Citalopram ( celexa) journey

[needtogetwell]

For those of you who don't know me, I've been around the anxiety and depression block more times than you can count. The better part of 30 years.

Spent 8 years on Effexor, which helped me emmensely through the young years of my autistic sons life and through my divorce 6 years ago.

Life changed, got so much better and I came off the Effexor 2 years ago. Life was really good. I have developed many strategies for dealing with anxiety and panic, meditation being one of the keys, along with omega 3's and magnesium supplements. Anyone reading this interested in meditation, there is a wonderful thread in here started by Dahila on meditation.

So life was good....until 6 months ago when the anxiety levels started to increase. Little did I realize at the time, I was starting to suffer with a significant hormonal imbalance. At 49, many women have hormonal difficulties. This hormonal imbalance led to severe adrenal exhaustion.

Anyway, to make a rather long and boring story short, after trying HRT, which was a disaster, I decided that going back on an AD was a viable option.

I chose Celexa because I had been on it before the Effexor and it seemed to work quite well.

So this is my journal on how the road to recovery is going with Celexa.

I am now on day 3, the first two days were somewhat rough, increased anxiety and fairly significant nausea.

Today I feel pretty good for now, Minimal nausea and head fairly clear, hope it lasts.

For anyone just starting out on this drug, or any other similar, it is important to keep in mind that your symptoms may initially get worse, but it is only temporary. As the drugs start to take effect everything will ease off and life will begin to get good again.

The way I feel right now may only be a block of time today, but I'll take it as I know the blocks will connect and become consistent.

[superchick22684]

Hope I'm not taking over your thread. Looking forward to reading updates about your journey. I was on meds about 7 years ago but had to taper off because I couldn't afford them anymore. I've previously been on Effexor, Paxil and Cymbalta. My counselor and I discussed going back on them the other day but I'm hesitant. Hope the meds work for you!

[needtogetwell]

Hi superchick!
No problem, you definitely aren't taking over my thread, everyone is welcome.

Since you've been down the AD road before you know how helpful they can be. But you will figure out what's good for you.

One of the reasons I chose Celexa is because the start up seems to be less severe than others I have tried in the past. Also coming off them seems to be much easier due to their long half life. Effexor was the absolute worst, and although it was helpful I will never go through coming off that again!

The other reason I chose it had to do with the cost of them. Citalopram, the genetic version of Celexa is significantly less expensive than any other I've been on, and for me at least work equally as well as the name brand.

Thanks for the well wishes, I hope you too come to your decision too. One suggestion if I may, it may be better to go with something you know will work than trying all types of other things and getting hit and miss results.

[Dahila]

I wish you luck, I could not overcome the initial period of taking it. the only way i think would be to take vacation 3 weeks of it, to survive it. I was on it years ago and I was feeling very good. I'd had put my life in order and slowly weened of it. It was good and I slept pretty good on it:)
I had checked in costco the prices and most of them is a 100 for a month. Cymbalta is 150 , so I would say the big pharma makes a lot of money on our suffering....

[needtogetwell]

Day 4- 5am

Yuck! Side effects a bit bothersome right now. Slept for 4 hours but I'm going to try to go back to sleep again.

I'll get through this.

[JohnC]

Good luck with that Pam. I have also been thinking about going back on meds after off of Paxil for last three years. Just in a slump so i think i will wait and see if i can work through it. Peace

[needtogetwell]

Thanks John,

I'm sort of in a tough place today with the start up of the Cit. Anxiety up, sick stomach, lethargic.

Anyone on ADs, please remind me that this is normal for the first few weeks. I know this in my head but it is so bothersome. Thought about quitting today but that really isn't a great option. I need to stay strong and plug through it.

But I feel so blah!

[Anne1221]

I was told that Lexapro (escitalopram) is a better, newer, cleaner version of Celexa. It's basically the same drug, but just a mirror image of one to the other, and a lot less side effects. Now Lexapro comes in a generic version. I love it! And i've been on them all except Zoloft, which I will try one day. I also am having some great results from Buspar, which I take a small amount, three times per day, with meals. It's a better option, and safer, than benzos and you can take it long term.

[Anne1221]

This is from livestrong.com, which i found by doing a google search "celexa or lexapro".

[Anne1221]

Oops...here it is:

History and Patent Status

Celexa was introduced in 1989. When the trade name patent expired in 2003, other manufacturers could produce the generic form of citalopram. Lexapro is the trade name for the generic medication escitalopram, an updated citalopram formula. Lexapro was developed and produced in 2002. The patent is effective until 2012.

Uses and Efficacy

Lexapro is approved to treat anxiety disorders, whereas Celexa is not. This does not mean Celexa cannot help with anxiety, just that Celexa has not been adequately researched or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for anxiety treatment.



Some studies suggest Lexapro may be more effective than Celexa for depression treatment, while others have not found significant differences between these medications. In a 2008 article about escitalopram from Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, Drs. Cyril Höschl† and Jaromír Švestka of the Prague Psychiatric Centre in the Czech Republic explain that escitalopram is effective as the first option for managing patients with major depression and various anxiety disorders.



Celexa and its generic drug, citalopram, are approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat major depression, mood disorders, panic disorders and social anxiety. Celexa is prescribed commonly for elderly patients and people with dual diagnoses, but Lexapro may be more beneficial for patients who experience panic attacks.



Researchers from the University of Catania in Italy looked at the safety and efficacy of escitalopram at half dosage compared with citalopram and concluded that escitalopram may be the better drug for elderly patients with panic attacks because of its safety, more rapid action and reduced total dose necessary. Their finding were published in "The Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology" in 2006.
Side Effects

Lexapro and Celexa come with identical warnings about serious side effects, such as rigid muscles, high fever, uneven heartbeat, sweating, tremors, nausea, diarrhea, weakness, appetite loss, unsteadiness, headaches, confusion, trouble concentrating or remembering, fainting, seizures, shallow breathing or hallucinations.



The less-serious side effects are somewhat different between the two, according to Drugs.com. Celexa may cause gastrointestinal upset, insomnia, drowsiness, dry mouth, ejaculation disorder, bleeding abnormalities, weight changes, increased urination, decreased sex drive, impotence, difficulty having an orgasm, dry or watery mouth and yawning; or cold symptoms such as sneezing, sore throat or a stuffy nose.



Lexapro's less-serious side effects include insomnia, drowsiness, dry mouth, gastrointestinal upset, dizziness, sweating, fatigue, decreased libido, gas, heartburn, constipation, weight changes, dry mouth, yawning, ringing in the ears, decreased sex drive and impotence or difficulty achieving orgasm.

[Anne1221]

Anyway, most of the more bothersome side effects go away after 8 weeks or so, as your body gets used to the new medication.

[needtogetwell]

Thank you Anne for the information.

I just have to get through this rough patch, I'm sure it will be ok. Slept not too bad, it's only 5 am and going to go back to sleep again.

[needtogetwell]

Day 5:

Pretty rough morning. Nausea really bad. Took Gravol around noon and had a sleep from 2:30-4 . Woke up fairly clear headed.

It's now 7:00pm and I don't feel too bad, a little pressure around my head but tolerable. Haven't had to take any diazepam in 27 hours so I'm pleased with that.

This is a nasty roller coaster. I'm just trying to sleep through the worst of it. I just have to remember that my brain is just trying to adjust and it will be ok.

[Kixxi]

Day 5:

Pretty rough morning. Nausea really bad. Took Gravol around noon and had a sleep from 2:30-4 . Woke up fairly clear headed.

It's now 7:00pm and I don't feel too bad, a little pressure around my head but tolerable. Haven't had to take any diazepam in 27 hours so I'm pleased with that.

This is a nasty roller coaster. I'm just trying to sleep through the worst of it. I just have to remember that my brain is just trying to adjust and it will be ok.

Getting on new meds can be a right pain in the bum. But once the side-effects wear of you'll feel so much better. Can you do anything that makes you feel a bit better? I usually take a hot bath if I feel like crap. Does wonders...

[needtogetwell]

Thanks for the reply Kixxi, yes, I do get into the bath to help ride out the increased morning anxiety that I get.

Speaking of morning.....

Day 6: 4:35 am

Slept for about 6 hrs, not too bad. Woke with the typical stomach in knots and anxiety levels up. Nausea about a 6 on a scale of 1-10. Took some Gravol and am going to lie down again. Maybe I'll feel better when I get up again.

Can't wait for this phase to be over.

[Kixxi]

Thanks for the reply Kixxi, yes, I do get into the bath to help ride out the increased morning anxiety that I get.

Speaking of morning.....

Day 6: 4:35 am

Slept for about 6 hrs, not too bad. Woke with the typical stomach in knots and anxiety levels up. Nausea about a 6 on a scale of 1-10. Took some Gravol and am going to lie down again. Maybe I'll feel better when I get up again.

Can't wait for this phase to be over.

I know it can make you feel like a wet fish in the dessert... I had a similar experience with citalopram. Then started on sertraline and that didn't give me so many side-effects. It could be because my body responded better to it...
I'm just thinking of some stuff that could help you at the moment and that got me through. However, nausea is such a hard one to deal with. Lying down and not moving to much is usually what I do... But since it's a side-effect of meds, it is hard to say. Did the doc give you any advice?

[needtogetwell]

Hi Kixxi ,

It's just 8:00am so I'm going to call the doctors office soon.

I find that lying down is my best defence right now. The mornings are just so tough.

Blahhhhhh