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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Eddie Sylvano on February 25, 2003, at 8:58:03
It's two weeks into my go at Celexa today, and things are going well. The experience has been much the same as with Effexor and Serzone, but with one odd exception. At least once a day, for about a half an hour or so, I have this strong feeling of anticipation, as if I've been told that I'm about to do something exciting, and I'm nervously anticipating it. It's an odd mixture of anxiety and elation. I even find myself trying to think of what it is I'm unconciously pumped up for before I realize it's just an odd side effect. Beyond this, I'm impressed with how few side effects I get from this drug. It's hardly noticeable.
Posted by japonica on February 25, 2003, at 13:23:49
In reply to pointless anticipation, posted by Eddie Sylvano on February 25, 2003, at 8:58:03
Wow, That's amazing! I too experience this very same feeling. I've felt it off and on for about 2 years, both on and off AD's.
Of the meds you've listed I've had experience only with Effexor XR which I'm still on(5 months now). But I've also tried Prozac and Zoloft.
I don't feel this anticipation as often as you but it does happen at least once every week or so. I find it an amazing motivational tool and a welcome source of hope. So perhaps it's not so pointless afterall.
Thanks for articulating it so well. While I'm ok with admitting I have a mental illness, I refuse to believe I'm crazy. You've helped reassure me. :-)
Thanks!
japonica
Posted by IsoM on February 25, 2003, at 14:58:47
In reply to pointless anticipation, posted by Eddie Sylvano on February 25, 2003, at 8:58:03
Eddie, do you think this feeling of pointless anticipation might be the beginning of feeling motivation? I've tried a number of SSRIs & while all some worked well, only Celexa gave me this feeling of anticipation & excitement. I tend to be an enthusisatic sort of person normally so feeling an excitement about life seems perfectly normal to me.
One of my sons felt the same way. But both of us noticed that after a couple of months, it wore off. He decided to give up on it when his depression returned but I decided to ask the doc to up the dosage. I take 40 mg now instead of 20, & the benefits have continued on that dosage for a couple years now.
Posted by Eddie Sylvano on February 25, 2003, at 15:54:38
In reply to Re: pointless anticipation » Eddie Sylvano, posted by IsoM on February 25, 2003, at 14:58:47
> Eddie, do you think this feeling of pointless anticipation might be the beginning of feeling motivation?
-----------------------It's much more of a nervous excitement, like you're in a roller coaster that's just about to crest the top of the lift hill. It's really too distracting to be motivating in any specific direction, though I do find that Celexa has returned many of my previously atrophied motivations (to be active, start projects, etc).
>I take 40 mg now instead of 20, & the benefits have continued on that dosage for a couple years now.
---------------I'm only on 20mg currently, and I'll probably bump it up to 40 in a couple of weeks when I go back to my dr for a follow-up. Presently, 20mg seems to be enough to keep me from having panic attacks (and most other physical symptoms) but my mood is still somewhat sedated.
Posted by Jaynee on February 25, 2003, at 17:11:03
In reply to Re: pointless anticipation » IsoM, posted by Eddie Sylvano on February 25, 2003, at 15:54:38
I am on 20mg of Celexa. I have been debating about whether to go to 40mg or not. I have read some studies where 40mg works better than 20mg for depression. I feel okay on 20mg, but not great. I am still anxious, so I take some ativan, every now and then, which I would like to stop. I was in Hawaii and pretty happy and functioned very well, but now I am back to not leaving the house most days, and renting mega amounts of videos. At least I am emailing off resumes from home, which is more than I used to do. I would be out walking, but it is just to dam cold here. Of course I can come up with a reason or justification for being lazy and bored, but there really is no excuse. I have notice that I am drinking alot of Diet Coke, almost 2 litres per day. It is a new vice, that I know it is unhealthy, but I get such a rush from it, and seems to help get me the hell out of the house.
Anyways, as usual I have gotten away from my question, which is, how is 20mg of Celexa different from 40mg? What will 40mg do for me that 20mg doesn't?
Thanks
Posted by justyourlaugh on February 25, 2003, at 18:08:48
In reply to What's the difference between 20mg and 40mg?, posted by Jaynee on February 25, 2003, at 17:11:03
i just had to post to say i find myself drinking large amounts of diet coke aday too..
i take 40 celexa,300 wellbutrin and a tad of seroquel..
i dont leave the house much at all..
when i shop (once a week)i have to fill the cart up with all these jugs of diet coke?i like the lemon twist too..
jyl
jayne is my moms name
Posted by IsoM on February 25, 2003, at 19:06:52
In reply to What's the difference between 20mg and 40mg?, posted by Jaynee on February 25, 2003, at 17:11:03
What can I answer that I know would fit you? It may affect you completely diff. All I can say is that 20 mg still left me depressed after the first two month contentment wore off. I felt low again but just not as severely as before. When the dose went to 40 mg, the contenment came back & didn't fade out this time.
I'm not a normal anxious-type person. I do stress quite easily but once any problem that came along is resolved, I go back to normal. Problems can be small (misunderstanding someone's comment) to major (marital separation) but always when resolved, I return to normal. Big stresses take longer for me to feel good again though. It's just that small stresses leave me feeling like a yo-yo sometimes.
I've never noticed an AD that helped me with that, including Celexa. But if you have generalized anxiety, I don't know if upping the dose would help.
I've mentioned this often in the past, but if you like music lots, why not put on something energetic to get you feeling physically charged. Unless I feel like crap physically, very upbeat music always gets me moving. I can't keep still with it on. It does wonders for your mood too. We are musical creatures from the day we're born. We can't help but react to music. It's so closely tied in with our emotions.
Posted by noa on February 26, 2003, at 18:56:13
In reply to pointless anticipation, posted by Eddie Sylvano on February 25, 2003, at 8:58:03
Interesting. Does it occur at a certain time after dosing?
Posted by BekkaH on February 27, 2003, at 0:41:50
In reply to pointless anticipation, posted by Eddie Sylvano on February 25, 2003, at 8:58:03
> one odd exception. At least once a day, for about a half an hour or so, I have this strong feeling of anticipation, as if I've been told that I'm about to do something exciting, and I'm nervously anticipating it. It's an odd mixture of anxiety and elation. I even find myself trying to think of what it is I'm unconciously pumped up for before I realize it's just an odd side effect.
************************************************
Hi Eddie,Does this happen about the same number of hours after you've taken the medicine each day? I wonder whether this might be when the blood levels of Celexa are peaking. After a 40mg oral dose, blood levels of Celexa peak at four hours.
Bekka
Posted by Eddie Sylvano on February 27, 2003, at 8:46:52
In reply to pointless anticipation-EddieSylvano, posted by BekkaH on February 27, 2003, at 0:41:50
> Does this happen about the same number of hours after you've taken the medicine each day? I wonder whether this might be when the blood levels of Celexa are peaking. After a 40mg oral dose, blood levels of Celexa peak at four hours.
---------------It really seems to vary. I typically take it after work, about 6:00, and I've had these experiences at seemingly random times (evening, morning, afternoon). I've noticed that this is happening less frequently now, as well. Guess I'm getting used to the drug.
Posted by noa on February 27, 2003, at 17:47:45
In reply to Re: pointless anticipation-EddieSylvano, posted by Eddie Sylvano on February 27, 2003, at 8:46:52
>>>I've noticed that this is happening less frequently now, as well. Guess I'm getting used to the drug.
That's good to hear.
This is the end of the thread.
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