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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 Jaynee on January 28, 2003, at 17:13:38
Well, I went back on Celexa today. I have started at only 5mg. It could have nothing to do with Celexa, but I feel like getting wasted. Haven't felt that way in a very long time. Last time I was on Celexa I would get the same craving, but didn't drink on it, because it made me feel sick.
I am though feeling almost suicidal right now. I am not in a state of extreme anxiety, like I was when I started the Celexa last year, but this time I am really messed up. I have accused my husband of cheating, which wasn't totally unrealistic. Then I figured out his password for hotmail and then emailed his bestfriend, pretending to be him, to find out if he really is cheating. That is just not like me, so that is why I started the Celexa today. Then I went to try on swim suits for a vacation I am supposed to be going on, and all I wanted to do was slash my wrists. I know there are worse things to be upset about, and I am just not being rational. I don't really think I will harm myself, but I just can't seem to get it out of my freakin head.
Posted by jodie on January 28, 2003, at 23:17:50
In reply to Celexa and craving booze, posted by Jaynee on January 28, 2003, at 17:13:38
> Well, I went back on Celexa today. I have started at only 5mg. It could have nothing to do with Celexa, but I feel like getting wasted. Haven't felt that way in a very long time. Last time I was on Celexa I would get the same craving, but didn't drink on it, because it made me feel sick.
>
> I am though feeling almost suicidal right now. I am not in a state of extreme anxiety, like I was when I started the Celexa last year, but this time I am really messed up. I have accused my husband of cheating, which wasn't totally unrealistic. Then I figured out his password for hotmail and then emailed his bestfriend, pretending to be him, to find out if he really is cheating. That is just not like me, so that is why I started the Celexa today. Then I went to try on swim suits for a vacation I am supposed to be going on, and all I wanted to do was slash my wrists. I know there are worse things to be upset about, and I am just not being rational. I don't really think I will harm myself, but I just can't seem to get it out of my freakin head.
Jaynee,Yikes, try and get those thoughts out of your "freakin head" I know, its much easier said then done. I am on lexapro now, but I have taken Celexa in the past (I know, its basically the same thing as lexapro). I was on the max. dosage. I was so emotionally numb while taking it. I couldn't cry even when I wanted to. I eventually had to stop taking it.
I have had several thoughts for years about just getting wasted on drugs, and alcohol. I don't think it was from the meds, but from depression itself. I've done it a few times, maybe a few times too many with alcohol. I rarely drink, but when I do, its for the wrong reasons, stress, depression. When I do this I go all out, I will get downright drunk. I've only done this once in the past year, but a couple of years ago, it was every 2 or 3 months. I don't, and never have consumed alcohol on a daily basis though.
You need to talk to your Dr. about this. AD's can cause lots of side effects. I read about one once that had depression listed as one of its main side effects!! Kind of ironic..
If you really feel suicidal, please get help!!! Talk to someone. I have tried suicide once, I just regreted it so much afterwards.
Take care..and please don't do anything to hurt yourself!!!
Let us know how you are doing, I hope you feel better soon!
Jodie
Posted by Jaynee on January 29, 2003, at 0:46:24
In reply to Re: Celexa and craving booze, posted by jodie on January 28, 2003, at 23:17:50
Thanks Jodie for your kind words, it truly meant alot to me.
I have made an appointment with my GP for tomorrow and I am going to ask to see a pdoc. I haven't had much luck with pdoc's before, but I have to get some real help. I have a serious problem and I need help, I just don't want to try and kick this "thing" naturally or actually I don't think I can kick this "thing" without some serious help. I don't like taking pills, but I have come to a point in life where I am willing to experiment with whatever I have to, to get better. I am going to listen this time to the pdoc. I was told to stay on Celexa for 2 years and only took it for 8 months, and obviously I needed to be on it longer. I want so much to join the world again, and feel like there is a future, I want to feel passion for something again, anything, that will motivate me to want to get up and face the day. I don't want to feel overwhelmed by everything, and most importantly, I want to like myself again.
Posted by JackD on January 29, 2003, at 11:31:17
In reply to Celexa and craving booze, posted by Jaynee on January 28, 2003, at 17:13:38
Hang in there! From my experience, Celexa makes me NOT want to drink (as much, heh). Most of the SSRI's I've read about including Celexa have been said to help stop booooze cravings, and that's been my experience.
Drugs can do weird sh$t to you. I get wasted regardless of how the drugs make me feel because none of them work well or long enough for me (i do give them an adequate chance). Jodie is right; it's the depression that makes people want to get f'd up, and maybe the drug is making you hypomanic or manic somehow, who knows.
Please don't do anything rash, always try to put things in perspective (SOOOOoooo much easier said than done). Don't hurt yourself, be strong.
Posted by jodie on January 29, 2003, at 13:34:31
In reply to Re: Celexa and craving booze, posted by Jaynee on January 29, 2003, at 0:46:24
You're truely welcome Jaynee!!!
You're are right, get some help from a pro!! Once you're to this point, you need others for support!! Some pdocs, or therapist aren't always "ideal" , but at least you can tell someone how you feel, and get some help. And yes, listen to the doc this time. I am so non-compliant with my meds, that is such a problem for me. But I've realized, I feel so much better when I am getting help and taking my meds as directed.
I know how you feel about just wanting to get up and face the day, and wanting to like yourself again! I seem to go through this several times a year. But you just have to tell yourself, there is a future, there is hope. There is always hope. Stay strong. You will be fine. Just make sure you get to that pdoc, and take those meds!!!
Take care, keep posting!
Jodie
Posted by Jaynee on January 29, 2003, at 15:34:32
In reply to Celexa and craving booze, posted by Jaynee on January 28, 2003, at 17:13:38
Well I got more celexa, and thank god, ativan. But it is going to take me around 3 to 6 months to see a pdoc. I am in Canada. The only way to see one sooner is to slash my wrists, but I don't feel like doing that, so I will wait. I guess the good news is I don't want to hurt myself, well at least not today.
The weird thing is, my doctor thought I should try Remeron. I told him I don't feel like waking up one morning to find myself weighing more than my fridge. I don't know why he thought Remeron was my answer. I am not all that anxious right now, just overwhelmed by most things and I can't seem to get my shit together. I am only working part-time, and it takes everything I have to get up and go. Why remeron?
Anyways, second day on Celexa, 5mg and I feel like I am kind of dopey stoned, which I kind of like. But I still have this feeling that I just can't get high enough, the same feeling I get when I drink. I didn't get this feeling the first few weeks the first time I took celexa, but then again I was in a state of constant panic first time around trying Celexa. I think I will go for 10mg tomorrow. The self abusive thoughts seem to be slowing down, but they are just below the surface, waiting to jump out, f*&#in weird.
Thanks again everyone for you support, it is so nice to be able to talk to others about this, without feeling like some sort of alien creature, or some kind of human defect.
Posted by jodie on January 29, 2003, at 18:38:42
In reply to My visit to the doctor - he recommended remeron?, posted by Jaynee on January 29, 2003, at 15:34:32
Remeron...Hmmm... well I've heard lots of bad things, and a few good things about that med. I never tried it because of the weight gain issue. I have a big problem with motivation, and I know Remeron can make it worse. I've had Dr's mention it, and I said no way!! I don't have a problem with my weight right now, but I don't want to start having one. Remeron really helped a friend of mine out who was suicidal, she was so depressed. She did gain a little weight, but she also has a problem with anorexia, so gaining weight was ok for her.
I'm happy to hear you feel better, maybe not much, but you have to start somewhere. I hope those self abusive thoughts stay below the surface. But if for some reason they surface, please tell someone!!!
Yes, it is so nice to be able to talk about your problems here. I am much more comfortable talking about them here than I am in person with someone.
Keep your chin up, things will get better. Just stay on those meds. Keep us updated!!
Jodie
Posted by zeugma on January 29, 2003, at 19:30:11
In reply to My visit to the doctor - he recommended remeron?, posted by Jaynee on January 29, 2003, at 15:34:32
> Well I got more celexa, and thank god, ativan. But it is going to take me around 3 to 6 months to see a pdoc. I am in Canada. The only way to see one sooner is to slash my wrists, but I don't feel like doing that, so I will wait. I guess the good news is I don't want to hurt myself, well at least not today.
>
> The weird thing is, my doctor thought I should try Remeron. I told him I don't feel like waking up one morning to find myself weighing more than my fridge. I don't know why he thought Remeron was my answer. I am not all that anxious right now, just overwhelmed by most things and I can't seem to get my shit together. I am only working part-time, and it takes everything I have to get up and go. Why remeron?
>
> Anyways, second day on Celexa, 5mg and I feel like I am kind of dopey stoned, which I kind of like. But I still have this feeling that I just can't get high enough, the same feeling I get when I drink. I didn't get this feeling the first few weeks the first time I took celexa, but then again I was in a state of constant panic first time around trying Celexa. I think I will go for 10mg tomorrow. The self abusive thoughts seem to be slowing down, but they are just below the surface, waiting to jump out, f*&#in weird.
>
> Thanks again everyone for you support, it is so nice to be able to talk to others about this, without feeling like some sort of alien creature, or some kind of human defect.I guess if I had to take any other AD other than a TCA, I'd choose Remeron. Why? Because left to my own devices I can't sleep (chronic insomnia) or eat (virtually anorexic for several reasons, unfortunately). So it's just common sense that I'd recommend this drug for myself. Beyond that, though, I'm thinking of its properties and trying to think of the effects they have (besides obvious ones like weight gain, sedation). I've been finding Buspar extremely useful so far for motivation, for getting myself to do simple but essential things like getting out of bed when the alarm rings. Remeron has some similarities to Buspar in its pharmacological profile. It's an alpha-2 adrenergic antagonist, like Buspar, and it seems that drugs that have this action are pretty good at boosting the sex drive (I think part of depression itself is lack of sex drive, so this is definitely therapeutic in itself in my opinion). Also according to an abstract in the J. of Clinical Psychiatry, it's an 5-HT1A receptor agonist, just like Buspar, and probably another source of helpful effects. So common sense would dictate to me that I try Remeron at some time in the future if I'm in the market for another AD. It's common sense, plus picking properties from drugs that have worked well for me and extrapolating. Those are only reasons for ME to take this drug though. I wonder what thought process led tour doc to to suggest it for you? Are there any drugs you've found helpful in the past?
Posted by Jaynee on January 29, 2003, at 20:15:43
In reply to Re: My visit to the doctor - he recommended remeron? » Jaynee, posted by zeugma on January 29, 2003, at 19:30:11
Zeugma you asked "I wonder what thought process led tour doc to to suggest it for you? Are there any drugs you've found helpful in the past? "
The only drugs I have taken for depression/anxiety is Celexa and Ativan prn. When I go through bouts of what I call clinical depression one doctor called it basically status panicus, I am like you. Can't eat, cant sleep, can't think, etc., lose 10 plus pounds in about a week, truly hellish. This type of depression I have now is different and I believe it is something I have had for a long time. I felt some relief and better on Celexa, but it wasn't perfect. But I don't know if it was the Celexa or if the Celexa just wasn't helping with the apathy and lack of motivation part of my depression. I was just so thankful to have the extreme anxiety part gone, that the other symptoms of depression were tolerable. I told my doctor this and I think he was thinking of different AD's I could try and just pulled Remeron out of the air. I do believe the Remeron would help when I am extremely anxious, but not now.
I was brought up by a mother, who has a pill phobia. So of course this is something I have picked up from her. But I am trying my hardest to get over it. I am going to do what I have too, to get better. Better living through chemistry, because living without it has sucked. If I have to I will add something to the Celexa. I was told by one pdoc that I have ADD, so maybe I will add a stimulant, I don't know. I will wait and see how the Celexa does. As for Buspar, I read where it doesn't work after a person has taken tranquilizers? But maybe it is something I could try. My older brother took prozac after his divorce and they added Buspar for the anxiety he was getting from the prozac, and he said it was too wild for him. He felt completely stoned and out of it. He had to stop the buspar because he is an attorney and said he couldn't go to court in that state. So I don't know if I added Buspar to Celexa that it would help with the motivation or not?
Posted by zeugma on January 29, 2003, at 21:52:32
In reply to Re: My visit to the doctor - he recommended remeron?, posted by Jaynee on January 29, 2003, at 20:15:43
> Zeugma you asked "I wonder what thought process led tour doc to to suggest it for you? Are there any drugs you've found helpful in the past? "
>
> The only drugs I have taken for depression/anxiety is Celexa and Ativan prn. When I go through bouts of what I call clinical depression one doctor called it basically status panicus, I am like you. Can't eat, cant sleep, can't think, etc., lose 10 plus pounds in about a week, truly hellish. This type of depression I have now is different and I believe it is something I have had for a long time. I felt some relief and better on Celexa, but it wasn't perfect. But I don't know if it was the Celexa or if the Celexa just wasn't helping with the apathy and lack of motivation part of my depression. I was just so thankful to have the extreme anxiety part gone, that the other symptoms of depression were tolerable. I told my doctor this and I think he was thinking of different AD's I could try and just pulled Remeron out of the air. I do believe the Remeron would help when I am extremely anxious, but not now.
>
> I was brought up by a mother, who has a pill phobia. So of course this is something I have picked up from her. But I am trying my hardest to get over it. I am going to do what I have too, to get better. Better living through chemistry, because living without it has sucked. If I have to I will add something to the Celexa. I was told by one pdoc that I have ADD, so maybe I will add a stimulant, I don't know. I will wait and see how the Celexa does. As for Buspar, I read where it doesn't work after a person has taken tranquilizers? But maybe it is something I could try. My older brother took prozac after his divorce and they added Buspar for the anxiety he was getting from the prozac, and he said it was too wild for him. He felt completely stoned and out of it. He had to stop the buspar because he is an attorney and said he couldn't go to court in that state. So I don't know if I added Buspar to Celexa that it would help with the motivation or not?
>I definitely have ADD, primarily the inattentive type, and while in college I was prescribed stimulants, which seemed to help the ADD but I lost so much weight that I was ordered to stop taking them. I tried Zoloft and Wellbutrin in rapid succession but they caused some nightmarish reactions and the pdoc there wasn't prepared to try more 'out of the way' meds like the nortriptyline that had worked for me in the past. So I basically gave up on meds... tried to fight the fog I was constantly oppressed by, and anxiety that seemed to come out of nowhere.
I have the same philosophy that you have, "Better living through chemistry, because living without it has sucked." I've heard that benzos make Buspar ineffective too. I don't think anyone knows if this is a case of falsely expecting the Buspar to work like the benzo in providing immediate relief. Anyway most of what I've read says that dopaminergic meds are good for motivation- I think stimulants have this reputation too. Adding a stimulant after the Celexa levels you out could be something to try.
By the way- my sister tried Buspar and also felt too weird on it. So even though they say you should do well on meds that have worked for close relatives, this isn't necessarily the case.
This is the end of the thread.
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