Posted by mojoworkin on August 20, 2000, at 1:26:36
My advice: If you are starting Celexa, take it easy. That's the point anyway isn't it?
I've been taking celexa since early 1999. I had difficulties over the first month but then the "bouquet" opened and I've been generally pleased since.
I started with 5 mg. the first few days then went to 10 mg. I had trouble with the 10 causing a certain strange anxiety that didn't help because I already had plenty of that. After a week or so I seemed to adjust but I really didn't feel better or different.
I increased to 20 and the anxiety returned. I went between 15 and 20 for a few weeks because of the anxiety and was convinced that it wasn't going to work although I didn't want to give up because it was such a long time coming to the decision to seek help. I was 49.
At just over a month, I realized a familiar calm sense of well-being that I hadn't felt in many years(30+?). I had a good laugh.
My symtoms improved dramatically. Actually, I didn't have them any more.
Near the end of 1999, I began having small problems again and it wasn't until January 2000 that I realized "whoa, the Celexa isn't working!" The doc increased the dose to 40 mg. Some anxiety returned and I bounced between 20, 30 and 40 for a couple weeks and finally settled in on the 40 mg. That's what I'm taking now.
ADD Twist: Late last year, my 12 yr old's teacher suggested that we test for ADD. The kid's not hyper in a disruptive sense at all which is what I thought ADD meant. During the visit with the psychologist, I about fell out of my chair when he started talking about these bright people (us?) who seem lazy, forgetful, unable to complete tasks, messy, poor handwriting, difficulty staying on task and on and on. I scored 100% on that test.
As I learned more about ADD, I became convinced that it applied to me. I also learned that about 30% of those diagnosed with ADD are also dianosed with depression. Funny deal.
This spring, I started taking 20 mg. of Adderall twice a day. It's like wearing glasses for the brain. I would rather not use them but I sure can see a lot better.
So what's good and not so good about Celexa for me?
Good:
*I sleep well and feel rested afterwards. Before, I slept too much during the day but couldn't at night.
*I don't get upset much. I can be calm and helpful.
*I'm not nervous or anxious like I had been most all my life. (Steve - the human time-bomb).
*I don't have compulsive thoughts of death (yep).
*I don't over indulge in eating (well, a little), drinking, masturbation (too much of a good thing?) etc.
*Sex life is better if a little calmer.
*I exersize some.
*I feel pretty good although I don't always have that sense of "life's a beach" that I got initially. I just feel right.Not so good:
*I can sleep too easily although I don't necessarily feel tired. Naps are long and deep. I know this is the Celexa. The Adderall helps here.
*That's it.Steve
poster:mojoworkin
thread:43353
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000811/msgs/43353.html