Celexa, citalopram – a personal experience
Celexa, is the brand name of a drug called Citalopram Hydrobromide which is one of the most widely prescribed Selective Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) on the market. It is widely used to treat major depression, panic disorder, anxiety, and agoraphobia. You should remember that drugs are never a solution, just a crutch, and there are other non-drug approaches which can help in getting over anxiety.
I used this drug for some time, taking the standard dosage of 20mg a day. Occasionally larger doses are prescribed if 20mg are found to be insufficient, and often the elderly or inform are started on a lower dose of 10mg which is increased when tolerance has been established.
Side effects are what most people think about first when anti depressants are mentioned, there has been much made in the media about addiction and suicide. Celexa does have a good side effects profile, to you and me that means that the side effects are usually mild and short lived. And in terms of addiction the relative long half life of the drug (the amount of time it spends in your system) means that it is much easier to come off than drugs like Seroxat (Paroxetine Paxil, Seroxat, Deroxat). Side effects that I encountered included very short lived bouts of dizziness, lasting less than a few seconds, and a week long drop in libido. Within a week all side effects had effectively passed and I never had anything that made me want to stop taking the drug. I never really experienced nausea or a dry mouth, and my sleeping improved quickly. I would say that on the very first day of taking the drug I felt as weird as I have ever felt in my whole life. I felt a spacey depression that was most unusual and odd. I would describe it as absolute helplessness. It passed later that day when I applied some techniques that I had recently learnt. (more on that tomorrow)
Would I recommend Celexa?
Well, from a side effect standpoint I would have no qualms (although of course everyone one is different and some people can not tolerate Celexa).
The question is, does it work?
Well, I think that it stops the really dire lows and keeps you stable, but it is not a pep pill and it does not put you on cloud nine. Neither does it change your outlook on life or your major cognitions, so while it does make desensitization easier if for example you were agoraphobic, it won’t make problems disappear, or didn’t for me anyway. For that you do need to use therapy as well as drug treatment. Drugs are just symptomatic relief.
Please read the disclaimer.
Categorised as: citalopram, drugs, medication, ssri, treatment
I also felt great the 1st day i took citalopram… But then it all went down hill! im only on day 4 so im not sure if its gona get better or not. Its made me have a few panic attacks, chest pain, reflux, dizzyness, anxiety and nausia to name a few things lol but alot of you say it gets better so il keep taking them and cross my fingers. im a 24 yr old male btw.
very helpfull website. Thanks everyone
I have been on ciilopram for approximately a year. My dose has been put up, put down, but it is now on 30mg per day. I also need to have zitilopram to sleep, otherwise I wouldn’t. Has this helped? I don’t know. I function on a basic level, the constant noise in my head has quietened down, and I have not had any more panic attacks (which were so bad I even lose sense of reality, it turns on its head),since they increased the dose. The chattering in my head was constant before, but its starting to fade away for a while, I can’t stand noise for now, music tv, so I am now trying rest and read books slowly.
I feel at the moment I need my personality back, but am unable to push myself, am living on a daily basis, The trauma I suffered left me questioning my confindence and self esteem…medical help is difficult to access in my area because of waiting lifts of around 18 months. I would just like to feel whole again and please those closed with me who have been giving me support. Wish at the moment that I could stay in bed and not facethe world out there as I am having difficulties coping with so much noice. Does anyone else have these problems and cou
ld the provide with with some sound advice? Thanks for reading.
I have been on a merry go round of anti depressants. I finally found a doctor who listens and listens. I was on Effexor XR 10yrs ago it worked briliantly I went off it – mistake…. From then over the years. Aropax (Paxil) x 2 – Zoloft x 2 Effexor XR x 3. Aropax & Zoloft were good for panic attacks esp Zoloft but didnt help with the depression side of things. Then I kept asking for Effexor but it did not do any good and actually made things worse. I will not touch it again. The worse to come off is Paxi. Effexor was easier if I took a tablet when the withdrawal kicked in. Then it just stopped. Zoloft & Paxil there were no side effects what so ever taking it – well I had shocking diarreah but I learnt to live with that. Then I tried Cymbalta again no side effects but didnt help me. Then Remoron (Avanza) I was agro on this and actually violent, It really effected me. I was having brain zaps and just so cranky with it. I was on it for under 3 weeks. Now I am taking Celexa first day. All I can say and advise is know yourself. Yes, there might be side effects – but if you seem to be “changing” speak up. Like I did with Avanza – I am not a violent person, it sent me very irritated, very agitated. I knew this was not normal and got worse not better as time went by. Not for me.
I see from sites like these that not much is mentioned on a day to day. So for me – Zoloft just didnt kick in for the depression but settled my mind and nerves. So what if I was running to the loo, sometimes once or twice or thrice times a day….. I had no nausea, no headaches, nothing with each of the SSRI’s. My mind settled. With effexor – never again. Yes it helped with the mind but made the butterflies in the stomach like huge bugs. Made ME wake at 4.00ish and ready for an olympic race. I slept till around 4.00ish AM then I was so nervous. I was jumpy and no – not good. I had these before when I had it and after 3 months it was the same, so I didnt suffer this last time. Ive been on it 4 times now, I think or 3, as I said the first itme is was a gift from GOD, I was so good on it. I had a life. These other times, it just was more of an enemy than a friend. Just know yourself, listen to your gut even if your mind is playing havoc, just listen to your inner self – I mean that. I knew that I was not o.k. on Avanza, and spoke up. I knew this time Effexor was doing more harm than good and spoke up. I called the help line and was told to hang in there for a few more MONTHS……. no bloody way. I went straight back to the doctor and he took me off it. I spoke up. I knew deep down that waking at 4.am and being so nervous morning after morning after morning was not good. No. Just because they say it can takes weeks to work – true but that does not mean you need to suffer. Its a fine line between being patient and speaking up. Like I said having diarreah to me is nothing compared to other side effects. And over time it did settle. I bought over the counter diarreah treatment and it helped – easy.
For some of you out there, pls dont write – things like – dont go on this med or that med – . Its not helping those who are at their wits end. What didnt work for you might just be ideal for someone else. How can you, with a conscious tell the, out there world not to take a med that might well be their saving grace. The brain and its chemistry is a big pond. Otherwise there would be one tablet for all conditions. As for judging those who are getting help – and not trying herbal or therapy treatments. I think the point is that they are getting help. Let the doctors or the individual sort themselves out. Each person is different, would you tell someone not to buy a softdrink (soda in Australia) or a soda – no. Its a choice. I am just gald people are getting help. I am so over being told dont try this or that. I have had a few as I have mentioned and except for Avanza or now effexor I have had little trouble with any of them. And at first 10yrs ago effexor was a gift from god to me, but of course as I age and things change my need changed. Know your body and mind. Is my only advice. Be patient but know your body. Like me with Avanza, if you just know something is wrong – tell your doctor. I have heard good reports on Avanza, but for ME it sent me psycho agro and violent. I stopped it as I was directed to do. But I would never say take it off the market or ban it. NO, cause for the next person it might just save their life. For me Aropax was the worst coming off, but I did it in a couple of weeks, to taper off means take your time. I did it with effexor also, quite quickly. With zoloft I went onto avanza then after 3 weeks went cold turkey. Of course there will be effects, its a mind altering drug, but to be warned it to be forarmed. I personally will not touch effexor again as after 3 or 4 times, I know its not for me. I wont touch Aropax again as I know it isnt right for me, yet have a friend who swares by it, wont come off it as she loves the life she has on it. I wont go on Zoloft as I know for MY depression it didnt go the distance but for anxiety it was brilliant. Cymbalta was like taking a lollie it had no effect, no side effect either. So Celexa and my doctor chose that for me – so If I read bad stories I would be poopping myself and might not take it, yet it might just be the med for me. Its up to me to try and pray and hope. I will take it and trust my instinct.
I agree with Koalamaiden, 100% and appreciated the fact that she (I think being a maiden) had the guts to speak up. I get frightened reading some of the stories on these sites. What works for some might not work for others, and lets face it in 50yrs time who knows what the effects will be but for today I am just being……….. I was feeling guilty for not trying therapy and herbal formula’s thinking I was wrong, and weak for not trying something supposedly harder and taking a band aide approach. Thank you Koala for saying something. I am trying and asked for help that counts for alot in todays world.
I am paranoid about taking medicines period! My doctor prescribed me celexa and I do really need it because my anxiety is so bad, but I hate medicine. Please help me!
Don’t be afraid to take it. I had horrible panic/anxiety attacks and was prescribed Celexa. I have never taken a drug for anything but the attacks were taking over. The first two weeks were a little difficult but not unmanageable. Stick with it, you will feel better. I have been on it for four months now and I have NO anxiety and panics and all the side effects have disappeared. I am going to talk therapy so that I can come off of Celexa in the next year. Good luck.
I am on citalopran for two weeks today. I tried prozac for five weeks, it made my anxiety worse and made me depressed. I have bad side effects:( Headache, diziness, it feels like sg wrong with my vision, and my heart rate is lower than usually. My doctor said I should probably give another few weeks, and than decide to take it or not.
What should I do…?
HI EVERYBODY I HAVE ANXIETY AND PANIC ATTACKS TOO! I AM OR WILL BE BACK TAKING CITALOPRAN @ 40MGS IT WORKS FOR ME. ITS JUST WHEN I STOP TAKING IT I AM SCARED TO START BACK TAKING IT. REASON FOR BCUZ I AM NOT A PILLTAKER, ONCE AGAIN IT WORKS FOR ME. IVE BEEN HAVING ATTACKS FOR ABOUT 10YRS+ AND OFF AND ON MY MEDICATION. WHAT TYPE OF BOOKS CAN I READ TO HELP WITH THIS DISORDER? TAKING DIFFERENT MEDS HELP DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT WAYS AND ALL PANIC ATTACK MEDS WORK DIFFERENT IN EVERYBODY SO PLEASE DO NOT DISCOURAGE ANYONE FROM TRYING DIFFERENT MEDS FOR THIS DISORDER ALLOW THEM TO AT LEAST TRY IT FOR 2MTHS THEN GIVE A FEEDBACK ON HOW THE MED WORKED 1 OR 2 DAYS, WEEKS IS NOT LONG ENOUGH TO GIVE SOMEONE ADVISE ON HOW A PARTICULAR MED HAS WORKED FOR YOU. AND HOW I KNOW BCUZ I TOOK SEVERAL DIFFERENT MEDS AND DID NOT GIVE IT AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK I WAS LOOKING FOR RIGHT THEN AND THERE RELIEF AND IT DOESNOT WORK MAGIC ITS A PROCESS PLEASE TAKE THE GOOD WITH THE BAD AND IT REALLY WORKS ITSELF OUT SO TAKE WHATEVER WORKS FOR YOU AND NOT SOME OTHER PERSON!!!!!!!
Hey u should read the book overcoming anxiety really helps I have jus found out I have anxiety and have my pills really scared to take them as do not want the symptoms I don’t wana feel worse
x
Hi guys, I never really knew that I had a generalized anxiety disorder until a month ago. I thought I was just someone who just worried a lot. But it got to the point where I would constantly worry about everything, my world was just a scary world, the littlest of things would work me up, like a car driving by at night, I would think, what if they try to break into my house? I was living a nightmare. I finally went to my doctor and she understood me and sat there and listened/ We discussed some treatment options and we settled on taking celexa. I’ve been on it for about a month, and let me tell you this, it does get better. Those of you who celexa may not work for, try other meds/treatment options and you will find something that works for you, it may be a scary time, but just hang in there, because it may take a while, but you will overcome it. The only symptom I had was nausea but it lasted for a day and a half, after that I was nausea free! My worrying and freaking out has gone down significantly! I hope everyone finds their treatment option and that it works for them, cause I know celexa works for me
hi all , well gt prescribed citalopram a wk ago , wasnt keen on takin it though as 4 all the bad reviews , took only 1 on the 1st day nd stopped , asked doc if he could give me sumthin else as they are meant 2 cause an increasingly amount of weight gain , also i have an underactive thyroid as it is , he told me jst 2 take them nd he ll keep an eye on my weight , bt sounds like they blow u out like a ballon plus the negative reviews bout them , do i start tkg them ????
Hi, Im taking also citalopram 20mg, i started with half and then getting up till get 20mg, first week with half the sympthoms was just pain in the stomach and feeling a bit dizzy speacially when i used to take with the stomach empty but now i increase the dosage and is feeling really bad in the second day, today i did spend the whole day sleeping and ow, i had like paranoid i dont know, but i felt very bad and like delirious i dont know, but i know after couple of weeks it gets better and i also have my lips very dry but im trying to get better so i keep you up with the coming news!
Hi, I am on day 6 of 20mg of Celexa. I feel like someone has made me drink 30 cups of coffee every am and the fact that I am taking it for ANXIETY and PANIC ATTACKS is a little annoying. HOWEVER, I am 45 now and had similar attacks 20 years ago and this helped. I think I was a little more distracted back then and didn’t notice all of the side effects I am noticing now. Yesterday was the first day I could even look at food without feeling nauseated. The jitters, daily headaches at about 3pm each day. Increase in panic attacks with headrush, cold feet, then sweaty hands and feet, shaky legs, heart pounding, etc. UGH – I am sticking with it though because all of these type meds are knows for their initial side effects and once they get working – sometimes as fast as a week or two, it’s usually a huge difference. A note that worked for me – ask your doctor for klonopin or another slow release mild sedative at night – it will take the edge off. I will keep everyone posted on my progress. Good luck to everyone! When this happened to me in my 20′s, I thought I couldn’t live through it – then life was perfect again for 20 years – just a little edgy here and there – no big deal. Just got married, was in a near plane crash and mother had a heart attack so I think my body just said “done” and “help me”. HANG IN THERE – i never thought i would function normal again – i was afraid to leave my house – now that seems ridiculous years later so HANG IN THERE – you will feel normal again. If Celexa doesn’t work, I will try something else as our bodies change over time – give it some time though! Keep the faith! Take it day by day! XXOOO
i have been on celexa for 6weeeks now still have anxiety attacks espectally early in the morning and for a few hours after i take my pill is this common 6weeks in
I have been on Cipramil ( Citilopram )for nearly 11 years straight.. I felt suicidal before commencing them and initially they screwed with my head, was yawning all the time, nauseas a little, sleep issues, dry mouth but after 4-6 weeks they worked like a dream. I would say they saved my life.. I never really had a good doctor who monitored my usage so I continued to take them. I did try a few times to go off them but I found after a week I was getting very irritable, moody, snappy and sad so I always went back on. Then about 3 years ago I went off and took St johns wort which I found really helped too then I went off everything for about six months then my Gran died, I started a new relationship and found myself getting depressed, paranoid, moody etc again. So I commenced Cipramil again this year same dose as previously 20mg but have found my sex drive has totally diminished? I have been reading about post ssri sexual permanent damage and now Im freaking out, that I will never have sexual desire again… I was also wanting to have a baby and there is new research that states antidepressants and autism is linked… If i had of been warned of the dangers of the long term effects of antidepressants I probably wouldnt of stayed on them so long. I would definately recommend you look to fix the cause of the problem instead of using these dangerous drugs to bandaid the issue. Diet, exercise, meditation, therapy and supplements are worth trying. Its just scary to think that our brainchemistry can be rewired and damaged by such drugs and the pharmaceutical companies are not going to tell the public the poosible dangers when they are making billions $$$ every year on selling these to us guinea pigs…Im now trying to wean myself off and see how I go by trying the above natural options.
Hi all, about 2 weeks ago i got stru k down with a major panic attack out of the blue. I have always been a worrier but i didnt think it would lead to this. On the sunday an ambulance came out. I was shaking, my chest was tight, i felt this wave of total fear overcome me. I have had panick attacks in the past but they were short, not fearful, just pounding heart and sweating. After this panick attack had passed, i felt constant anxiety. I was shaking, i felt like everything made me jump, like a constant stream of adrenalin was being injected into my body. I saw docs the next day who started me off on 10mg of citalopram. The first 7 days were only what i cpuld describe as utter hell. I had about 5 or 6 panick attacks a day. I didnt sleep. Tamaxepam didnt help, zopiclon didnt help. When i slept on the zopiclon it was only for 2 hours max and i would be jolted awake by a panic attack. Every night. I am now on 20mgs 16 days in to treatment, my panic attacks have gone. I still feel anxious especially when i wake up in the morning. Sleep has improved. I hope this gets better. Iv been off work for 3 weeks now. My case is a bad one. My heart beats fast and the adrenalin is always there i had developed this fear of being in crowded places and also places where i couldnt escape. I am fighting this by facing my fears. Acan anybody give me hope that the anxiety will go away and that i will return to being me again? Any success stories?