal - easily dazzled by car headlights at night: some vivid dreams; that's it. It's like someone handed me the key to myself. This, in my late 40s after years of struggling with heavy family background and 11 years of therapy.

God bless celexa/citalopram - I am so grateful.

p.s. 40 mg a day

WELL I HAVE BEEN ON CELEXA 20MG FOR ABOUT I GUESS A YEAR. SINCE BEING ON THIS MED..I DON'T WANT SEX. I'M SO TIRED ALL THE TIME I FEEL AS IF I CAN'T LIVE WITH OUT THIS MED. I HAVEN'T SEEN MY PERIOD IN A LONG WHILE...I'M JUST FREAKING GOING NUTS ON IT...MY TEETH AND MY MOUTH STAY SO TIGHT ALL THE TIME ITS ANNOYING...I WANT TO HAVE A BABY AND I DON'T THINK I CAN REALLY...I LOST HOPE....MY DOCTOR GAVE THIS TO ME FOR ANXITIY....BUT I DON'T THINK ITS RIGHT FOR ME....

I accidentally took my wife's Celexa, mistaking it for my Prednisone.
I have Lupus and needed 30mg of Prednisone in the morning. They come in 10mg white tablets. My wife had just gotten her Celexa refilled. They used to be dark, but now they are white tablets --20mg tablets.

So I took THREE of what I thought were Prednisone tablets (which turned out to be SIXTY mg of Celexa). I started my morning run (I run 4+ miles every other morning) and I was stopped in my tracks. I felt like I was high. My brain was "zapping" and I had a horrible chemical taste in my mouth. I couldn't hardly walk back to our house without passing out. My ears were ringing and I felt my heart missing beats.
I walked into the kitchen and noticed the Walmart bottle of pills on the counter. I took a closer look and it said "Celexa 20mg".
Damn I wish that WalMart would catch a clue like Target Pharmacy and put different colors on the bottles for each patient...Not that I blame them, but it would have kept this from happening.

I laid in bed, awake, the entire day. Every time I stood up, I felt like I was more high than the last time. I was sure I would end up in the hospital. I mean...60mg of Celexa and I have never taken that drug before!

Now, 2 days later, and I still feel "off". I have twitching in my arms and legs (like when getting a funny bone hit).

Finally had sex yesterday and had no problem gaining an erection, but trying to orgasm was a challenge. I couldn't reach that point. Very frustrating.

Anyway, I am hoping this dang twitching goes away very soon and that my heart stops missing beats once in a while.

Anyone here know how long Celexa stays in the body???

Thanks!

I only took celexa for a bout 3 or 4 days and came off it and omg i am so dizzy is that normal.

I've been taking citalopram for 3 weeks now. I have a severe anxiety disorder. Was taking 10mg a day and i felt it was working , i think, so now im increasing to 20mg a day. I read everyone's post here and its really scary. I havent felt any side effects really. Maybe some drowsiness but it says that on the bottle. However, sleeping is hard for me lately and I go to be at 2 or 3am everyday, I can sleep in fortunately with my schedule but i wake up a lot and its hard to fall asleep in the first place because my mind is racing and i cant stop thinking. I've been switching the last week from 20mg a day to 10mg a day to 20mg, so i am just going to start taking 20mg a day and see how that works out for me.

I have been taking celexa for going on 2 years now. I starting taking it when I was diagnosed with post-partum depression. I am now weaning myself off of the drug because I get extremely sleeping in the afternoons/evenings now for no apparent reasons and then some nights I can't even sleep. I wish I never went on the drug sometimes...but it did temporarily help me with the depression I was experiencing. I hope to wean myself off this drug without any withdrawls symptoms.....because as I've seen in the other posts.those symptoms are not pretty.

I have been taking celexa for a couple of months, At first I didnt have any side effects and I felt really good.. But for a little over a month now, I always feel like I cant breath and I am short of breath. Its very uncomphortable. When I told my doc he just increased my dose. Has anyone expericned this side effect?

I've only been on this for 2 weeks and feel shaky and like it's not helping at all. I want to quit. When does this stuff kick in? Any advice?

I have been on Celexa for 4 1/2 years, since I had a heart attack and suffered profound depression. I am a very young minded 51 year old. I have gained an excessive amount of weight 70+ pounds and now that is my sole reason for depression. I have some twitches, such as right now I am holding my mouth like Renee Zellweger for reasons unknow to myself.....dreams are very vivid and most often involve the past. Sometimes I will involuntarily blink my eyes hard.....movements I never exhibited before. I don't remember much day to day.
Very difficult to sleep at night and sweat like crazy all night long. I feel a detachment to most things.No sexual libido at all.....even if I try to pleasure myself it is a lot of work. I feel "out there somewhere" I do have a bit of OCD and now feel "whatever"
I am just not me anymore. Any advise as to how to get off this?
Thanks everyone,
Nadine in Toronto

I have been on Celexa for about a week and stopped taking 80mg of Paxil about two weeks ago, because it was not working anymore (had been on paxil 10 years). Not sure if it is withdrawal of paxil or starting celexa but I have dizziness, slight insomnia, headaches, heightened anxiety, I have been really cold and live where it is 100 degrees everyday and the weirdest one is I feel like ants or bugs are always crawling on my skin. Has anyone experienced these problems or have any suggestions? I am not sure if I should stick with it or get off it. Thank you.

I am on 10 mg of celexa. Has anyone experienced vision or sinus problems on this?

been on it 3 years. didn't know head zapping, feeling like bugs crawling on, me and fatigue were symptoms. but really works for my depression. diahhrea and no orgasms definitely are huge side effects for me that haven't gone away. BUT my doctor put me on buspar also, now i have orgasms again. it really works!!

i've had postnasal drip and a cough which has been checked out by a number of doctors with no explanation. so maybe it's related to celexa. shrink says no, but...
anyone have fatigue???????
sleeping 12 hours a night?
or liver inflammation?

I have Glaucoma, Fibrmyalgia. Ulcerative Cololitis, Chronic joint pain, insomnia, weight problems, can't loose weight, all my tissue under my skin hurts when I touch it or someone rubs me. Does taking this cause worsening of any of my problems?
Jaynetta, Please write to me on this. Then I was changed to Cymbalta and suddenly stopped last week and I feel like crap. I hurt all over, can hardly walk without help. So is the side effects worse that the benefits? please help me for I m truly miserable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

just started taking celexa about 4 days ago. I am on 5mg and uping the dose to 10 mg I am kinda nauseous but more just scared and waiting for something "bad to happen" I also feel very shaky and nervous is this normal?

I have been on Celexa for about 4 months now and I love what it has done to my life. I lost my anger, I am able to brush bad thoughts off, and I don't worry anymore. As far as erections go. I can get an erection in a moments notice. I have great staying power, but, It takes alot of concentration to orgasm abd the amount of ejaculate is very low, to sometimes nothing. My wife was on Zoloft a few years back and became a sexual zombie. No sex drive at all. As for weight, I started a diet in January 08, and was losing weight with diet and exercize. I started on the Celexa and started dropping weight quickly. To date I have lost 50lbs and I attribute my weight loss to the Celexa. I am currently on 40mg and want to rampt to 60mg because the efficacy is lowering.

Nadine, you need to see you doctor and report what you wrote here my dear. Please promise you will see your doctor.

I went on Celexa last October 15, 2007 and stayed on it for six months to the day. In that time, i gained 15 pounds and lost all interest in sex. My depression/anxiety went away, BUT it came back b/c of the weight gain and lack of sex with my husband. Since going off it, the weight is very slowly coming off. I went off it cold turkey. I was soooooooooooo tired. I couldn't think, i couldn't focus. I couldn't remember anything, i had to have lists for my lists for my lists!!!! I had to write everything down.

My doctor said initially that Celexa will not make me gain weight. I go to the gym all the time, work out, eat right, and maintained a svelte shape BEFORE Celexa. Since going on it, my system went haywire. It made me better, but i felt high and detached... i couldn't remember anything - space cadet. But hey, i was happy and the anxiety/depression was gone. The weight crept up slowly, and because of this, i stopped.

I went off it cold turkey and it's been since April, and i still feel it in my system but it's starting to go away. I have started running and weight training, and figure it'll come off eventually.

I was taking 20 mg/day. Approx 20 years ago i went on Paxil and gained weight and then went off it b/c of this.

Hope this info helps someone. But i believe even after five months, it's still in me and will take a bit more time for it to be totally gone.

All my best,

Maria

I am an 18 year old english girl and have been taking Citalopram since April of this year. I was first put on 20mg but after a couple of months my dosage was increased to 40mg. Have read through all the blogs and am alarmed by how many of the symptoms experienced by others match my own.

For me these have included:
-SEVERE vomiting after eating any normal sized meal. Regular painful stomach aches and nausea.
-Loss of appetite
-EXTREME exhaustion and apathy. I have gone from being an early-riser who enjoyed physical activity to someone who cannot get out of bed in the morning and needs naps after only a few hours of getting up.
-Difficulties with physical and speech co-ordination.
-Sporadic bouts of verbal and physical aggression/rage, sometimes resulting in self-harm (punching walls, cutting). Have attacked boyfriend several times, poor soul.
-Dry eyes, making it difficult to wear my contacts.
-Difficulty urinating but constant feeling of full bladder, especially in the evenings.
-Difficulty reaching orgasm - used to have very high libido so this is not good at all!
-Loss of emotional feeling

A few times I have missed taking the tablets for a copuple of days and have experienced the same withdrawal effects mentioned by others - stunted feeling and heaviness in my limbs, headaches, manic behaviour, anxiety, heart racing, dizziness, uncontrollable crying.
I feel let down by the 'specialists' who have insisted that I persevere in taking this drug, despite the frequent updates Ihave given them of my body's reaction to it. In the last few weeks my thoughts have turned more frequently nihilistic and suicidal, and I intend to stop taking the drug as soon as I have seen my care co-ordinator at the local mental health clinic.

Based on my own experience and the others I have read, I think that Citalopram is an EXTREMELY dangerous drug. I would have thought that it is also a completely inappropriate drug for adolescents/young people such as myself, given the natural fluctuation of hormones experience by my age group. It has not really helped me at all (emtoional 'flat-lining' in the first few weeks was all), only exacerbated the problem.

Have tried fluoxetine too aged 17 and did not get on with that, so it is frustrating that yet another anti-depressant has disagreed with me. Will have to keep trying I suppose.

Final word of warning - my 58 year old father committed suicide at the end of April this year, after a 4 month stay at a voluntary mental health clinic. It turns out the same clinic had tried to treat him with Citalopram a few months before his death.

I would treat this drug with EXTREME CAUTION and do not recommend it to anyone.

GOD BLESS WHO EVER COME UP WITH THIS PILLS IS CRAZY MY FRIEND IS ON NOW AND IT MAKING HER CRAzy only god can help nothing else will evr help!

I am searching for answers about whole body spams and taking celexa, my husband is suffering from these and i am trying to find out if this is what is causing it, 2 trips to er, within 2 days and no answers , waiting to see family doctor has anyone ever done this? if so please respond

I've been on Celexa for about a month or so now, having switched over from Lexapro. My doctor said I could start with half a pill (20mg) or even go up to a full pill (40mg) since he felt Celexa was slightly weaker than Lexapro. It seems to be working for me at 40 mg, but I've noticed tiredness (I'll lie down for nap and not get up for 2-3 hours, while I never used to take naps at all). Also, I do feel that sexual feelings have been stifled. They're not gone totally, but I don't have much desire in the physical department.

I have been on Celexa for over 8 years and I am trying to withdraw.......slowly. I have been cutting back for almost 3 months and my dosage became so small I just quit taking it. It has now been 3 months and I am still having the withdrawal symptoms. I am becoming concerned they will never stop. I am afraid to drive sometimes because the combination 'brain zaps' and feeling like I am walking in slow jerky movements is scarey. I am clumsy and dizzy. Anyone else had these problems and know how long they will last?

I have had panic attacks, anxiety and depression for a very long time..years...upon years...and I was just prescribed Celexa and I am scared to take it...especailly after reading all these stories. I took Zoloft for only a couple weeks a few years back and then quit. I am the type of person who is terrified to take pills and I always think the worst about things. I just don't know what to do anymore. I was curious if any of you would mind listing some of the things that you experience when you are having your anxiety attacks or panic attacks. I sometimes feel like I am really going insane because of all the weird things I feel at times.

Thank you

I've gone from taking Effexor, Zoloft, Citalopram (Celexa) to Lexapro and then to Citalopram. I was on effexor for 2 years. I asked if abnormal dreams was a side effect and was told no by my psychiatrist and pharmacy. I gained 40 pounds and when the dreams got so real that I couldn't tell the difference between dreams and reality I got on the internet and found that effexor causes abnormal dreams. Finally the pharmacy patient education info included abnormal dreams and then I believed my reality as if I need a doctor or pharmacy to tell me what I was experiencing was because of my medication???? I had a doctor take me off effexor without tapering and I became sick, hopeless and when I told him what was going on he said, "Who took you off effexor?" Talk about crazy making! Then I went on a dosage that was was too high and was a mess and it took me months to titrate off effexor. I used the road back supplements but like any company they are out to make money and they didn't do what they promised. I did the pretaper and all they said and spent so much money. Because withdrawal makes you worse, them doctors will get you to think you need an antidepressant because see how depressed and hopeless you are! I went from one antidepressant to another because I believed there has to be one that works! Then I would go through the horrible withdrawal over and over again. With each of these other medications I have had abnormal dreams, weight gain, nausea, elevated liver enzymes, got thyroid problesm from effexor, and the withdrawal with each is horrible but the worst with effexor!!!!
I'm going off citalopram and am taking 5 mg a day as I taper off. I'm feeling hopeless, having suicidal thoughts, feeling unable to get up in the morning, afraid to sleep at night and having insomnia, have had a rash and itching for 5 months, gone to my doctor and 2 dermatologists who just say I have eczema. All over my body and even like my skin is crawling? I was yelling at my husband yesterday saying that when people commit suicide and that when you hear people say that if they knew the person was feeling that way they would have done something. I was yelling and saying that was b*ll sh*t. I have been telling my husband how I feel and I stopped talking to my pastor about anything that has to do with mental health because he says just give it to the Lord. When my brain is a mess from withdrawing from these horrible drugs I'm unable to even think! I sat on the couch for 4 hours the other day unable to even move. Finally my husband said what do you need? Ijust broke down and cried and said hold me. I cried and cried and just needed to hear that I will get through this. When I can think I know that God will get me through this. I usually have a relationship with Jesus and lately I avoid most everybody and everything. We all will get through this and I will pray that God helps all of you. Talk about how you are feeling, pray if you are able to and God bless.

I have been taking celexa along with serquel for about 1 year and it has done wonders for me however, I am trying to get pregnant and all of my doctors want me off of all my meds and it sucks. I have profuse sweating, constant dizzness, my moods are all over the place and it is very hard to focus. I can not sleep at all. My doctor told me to try Tyneol PM, which makes me sleep but I wake up even more tired then I was. This is a terrible feeling that I have been going through for days now. When will this systoms go away. My doctor told me to give it 1 week but "come on" this is a terrible feeling of hopelessness.

My son was just put on this for depression he is 17 the dr started him on 1/2 a pill for 7 days then one pill a day .. reading your comments scare me ... he got up today day 6 of 1/2 a pill and said he got up last night and felt dizzy he went to school I had him eat and he said he felt a little better just wondering if this side effect will pass... and I wonder after reading if he has skipped a dose because alot of you say skipping will mess you up .. he seems happier I know that

I've been on it since early Aug, started it for increase in my usual anxiety symptoms, to the point that I had become wildly hypochondriacal and thought I had dreaded diseases. This stopped almost immediately upon starting Celexa. I take it at night, as it makes me tired. I started on 10mg and raised to 20mg in a month. I have better sexual performance than I did before (same thing happened a few years ago on Zoloft). I notice that I get very tired if I sit and, say, listen to a lecture. But it hasn't effected my sleep or my exercise, and no weight gain. Vivid dreams, definitely (including powerful nightmares) but I realize these SSRI's always have a trade-off. The one thing that worries me is, last night I raised to 40mg (been down and lonely lately) and whoooooooooooa I feel SICK today. Can't explain it, it's like part flu, part hangover. I feel jittery, cold, tingly, and have bad malaise. I think I'm scaling back to 20mg, 40 was not a good move.

I have been on celexa 40mg am time for about four months. Now I cant sleep solid through the night. can a person be prescribed more than 40 mg.? Can you get the same effects by dividing the pill 20mg am and 20mg bedtime to see if this helps with sleep?

Does anyone else sleep excessively with Celexa? I can easily sleep 10 hours a night. And the dreams, they are so vivid! Nothing bad, just vivid and epic in nature. I'll even wake sometimes and then go back into the same dream again. I used to sleep about 6 or 7 hours a night and I'm not complaining, it's just so weird. I haven't had any other side effects after one year of being on 40mg per day other than a weight increase of about 12 lbs. I take the Celexa at night at bedtime. I cannot complain about the amount of sleep I get now and I am much happier and less obsessive about little things, which makes those around me a lot happier too.

I started celexa and xanax around May 2008, started me at 20mg of celexa which went up to 40mg and .25mg of xanax which then was up to .50mg. I felt great at first, wasnt pi**ed off, or angry, or crying or having panic attacks, the xanax was the only thing that was NUMBING MY MIND...literally, I then realized I was becoming tooo dependent on my medication and wanting more, whenever it started to get build up in my system. Which is why I wing'd myself OFF of it and now havent been on my xanax for a month 1/2 now. So i dont feel soo mentally gone. With the Celexa i am down to 15mg, which i started this week. THE PROBLEM IS THIS::: I have missed a period, and of course was stupid to have unprotected s*x which was on Halloween with my boyfriend. So im like 13 days late. I've taken two test in 2 weeks, and am flip'n out of my mind. I had cramps for a week, but no bleeding, then realized "up there" I could feel my uterus was swollen a bit, and I've been eating like a horse. I still get dull cramps here and there. But i cant tell WHY Im feeling this. I've had two negative test, and i've told myself mentally that there is no way that I could be preg and its all in my head. But symptoms are still there. Im even constipated, which I know celexa can do that to you too. But im pee'n a lot. I plan to go into the doctors on Saturday to get blood work done. I was just wondering if anyone else was having this much of an issue as I am.

I was taking 40 mgs of Celexa everyday but noticed that I had no sex drive and was unable to orgasm. So my Dr. had me cut back to 30 mg. This small decrease in dosage has improved my sex drive mildly and I'm able to orgasm normally now! The best thing about it though is that I don't have a voracious appetite anymore which I have had all my life and which was increased when I started taking anti-depressants over 10 years ago. If anyone is having sexual side effects or weight gain, look into decreasing the dose slightly. One note though, I also take 150 mg of Wellbutrin so I think the Celexa may have been cancelling out the effects of the Wellbutrin, which causes a suppressed appetite (I think).

SHARRI! Hang in there, please! I've been on meds since 1991 and they have helped me live a productive life. I'm on 225 mg. of effexor as well as 200 mg. of trazodone. Trazodone is not habit-forming and helps you sleep. Ask your doctor if this might be right for you. You need your sleep. S/he could start you with a low dosage and increase it if necessary. This changed my life completely. I can sleep again! In 1991 went 3 days with no sleep (this is without any drugs at all - just rip snortin' anxiety and depression and insomnia with OCD symptoms thrown in). Best of luck. Ask doc, too if a "maintenance" dose of effexor might be best without the bad side effects of celexa.

I started taking celexa a month ago and I stopped cold turkey immediately. I noticed I was feeling really weird symtoms such as yawning alot, kin of dizzy, very blurred vision, and absolutely no sex drive. I did not really mind the no sex drive, but my fiance did! The anxiety scared me, so I stopped! I think it is always good to listen to your body or warning signs. On the plus side I was able to sleep great and also have some fantastic dreams.

I think I'm finished taking anti-depressants!!!

I have been on Celexa for two years. I had originally been taking Zoloft. Zoloft was making me numb and wasn't working like it had before. I was moved to Lexapro and then eventually Celexa. Celexa seems to have worked better then the other two. I have noticed tho I don't sleep well at all, and I have gained weight. I am happy and have not experienced numbness with this medication. My sex drive also doesn't seem to be as affected as when I was taking either of the other two. I am worried about dependance and any other side affects I haven't noticed.

I used Celexa for 1-1/2 years and stopped taking it cold turkey. I experienced, emotional numbness, I was no longer depressed, but felt nothing, no highs, no lows, just numb. Also Celexa made me sleep a lot. I normaly would sleep 7-8 hours a night, on Celexa, I was sleeping 9-10 hours a night during the weekdays and 14-16 hours on the weekend. I was just barely able to get up, go to work and come home and get into bed. I was like a walking zombie, tirered and couldn't wait to get into bed. I am 5'4" at 100 lbs, so i was only on 20 mgs. That might have been too much for my body. Anyway, i got tirered of sleeping my life away and stopped taking them.

Here is my story...

I just graduated college three weeks ago and for the past 3 1/2 months I've been having panic attacks. I immediately contacted my physician and he put me on 20mg of Celexa daily. I start my new job in 2 weeks and I am extremely nervous. I have noticed as my start date approaches I get more and more anxious. I would like to share my side-effects...

The past month I have been out of school and I've noticed that only when I have nothing to do I feel panic. I used to be up bright and early every morning, but now I have a hard time waking up. I find myself taking naps throughout the day. I have extremely weird dreams, not scary, but involve weird scenarios. I find it humorous when I wake up and the dreams are still fresh in my mind. I never used to dream this much before.

My sex-drive has decreased. I just don't think about it much anymore.

Only during the first month I lost my appitite and felt nausious at the thought and sight of food. I lost 20lbs, but I am slowly regaining my cravings. I have found that a more well-balanced diet helps too. I eat more fruits and veggies and have began to take daily vitamins.

I am a smoker so I can't run, but I walk for about 1/2 hour every evening and I find that this exercise is beneficial.

I quit drinking. I used to have a few beers a few nights a week and now I drink lots of water. I stopped drinking because I found that even with one beer I would become extremely anxious.

Everybody reacts differently to medince so if Celexa is not working for you, try something else. Eat healthy and exercise. Share your experiences with family and friends because their support will give you confidence in situations when you panic, feel depressed or are axious. I feel the worst when I have nothing to do so stay busy! Eliminate all negative influences in your life.

Been on the planet celexa for four years now and I'm feeling like I'm living on a farm that raises dew worms for seasonal trout fishermen.Things have gone flat in My life.Libido?Whats that?The flag pole can no longer support the flag.Something like the sound of a packman meeting its end in the old game.
Is it time to quit and find another source of uptake or does anyone know of a better alternative ?? Thanks

I was on Cymbalta and experienced bad vision problems, extreme sweating, body pain, and jaw clenching. Asked doctor for something else and was switched to Celexa. Have the same problems with it and now experiencing iritablity, feeling extremely cold, and head feels strange. Have to take sleeping pill to go to sleep and then have extreme fatigue in morning. Both did improve depression and social anxiety though. Think I will stop taking. I have been on several other anti-depressants before so don't know what I will take.

I've been taking Celexa for 12 years off and on. I had major stress while my child was diagnosed with cancer twice (started 12 yrs. ago). We just celebrated a milestone from his StemCellTransplant, so I'm doing emotionally better. I recently noticed gaining weight (20lbs.), eye twitches, and extreme tiredness. After reading these blogs I am cutting cold turkey. Thanks for all your input.

Hi, my boyfriend was on celexa for about 6 months and decided to get off. I had lost my father last year and had a REALLY tough time, and I would tear him up, then when I started to get better he was really depressed. So he got on celexa. Things got much better for the both of us. He weined off over 2 1/2 months and has been celexa free now for almost 2 months. But he is having a lot of trouble with anger and overwhelming feelings of sadness and the weight of the world being on his shoulders. We currently don't have insurance, but obviously will go in if we need to, but would like to know if anyone has experienced anything similar. Thanks

I had taken celexa for about two months and by the end of the two months I realized I was starting to have a severe allergic reaction to the medicine, with very serious symptoms- I quit taking the celexa and felt better. But ever since then I have not been able to fall asleep or stay asleep without having to take something to help me sleep. If I don't take something to help me sleep then I will stay awake for days until my body is so exhausted it can no longer stay awake. If I don't take something to help me sleep I will stay awake for days and nights at a time...

I was on Celexa for four months and it really interfered with my relationship with my husband. I was so moody and snappy all of the time and actually thought about leaving him (we just had a baby 5 months ago!) Our sex life was nonexistent and i was NEVER in the mood. Now I have been off of it for a week and i already am much happier in my relationship and all other aspects of my life which is great for my little baby boy:). Also I have to mention i was on Paxil before my pregnancy and gained 20 lbs in 3 months. No more antidepressants for me!!

Ive been on celexa for 1 and a half years. At first it was a miracle drug. With exception of a few side effects, it was a mircle drug! I came back to life and it also made me look healthy. But now i think it quit working. Does anyone know what to take next that gives the same results

My MD put me on Citralopram about 1 1/2 weeks ago. I'm 52 years old, and I was feeling depressed and anxious. My job is stressful; my dad had just passed away, and I had a total hysterectomy October 2007. I chose not to take hormones because of risk of breast cancer, so I was experiencing lots of hot flashes, and insomnia. I noticed after a couple of days of taking Citralopram,I started sleeping better and it seemed to help eliminate my hot flashes. I did have a couple of bouts of diarrhea. When I got home last evening, I noticed that had restless leg, insomnia began, and I had a very restless night. This morning my legs and feet were cold and felt numb. I feel like my legs are going to give out when I walk. I didn't take the medicine today, and I called my MD. They said they had not heard of these side effects. Has anyone experienced the leg coldness and numbness?

I've decided that I'm going to try to deal my my anxiety another way besides medication.

With all the attacking/whining about anti depressants, what about the effects of drugs like alcohol, ECSTACY, cocaine, meth, etc?

What would happen if people posted about the side effects of alcohol?

I've been scared off celexa for over 6 years from boards like this. I understand people complaining, but I pray you aren't stopping people like me who are SEVERELY depressed from taking it.

We turn to alcohol and drugs instead. Surely celexa is safer than alcohol and illegal drugs.

Does anybody have success stories that would rather be on celexa than reverting to alcohol or drug abuse?

i went in for anger management but my doctor told me he didnt think thats what was wrong with me. he handed me a sheet of paper with questions on it. i took the test and he looked it over and said "i think you might have mdd (major depression disorder)" he prescribed celexa and said it might come with wierd side effects. i started taking it about 3 weeks ago and i feel anxious, and tired but awake at the same time, and my body wont stop tingling, i space out for about 10 minutes at a time, i walk so slow it feels as if im not moving and i get light headed. i am 16 and i dont have time to slack off (i am a boxer, a sports trainer, im in link crew and upward bound a collage prep team) is there anything i can do to stop feeling like this?

The only thing i can tell on an every other day basis, which i take half of a 20 mg pill every other day, is that I have severe sore jaws. Wether its lock jaw of just tension, it causes great discomfort, and sometimes makes me knaw at my jaws, like im tweeking on something. It wakes me and my husband up in the middle of the night, and i find myself not resting because my jaws are clenched so tight together it makes them hurt.

Have been on Celexa for about 7 years. No side effects. have tried to stop taking it but each time i get the "Head shocks" and generally feel bad. So i continue taking, will probably be on it the rest of my life. Only 43.

My mother in law has experienced vision problems and vision loss and relates it directly to taking Lexapro (a Celexa-like drug). Has anyone else experienced this?

I was on Effexor (150 mg) for over 4 years with little trouble. I lost my job and could not afford the $150 a month so, 5 weeks ago my doctor gave me a month supply of Lexapro and then a subscription for Celexa. It does not seem to be working well. When I first started I was swimmy-headed and very short fused. After starting the Celexa, I have been so blank-minded and just depressed in a way of not wanting to get out or wondering if I could handle a different job. I am recently divorced, in bad debt, and laid off. I am a moderate drinker and I am 37 years old.

The person who invented Celexa obviously never took it himself. Otherwise he would have kept working until he got it right. I've been on 60 mg a day for a year and a half and its been slow torture the entire time. On the plus side, it did cure a case of melancholic depression (in combination with other drugs) that had me in the hospital for 3 months. On the down side, anything having to do with sex disappeared. It absolutely killed my sex drive, or libido if that's what you call it. I can't tell you the frustration of 'getting started' and not being able to 'finish it' Delayed orgasm or usually not one at all. I don't know how they expect people to be fine with this drug. It's sadistic!

I took Celexa for a couple of years. Like others, I thought (after years of trying to find the "right" drug for my disorder) that I had found "the one". I felt great on it. Didn't think I was having any side-effects. I gained a huge amount of weight on it, though, in a short period of time--to the point I got stretch marks in places I never had any before. Repeated complaints to the doctors had me frustrated, as I was told to drink more water and ingest more fruits and vegetables. Basically, I felt like I was being told that I was eating badly and it was my fault. I felt guilty about that, even though I knew that wasn't the case.

At any rate, after those few years and a total of 60 pounds gained--at which I was more depressed about being fat than anything else--I decided to forget the doctors and take myself off since they didn't want to listen to me. The withdrawal was horrid. Incredible dizziness, sleeplessness, restlessness, vertigo, upset stomachs...for weeks. Interestingly, I lost 30 pounds in a couple of months without changing anything I was doing.

I will never take Celexa again, even though all my other symptoms were well controlled. There's no way gaining that much weight is good for you or worth the supposed pay-off I was getting by feeling "normal" mentally. I couldn't stand to look at myself. It was unnecessary.

I started celexa last thursday. This morning thought I was losing my mind. For hours I was curled up in a ball in bed with severe anxiety attacks, arms feeling like they were on fire, muscle spasms, horrendous feeling. Went right to my dr. Meanwhile took
Klonopin and Xanax to stop the shakiness of my body. Dr told me to take 2 teaspoons of benydral every 6 hours. First I took a 3 hour nap then when I woke up my arms felt on fire again so I took the benydral and instant relief. This drug is horrible. Since it hasn't even been a week since I started it I'm hoping I don't have any withdrawal symptoms. I've been on other antidepressants and had some bad side effects but this was the worse. I'd rather handle my problems on my own. Still need the klonopin for anxiety

Iv been Dx depression a year n half ago and started w/ lexpro 20mg for a month, severe dizzy,knee pain,blurr eyes even when lowed to 10mg, so swith to celexa 10mg,felt numb all the time and severe drowyness,difficult to get concentrate on work,so lowed to 5mg for 2 wees, nothing getting better and totally lost sex drive, so I stopped. I felt a normal person again.Three months later,got a panic attack. So took 20mg celexa,drowyness came back,numb and sleepy all the time,insomnia,dream a lot, dry mouth,puppy eyes and no motivation on anything.
God help me.

I have been on Celexa for almost two years after my husband died. It suspressed my appetite for about a year and I lost 20 lbs but after that my weight has crept back up. I thought increasing the dose would help me, but I had side effects, 40mg,so I have slacked off to 20mg again. My skin was hurting like I had a sunburn. It has improved.It seems that I had loss of appetite at first,but now it has reversed on me. Has anyone experienced this? As far as my mental state is concerned, I'm okay. One reason I have stayed on it this long was to control my appetite, now it is not working anymore and doing just the reverse.

I'm on apo-citalopram (20mgs) for a couple weeks now. i was told it would take 10-14 days to feel any results, but i think its been much quicker. It is great to feel "normal" again. the intense ups and downs are gone. i feel happy and i can't remember feeling happy in a long, long time. my family have noticed a big difference, and my husband is very happy with his new/old wife. Libido is back too. interesting how many say they've lost sexual desire. i have not, nor have i gained any weight. i've actually lost a bit, but then i'm not spending most of my days sitting in the basement watching law and order any more! i hope i don't have the side-effects on stopping treatment. is there any reason to go off the drug?

Of all the anti-depressants I have tried over the years Celexa has got to be the worst. I started out the first day at 20 mg, started feeling feverish, numb, shaky, and could not sleep. So the next day I tried 10 mg and my symptoms continued and even got worse. I felt like I had the worst case of the flu in my life. I was useless.
Celexa is supposed to help relieve symptoms of IBS as well, which I have suffered from forever, but is not worth risking my health in other ways for relief of IBS. There needs to be more research done with this drug, though some may do well on it, many others I see have sudden severe reactions to it often needing medical attention. Like I said, nothing else I have ever taken has made me feel so sick, was literally like being poisoned. I am not sure taking anything at this point is for me, I think my family would rather me be sad once and a while then to see me sick and in bed all day unable to even function.

My daughter is 18 years old. Her doctor put her on citopram for situational depression. She was on it for 5 months and was acting to hyper etc. We decided to take her off about a month ago she gradually reduced the dosage for 1 month but the side effects are making her crazy dizziness, fatige, heart palpitations, nightmares, hallucinations, etc.
How long will this last
Please help,

Lisa

I've have had a sore tongue for a month or so. I have been to the denist and I have been to my family physician. There are no sores. My physician changed my celexa (Generic) to 40 mg instead of 10 at about that time. Could this be the problem.

I am on day 15 of taking Citralopram, the generic form of Celexa. I was given this by my doctor to help with my anxiety problems. The side effects are pretty bad.

"Tense muscles (around the neck, jaw), Constant Yawning, depression (which i was NOT suffering from prior to taking celexa), loss of sex-drive, nausea."

I've also felt like i've had the flu, or a bad cold for this last week. I drank for the first time on it the other night, and it was horrible. I completely blacked out, felt insain, and thought I was going to die. DO NOT DRINK ON THIS MEDICATION.

As for Anxiety, i think it might be working, however, it might just be distracting my mind/body with all of these evil side effects.

Also, the doctor seemed like he just wanted to throw some medication at me. I told him, I need "Anxiety Medicine, and NOTHING for Depression"

Do u think I was given the wrong medication?

i have been on celexa generic brand citorphram..for two years...i tappered off and stopped cold turkey ...i wish to god i never went on it... i am sick tired.achey body head .. i am sick and all because this damn medication ..i wish i never went on it i hate it and think people should think twice about going on it ..i have gain 100 lbs in 2 years .. i excercised diet ..and i still gained weight ... i wish i never went on it ..and hope to god i can loose the weight .. thats what i think of celexa..

I've been on citalopram for 4 months I feel numb to the world. I cant sleep at night, I have vivid dreams, I've recently been having vision problems in my right eye. My eye sight is going bad all I see is a blur. I go back to doctor in a few wks. I am trying to decide if i should come off the pills. Doctor has also put me on an axiety pill to sleep at night. I don't like relying on a pill to get threw my day.I have lost appitite along with alot of weight. Recently I've been vomiting with upset stomache. Anyone else going threw same symtoms???????? Vision problems????????

I started taking Celexa 10 days ago. From the first day I took it, I was feeling great. I started to take it for anxiety and depression. I was living in a house full of my husbands friends, and I spent my time in my room, never socializing because I was so full of stress and anxiety.
When I first started taking it, I felt great, and started socializing, now I'm friends with them all. The only problem is, that I've begun to fantasize about his friends.
I'm really not at all interested in them, and I love my husband so much. He treats me great.
But ever since I started taking the medication, after two days of taking it, to be exact, I've started to form crushes on two of his friends. I was just curious, if Celexa could be to blame for this.
And it's not my husband, because nothing in our life together has changed, and I love him so much. Just, it started after I began to take this pill.

I took celexa two different times and both times only for about a week. The first time I was on 40mg and the second 20mg both times were bad for me. I had hallucinations and heard voices. I would be zoned out at times and scared at others. My anxiety level increased and so did my depression. I have know others it worked for but it did not work well for me. I can only say be cautious and aware that my doctor said this can happen to some but is rare so be aware of this and be careful. It was frightning for me. I was alone and calling for friends running out of the house to the neighbors and even called the police to come check around my house.

DO NOT DRINK ON CELEXA!! I was taking Celexa last year ut was also having a bit of an alcohol problem. As soon as I would have just 1 drink, I became EXTREMELY violent. It was like some super human strength came over me and (no joke) one night my parents had a party and I physically sttacked my mom, dad, 3 brothers, brother in law and a friend who was in the Marines. And this went on for hours. But when I wasn't drinking Celexa worked fantastic for me. It did make me a little mouthy but for me personally that was a good thing b/c I tend to be somewhat of a doormat. Anyway, I just started taking Celexa again today since I've finally given up drinking for good so hopefully better luck this time.

I've been on Celexa for five years, and have had no adverse side effects. I now enjoy getting up in the morning, am able to see and talk to people, and am able to make decisions. Before taking Celexa, I wasn't able to do any of those things easily. I am an RN and have my Bachelor's of Science in Nursing, so I am very careful to watch for side effects and to research drugs, and I can honestly say that I have found Celexa to work well for myself, as well as several of my patients. Be patient, as it takes about 6-8 weeks after you first start taking it for optimum results. Your body does not even recognize the drug for the first two weeks that you take it--it takes some time, since Celexa works very slowly to regualte your serotonin levels.

I was Celexa for one day 10mg at bedtime and within two hours of taking it, I woke up and felt pressure on my abdomen. I thought I just had to use the bathroom, but while I was in there, I threw up, plus I had really bad diarrhea. I called my doctor and he said I was ultra sensitive to the side effects and I shouldn't take it anymore. That was third medicine I had problems with. Anybody know of any alternative medicines or therapies that would work for Generalized Anxiety? I've tried Zoloft and Buspar and hypnotherapy. I'm going to see a psychiatrist tomorrow. I hope that works.

I have been batteling depression for a log period of time. During my undergraduate studies the school psychiatist told me that I was depressed but sort of brushed it off. Just today I saw my primary care and he prescirbe me celexa, and just reading this blog scared the heck out of me. I just took my first dose this morning and so far the only side effect im having is hot flashes.

I have not felt happy since the death of my mother so if I can feel happy for a few days with all the known side effect Celexa will casue me then I think I'll take it.

HI,
I have been on celexa for about 5 years now it has been my wonder drug & i do not like to take meds unless absoultly have to. Anyway my life has been a much better one since I have been on it!I no longer have insurance so i was paying for my script,know the script has run out & it has been a year since i have seen the doctor & he will not refill the script so life right now is not good iam depressed & come off this stuff cold turkey not good iam sick to my belly all day i just do not feel good I cry for no reason it just is not fun i just want to sleep my life away why wake up & feel like this its not worth it! well how long will these symptons last? Can you belive it is all about money thats all life is MONEY!!!!!!!!! WELL THANK YOU FOR LISTNING!!