I am new to Celexa. I've suffered from depression for years and have only tried 1 other AD - Prozac. The side effects were so horrid that I couldn't make it through the adjustment period and it scared me off of trying anything else for until now.

I just started taking Celexa yesterday. I am only on 10 mg for the first week, then they're upping it to 20 mg after that. I am feeling really nauseous and also having other stomach issues (diarrhea, sorry for the TMI). The nausea is so bad that I had nightmares about throwing up in my sleep last night. I also feel kind of light headed but I can live with that.

Will the stomach stuff pass? How long should this go on, and will it get worse before it gets better?

Is there even a shot that this might be helpful for me? I am pretty desperate and need something to even out my depression and the constant fear and sadness that I live with. It's making it hard to live any form of a normal life. But adding physical yuck to the emotional stuff before it even has a chance to work is not making it easy.

Try to be patient, (((((bluedays))))). You're experiencing common startup symptoms that will pass in the first few weeks. I had the same symptoms when I started Celexa, and they passed. The first 2 weeks are usually the hardest, because all you're feeling are side effects. But after about 2 weeks the side effects will begin to fade and the therapeutic effects will start to build. You should be fully adjusted within 8 weeks, but you'll probably start to feel better much sooner than that.

Thank you, I am glad to know that others have been through this and that it's common. I feel pretty lousy right now - stomach, headache, fatigue. I will try to ride it out and hope that some of the benefits kick in at some point too.

bluedays --

GI upsets are standard in the beginning. I was nauseated, severely fatigued and headachey initially too. As Burgy said, these issues are generallly transient. Hang in there. They will pass.

Best,
HopefulOne

Day 3 and the headache has kicked in. I think that's why I've been so resistant to doing this before. Honestly it just doesn't seem right that something that is supposed to make you feel better takes such a long time of making you feel like total crap physically and emotionally before it actually kicks in and starts working. So weird that such a little tiny pill can make me feel so awful.

So yeah, the headache, stomach icky stuff and really, really tired. I feel like I have a massive hangover 24/7 (and I don't even drink!).

Thank you for the reply and letting me know I am not alone. How long did it take for your symptoms to go away and the good stuff to start happening?

Headaches, nausea, stomach troubles - just what I had, too. Mine didn't last more than about a week, then they got less and less. 2 weeks max, but they will not be as bad as at first. I took painkillers for the headaches!

The beneficial effects can take 3-4 weeks to begin; of course it varies for each person. Hang in there! :)

Bluedays--

I had nausea the first week along with dizzyness, increased anxiety, tiredness and stong heartbeats. I'm on week 3 of 10mg and the nausea has passed and so has the wierd heartbeats....the anxiety has decreased however, I'm still extreemly tired. But from what other's have said that will get better. So hang in there I'm trying to also! Something to remember is that we didn't become severly depressed/anxious over night so how can we expect to be better overnight right?

Heather

Update (might be helpful for others who experience the same thing).

I am now on Day 9. I upped my dose from 10mg to 20mg on Day 7 and none of the side effects got worse, they're slowly getting better despite the increased medication. Since the 20mg jump, I am really itchy at night for the first few hours after I take it.

Luckily, about 75% of the nausea and stomach troubles are gone along with most of the headaches. Just queasy feelings here and there and a bit of anxiety/heart pounding but nothing like the first 5 days or so. So there is hope that the awful initial side effects will eventually leave completely.

The one thing that has stayed pretty consistent is the fatigue. I am still REALLY tired all the time.