Posted , 10 users are following.
Hey everyone!!!
Was prescribed celexa a while back but haven't taken it yet due to fear of how I'm gonna react to it with the side effects as I've read a few good and horror stories on it and was skeptical.
However my depression is getting worse and worse and I need to do something about it so I'm thinking about starting on the celexa.
If anyone has tried it or is currently on it please offer insights on what dose you are on, for how long and if it's working for you. Also how long did it take to see changes. any advice/insights you can offer will be much appreciated!!!! Thanks 😊
0 likes, 45 replies
caro16662 shawn23899
Posted
shawn23899 caro16662
Posted
Hi Caro,
Thanks for the insights, glad your seeing an improvement faster. From what I've read most people don't see any improvement till after 5-6 weeks. Hope it continues working for you.
DarthGeorge caro16662
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I'm on day two right now. I take it at night. I already have no appetite, my sleeping habits were crappy to begin with and they've stayed about the same. I'm not so edgy though...it took that away. I know I'm only on day two, it could possibly be a placebo effect, but my anxiety was pretty severe so maybe it is working.
claire99575 shawn23899
Posted
Hi shawn23899...hope you are well 😊 I've been on citalopram roughly about 8/9 weeks now...and I feel great!! I've never suffered with anxiety or depression before in my life...so when it hit me I thought I was going to die!! I alsways thought symptoms of anxiety etc was crying and being a nervous wreck...(ignorant I no) but I didn't feel any of that...I felt really unwell. I actually thought I was going mad...my headache was unbearable...I couldn't eat...wanted to sleep all the time...really agitated like a ticking time bomb!! I was confused...dizzy...didn't want to socialise...all these symptoms are so not me! So...my GP prescribed citalopram...of corse I was worried about taking them...who wouldn't be!! Shawn...I instantly felt relief...I couldn't believe it!! I started on 10mg...after 5 days I felt my mood dip again...started feeling worried...frightened and tired...rang my GP and he upped it to 20mg...again....instantly felt better. Was great on the 20mg for about 5 weeks...then the feeling came back again...doctor has upped it to 30mg...had a headache for a couple of days...apart from that I've been great 👍🏻I think the key is to increase gradually...good luck flower...I hope it works for you 😉
shawn23899 claire99575
Posted
Hi Claire, thanks for the response. Your symptoms sounds like mine. I wake up everyday zombie like. Thick brain fog, can't get my speech out, spaced out feeling memory loss etc. I curl up in a ball like as if I have the flu or something. It's crazy how these feel physical like as if your physically sick from something. I really need this to go.
I hope it helps me as it's helped everyone. Thanks again.
claire99575 shawn23899
Posted
Ow my god Shawn...you really do sound like I was!! My memory went awful...which made me panic...and I'd be having a conversation and say the wrong words...very strange...and again I'd panic...I never ever thought anxiety would feel like that!! Plzzzzz give it a go!! I swear...within about 5 hours I could feel my headache(that I'd had for weeks) lift!! I couldn't believe it!! Let me no how you get on huni 👍🏻 Always here if you need me
claire99575 shawn23899
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Ow...and can I just add...people talk about 'what time of day should I take it'...and some say it really makes a difference...I take mine between 2.30-4pm in the afternoon...because that was quite literally the time I walked out of my doctors...it works for me 👍🏻 And I have 2 jobs...one of them jobs is working night shifts...so taking it at that time is good for me!! Just a little tip huni...😉 Can't wait to hear how well you're gunna feel 👍🏻
shawn23899 claire99575
Posted
Thanks for the follow up Claire, I've also had focusing problems too like it's so hard to focus on anything and the thing with my speech is that it's not that I don't wanna talk it's just that I have no energy to talk sometimes I'll crack and stutter as I tried to speak and sometimes a whole sentence would be too much effort and I give up halfway (very strange).
They say that the sun makes everything better because apparently it produces serotonin but it's the opposite for me I can't stand going out in the sun makes me extremely tired and my symptoms worse. But yeah really weird symptoms. I'm hoping once I start on my meds I'll have relief.
shawn23899 claire99575
Posted
Just to update everyone I took half a pill of the 10mg I was given today, wanted to start off slow to see how I'm gonna react to it, I will take the other half tomorrow and then start on full 10mgs. So far the only thing I have noticed was my heart rate went up as soon as I took the pill probably from my anxiety but later calmed down. I feel a little spaced out/weak and tired but that's about it so far, I took it at noon so hopefully I'll be able to sleep tonight it's already making me a lil sleepy.
dalene63026 shawn23899
Posted
I started on citalopram 10mg a year and a half ago it has helped a lot I couldn't leave the house or drive before I can do both now. I still had anxiety but not panic attacks. I increased 4 weeks and 3 days ago to 15mg. I had increased anxiety some panic attack and a lot of sweating. I am now feeling better but I almost gave up on the med! Just prepare yourself and just hang in there it eventually doesn't get better.
shawn23899 dalene63026
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Hi Dalene, thanks for your feedback, I'm hoping it works for me and I plan on sticking out the side effects if it's gonna eventually make me feel better.
mehhhhh shawn23899
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I still remember the day I finally agreed to take it. I kept scheduling appointments with my doc every month to show up see how progress was going. I'd show up still not having started them, and finally he said to me, "you've been struggling for too long. It would break my heart to see you in twenty years still struggling when relief is available." This was back in 2014 I can't give exact timetables but I remember my experience. I swallowed the first pill and basically waited till it made me crazy. Didn't happen. Keep taking them and after 2 weeks I realized I had basically no side effects except a sexual one. However the tablets still weren't working. About a month in I bumped from 20 to 40mg and let me tell you it was one of if not THE best decision I had ever made. It finally gave me clarity and my old self back. I was pretty close to suicidal before starting, 4-5 into treatment I remember thinking how illogical my worldview was and that there REALLY was this whole other viewpoint open to us if we can accept treatment. I was the same way, I know it's hard to start. But you're far from alone. The good thing about Cit too was that it didn't restrict my lifestyle at all. Wasn't anymore sensitive to coffee/alcohol. Basically it gave me ME back for the trade off of swallowing a pill every morning.
shawn23899 mehhhhh
Posted
Hello Firsttimer,
Its ironic you mentioned you didn't start taking it after a while, I've had my prescription since May this year and I've filled it up but never took it as I'm scared of the side effects. Missed my follow up appointment on purpose because I know I haven't started it yet. I was given 10mg and 20mg after a week, I'm dreading that first pill and hope i don't have any side effects but that might be highly unlikely. Either way I know I have to do something about my depression as it's starting to take a huge toll on my life.
shawn23899 mehhhhh
Posted
If you don't mind me asking, I would assume you take the pill on the morning now but when you first started, did you take it in the morning or night?
mehhhhh shawn23899
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Originally started taking them at night, eventually moved to AM when some nights I'd end up passing out unintentionally and not make a dose til the next morning
shawn23899 mehhhhh
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thanks for responding, I think I'll take mine in the mornings as well. Does it make you drowsy when you take them in the morning and are you able to get quality sleep at night now?
mehhhhh shawn23899
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I should have mentioned I don't take them anymore. They worked so well for me 6 months in I was convinced I didn't need them and quit cold turkey (stupid). Besides brain zaps no horror story for me on withdrawals. Personally I didn't notice any increase in drowsiness.
shawn23899 mehhhhh
Posted
I think the brain zaps is one of the most notorious withdrawals everyone has but I've read the symptoms usually return after one stops taking the medication hence some people become dependent on them and go back on the meds but I'm glad that's not the case for you and you are feeling better.
deborah65660 mehhhhh
Posted
Hi Mehhhh,
I have only been on 20 mg of cilatropam for ten days. I was prescribed because of severe anxiety with depression. A symptom of the anxiety is a constant burning in my throat and I get burning sensations on my skin too, chest, arms. I have had investigations and all indicate there is nothing physically wrong i.e. Gastroscope and ent specialist. I have always suffered with anxiety but this year it has just got the better off me. I am a single mum of 12 months and I have a very stressful job. I am off work with this now as the pain can be unbearable. Three weeks ago I was almost suicidal . I am struggling a little with sleep but it is improving. I do feel more positive but will this drug kick in soon and help reduce my anxiety levels? It's the most difficult thing I have ever been through and everyone, including my therapist keep saying I will get better. God I hope so as I feel like I am in hell.
mehhhhh deborah65660
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Hi Deborah, keep fighting! From my experience 20mg was equivalent to not taking anything at all, but 40 was like completely zapping my depression. I was also one of the rare ones without side effects, so for me to reach 40mg no problem in a month, I'm not sure how common it is. From reading these forums I realize it isn't that co!Mon though. Doesn't mean it won't work, I just got lucky with it settling in my body pretty well.
mehhhhh
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Also Deborah, I don't know your exact health history, but one thing I do know from experience is that anxiety can bring on some of the WEIRDEST physical symptoms in people. I can look at some people explain theirs with a puzzled look, and they'll look at me the same when I explain mine. One thing I do know is that once the anxiety was dying off, so we're the symptoms I swore were real bodily problems for me. I used to get a huge shot on numbness down the right side of my head and cheek, and I'd constantly bite my cheek to make sure the feeling was there. Felt like how I'd imagine a stroke to be, and intense as ever in the moment, but looking back now I haven't had that in a long time and I remember it going when the vicious cycle of anxiety did with me.
deborah65660 mehhhhh
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deborah65660 mehhhhh
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When I am listening to music or watching tv I feel as if I am relaxed but the sensations are still there. Am I in a constant heightened state of anxiety?I know by self scanning all the time doesn't help but it's very difficult to switch off. Three weeks ago I was in a very bad way and the crisis mental health team were called out as I was having suicidal thoughts. I know I am impatient , I just want at least this symptom to ease off a bit. From waking to going to sleep its there. Sometimes it's very strong and sometimes I get a small glimmer of normality. Did you experience similar thoughts?
mehhhhh deborah65660
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Absolutely. I think it's just very common to feel like you're the only one dealing with it at times and like you're alone, but it's also very common for the anxiety to snowball and seem to build until it's there all the time. I remember reading that 1 in 10 people in the U.S. Are currently taking ADs. That means if I'm in a crowded room the chances that like 20 people are on the same medication for the same problem as me (hypothetical I know) but once again, just goes to show how common it is. I also think of what my symptoms are like. On the inside I'm convinced at any second is gonna be the one where I finally lose it, but on the outside I tend to look somewhat fine. The reality is I've never ended up losing it, as many times as I expect it to come during a building panic attack. People with anxiety tend to get good at outwardly hiding it sometimes, so I'm willing to bet there's a good amount of people you pass on the street every day dealing with the same thing, feeling the same way, that they're the only one.
deborah65660 mehhhhh
Posted
I just seem to need constant reassurance at the minute. I am in the U.K and my therapist told me that 1 in 4 people in the U.K. are on some kind of ssri medication. I have openly chatted to people about what I am experiencing and you are right, a lot of my friends have been on antidepressants at some point. So it does go to show , we are good at hiding are problems .
mehhhhh deborah65660
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For me, constant reassurance was the best thing possible. I'd be convinced I was actually going crazy, but as soon as a professional told me I actually wasn't, it seemed to lift. Symptoms that were SO strong walking into the doctors would vanish when I left. The mind can play some serious tricks.
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