celexa

[Tribal Gecko]

I know nothing has posted in this topic for the remainder of the summer but I need some input. My doc put me on Celexa last spring because my husband got very sick and was in the hospital for a long time and I was having trouble sleeping and dealing with his illness. Now I realize that in my opinion, alot of times the first thing docs do is give drugs for SITUATIONAL depression which is NOT the same as clinical longterm depression. I didn't feel I needed Celexa as much as I needed a good nights sleep but he said it would help with my sleeping so I tried it. It actually did nothing to help me sleep at night but I took it anyway and of course my husband improved over time so I felt much better and we got on with our lives. After taking Celexa all summer of 07 for no good reason really I decided that I had had enough of the stupid total exhaustion I felt since I had been on the drug. I could have laid down anywhere I was at, I had NO energy to do anything. I also gained 20 pounds with no change in my diet, if anything I ate out much less because my husband didn't feel well enough to go out. So I have tapered off three weeks ago, with a short taper of only 2 weeks. I did experience the crummy withdrawel symptoms of brain zaps and vertigo but my mood has been completely stable with no crying spells or anything. I feel totally fine, and after 3 weeks the brain zaps and vertigo are starting to go away also. But now I want to know how long will it take to get some energy back and lose this weight? I have never really had a weight problem before, I could always lose weight if I put my mind to it but now even though I am eating very healthy, mostly fruits and vegetables with some protiens and not very much fat, I still have no energy to start working out and I am not losing weight at all even with the reduced caloric intake. I do take some walks or bike rides a few times a week. Has my metabolism changed forever or will I ever be back to my pre-celexa body chemisty? Has anyone been able to get off the drug and lose the weight?

[Bangalee]

I was put on Risperidal and then Zyprexa (to complement the effect of Celexa) and this made me gain 25 lbs. in less than a month. I only lost it by taking Xenical. I was obese before I gained the 25 lbs. from Risperidal/Zyprexa, but at least Xenical made me lose all of the extra weight I gained.

However look elsewhere in this forum for info on Xenical. If you don't eat properly you will soil your pants (no kidding, you will). But since you indicate you eat healthy with not too much fat, that shouldn't happen to you on Xenical.

[mayne]

Please, Please, CALL YOUR PHARMACIST OR DOCTOR! YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BREAST FEED WHILE TAKING CELEXA!!! I know you would not want to harm your baby, so please contact someone for advice!

[VICTORIA]

Celexa saved my life... I had several deaths in my family and the break-up of a 38 year marriage... Few side effects in the beginning but outweighed by positive ones... I hesitate to take anything... so when Celexa was suggested it took me awhile to try it... Really took me off the floor from severe depression... May be just me and my particular problems but I cannot be more thankful...

[kenn04]

i have been on celexa for 10 years and have gained 80 lbs and now coming of hopefully this will take care of the weight prob

[teddybear02]

I was taking celexa for six and a half years and decided to stop taking it. Well about a month in a half after all my OCD and depression and anxiety came right back and its very scary to be doing this allover again. I am hoping that by going back on that I will be better again. I was on twenty mg. per day. Any feedback would be great.

[janey]

Ruth wrote:

<quoted text>
I was on Celexa for just over 3 years . I increased the dosage from 20 mg to 40 mg just over a year ago - when 20 mg didn't seem to be helping. I forgot to take my pill last Friday and felt fine, so I just stopped taking it all together - thinking that three years was enough. I've been feeling quite dizzy.
And then just when I think "Hey, I'm feeling good" I suddenly feel dizzy. Today after work I had stomache pains - I don't know if it is related. I've also noticed that my saliva tastes awfully salty. I think I may have even gained some weight this week - I actually thought it would "fall off" after quitting it. My weight was fine with 20 mg - but I really felt heavy with 40 mg and it didn't seem to budge no matter what I did. Today, when I was on the phone long distance with my aunt, I actually shed a few tears (havn't done that for years) and I also got teary watching something on TV this week. It's kind of nice to cry a bit, but I certainly don't want to have a relapse....I'm also curious if anyone has lost weight and does anyone else have salty saliva? Oh, one more thing, I've started taking a multi vitamin AND a "B100" supplement - as B12 is supposed to give you more energy and contribute to red blood cells and produce somekind of Brain thing - similar to what celexa does for the brain. Does this sound crazy or what?

I have been on citalopram for 3 years (for panick attacks) and during this time have gained 2 stone in weight, this has obviously upset me a great deal, so 4 weeks ago i decided to come off the tablets, i get dizzy but this is gradually going now however, the weight still hasnt budged HELP x

[Treggor]

Canadian Eh wrote:

I recently stopped taking Celexa (Generic) after 2 years. I have slowly weaned myself off reducing it to 1/4 pill per week. Yesterday was the first day of no meds and I have noticed a weird side effect. My brain seems to have small quick twinges which seem to affect all of me at times, I know it is my brain coming off of the meds. I have noticed over the 3 weeks my emotions have started to come out and at times anger. I have notifed my doctor that I have slowly stopped my medication and he never called me in for a follow up. This is my 3rd time on these meds over the last 7 yrs.
Has anyone else had these side affects? I am a 47 yr old male.

I was on Celexa (generic) for almost a year. It was fantastic until I stopped taking it (weaned off over a two week period (20 mg 1 x day). I had those twinges also and my anger is really off the charts (I've never had this intense anger before), yet at all other times, I feel good. I'm 43 yrs (male). The twinges stopped after about 6 weeks but the anger is still bubbling inside and I've got another week to see my dr. about it. So in response, the twinges stopped for me after about six weeks (after only 1 year on them). I hope this helps.

[Joe]

I took 20mg of celexa for one year. I stopped taking it three months ago, but I'm alarmed by what seem to be permanent side effects. Most disturbing is the continual ringing in my head, and the electrical jolts that I get when I'm falling asleep (these keep me up for hours, and the electrical current shocks my entire body). I'm wondering if anyone else has these long term side effects, and whether or not they will ever go away.
In the meantime, I would advise everyone else to stop this drug while there is still time. Believe me, you don't want what I have. I was fine too, for a long time, but the bad stuff came all at once, and it just won't go away.
Aside from my warning, does anyone have any hopeful information about my condition?

[LGMARTINEZ]

i started on xanax .25mg for anxiety and stress for 1-week then i was given xanax xr 5mg and celexa 20mg 1/2 for 6 days, thereafter 20mg and let me tell you going to the 20mg i felt like a zombie, the next morning jittering, very sleepy and cranky, since this is the first time on this med maybe thats my body reacting, so i took again the next night, very nausea, jittery, and sweaty, between my husband and i i went back to 10mg. of celexa at nite, i continue to take xanax xr 5mg in the morning, along with god, the angels and family friends doctors and myself i know i'll get through this and became the person i once was. oh yeah forgot to mention along with this i have an impacted wisdom tooth (left). so everyone out there who is started or who has been through this have faith and take it one step at a time and life will get better. please post any comments!!!!

[Nina]

Canadian Eh wrote:

I recently stopped taking Celexa (Generic) after 2 years. I have slowly weaned myself off reducing it to 1/4 pill per week. Yesterday was the first day of no meds and I have noticed a weird side effect. My brain seems to have small quick twinges which seem to affect all of me at times, I know it is my brain coming off of the meds. I have noticed over the 3 weeks my emotions have started to come out and at times anger. I have notifed my doctor that I have slowly stopped my medication and he never called me in for a follow up. This is my 3rd time on these meds over the last 7 yrs.
Has anyone else had these side affects? I am a 47 yr old male.

I have had the exact same problems as you described. I have been taking 40mg of celexa and 0.5 mg of adivan (for panic attacks). I have gained 20 lb in a year and a half and now I want to stop taking it. We are planning a family and I am ready to stop using antidepressants.

[Elaine]

I started off at 10mg for a week and now I am in my 2nd week of 20mg. Instead of anxious "episodes", I feel anxious and sad all day with some peaks throughout. At 10mg, my appetite was noticeably reduced and I felt I was losing weight which made me happy because it is part of my problem (emotional eating). Now I find I am anxious and my appetite seems to be coming back more and I am terrified of ending up fat and anxious. Can anybody tell me, will increasing the dose reduce my appetite again or will it just make it worse?

[neelam ibrahim]

i have been taking citalopram for 4 weeks and dont feel good at all.got a very dry mouth and feel realy wierd'dont feel my self an d just givin up hope.just feel like life has let me down big time#lost interest in life and givin up hope.does any 1 feel like me.

[Luka613]

I just started taking celexa 8 days ago. I was depressed for about 2 months prior. Spending all day in my room, getting no exercise or fresh air.
I feel miserable. Im on 10mg/day and Im tired all day. With this in mind I always think it will lead to a great sleep but its the total opposite. I wake up every 2 hours and have trouble falling back asleep. During the day I avoid all social situations. If I try and nap during the day I get the brain shocks and twitching. I get really bad in class and suffer from social anxeity. Ive had a chronic headache for the past 4 days. Ive gone through similar episodes prior and it always happens in winter time so i am suffering from SAD, but in the summers im developing bad social anxeity. Wish you guys all the best, we'll get through this together. I just suggest that you all keep in mind those things that maker you forget about your condition. For me its playing soccer that gets it off my mind, even in little stages. Anyway wish you guys all the best

[Luka613]

Also, I forgot to mention

I tend to think Im going crazy alot. I dont do anything stupid. I just keep thinking to myself that Im going crazy and get emotional at times and then at other time I have no emotion what so ever. My attention span is completely gone, I can;t pay any attention and get real anxious. Is this a symptom of depression or is it something else? I dont think its Celexa because I had it before. Can anyone help????

[sam]

i started taking celexa two weeks ago,it has bad side effects i sleep around 20 ahours a day it also made me dizy,light headed and irriated.

[Candace]

Serah wrote:

Do the bemefits of pain relief from depression outweight the side effects?

YES! I had really bad depression after my son was born last summer. The selexa helped as did getting enough rest (I was sleep deprived). My side effects include - zero tolerance for alcohol and caffeine. Both effected me into the next day. If a miss a day or two I start to experience weird dizzyness. I was happy to read many had similar side effects. I thought I was losing it.

[Carly]

kim wrote:

I have been taking 20mg of Celexa a day for about 4 years. It has really helped with anxiety over the years. I never gained weight or experienced any side effects. I would like to cut back but the last time I tried, my symptoms all came back.What's the trick to
?

Why go off it if you are doing well? That's the reason you are doing well. If you aren't having any medical rreasons to go off the drug. Sorry, I say stay put. I have been there.

[Summer Fan]

Just curious for those who had stomach issues on Celexa or the generic citalopram. I was on it for about two years from 2003-2005 and never had an issue with it. I was put on it and only lasted two weeks on it. The first week was fine but the last six days I had horrible stomach sickness from indigestion/acid reflux symptoms. I was wondering how long it takes for your stomach to get back to normal after stopping a medication that presents these side effects. I'm two days off it and on a new med but still feeling some sickness still.