Celexa and cortisol levels

Posted , 6 users are following.

Does anybody know if celexa raises cortisol levels? I have a low cortisol level and after 6 weeks of use I'am still bad. Could it be that this medicine lowers cortisol and that this is the reason for not working?

0 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • Posted

    6 weeks is too early - these meds take months to work and its usually around 3 months when the first small signs of recovery may be noticed and then maybe a few months more until you feel really well. It took me 6 months.

    I don't know if the meds lower cortisol, but SSRI's dampen down the hormonal stress response system allowing cortisol levels to return to normal.

    In the morning your cortisol levels are at their highest which is why anxiety is worse when waking up, then it lowers throughout the day.

    • Posted

      Hi Katecogs,

      Thank you for your response! Suddenly I wondered if that could be the reason why the medicine was not working. I have a very low cortisol level and thought that if the SSRI brings this further down, that could be a reason. My mornings are indeed full of anxiety and I dedicate that to that low cortisol level. I keep going for a while and I still have courage despite the fact that I often read that Celexa is already doing its job within 2 weeks.

      Love Dutchy

    • Posted

      Hi Dutchy

      Agree with the others - high levels of Cortisol usually causes anxiety, not low levels. Cortisol is the stress hormone and is produced by the adrenal glands. High levels of stress raises Cortisol, and too much in the bloodstream exacerbates anxiety.

      Reducing stress is the best way to sooth Cortisol levels which mellows the effects of depression and anxiety.

      Mornings are the worst time for anxiety sufferers as thats when Cortisol levels are at their highest. Its quite common when suffering anxiety.

      Medication will help your anxiety, but it often takes many months. It took me 6 months. Recovery isn’t about anxiety just getting less each time, but instead it’ll come and go so you’ll get small windows of feeling normal and then anxiety comes powering back in. It does eventually stop coming.

      Medication makes your anxiety worse to start with. Anxiety is usually about fear of anxiety itself, and the side effect of anxiety ie obsessive thinking, racing heart, aches and pains, depersonalisation etc etc can make the sufferer fear these, which then causes more anxiety. So the anxiety feeds itself and you get stuck in a cycle of anxiety / fear / anxiety.

      You can help yourself recover without medication, but again its a long process and some people don’t really understand the method.

      Don’t expect to recover within weeks - it can take months. However its worth the wait.

      You'll get there.

      K x

  • Posted

    I thought the lower he cortisol the less anxiety.I have morning anxiety

  • Posted

    I thought the lower he cortisol the less anxiety.I have morning anxiety

    • Posted

      my phychiatrist says the lower the cortisol the less anxiety.

    • Posted

      Well, I have a lot of fear, for 3 years now. A test showed my low cortisol and I was told that fear was a result. For 3 years I have tried to remedy it in a natural way. Without success. In the meantime I have added an extra stress factor: tinnitus which doesn't make it any better! To break the circle, I finally made the decision to try celexa. Tired of waking up every morning at 4 am with extreme anxiety that lingers all day. 6 weeks further at 15 mg and it only gets worse. More fear and obsessive thinking. Hard to stay positive but I have no choice. Apparently I am unable to get rid of my anxiety myself.

      Love Dutchy

    • Posted

      is still too early for you .it took me 8long months on celexa.iam recover and still on celexa 10milligrams.ask your doc for lorazapam to get you thru rough days.

    • Posted

      Try magnesium,I take it for morning anxiety

    • Posted

      oh you poor thing

      ive just had to go back on citalapram 10 mg for anxiety after being off it for 2 years

      been in with strange stomach that no one knows what is and my anxiety has just go so much worse with feeling stressed ill and crap i also had a horrible buzzing in my ear too! which is scary .

      could all have been brought in by stress.

      i did start to feel better a couple of weeks after taking it last time so am hoping for the same this time but it was the only thing that helped me ! think you need to break the negative cucle in your brain xx

  • Posted

    After 2 weeks of taking Celexa, my Cortisol levels were completely under control. I was prescribed Celexa after a traumatic event in my life. I didn't think I needed it and wasn't even expecting the effect I experienced. The dramatic drop in my Cortisol level was a total surprise and now I tell everyone, that Celexa was a miracle and the most wonderful thing in life. Celexa totally changed my whole outlook on life. I was able to interact with people in a way I never could before. For the first time in my life I felt totally comfortable, calm, cool and collected. Relaxed and confident, I spoke my mind with anyone I came in contact with, without being pushy, rude or macho. I even knew when to stay silent and just let life happen and my silence wasn't out of fear, I just didn't feel the need to be in control.

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