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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Bill L on December 5, 2000, at 7:25:30
In reply to Paxil to Celexa, posted by Palexizarticon on December 5, 2000, at 1:18:24
Hi- I like your screen name Palexizarticon! Celexa is very good for anxiety as well as depression. When I took Prozac, I had a little bit of a memory problem but not with Celexa. I take 20 mg of Celexa. I felt tired the first few weeks but that has mostly gone away.
Try the Celexa and give it a fair trial. A fair trial would be about 8 weeks. If you think after 8 weeks that the Celexa is not as good for you as the Paxil was, then maybe go back on the Paxil. If you go back on Paxil, maybe you could try a lower dose than what you were on before (I guess you were on 20 mg). Maybe that would help with the memory problem. Ask your doctor about that. Some drugs that are in pill form are also available in liquid form but I don't know if Paxil comes in liquid. If it does, it would be easy to lower the dose to 15 mg. Otherwise, maybe you could get a pill splitter and cut one fourth off of the 20 mg pill.
> greetings!
>
> i am 17. i have always been depressed as long as i can remember, though it peeked when i was 12... that's when i began taking Paxil. about 2 or 3 weeks ago, i quit Paxil cold-turkey and i've been having side effects that (i've been told) are symptoms of withdrawal: motion-sickness, itchy rashes, nervous jitters, and anxiety.
>
> today, i went to the doctor and explained why i had quit... since i've sworn of Caffeine, i haven't really been feeling depressed. but i had forgotten the anxiety, OCD, and other things that were ... well, not depression.
>
> i suggested i wanted to try a different drug because although Paxil was ok, i was having major memory loss problems with Paroxatine and it was driving me nuts (when i could remember what upset me ;P), so he suggested Celexa. i was happy because at a party, someone had told me he and his mom had been taking Paxil for a long time, and the memory problems were bothering them too, and when they quit, they went through major withdrawal. (he says he couldn't move from his bed without feeling intense pain) and they tried Celexa and they said so far it hadn't given them any memory problems and it was essentially "the same thing" as Paxil. (so yeah, that's why i'm happy the doctor prescribed Celexa)
>
> but now i'm feeling a little anxious (heh) or maybe i should say hypocondric... about taking Celexa now. is it safe? are there any really bad side-effects that i wouldn't experience with Paxil anyway? has it really been tested enough? has it been known to cause, even among a small population... brain tumors? (woah! yeah, i'm paranoid. that's another thing.) that's why i posted these evening... er... morning, er... whatever. from the posts i've read, i'm concerned about 2 things:
>
> 1. sleep. i am already a pretty sleepy person, and i don't want to not be able to go to school in the morning. and insomnia doesn't sound very pleasant either.
>
> 2. nausea. now, i'm not sure the queaziness [sic?]can get much worse for me... i know it would disappear if i took Paxil, but what about Celexa? if it got any worse, i would vomit at the sight of a city bus or cigarette.
>
> i like the feeling of having a magic drug that's sitting in my bathroom just in case i need it, and i can walk around and say "yes, i'm off anti-depressants." but i know that's not the way it works, because i'll be much more sensitive and anxious without some special meds. so, please give me your thoughts.
>
> i have the 20mg Celexa. i have the 20mg Paxil. should i take the Celexa? take nothing?
Posted by Jen on February 28, 2001, at 12:49:13
In reply to Re: serzone, posted by Eliza on April 14, 2000, at 11:03:42
> Hi.
Is anyone out there taking cerazone? I was doing quite well with prozak, however the sexual dysfunction was a problem.
So I have been on alow dose of cerazone for a week and have not seen any change. Rather, I am extremely tired and drowsy. Also cannot have one drink of wine without a terrible headache.
Do you think it is too early to tell? I'm on a low dose rght now (15 mg per day).
Any feedback much appreciated.
Jen
Posted by Bill L on March 1, 2001, at 7:50:29
In reply to Re: serzone, posted by Jen on February 28, 2001, at 12:49:13
I believe that 300 mg per day is around the minimum effective dose. But you have to gradually work up to that amount.
> > Hi.
> Is anyone out there taking cerazone? I was doing quite well with prozak, however the sexual dysfunction was a problem.
> So I have been on alow dose of cerazone for a week and have not seen any change. Rather, I am extremely tired and drowsy. Also cannot have one drink of wine without a terrible headache.
> Do you think it is too early to tell? I'm on a low dose rght now (15 mg per day).
> Any feedback much appreciated.
> Jen
Posted by wes on March 7, 2001, at 18:14:45
In reply to Re: serzone, posted by Eliza on April 12, 2000, at 10:38:25
Could anyone tell me about there experience with paxil, my docter is considering treatment with it. Im also interested in hearing from people who suffer from social anxiety. My symptons eluvate when i am around people, does anyone els experience this? > Stacy, it's so funny how these medications effect different people differently!!! I've been on Celexa (20 mg) for about 6 months with no noticeable side effects (when I upped the dosage to 40 mg. for about a month, it did make me very sleepy). However, before Celexa, I tried serzone for about 2 weeks. It made me literally a walking ZOMBIE! I couldn't move I was so tired, I couldn't think or even get words out of my mouth. Moreover it gave me a strange sort of feeling in my head, not a headache exactly but a wierd feeling, and some tightness in my chest. I guess in this world of meds it's whatever works. But it is funny how we all have the same so called disease "Depression" and we respond so differently to different treatments. Good luck!!
Posted by KARAsweet on March 14, 2001, at 17:11:31
In reply to Re: Question about Celexa » Mary LameBull, posted by B Day on October 24, 2000, at 18:48:10
When I was on celexa, I noticed a difference in how alcohol affected me.. especially when my dosage was upped from 20 to 40 mg. First off, I would be able to drink and drink without feeling a buzz (and I am small, plus I don't drink often).. then a few hours later I was completely out of it. Be careful with drinking - moderation is the key.
Posted by Christi on March 25, 2001, at 16:33:52
In reply to Re: serzone, posted by Bill L on March 1, 2001, at 7:50:29
> I have been taking serzone for about two weeks, and am starting to feel better. However, the first 2 wks were really rough. Lots of tears, irritability, and sleepiness. As I said, I am feeling better, however, have gained 7 lbs. in 2 weeks! I am a slim person, and don't gain weight. Has anyone else had this side effect from serzone?
Posted by Zyon on March 25, 2001, at 21:53:49
In reply to Re: serzone, posted by Bill L on March 1, 2001, at 7:50:29
I've been working up to serzone at 200 mg for the
past six weeks and just recently i've been very
very very tired and its driving me crazy!!! i'm
a very active person and i just can't take this
feeling tired all the damn time - please tell
me this stops at some point. do i still have to
work up to 300mg?
Posted by Christi on March 25, 2001, at 23:09:27
In reply to Re: serzone, posted by Jen on February 28, 2001, at 12:49:13
> > Hi.
> Is anyone out there taking cerazone? I was doing quite well with prozak, however the sexual dysfunction was a problem.
> So I have been on alow dose of cerazone for a week and have not seen any change. Rather, I am extremely tired and drowsy. Also cannot have one drink of wine without a terrible headache.
> Do you think it is too early to tell? I'm on a low dose rght now (15 mg per day).
> Any feedback much appreciated.
> JenI have been taking serzone for two weeks now, and am starting to feel a little better, though not great. My doctor wants me to hang in at least 6 to 8 weeks, if I can, and I'm going to try. One thing I have noticed is that I'm not numb from the waist down.(sexual disfunction)This is a definite plus, if the rest of me can just get to feeling better. I'm still pretty weepy, but small things are starting to get better, like my fear of going places. Take care, I hope things get better for you. (and me)
Posted by cher on April 10, 2001, at 18:55:33
In reply to Re: serzone » Bill L, posted by Zyon on March 25, 2001, at 21:53:49
> I've been taking serzone 100mg in the am and 100mg in the pm. the month before i took 50mg 2 x per day. I know i have only been on the higher dose for almost 1 week yet i feel so damn emotional and snippy. Sheesh, i can get upset when something bothers me. I feel i am getting to upset - making a big deal out of nothing - maybe. Are these just side effects that will most likely go away? I know i am not being very patient but i feel a bit of anxiety too. I'm unsure if the medication has not taken effect or if the medication is not right for me. How long do i have to wait? Please answer - someone!! Thank's. cher
Posted by Miss Amy on April 10, 2001, at 19:23:07
In reply to Re: serzone questions!!!, posted by cher on April 10, 2001, at 18:55:33
I was a bit snippy too everytime I upped my dose---but i was REALLY snippy before I ever started the meds. Now I am rarely snippy. I think it was a side effect for me that went away after getting used to the dose--and before that a sign of my depression that also eventually went away. Does that make sense? : )
Keep at it and see if you level out. It can take serzone a couple months to stat working sometimes. Good luck!
Posted by Christi on April 10, 2001, at 22:46:26
In reply to Re: serzone questions!!!, posted by cher on April 10, 2001, at 18:55:33
> > I've been taking serzone 100mg in the am and 100mg in the pm. the month before i took 50mg 2 x per day. I know i have only been on the higher dose for almost 1 week yet i feel so damn emotional and snippy. Sheesh, i can get upset when something bothers me. I feel i am getting to upset - making a big deal out of nothing - maybe. Are these just side effects that will most likely go away? I know i am not being very patient but i feel a bit of anxiety too. I'm unsure if the medication has not taken effect or if the medication is not right for me. How long do i have to wait? Please answer - someone!! Thank's. cher
I took serzone for a full month, and I'm sorry to say, in my case, my symptoms haven't gone away. I too was overreacting to everything, and felt FULL of rage, which isn't me. My doctor gave me xanex to take as needed, which helped, but not enough.I saw him yesterday, and he wants me to go on Prozac, which I have taken and done fairly well on in the past, except for anxiety still being a problem. I can't wait to get this serzone out of my body, because I can't stand feeling and acting so hateful! I hope you get to feeling better.
Posted by cher on April 12, 2001, at 0:38:30
In reply to Re: serzone questions!!!, posted by Christi on April 10, 2001, at 22:46:26
OKAY, I AM NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS MEDICATION ANY MORE. I AM CUTTING DOWN TO HALF OF WHAT I AM TO BE TAKING. I GUESS I WILL NOTIFY MY DOC. I HAVE BEEN WAY TO ANGRY. MAKES ME WONDER WHAT EVERY ONE MUST BE THINKING OF ME. DON'T WANT TO FEEL OUT OF IT ANYMORE. SO I HOPE I WILL FeeL BETTER WITH OUT ANY MEDICATION. IT HAS BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE I HAVE NOT BEEN ON ANY MEDS. JUST HAVE CHANGED THEM. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IS FEELS LIKE TO ME ANYMORE SO HERE I GO YA ALL. I HOPE IT'S A POSITIVE OUTCOME. HAVE TO WEAN MY SELF OFF SERZONE. I'M SURE MY DOCTOR WILL WANT TO TRY ANOTHER MEDICATION. I'M NOT SURE IF I WANT TO OR NOT. MAYBE I SHOULD SEE IF I AM OKAY WITH OUT ANY FIRST. WHAT DO YOU THINK? CHER
Posted by e503 on April 12, 2001, at 8:30:47
In reply to Re: serzone cutting down and getting off it. , posted by cher on April 12, 2001, at 0:38:30
ME TOO!!!! I was up to 150 mg. serzone at night a few nights ago. I just didn't take any two nights ago and yesterday felt MUCH better, except a little anxiety -even thought about taking a SMALL Small dosage during the day - but did not. Problem is though, that I was wide awake at 1 in the morning and got up every hour or so. Not good sleeping. So, any ideas what I should do? If I took 50 mg. or more at one time I slept for HOURS. Has anyone ever taken LESS than that amount and shown serzone to be somewhat effective? HELP!
Elise
Posted by Kathy99 on April 12, 2001, at 12:05:11
In reply to Re: Celexa and side effects -- do they end?, posted by Rieel on September 14, 2000, at 14:50:09
I was doing fine on Paxil but my doc put me on Celexa to see if it would be better for the sexual anorgasmia that resulted from the Paxil. The side effects are REALLY bothering me (on the Celexa) and I never had had any side effects on the Paxil. Has anybody here ever made a successful switch from Paxil to Celexa? I'd like to know whether I should wait it out for the next few months or ask to go back to Paxil. By the way, the Wellbutrin I'm also on has REALLY helped my libido.
Posted by SalArmy4me on April 12, 2001, at 12:33:49
In reply to Re: Celexa and side effects -- do they end?, posted by Kathy99 on April 12, 2001, at 12:05:11
But how is your mood on Celexa, as opposed to Paxil?
> I was doing fine on Paxil but my doc put me on Celexa to see if it would be better for the sexual anorgasmia that resulted from the Paxil. The side effects are REALLY bothering me (on the Celexa) and I never had had any side effects on the Paxil. Has anybody here ever made a successful switch from Paxil to Celexa? I'd like to know whether I should wait it out for the next few months or ask to go back to Paxil. By the way, the Wellbutrin I'm also on has REALLY helped my libido.
Posted by Christi on April 12, 2001, at 15:12:25
In reply to Re: serzone cutting down and getting off it. , posted by cher on April 12, 2001, at 0:38:30
> OKAY, I AM NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS MEDICATION ANY MORE. I AM CUTTING DOWN TO HALF OF WHAT I AM TO BE TAKING. I GUESS I WILL NOTIFY MY DOC. I HAVE BEEN WAY TO ANGRY. MAKES ME WONDER WHAT EVERY ONE MUST BE THINKING OF ME. DON'T WANT TO FEEL OUT OF IT ANYMORE. SO I HOPE I WILL FeeL BETTER WITH OUT ANY MEDICATION. IT HAS BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE I HAVE NOT BEEN ON ANY MEDS. JUST HAVE CHANGED THEM. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IS FEELS LIKE TO ME ANYMORE SO HERE I GO YA ALL. I HOPE IT'S A POSITIVE OUTCOME. HAVE TO WEAN MY SELF OFF SERZONE. I'M SURE MY DOCTOR WILL WANT TO TRY ANOTHER MEDICATION. I'M NOT SURE IF I WANT TO OR NOT. MAYBE I SHOULD SEE IF I AM OKAY WITH OUT ANY FIRST. WHAT DO YOU THINK? CHER
My doctor has me cutting my dose in half every 3 or 4 days. I hate this stuff! It's hard for me to even take a half dose, because I feel mean everytime I put this stuff in my body. I do think you should let your doctor know what you have in mind, though.
Posted by Kathy99 on April 13, 2001, at 12:09:09
In reply to Re: Celexa and side effects -- do they end? » Kathy99, posted by SalArmy4me on April 12, 2001, at 12:33:49
I've only been on for 3 weeks, so it's probably too early to say, but so far it's not as good. I've been feeling a bit "uneasy".
Anybody have something positive to say about switching from one drug (that worked great) to another (that is supposed to be "better"?
Posted by john hryniuk on April 20, 2001, at 5:57:25
In reply to Re: Antidepressants Beware!, posted by Veronica on March 7, 2000, at 12:05:01
I first started taking celexa with welbutrin about 7 months ago. About 1 month ago the side effects really started to show and Im worried.
For example last night I got home at 6pm and fell asleep till 1 am watched tv at 1am till 2 am and then went back to sleep till 7 am. HOLY thats like 12 hours sleep and Im still groggy. Has anyone experienced this? Im getting off celexa if its that.....the welbutrin should do it at least the side effects of just that are cool enuff....ie: increased sex drive and being upbeat.
John
Posted by KARAsweet on April 23, 2001, at 14:58:18
In reply to HELP- CELEXA BEING TIRED, posted by john hryniuk on April 20, 2001, at 5:57:25
I had to get off Celexa the first time because it made me so tired.. my moods were great, but I was sleeping more often and always exhausted.
Now I'm back on it and getting tired again! Good luck with getting off it. :)
Posted by TRISH on May 7, 2001, at 15:32:42
In reply to Re: HELP- CELEXA BEING TIRED, posted by KARAsweet on April 23, 2001, at 14:58:18
I started taking celexa 3 weeks ago and have felt pretty good. Recently, I am getting irritable again, short fuse and over reacting to situations.
Please advise..anyone!!
Posted by stjames on May 7, 2001, at 17:45:14
In reply to IS IT STILL EFFECTIVE, posted by TRISH on May 7, 2001, at 15:32:42
> I started taking celexa 3 weeks ago and have felt pretty good. Recently, I am getting irritable again, short fuse and over reacting to situations.
>
> Please advise..anyone!!james here....
AD's don't start working for 4-8 weeks.
Posted by mila on May 7, 2001, at 20:38:07
In reply to Re: IS IT STILL EFFECTIVE, posted by stjames on May 7, 2001, at 17:45:14
Hi,
what you felt during the first 3 weeks was probably due to the placebo effect (hope is the best AD on earth), now the celexa started kicking in. It made me overreact like never before in my life.best
mila
Posted by SLS on May 8, 2001, at 7:37:42
In reply to Re: IS IT STILL EFFECTIVE, posted by stjames on May 7, 2001, at 17:45:14
Hi Trish.
I agree with both Mila and James. What Mila describes is not unusual. Sometimes irritability and an anger that takes you by surprise reflect the beginnings in an improvement. It is unlikely that a true clinical antidepressant response has occurred within the first two weeks, although you may possibly have experienced a positive initial "blip" or "tickle". It is more likely that you are only now beginning to see the more complete response. Your course of improvement might be relatively gradual, taking weeks or even months. This is a good thing.
To me, the irritability seems like a return of "reactivity" that depression has previously squashed. I guess it depends upon the type and severity of the depression. For some, it is a mild to moderate depression that produces a more or less static state of irritability. For others who are first entering a more severe depression, this state of irritability might be transient, as they pass through it on the way to a more melancholic or vegetative depression. These are just my impressions based on experience. They are not fact.
Good luck.
- Scott
Posted by sar on May 10, 2001, at 11:22:08
In reply to Re: IS IT STILL EFFECTIVE, posted by SLS on May 8, 2001, at 7:37:42
Feeling irritable and truly angry were, for me, the best & most significant sign that I was improving after a long depressive episode. I'd been a self-blaming doormat for a year...anger wasn't what I was looking for as my mood improved, but when I felt it I knew that it was completely righteous.
(I don't know if you can relate to this, but I thot I'd throw it in just in case.)
sar
Posted by Nellie on May 14, 2001, at 22:27:36
In reply to Re: serzone questions!!!, posted by Christi on April 10, 2001, at 22:46:26
For anyone taking Serzone--here is what I recently learned when I went to a new psychiatrist. My GP had me taking 150 mg daily. my psych immediatley boosted me to 450 daily with the possibility of going as high as 600 mg. Because it makes me feel sluggish, he has me take it all at night. I found at low doses it worked very well for anxiety, but did nothing for weepiness. The new higher dosing is helping that. It is not, however, helping the free-floating rage and irritibility which, for me, is tied somewhat to my menstrual cycle. For this we are trying one of the newer anti-siezure meds-Topamate. After two weeks this seems to be kicking in, but has it's own set of "interesting" side-effects". The person who develops an effective mood stabalizing drug without side effects will rule the world!! Good luck to everyone searching for the right med./comb.
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