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Horrible Side Effects, Unsure whether to continue or stop

Posted , 6 users are following.

Fragment
Fragment

I started Celexa last night and had no idea that I would be experiencing side effects like these and so soon after the taking the medication. My understanding of Anti-Depressants is that they work over time, and that you didn't feel anything immedately. My psychiatrist warned me about nausea and headaches but nothing like this. I took my first dose last night (10mg) and fell right to sleep. I woke up punctually at 4:30am (I never get up this early) and was wide awake and could not go back to sleep at all. I lied in bed for a while, the whole time feeling a weird sort of nauseous that didn't appear to bring any signs of vomitting. Two hours later as I got up and started getting ready for work I noticed that my head wasn't quite right. To put it bluntly, it felt like the beginning of a bad mushroom trip, or coming down off of speed or ecstasy. Throughout the day I felt sort of "zombie" like, just apathetic, and had clenched my jaw a lot, yawned a lot, and experienced tinnitus a number of times. I also had extremely dry lips and an unquenchable thirst, as well as frequent bathroom runs. (Perhaps from all of the water I was drinking?)

The most annoying part is that I had this horrible "illegal drug feeling" in the pit of my stomach.

What I am trying to get at is this:

I need to be able to work productivily. This medicine made it very hard to do so. I am very scared that if I take the meds again tonight that I won't be able to sleep due to stimulant feel. I start to freak out when I don't sleep, and certainly wouldn't be able to work then. At first, I was okay with the thought of all of this, as so many people have mentioned that if I just "Make it through the first week or so" that the side effects will subside and I will start reaping the positive effects.

I called my pharmacist (my doctor's office was already closed) to see if I could combine trazodone as a sleeping aid if that became a problem for me tonight. They recommended that I not take the celexa and go to my psychiatrist and find something else if it was going to be a problem for me.

But am I just going to run into having to work through more side effects with different Anti-Depressants? I just want to get better and I don't know what to do. Take the meds tonight, or hold off and see my psychiatrist?

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • Fragment
    Fragment

    Posted

    I was taking Trazodone nightly before I started Celexa and am starting to wonder if perhaps I had light symptoms of serotonin syndrome. I have librium for anxiety that I read online only increases drowsiness and dizziness in interation with Celexa. I would rather take that tonight to sleep instead of the risk with trazodone. And at this point I'm too scared to take the Celexa (thanks internet) until I talk to my doctor.
    • beth02382
      beth02382 Fragment

      Posted

      I agree about holding of on the Celexa, until u talk to Doctor, u need to be aware of things as much as possible.. Beth
    • betsy0603
      betsy0603 Fragment

      Posted

      Sent you a link about trazadone and celexa - among many other ADs - and the risk of serotonin syndrome, so you may be on to something!
    • betsy0603
      betsy0603

      Posted

      If you have been taking trazadone with regularity, then you can't just stop it or you will have withdrawal symptoms.  Better to stop the Celexa and re-evaluate with your doc.  Trazadone must be tapered to prevent withdrawal syndrome.
  • beth02382
    beth02382 Fragment

    Posted

    Hey there, I've been on 4 different anti depressants and never really had any side effects going on them or stopping them cold turkey, I am not anything now, didn't like being on them at all. And not to rain on your parade at all, but what some people say is that it can take 2-3 months to get through side effects and some people are not able to go to work and take a leave of absence. Everyone is totally different!! And once you are on them for a bit, if you need to increase your dose, you also can get side effects all over again. And going off of them you can get horrible withdrawals. Don't want to sound negative, but it seems you were misguided by what the side effects can really be. Being on anti deppressants can truly be a life saver, good luck with your decisions.
    • Fragment
      Fragment beth02382

      Posted

      Thank you, I'm going to speak with my psychiatrist tomorrow and bring up the many side effects that they didn't mention to me and see if we can come up with a different option for my treatment. If it ends up being this sort of a battle to get better, I'll just have to put aside time from work to focus on my well being and getting through the the first couple of weeks.
  • yommymommy79
    yommymommy79 Fragment

    Posted

    Hi Fragment...everything you describe is normal when first start taking these meds...the side effects can lesson after 2 weeks...but be prepared to be in for the long haul...like 8 weeks until they really start to make you feel better x

    Not saying you will feel rubbish until then...you should be able to function as normal after around 2 weeks x x

    • Fragment
      Fragment yommymommy79

      Posted

      I keep seeing this online everywhere. If my psychiatrist decides that it is truly the best option after I speak with her regarding my side effects, then two weeks of crap it is for a way better life. smile
  • katecogs
    katecogs Fragment

    Posted

    The side effects you describe are quite normal on Citalopram, which usually only last a few weeks.  These are tough meds to take, but they help a lot of people to recover from crippling anxiety and depression.

    No you shouldn't take Trazadone with these meds as it can increase the risk of Serotonin Syndrome.

    Yes these meds take a long time to work, though work quicker for some people than others.

    Citalopram needs lots of perseverance and patience - count recovery in months not weeks.

    Speak to your doctor about the meds you're already taking and the best time to wait in between before starting

    K x

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