Depression Blog.com

i am using celexa for post-partum depression, and i have improved in leaps and bounds because of it. my biggest worry was the effect it would have on my breastfed son, and the fact that it has severely diminished my sex drive. however, i was interested to see this site as i was given absolutely no alternatives to the celexa. i think depression is something serious that everyone needs to talk about, and solutions other than drugs also should be suggested. the more the information gets out there the better.

I've suffered from Clinical Depression all my life. It was mild and not apparent when I was young, but when I reach my teens I started having bouts of depression off and on. It progressively got worse as I got older.

My symptoms were like Social Anxiety Disorder, and I was always in a foul mood and quick to anger. It progressed to the point where I would blow up (lose it) when under stress. I would get into shouting matches and be argumentative all the time. I also had the common symptons of being tired all the time, weak and no energy. Spent most of my free time sleeping.

I was finally diagnosed about 5 years ago. Just in time too, before I hurt somebody.

I first tried Prozac but had a siezure on it.
Then I tried Paxil which didn't agree with me.

Finally I went on Celexa. Now I can function 95% of the time. It mellowed me out, I don't get upset at things I used to, and my social anxiety greatly reduced. My thought process was faster than ever. I felt confident and wasn't sleeping all the time.

Some of the side effects, were dry mouth, excessive sweating, hot flashes, constipation, and the big one, loss of Libido. Totally Gone. I have no sexual interest or feelings. But I have my life back which is more important. I take 80 MG a day.

After 18 months I started going backwards a bit.
Since I was taking the maximum dose of Celexa, my doctor decided to give me a supplemental drug Wellbutren. I take 300 MG of that a day also.

It worked and I perked back up again. So that's where I'm at now. I have gained a lot of weight which from talking to some people can be a side effect too. I still have occasional bouts of fatigue, and have days when I lose it when in stressful situations.

The one thing that still hasn't recover is motivation. I have no motivation to clean the house, shower, travel or engage in group activities. I'm on the computer most of the time and satified with that.

I still go to work everyday but it's alot easier now with my improvement. I got disciplined a couple times for blowing up, yelling and arguing.

But 95% of the time I'm functional. So I'm living a limited life but I'm not in any emotional or physical pain. I wish I could get everything back that would make my life normal, but I'll take what I get get. It's better than where I was at before.

I think that celexa makes you lose initive - makes you lethargic (sp?)
However, it is presently saving my life, and I add a bit of caffeine to help the sluggishness
great luck to all

I have major depressive order. I cannot live a day without an antidepressant, so through the side effects and trying so many, I have had to keep taking them. Antidepressants really bother my stomach and I gained almost 60 pounds on Zoloft (almost all the weight if off, thank goodness), so I have tried everything to have a normal life while simultaneously taking these medications. I now take celexa every other day. I do not get as much benefit that I would get from taking it everyday, but can at least work and function, and do not cry every day!!!. Also, every other day helps avoid the ravenous appetite I get on these medicines. I was told by a Harvard doctor that these medicines cause the area of your brain, that tells you are full, to numb out so, though you are full, you do not experience full or satisfaction easily (antidepressants do this to me anyway, not all people). If I can help, the administrator has my e-mail. I have been on about all of the antidepressants.
One thing I learned from a doctor is that some people have the depressive disorder in a way that causes them to feel tired, while other people have the depression-type that makes them feel nervous and antsy and that different antidepressants are better for tired OR nervous feelings. Celexa happens to be one that causes you to become more sedate and is better for the anxious individual (like me). I took Welbutrin and I loved the energy I had, however before long, my anxiety was so bad I was forced to revert again to a more relaxing one. Great luck!

i'm too drowsy and also my heart rate is abnormal

i am know taking celaxa. i do not know how i feel yet, but i do feel a little bit more relaxed but in some ways i can not tell yet. i need some more info. i have always struggled with depression. i need to understand celaxa a little a bit better.

Started Celexa 4 days ago, after switching from small dose of liquid prozac. Had prozac for 3 years after panic attack. Recently I fainted at a restaurant and had major panic attack comeback since that.

My doc prescribed 10 mg. Celexa, but decided to start taking 5 mg. Good decision! But still at 5 mg. I feel stoned, zombie, and my anxiety is worst than it was. I am suppose to start a new job in some days, and I am worried I could not perform well because of this drug.

I decided to change solid Celexa to liquid Celexa and now I am down to 4.4 mg. and will stabilize first and then maybe go up a little.

After reading all the bad reviews everywhere about this drug, I will use it only for some months and then will slowly take that back when/if everything goes well at my job.

Right now my life is hell: I feel like I will faint everywhere. Just hate this feeling.

I like to know if their are any
alternative medicines for depression and
why then is these drugs are covered by medicare
and medicaid,both are the cartels of health ca-
re.

Does anyone notice that their pupils are very small when taking celexa? I am doing well on it it has been a month now. I have a sideffects but they dont seem to last.I sometimes feel like people can tell because the pupils look small.

Has anyone experienced new, or excessive, sweating while taking Celexa? I have been on the drug for about 2 years. However, over the past 6 months I have been miserable with nightsweats, and excessive sweating with most any activity. This all became much worse over the summer.
Thanks.

generic form of celexa saved my daughter life, totally different kid, no longer suffering from anxiety and depression, is dealing with life normally now, been using it for @6 months. It's a wonder for us!

Priviously used Zololt, which made me very tired. Asked my doctor to switch to Cylexa. After a month,up to 60 mg., suddenly my fatigue lifted, better than Zoloft. My energy is very good, though seems to prevent me from sleeping well. No effect on libido, well maybe a little, certainly not drive. The only thing that has me concerned is while laying in bed, trying to go to sleep, I will hear music, the same music playing over and over again. After using earplugs, I could still hear the music, even swithing songs at will. This must be a side effect. An audio hallucination. Anybody experience this with Cylexa?

I have been taking Celexa for about 2 1/2 months. I have tried everthing from prozac to wellbutrin. Celexa is the only one that has worked. Bad side effects are-but okay to deal with: sweating, feeling hot, insomnia, can't orgasim as easily but enjoy the happiness of being close with my husband, and feeling tired at weird times of the day...coffee works great for this! It's weird, Celexa makes you feel full of energy at times and then sleepy. Positive effects are: feelings of happiness and love, smiling more-not artificial, no crying but still can feel sad when it's appropriate. I really like Celexa and will stay on it until something new and improved..and generic comes along.

well i have been a depressed person for 13 years i have been on several different antidepressants the last one was remron i went from 98lbs to 145 it made me feel very bloated every morning when i woke up. the doctor put me on celexa. i can't wait to see how its going to work i will let ya'll know

hi i just started taking celexa and i feel great!!! its is the best antidepressant i've ever been on. i was on paxil for 11 years and it made me feel like a zombie, and like i had no emotions or sex drive. i feel so much better on celexa and would reccommend it to anyone whose body didn't agree with paxil :)

In response to terryb, I too have experienced music playing over and over in my head. There are times when I would wake up and have a tune in my head an 45 minutes later when I arrived at work, I realized it would still be playing in my head. Weird eh. I suppose the worst part has been fatigue and dizziness but I feel a lot better, thank god. Give it a try!

i've been on celexa since september after being diagnosed with a severe depressive episode. six or so months into it now, i have no side effects except for lack of libido and weight loss--but i was experiencing both of these things while i was depressed anyways. i feel pretty good, though i did have a set back at christmas and after consulting with my docs, have now up my dosage from 20mg to 30mg. I just upped yesterday and feel a little weird--spacey, nauseus, tired---i know that this is just my body adjusting as i felt these same things when i first started on celexa. for me, the side effects were (aside from the 2 i mentioned previously) were short lived. good luck everyone.

HI ALL. I for one have had mind gigs for 25yrs now. Man it sucks. My doc told me to take celexa. Do you think this will work? I read more good things than bad.But it sounds like when you start takeing this stiff your on it for the rest of your life. WHATS UP WITH THAT?

I was on Paxil for 5 years and finally weaned off. It is now a year later and life's event are hitting hard. Which antidepressant should I start for anxiety and depression?

I am on Celexa and have been so for about 3 months. It has helped me tremendously. I no longer have social anxiety disorder at all and do not fear conversations with others. In face I look at it as some sort of a "ride" and just enjoy it.

Additionally, I no longer get angry in traffic which was a legitimate problem for me. Lastly, I am dealing with my wife's depression completly differently and am not stressing out about it. Only side effect is it does take me a little longer to ejaculate. Ummmm...Celexa works well for me. 28YO Male.

I have decided to taper down from Celexa after two years. I lost my health insurance due to being laid off. I cannot afford the cobra since it is 1000 per month. Since I have a pre-equisting conditions I am unable to be insured.

I went online to research the tapering and found out about the side effects of Celexa. I had asked these questions of my doctor and was never told of these.

I have been seeinng my primary care physician for joint and muscle pain. The initial reaction was arthritis. But that diagnoses was false. I am 30 years old and am in constant pain.

I have also gained 15 pounds with the inablity to lose it. I am very athletic eat well and go to the gym 4x5 per week. I have tried many diets and none have worked. I spoke about this with my doctor and he just prescribed me more to help with self perception disorder. I was 6 ft and 185 pounds at 8 % body fat when i started. I am not 200 and 17% body fat.

I am hoping by going off I will lose the weight that i have been ever so trying to get off.

My doctor will not tell me how to taper over the phone. He requires me to come in, I do not have the money to pay him.

I am hoping i can get some referrals as I called the pharmaceutical company and they do not have a taper off program.

I have gone down to 40 mg a day from 60 mg and with no ill effects for a week.

Can anyone help,

Thanks
Taperdown

I have been taking Celexa for one month. I don't feel any depression, but am quite nervous. What should I do.

Celexa saved my life...I used to think about killing myself everyday....now that I am on it...I can function, work a job and take care of my family. The side effect that really bothers me is lack of energy. On my days off I seem to sleep a lot and take naps. One way to counteract the constant fatigue and lack of motivation to clean the house, etc. is this: I have to exercise on my exercise bike twice a day (for 20-30 min.) and drink coffee and eat fruits and veges. It does help me get through the day energy wise. Maybe this would help others.

I was glad to find this site and read what others are going through. So much of what I read here I understood because it was what had been happening to me. I have been takine Celexa for about 3 weeks now and before that was on lexapro, my body did not tolerate that very well and so I was changed to Celexa. I only take 10mg a day and my doctor is going to want me up to 20 but honestly I am feeling very different ( feeling of happiness and love, smiling more and not artificial, no crying but can still feel sad when appropriate) I want to know if anyone else experienced a change and only takes 10mg a day. My body is very sensative to medications and this seems to be working for me- whats up? does any of this sound like progress?

I was just prescribed Celexa 20mg I have major doubts first will there be weight gain and will there be libido issues. I am depressed about weight gain and do not want to have more also I already am emotionless at times usually with just family particularly my husband.I am tired all the time I do not need to more of this. Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

vendelave, you are taking way to much your doctor is out there!? you can't just believe everything that they say, do you have some serious brain chemical disorder your not telling us? Celexa and welbutrin wake up sister, go to a new doctor!

I the kind of person who has a lot of mood swings and instead of taking it out on anyone I internalize my emotions. I started taking flax seed oil every day a while back and it's helped a lot with my mood swings and has helped to even me out.

-For those who dont know flax has the highest amount of omega-3 essential fatty acids out of any plant food. It helps with skin, heart disease and it feeds the brain.-

But anyways I've been having a lot of anxiety lately, something that comes and goes in my life and doesnt really reflect what's happening in my day to day situations. My Doctor prescribed a low dose of Celexa and I'm having a really hard time deciding if I want to take it or not. For those of you out there who take celexa or were first afraid to go on an anti-depressant, could you offer some advice? Will it help me to get out of bed in the morning/afternoon, is it going to ruin my sex life, will I gain weight? Should I just give it a try for a month see how I like it?

I have been taking Celexa 10 mg. for 6 months and I can say that it seems to be a great drug. Went from breakdown to a well-adjusted attitude I never had before the breakdown. Other than initial stomach aches and mild nausea, I can say no lingering side effects.

Then again, maybe the drug isn't doing anything at all - alot of science to suggest that placebo works as well.

I wouldn't bother with titration at low doses. I'm not a Dr. but it seems like just another worry to latch onto (I've been there with benzos). Sit back and accept the situation!

was on prozak and wellbutrin for 10 years...went off for a year and major depression returned. now on celexa and really like it. my doc took me to 60 today, as after 3 mo on the depression started to come back. i seem to have good energy. i have not gained weight...a surprising thing i learned is that CELEXA HAS BEEN USED TO TREAT BINGE EATING. dont worry if they say it makes you gain weight...everyone is diffferent.
also i have suffered with mild anxiety and social disorder but that has been lifted. my depression in the past has been about mild irritability...i dont see much of that anymore. since i just went to 60 mg, my doc will see how that works, then might have to try 80. after that perhaps wellbutrin if im not feeling great. i know how great feels and i wont settle until i am there.

I think celexa works well for some, and not so well with others; it's all about finding the medicine that works properly with your body. For me, celexa did not do the trick. I was on celexa for 5mo's, and was extremely tired and irritable, and I found that my teeth would clench...alot(especially when I yawned)! I had a constant metallic taste in my mouth (like it was full of pennies), was nauseated on daily basis, not to mention, I go the runs almost every time I ate. I spoke to the pharmacist, and this only happens to a small percentage of its users (3-5%), so I quit taking it.
I am now on buspar, and it work much better...for me. It takes the edge off, and allows me to still be myself. I think if you are having problems with your medication, or you notice that you aren't yourself, the best thing you can do is let your doctor know, and see if there is an alternative medication you can try.
The first time I was on medication, I was on paxil, and I was not myself AT ALL!!! I was like a zombie with mood swings and insomnia. The bad thing is, I didn't realize it until a close friend sat me down and told me how much I had changed during those months...I was so embarrassed!
My advice- 1)Know your body 2)know that the doctor DOESN'T always know which medication will work best with your body chemistry, and 3)Be assertive, and let your doctor know if there is a difference or problem before it gets worse.
-I hope this helps someone, Best wishes!

I started celexa 10mil. last night for severe panic attacks it made me very sleepy in and out of deep sleeps all night then i woke up in the middle of the night and felt high and spaced out it sent me into a horrible panic attack now today i still just feel alittle spacey but calim Should i give it another try?? Just dont want to have another panic attack as bad as the one last night......