Celexa activation syndrome

Posted , 4 users are following.

hi everyone,

i have been on 10mg celexa for just about 5 weeks now. i was put on it for depression and definitely feel like its working. over the past 2 days on and off I have started getting jittery and a bit anxious for no reason. it's just weird and a little uncomfortable. i read that it's called activation syndrome and is a side effect of this. anyone else experience this, have any advice on how to cope? my depression stemmed from anxiety which I have had since childhood

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • Posted

    you either plow thru the side effects or ask your doctor for a short term benzo.the benzo will calm you down while you are stabilizing on celexa.

  • Posted

    I'm with Lois on this one. I was given 2mg of Diazepam which took the edge off on the bad days. I also found Audio books a great help, mindfulness & reading up on Anxiety and becoming aware of your triggers help too. Your still so early in so it will be side effects you are experiencing and they will pass in time. I used Diazepam as and when I needed it up until about 14weeks and I am in no way addicted so don't let anyone scare monger you into thinking you will become reliant on them.

    Hope this helps 😉

    • Posted

      thanks for your reply. yeah its kind of been up and down with that. my appetite has been up and down along with my weight. mood is better and have had slightly more energy in past weeks. i know I am still pretty early on celexa, when do you start to stabilize? after like 2/2.5 months?

    • Posted

      is different for everyone i didn't feel any comfort from the side effects of celexa for 8months.now i did feel relief from my initial symptoms of anxiety right away.dont confuse your anxiety symptoms with the side effects of celexa.sorry to intrude.

    • Posted

      For me the side effects....loss of appetite, nausea, upset stomach, panic attacks, they shifted after around week 8. However, my anxiety that had started to go came back terribly along with the racing thoughts, low mood and detachment. I upped from 20mg to 30mg with very mild side effects at week 9 and after about week 12 I gradually started to feel the full benefit.

      I'm still in recovery and experience blips occasionally and find my anxiety that I would experience in general for nights out, work, parenthood etc they are still very much heightened when I get it & I resort back to mindfulness, audio books and reassuring myself that I'm feeling it for a reason this time whereas before it came from nowhere and I couldn't control it.

      You will get there, but don't believe the black and white on the packaging. It takes way more time then the packaging suggests & a whole lot of will power. I found the ppl on this forum helped me more than any GP or mental health nurse I spoke to. Good luck!!

    • Posted

      oh i totally understand iam recover but still get blips.after two and a half years on celexa.

    • Posted

      thanks for sharing your experience Moaney. i agree that it takes longer than the 6-8 weeks for some people at least. I'm hopeful to start feeling a mood and energy lift in the coming weeks.

    • Posted

      You're welcome....and u will start to feel it kicking in. It just happens slowly. So much so that you don't notice a sudden change, but eventually think "gosh I've felt human for a few days now" which soon turn to weeks. I truly thought I was stuck in a world of crazy for a good 3 months before things started to progress....and I turned to this site for support and reassurance to get me through and it helped immensely. So come here anytime and you'll feel a small lift when you need it most. Defo look into a benzo though they are a great help for the early stages. 😃

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