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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by walter on December 2, 2003, at 0:57:44
Hello everyone,
I have just started taking Celexa. I was on Wellbutrin but it made me anxious, edgy and impatient. I'm being prescribed 20mg tabs once every morning. My Doctor instructed me to take 1/2 a tab for the first week. Anybody out there who has been on this for a while? I'm especially nervous about the so-called sexual side effects, not to mention chronic constipation. Yipeee!
Posted by Bill LL on December 2, 2003, at 9:51:23
In reply to Starting Celexa For First Time, posted by walter on December 2, 2003, at 0:57:44
Hey Walter. Constipation is generally not a problem with Celexa, but sexual side effects are. I used to take Celexa, but now take Lexapro which is a more pure form of Celexa. However, Lexapro also has sexual side effects (as do most antidepressants with the exception of Wellbutrin and a couple of others).
This side effect diminishes over time but usually does not go away. Drugs that can help include adding Wellbutrin, the herb yohimbine (can make one jittery), Viagra, and Levitra.
> Hello everyone,
> I have just started taking Celexa. I was on Wellbutrin but it made me anxious, edgy and impatient. I'm being prescribed 20mg tabs once every morning. My Doctor instructed me to take 1/2 a tab for the first week. Anybody out there who has been on this for a while? I'm especially nervous about the so-called sexual side effects, not to mention chronic constipation. Yipeee!
>
>
Posted by CraigD on December 2, 2003, at 11:30:33
In reply to Re: Starting Celexa For First Time, posted by Bill LL on December 2, 2003, at 9:51:23
I found most of the visceral side effects went away -- night sweats, tremors, but not the sexual effects.
Nor did I find that adding Wellbutrin was any kind of help
Posted by Francesco on December 2, 2003, at 14:55:13
In reply to Re: Starting Celexa For First Time, posted by CraigD on December 2, 2003, at 11:30:33
I've been on Celexa for a couple of months and I did not experience sexual dysfunctions while on it.I quit it because it made me sleepy. I did experience sexual dysfunctions on Paxil (delayed orgasm and riduced sensibility).
Posted by Janelle on December 2, 2003, at 16:03:48
In reply to Re: Starting Celexa For First Time » CraigD, posted by Francesco on December 2, 2003, at 14:55:13
Hi, I've been on Celexa for a more than a couple of months and I am still experiencing sexual side effects. HOWEVER, all of the SSRI's even the purest ones (Lexapro and Celexa) are known for this. It seems like their other side effects subside but not the darn sexual one(s).
I did better on Paxil, but became manic on it and was almost *too* sexual if you can believe that!
Posted by Adam Donahue on December 2, 2003, at 17:12:05
In reply to Re: Starting Celexa For First Time, posted by Janelle on December 2, 2003, at 16:03:48
I've been taking Celexa 40 mg for more than three years, and it's worked wonders. I do think it may have kick-started a bit of mania in me, but I didn't have a depressive episode during that period except recently, related, I think, to binge drinking episodes. It's been three weeks since I last had a drink, and my depression is subsiding (and mental abilities returning, to a point, at least). (I was taking lithium for two of those weeks, but quit Sunday, and have been feeling a bit better since, so I wonder if part of my 'depression' was due to the lithium itself.)
Adam
Posted by SandyWeb on December 3, 2003, at 9:12:49
In reply to Re: Starting Celexa For First Time, posted by Adam Donahue on December 2, 2003, at 17:12:05
I've been on Celexa for 2 months. I'm now up to 50mg, and my target dose is 60mg (to help with anxiety/OCD).
I find it a very mild med. The only real problem that I experienced with it is chronic diarrhea. After 2 months of running to the washroom about five times per day with liquid bowel movement, I finally realized that this side effect was not going to stop! So now I'm on 2mg of Loperamide per day, and the diarrhea is gone.
I have not found that Celexa has dulled my emotions or my cognitive abilities. It just seems to help take the edge off of my day a little.
I hope you do well on this med.
SandyWeb
Posted by CraigD on December 3, 2003, at 14:56:11
In reply to Re: Starting Celexa For First Time, posted by SandyWeb on December 3, 2003, at 9:12:49
Has anyone found adding Wellbutrin is helpful for sexual SE? Despite the hype, I haven't heard a success story yet.
Posted by SandyWeb on December 10, 2003, at 7:49:06
In reply to Re: Starting Celexa For First Time, posted by SandyWeb on December 3, 2003, at 9:12:49
At what dose did anyone find that "emotional blunting" happened? I go from 50mg to 60mg today, and I still have not found this to happen. I actually would like to have the emotions dulled down a bit, but to continue to have my cognitive abilities.
Is Celexa too mild to cause this blunting?
Posted by Francesco on December 10, 2003, at 9:12:38
In reply to Re: Starting Celexa For First Time, posted by SandyWeb on December 10, 2003, at 7:49:06
I found Celexa blunting at doses lower than yours so I think it's a subjective issue.
This is the end of the thread.
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