Celexa side effects

[Jean]

I started using Celexa again recently, and seem to be having side effects that I didn't have before. The first 1 I didn't notice any problem, then I got malaria (l live overseas), took the cure for that, started taking the Celexa again and have been having tingling skin sensation, heart palipations, throat feels constricted- escalated anxiety, reaching to the point of panic attacks and odd disturbing thoughts, kind of scary. I can't call my doctor, does anyone have any suggestions? I'm thinking I will stop taking it, until I can see my doctor in a month.

[Bangalee]

What is the dosage of Celexa you are taking? Could this be after-effects of the malaria or the medication you took for malaria?

You may have to take an anti-anxiety medication in addition to the Celexa for your panic attacks...e.g. Alpraz or Rivotril.

Also, you might have side-effects from the Celexa for the first 2-3 weeks, but they should ease or go away after that.

[Jean]

Thanks for your reply regarding my "side effects". I'm taking 10mg for PSM. I've been on the Celexa for a month now, the first 2 weeks I didn't have these symptoms. I wasn't until I got the malaria that it started.

I suppose it could be after-effects of the malaria- I had a high temp. But this has never happened before when I've had malaria. However I did take a new malaria cure (Coartem). Maybe I reacted to that, or the combination of being on the Celexa at the same time caused the effect. And the whole thing set into motion my anxiety attacks...which I have to guess they are.

I can't see a doctor for another month for the anti-anxiety medication. Thank you for suggesting it.
Do you think it's a good idea to stop taking the Celexa for now?

Bangalee wrote:

What is the dosage of Celexa you are taking? Could this be after-effects of the malaria or the medication you took for malaria?
You may have to take an anti-anxiety medication in addition to the Celexa for your panic attacks...e.g. Alpraz or Rivotril.
Also, you might have side-effects from the Celexa for the first 2-3 weeks, but they should ease or go away after that.

[Bangalee]

According to my doctor Celexa is the "gentlest" of the anti-depressants, also 10 mg/day is a pretty mild dose. I was started on Celexa at 20 mg/day right off the bat. I've been taking 40 mg/day for about a year with no significant ill effects. It was only when I was briefly bumped up to 60 mg/day (the highest dose allowed) that I had some really unpleasant effects, but none like you describe.

Stopping Celexa completely is probably ill-advised. What you might want to do is break/cut your 10 mg pills in half and try 5 mg/day to see if there's any difference. On the other hand, it could be that 10 mg/day is too weak a dose for you and you might need to increase it to 20. My doctor starts people off on 20 mg/day and he said many people experience improvement at first with 20 mg but then they either stop improving (what he calls a "plateau") or start to worsen again, which is when he ups the dose to 40 mg/day.

I'm no doctor, but in your case probably the safest thing to do for starters is to reduce your dose to 5 mg/day and then if your symptoms stay the same or worsen, you should probably go back to 10 mg and then ask your doctor if you need to raise it to 20 mg/day.

[Jean]

First of all, thanks for being there. I've felt pretty alone and isolated dealing with this, especially without access to my doctor. I've visited some sites on anxiety and panic attacks, and my symptoms fit exactly with a classic panic attack. And I guess I am predisposed to them because 9 years ago I had one after a medical procedure. But since then I've been fine until now. So I'm going with the idea that I'm not reacting to any of medications, and that the bad case of malaria brought on the panic attack. I continue to wake up in the middle of the night with attacks, and feel on edge during the day that one is coming on. Not fun.

Based on your comments and what I've read on the internet, I will continue with the Celexa- at 5mg/day and see what happens. I'm going to start Yoga again and jog, and hope find my center while I don't have access to the anti-anxiety meds.

I've done my best to reach my doctor by email, hopefully she'll be able to respond soon. Thank you again.

Bangalee wrote:

According to my doctor Celexa is the "gentlest" of the anti-depressants, also 10 mg/day is a pretty mild dose. I was started on Celexa at 20 mg/day right off the bat. I've been taking 40 mg/day for about a year with no significant ill effects. It was only when I was briefly bumped up to 60 mg/day (the highest dose allowed) that I had some really unpleasant effects, but none like you describe.
Stopping Celexa completely is probably ill-advised. What you might want to do is break/cut your 10 mg pills in half and try 5 mg/day to see if there's any difference. On the other hand, it could be that 10 mg/day is too weak a dose for you and you might need to increase it to 20. My doctor starts people off on 20 mg/day and he said many people experience improvement at first with 20 mg but then they either stop improving (what he calls a "plateau") or start to worsen again, which is when he ups the dose to 40 mg/day.
I'm no doctor, but in your case probably the safest thing to do for starters is to reduce your dose to 5 mg/day and then if your symptoms stay the same or worsen, you should probably go back to 10 mg and then ask your doctor if you need to raise it to 20 mg/day.

[Gin]

I've been back on a generic form of Celexa 20 mg for almost 4 weeks. My depression is definitely improved, but other physically I feel horrible. I am continually thirsty, fatigued, and my appetite is all but gone. Any ideas?

[Canadian Eh]

I have a comment, question in the CELEXA post about side affects. I am going through what seems to be withdrawl now for the last 3 days. I was on 20mg per day for 2 years and I have weaned myself off 1/4 for last 3 weeks at a time.

[Canadian Eh]

I went to the pharmacist today and told him about the side affects I have. He told me I came off too quick and my brain can't handle it, major withdrawl last 2 days. He told me to take another 1/4 pill and then take one every 2 days and after about 1 week reduce it to 1/4 every 3 days, etc. Within 15 min of taking the 1/4 I started to feel much better, no shaking, no quick brain spurts, etc. I could have played a game of tennis by myself on both sides. Sounds funny but thats how you feel. I have mellowed out, my family is happy about that, I feel very relaxed.
Please take note, talk to the pharmasist or doctor before trying this at home.

[Muskox]

Gin wrote:

I've been back on a generic form of Celexa 20 mg for almost 4 weeks. My depression is definitely improved, but other physically I feel horrible. I am continually thirsty, fatigued, and my appetite is all but gone. Any ideas?

I am into week 4 at 20mg. It has only been in the last few days that my appetite has started to improve. For the first few weeks I had none and was droping a couple of pounds a week. Stared drinking boost at noon because I just wasn't interested in eating..... could have been one of the reasons for the fatigue.

[JoAnn]

I am about to start Celexa (after horrible side effects of Effexor) and I'm thinking this lack-of-appetite side effect some of you mention might be a good thing for me. ;)

[Jessica]

I'm wondering if anyone can help me with this. I started the Celexa yesterday at 10mg. I had horrible anxiety, dizziness and dioreha that followed. I was also given Valium to take for that reason. I've also had what feels like a very intense form of heartburn siince last night.

After taking the valium I had a splitting headache. Has anyone else experienced this?

[Meerkat]

Jessica,
I have used citalopram for a while and am still using it regularly at 20Mg for depression and anxiety, but I've not experienced what you are going through.
That does not mean that what you are having is atypical or strange though. Brain chemistry is a very complicated mechanism and changes in it can affect different people in totally different ways.
The other thing is that you may have certain expectations of how you think you should feel and that can give rise to anxiety and intestinal discomfort as well.
Your dose is pretty light and if you are otherwise in decent health and of average bodymass, it should in itself not bother you too much. Most side-effects disappear in 4 to 6 weeks and very often much sooner. Of course I don't know you from Eve, but here's a word to the wise; Take it easy on the drinks. Citalopram and Alcohol are not a match made in heaven and can in combination create havoc with you emotional and mental health.(I found that out the hard way.)
Also alcohol and nicotine, aside from citalopram adversely affect your stomach, which may give rise to your acid-reflex (heartburn).
I'm not saying that that is the case with you, but I'm just spooning up what I found out while on citalopram.
Give it a try, keep an open mind and try to figure out the real causes of that what you citalopram for. Oh, yes, and above all, be kind to yourself.
That helps too.

[Jeremy]

I was given Celexa for anxiety. I took the first dose (10 mg) before I went to bed on tues night, didn't sleep well and wed felt a little weird, but nothing serious. I took the second dose wed night, again didn't sleep well, and Thurs morning woke up sick to my stomach feeling very ill. Spent all day in bed followed by suicidal thoughts and being very depressed and didn't want to ever get out of bed for two days. I have stomach problems and have since age nine. Would not recomend this drug for anyone with stomach problems.

[jon]

i have been advised to take this medicine. I got home without buyin the medicine, sat down and thought for a while.

Am i depressed? Why am i anxious? Man, there is no reason for me to be sad or mad or whatever. If i get tensed, am gonna die anyway :-)

Am not buying any anti-anxious, anti-depressants !

God says "be anxious about nothing, but leave all our worries upon him, for HE cares "

Am gonna try God, n not this tablet..

[Erin]

Hi I have been taking celexa for about close to 4 years now. I stopped for nine months when pregnant with my second son. I went on it because I had some anxiety. I also have MS and that can screw with you mind. Anyways this winter I increased my dose to 20 mg and I have lost all interest in sex I also can't seem to lose my weight from my last pregnancy (my son is now 2) It doesn't matter how much I exercise. I have found other problems that I have had. I am starting to cut back and I am now taking 10mg agains and I think I am going to stop taking it all together. I really think long term this stuff can screw you up.

[Jenny]

I was on Celexa for about a year. I was only taking 10 mg because any higher of a dose was just way too much for me. About 5 months into taking this drug I started getting wierd side effects at work. I had very strange thoughts, felt like I was having "out of body" experiences, and my heart would race really fast and scare me. I felt like I was going to die. I weened myself off of it slowly and I am still having these terrible episodes!!! It is starting to interfere with work. Some days I just can't even leave the house in fear of another episode. Anyone relate?

[Terri]

started taking celexa about 2.5 weeks ago, after asking my doctor to change it because effexor left me feeling like a zombie, before that i was on zoloft for about 10 years. however that left me with absolutley no sex drive. The celexa, has given me a lot of anxiety, which is not a symptom that i have experienced since about 12 or 15 years ago when i first discovered that i suffer from depresion. I went to hospital , because i felt like i was going to start having panic attacks. They told me it was because i smoke pot , but i haven't had this anxiety before from smoking pot, so why would it all of a sudden start around the same time i started celexa. I also have no appetite, and my sleep is affected. My doctor is on HOLIDAYS and i can't get this medication changed until he comes back in a month from now WHY is physical health more important than mental health? Thats how the health care system makes me feel. Just because i suffer from a mental illness i feel the doctors don't take me as seriously.

[Jenny]

see, I didn't start feeling anxious on celexa until I was on it for at least a few months. I had never had an anxiety attack before. Maybe this is what I am going through. I go back to the doctor tomorrow. I guess I'll learn more then. Smoking pot causes this? NO WAY. I don't smoke anymore, used to for years, those docs sound crazy! So is what I have explained sound like anxiety attacks to you? I never had one before, I just know I feel like I'm gonna die when this happens. Any suggestions?

[cally1]

I started taking citalopram (celexa) a week ago for anxiety. I take 20mg/day. I have been feeling really drowsy, have random muscle twitches and having very blurred vision. I have read about some of the side effects and couldn't find anything about blurred vision or muscle twitches. I Was just wondering if anyone else has had these side effects.

[Mculbertson]

I read your post and immediatly thought wow...I can relate to this feeling. Please know that taking these meds is not a sign of not trusting in God. I too, believe that we should cast our cares on Him and be anxious for nothing...I do believe though that someimes our bodies (especially our brain) because of imbalances make it almost impossible for us to do what we know we should! Allow the meds to put you back into a healthy state where you then can give it to him. That doesn't mean forever! Blessings!

jon wrote:

i have been advised to take this medicine. I got home without buyin the medicine, sat down and thought for a while.
Am i depressed? Why am i anxious? Man, there is no reason for me to be sad or mad or whatever. If i get tensed, am gonna die anyway :-)
Am not buying any anti-anxious, anti-depressants !
God says "be anxious about nothing, but leave all our worries upon him, for HE cares "
Am gonna try God, n not this tablet..