Celexa side effects

[Sean]

I am going to go off my Celexa today! After being on it now for about 3 weeks I can't take the huge anxiety and heart racing that it has given me. I have depression and anxiety but trying to sleep with your heart racing is really not possible unless I take a xanax each night. I will keep you all posted but I have to stop this stuff as my anxiety and heart pounding at a resting hear rate of 110 is making me want to die! I hope this goes away soon and good luck to those that find this stuff works. I need to just try and figure it out on my own.

[Medicinally Challenged]

Hi all,

I have been reading a lot of your threads and can relate to most. I have been on Celexa or Citalopram for about 2.5 months and at first felt releived and normal. I was a bit impulsive, forgot things easily, a bit aggrassive in my playfulness, but all-in-all it was better than the alternative. About 3 weeks after starting the med I started my first menses on Celexa and since then, it has been horrible. I have been waking up (while on Ambien) in the middle of the night, having random sweats, thoughts of doom, nauseau, have not had a solid BM since I started taking them, random sporadic rashes, just to name a few. However, I am pretty serious about my recovery. I suffer from PTSD, anxiety and depression. I have been doing a lot to change my mood and alter my way of thinking lately. Along side of my meds I am trying to incorporate "Cognitive Therapy" and I started going to church; something I haven't done in years. With the medication, I feel it is working. Sounds silly, but after starting to read "Feeling Good" by David M. Burns M.D. and doing the workbook and getting in touch with my spirituality, it's been helping. Now, I am not one to preach the gospel, I leblieve in spirituality, but really never cared to practice once I moved out of my parent's house. However, I truly feel the catalyst is working. Look up the book at your local Borders, you won't regret you did. Basically, it's about being more aware of your thoughts and realizing that you control them as they control you. Sounds confusing, right? Well, think of it this way...you just read what I wrote about it being as simple as controlling your thoughts...and you probably thought to yourself, "Yeah right, if it were that easy I would have been cured ages ago!" Prime example of identifying negativity in your thoughts and automatically dooms daying something that costs $8 at the book store and could totally change you starting in a week or less. Rather than thinking negatively, why not think, this might actually be worth it. If you are serious about getting better, the book actually reads smoothly. Coincidentally, I have been carrying it around reading it where ever I can and people have stopped me and my therapist has even said it is one of the best books on the market. Think of it this way...no one can really help you unless you are ready and willing to help yourself. Just so you readers know, I am catagorized in the Severe Depressive catagory and it's been helping. Don't go to church, that is not what I am saying...go get a devotional, when you have something to beleive in in tends to make life a little easier!
I really hope this helps because it has been helping me. I have literally tried every medicine there is under the sun and Celexa, though the side effects has been the best, though scary at times, but without the cognitive therapy approach, I would still be having my bad episodes of being afraid to go anywhere for fear of an attack!

[Medicinally Challenged]

OMG, I have FINALLY been approved for Lexapro! I am so relieved I could cry. I have taken Lexapro in the past for 2.5 years and it worked for me. Celexa, however, has in some ways, but made other areas worse. They are similar, but different drugs. Lexapro just doesn't have a generic so it costs more so most Dr. find it hard to get approved through insurances, except for special cases. In the past 5 months I have literally been on every medicine, it seems, possible a couple have sent me to the ER, one of them where I was a minute away from anaphylactic shock-no fun! I feel though that if I really want help I have to be strong and go through the regime and the motions to see what can work and FINALLY a break through...they gave in fighting me and my doctor and put me on Lexapro. I will admit, it is a hard, long and sometimes I feel a barren place, but wihtout my family, it would not have been a road could have gone down before. I wish you all the best of luck and fight to get right!

[Georgie]

These are my side effects with taking 20 mg Celexa:
Jaw clenching, racing thoughts, hair loss, night sweats, muscle tightness, unable to focus like I use to, anger.
I am going to see my Physic to see what I can change up to help my side effects.
Good luck to all.

[Sarah]

I just took my first pill today...20mg. I have felt a little nauseated, and feeling a little shaky right now...I have read all the comments that everyone else has gone through with this drug...and it worries me. I was having 'anxiety attacks' and this drug almost immediately gave me a boost of 'happy feelings' but I am the type to freak myself out about side effects...
It also doesn't help that a few days ago my doctor put me on Effexor (the generic brand) and gave me 37.5 'rapid release' tablets...without telling me they were rapid release!!! so 10 minutes after I took the 1st pill, it induced a panic/anxiety attack and I thought I was going to die!!! so, I guess I'm having a little anxiety still over that...any suggestions? My hubby would say to just chill...but I hate the shaky and drowsy feelings!

[Nukegirl]

cally1 wrote:

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.

yes i am also experiencing blurred vision

[Carrie]

I did the same thing. I was a fine, healthy, happy woman at 32 5 months ago and all of a sudden I thought I was having a stroke and went to ER. Apparently I was having a sever panick attack and have had several since. I want to control them on my own with God's guidence without getting on anything chemically that makes me feel either worse, or not myself.

[Haven 2009]

[I have been on Celxa for 4 days at 10mg; HATE IT; I had previously be on Parxotine for about a year. I thought I could handle being off of it. I gained alot of weight being on the Parxotine. The Celexa is terrible with only taking for 4 days at 10mg I am jittery, can't sleep at all, want to nap all day long, racing thoughts, etc.. Any ideas if I stop just after 4 doses will have worse side effects. I am going back on the Paroxtine - I can handle the weight thing not these feelings on the Celexa

[Haven 2009]

Was on Paroxtine for about a year. Decided I could wean off of. Felt great then my anxiety strated back again. Have been taking Celexa for 4 days at 10mg FEEL absolutely awful. I havent' slept since I started it, can't concentrate, my mind is continously racing, my arm and leg joints hurt, etc. Any idea if I stop taking after 4 days will the effects continue. I plan on calling my doctor and getting back on the paroxtine that is what helped me before.

[C_McColley]

To all readers of this forum,
Many of you have talked about the side effects of your Celexa or citalopram what doctors do not tell you is the YES, celexa is the 'Gentler' of the Anti-depressants and/or bipolar medications however; Celexa can cause anxiety which is why most doctors will prescribe you Xanax .25 mg with the Celexa so you don't have issues with anxiety/panick attacks. It is important that if you are on any medications you do your home work rather than be a lab rat like me. I was placed on Lithium (which I developed toxicity) Cymbalta (which I thought was horrible and had the rare side effects of hallucinations) Trazodone (which brought on god awful panic attacks and paranoia) Also many of these medications will cause severe weight gain and weight loss, on Celexa I've had a pretty significant weight loss. I stopped taking Celexa for a year, the first time I took it everything was beautiful however, tonight I took it and received all the symptoms as listed for temporary side effects. What people need to realize about their depression if I may share one thing that I've had to come to terms with today is that your depression and/or bipolar types 1&2 are chronic illnesses. Now some may read this and think,'Is this guy serious?' And yes I am.. there are no cures for depression or bipolar type 1&2 disorders, but there is a way to live with these issues. And you got to want the help for yourself because if you can't improve you how can you be all about living your life. I say these words from personally crashing and burning. I have went through mania which has caused people a lot of hurt, I knew then I needed help and I had to do this only for myself, not my wife or daughter but for me. If I don't how can I provide stability for them if I'm stable myself? If you have went to a doctor and he's evaluated you need any anti-depressant be ready to take them for the rest of your life. If not when you stop taking your medications you will relapse and have horrible panic attacks worse than ever, you will more than likely lose control over many of things in your life because your brain needs that help. There is a reason we put our trust in Doctors and if we don't listen to their advice well then, isn't that a bit ridiculous.. I mean a second or third opinion is fine and as always you should DO YOUR HOMEWORK on the medication you'll be nominated to be placed on.
Also there are many websites dedicated to listing the side effects (in great detail) of almost every prescription drug on the market.
If you have any questions about celexa or drugs you might be taking, contact your doctor but I warn you from personal experience DO NOT DISCONTINUE WITH OUT YOUR DOCTORS CONSULTATION!

[dlv003]

I am a 21-year-old seemingly healthy female. Last year around August I visited the ER twice for chest pain, tingling in my arms, dizziness, and seizing up of my limbs.(I've also had a few panic attacks throughout my teen years.) Everything came back clean on my EKGs, blood sugar tests, etc. so it was found to be anxiety. After visiting my GP, he prescribed 20mg of Celexa daily.

It seemeed to work for a while... However, now I seem to be getting WORSE side affects. I can rarely sleep at night, and wake up often. I tend to be really spacey and don't eat as much as I used to. I also have constant gas pains in my stomach. But the worst and most troubling is the chest pains and CONSTANT "dizzy spacey-type feeling"... Like when I move my head to the side it's almost as if you had just been spun around really fast and released. It sometimes is so alarming it takes my breath away...

Sorry to rant, but I'm really worried. Does anyone know what's going on with me? After 8 months of being on 20mg of Celexa I thought it was helping...

[dlv003]

dlv003 wrote:

I am a 21-year-old seemingly healthy female. Last year around August I visited the ER twice for chest pain, tingling in my arms, dizziness, and seizing up of my limbs.(I've also had a few panic attacks throughout my teen years.) Everything came back clean on my EKGs, blood sugar tests, etc. so it was found to be anxiety. After visiting my GP, he prescribed 20mg of Celexa daily.
It seemeed to work for a while... However, now I seem to be getting WORSE side affects. I can rarely sleep at night, and wake up often. I tend to be really spacey and don't eat as much as I used to. I also have constant gas pains in my stomach. But the worst and most troubling is the chest pains and CONSTANT "dizzy spacey-type feeling"... Like when I move my head to the side it's almost as if you had just been spun around really fast and released. It sometimes is so alarming it takes my breath away...
Sorry to rant, but I'm really worried. Does anyone know what's going on with me? After 8 months of being on 20mg of Celexa I thought it was helping...

Just an added note. I am not sure if size has anything to do with how I am reacting to these meds but I am 5'2'' and only 103lbs.

[Bobbi]

JoAnn wrote:

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. ;)

dont take celexa it made me very sick fluish and i gained 16 pounds it makes you eat alot

[Judy Kelling]

I have been on celexa for about a month. I was started on 40 mg right away after discontinuing Lexapro because of the cost and my insurance. For the last two weeks, I have had severe gas, stomach upsets, rolling of my stomach, nausea. I sleep horrible which accounts for me writing this at 5:00 am. I take xanax to sleep and even that doesn't keep me from sleeping. After reading other comments, it seems like I was started on a very high dosage. I want to stop taking it altogether; I do not think I need this drug. Also, I have been on a strict diet for high triglycerides. Could this have anything to do with it all?

[Judy]

Please remove my last name from the above comment. Just use Judy. thanks.

[michelle]

I took celexa for about a month after taking Lexapro for a couple of years. Immediatly had upset stomach and the dizzy/spacy feeling, unable to concentrate. After 3 weeks, began to lose a ton of hair. This was/is the most terrifying for me, causing a lot of anxiety. Is there anyone out there that experienced hair loss, and if so, how long after stopping celexa did this continue? I've been off for about two weeks and is still a problem.

[Kate]

Dear friends, my heart goes out to you with all these uncertainties... I know about fear and anxiety and helplessness, so I thought I at least owed it to you to share this bit of information with you. There is a new method (well it has been around for more than a decade in its current form) that deals with physical as well as emotional issues with unmatched speed and effectiveness, dealing with chronic physical and emotional situations. It's called EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) and it's a combination of reflexology with self programing. You do it on your own and it really is a lot easier and faster than it sounds. The method it taught freely and people have had successes from day 1. don't dismiss it just because it's free and easy... So good luck and here it is: www.emofree.com

[Ellen]

I started celexa about 5 days ago. Never having taken anything for anxiety this is totally new for me.. Getting some nasty heartburn and wanted to restart my prilosec - big NO to that folks. I see that these two don't do well together according to a basic google look-up. Any other ideas for heartburn? Also, getting the grogginess and blurred vision others have mentioned. Good times ahead right?

[pantherinthefore st]

If god didn't want you to treat your mood with antidepressants, he wouldn't have given us shrinks and medicines. You're afraid to "lose control" - don't worry about it. Your brain is chemically imbalanced, and needs some help. Would you tell a diabetic to stop taking insulin and "let god fix it?" I hope not! Same thing with your meds, give it a few months. If you start feeling better, it's because the meds are working. DON'T go off them because you feel better. Talk to your doctor first!

I have organic brain damage from childhood neglect - my parents never touched me or showed affection - so that part of my brain that should have learned that affection is good, is scared instead - which causes me to panic.

Meds don't mean you're crazy, they mean you need to get in balance. Don't play god, and take what god has given you - a doctor and meds - and go with it!

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..

[tim]

ive been on celexa now for about a month... it has helped a little but my doc wants to up the dosage. I don't really know what to say a bout it. It has helped me but ive felt groggy a lot always tired and i still have messed up thoughts that randomly pop in my head. It's not just the thoughts but i envision it happening as if it were real and i find enjoyment out of them. not good. So i don't know if this drug is helping me or hurting me.
What do you think?