Good days and bad days starting Celexa -need advice

[Marynyc123]

I'm new here. First post. I need some feedback. I started Celexa for anxiety and panic attacks about 2 weeks ago (started really slow - 2.5mg for 5 days, then 5mg for 5 days, then 7.5mg for 3 days then 10mg for the last 3 days)... My prescribed dose for now is 10mg, and I might be bumped up to 20. In the last 4 days I've had some pretty good days with great releief. I feel big windows of feeling normal again (even though the anxiety is always on the back of my mind), and other days in between where I feel really depressed, lethargic and down. I have a toddler to care for and am a stay at home mom so I can just wallow on these bad days but they are SO hard to get through. I just want to sleep and escape from th awful feelings that drag me down. My question is, do these good / bad days even out over time on the medication to become more good days? I think the depression is also partly a response to my feeling frustrated that the anxiety is still around and I can't quote "kick it" - it's exhausting and really tough to go through as you all know. The depression on top of it is killing me. I am trying to stay hopeful that the medication will help even me out over time and I'll be more happy and less depressed and anxious. Any tips or advice for dealing with the bad / depressing days? Any help is very welcome.
Thanks!
-hopeful mom

[jessed03]

Hey, hopeful mom!

You should definitely be aiming for more good days, yes. If the medication doesn't give you that, you're at the wrong dose or on the wrong type. You're still early on in your Celexa journey at the moment, so hopefully the balance will start to switch in your favour fairly soon. I'm sure you've heard the "six week rule." You can't really expect any progress before that six week point, though some lucky ones do get some.

I can't imagine having a kid and having low moods/anxiety. I see my young nephew and think, wow, how would I cope if I was going through the mental stuff yet still had to look after him full time.

I've been on Celexa a few times, and I remember there always being this point where one day I would wake up, usually randomly, and think, hey, I actually feel pretty good now. Every anti-depressant I've tried (that has worked) has left me with that feeling. I actually felt good about getting out of bed and felt optimistic about doing stuff. I'm confident you'll reach that point too, eventually.

As for now, the only real advice I can give you on the bad days is to buckle up, and count down the days until the med kicks in. It shouldn't be too long now until you find that optimal dose.

Keep hanging in there.

[Marynyc123]

Jessed - thank you so much for your reply and support. I like what you said about buckling up on the rough days because that's all we can do! Pep-talks are my new go-to throughout the day haha. "You've got this! Keep going!" It's so easy to get caught in the throes of the depression and hide under the covers but I realize when I force myself to get up, get dressed, get outside with my daughter, get into the sunshine and just "go through the motions", no matter how tired or down I feel, it always helps boost me at least a little bit. Just showing myself I CAN do it, despite the despair, is helpful in itself. Also finding that keeping distracted with simple things I enjoy (for me, painting and craft-type stuff) helps boost my spirits a bit too... My daughter is a blessing in disguise because it forces me to have to get up and go - there is no choice there! She needs me! I am thinking I'll definitely need to go up in dosage to 20mg (from my current 10mg) but my doc requested I come back after a month on 10mg to see how it's going. I am praying it gets better. Any advice for coping while waiting for an SSRI to work?

[Naor]

Hi Marynyc
first on the question about if the effect will stay whether you decided to stop take the mediciation , I can tell you that it depends with what was the level of a same anxiety at the beginning and what were the resuls when you was taking the medication, if the results were good and the medication did the work the precents are great .
Meanwhile I recommend you to wait and see the result with the different doses
Hopeful it will work for you

[Marynyc123]

Hi Marynyc
first on the question about if the effect will stay whether you decided to stop take the mediciation , I can tell you that it depends with what was the level of a same anxiety at the beginning and what were the resuls when you was taking the medication, if the results were good and the medication did the work the precents are great .
Meanwhile I recommend you to wait and see the result with the different doses
Hopeful it will work for you

Thanks for the reply. Thankfully I have good news to report. I upped my dose to 15mg and after 5 days of bad side effects (nausea, no appetite, lethargy, generally feeling terrible), I have started to see the light! I am now 4 weeks into the medication total, and 8 days of that have been at 15mg. Each day is getting better. The nausea subsided and my appetite is back! I am now back to my normal routine and although not 100% yet, I have been able to wake up and get through my day and go to bed anxiety free and feeling optimistic and generally more clear headed and happy. There is hope at the end of the long road with Celexa. I hope it keeps getting better. And most of all I feel like myself again, normal! Thanks for the support!

[Naor]

What a good news
each day will be better just like you said , honestly I am very happy to hear those great news !

[BrookeLynnnn]

Hi I wanted to check in & see how you're still doing on the Celexa! I'm a new mommy & im thinking of trying this one. From your last post, it seems to be working well for you!

[Jules1979]

Hi I wanted to check in & see how you're still doing on the Celexa! I'm a new mommy & im thinking of trying this one. From your last post, it seems to be working well for you!

Brooke have you ever taken Paxil? My new dr is weaning me off the Zoloft because I had too many side effects with it and started me on a super low dose of paxil(10mill). I'm praying it helps because the Zoloft only made my anxiety worse

[JohnC]

I know the question was not directed to me but i was on Paxil for at least 10 years . i had tried a lot of others first that did not work. Paxil did work for me but it takes several weeks before you notice it and the dosage had to be increased twice. TWO THINGS I WAS NOT TOLD if you miss a dose or two be prepared for "Brain zaps " and watch the weight gain. The brain zaps are manageable once you understand what the zaps are you can tolerate it. I Hope that helps

[BrookeLynnnn]

Brooke have you ever taken Paxil? My new dr is weaning me off the Zoloft because I had too many side effects with it and started me on a super low dose of paxil(10mill). I'm praying it helps because the Zoloft only made my anxiety worse

I was on Paxil for almost a year when I got pregnant. It was a life saver, seriously. But they had me on the highest dose & I cared about nothing. So I'm gonna try something a little more mild this time around since my agoraphobia hasn't been bad for the last 2 months.