Hi,Tim.  Welcome to Depression Forums.  There are many of us here in fact most likely all of us who have felt like not going on at times.  Lizard already said this, but you may want to give the Celexa more time.  I think it is unlikely that Celexa is contributing to your depression.  You are either taking it at night or in the morning and the stress associated with reflecting on your day as you get into bed or getting ready to start a new day could be contributing.  Are you in therapy or planning to pursue therapy?  That may help you deal with the stressful marital issues that the Celexa really can't fix.

Katie :wave:

hey everyone :)  im a 22 year old female,
this is my first time posting on here and just have a question or two which, sorry if it is repetitive and you've all answered many times, but any info would be great...well i just started on celexa and have been on it for two weeks so far...10mg for the first 5 days, now at 20....havent been taking it at the exact same time though ...which i didnt knwo i had too and also have had absolutley no side effects as well as no changes...i guess im just wondering if taking the medication at different times has bascially wasted these two weeks? and also how long have you others on average, felt better on celexa?....last question...is anyone taking it for social anxiety as well and has it worked for that?...ive been depressed and had social anxitey for many years now and i finally got the nerve to get a family doctor and get help but she basically wrote me up a prescription within 5 minutes and i don't think she got the social anxiety part of my problem, or maybe i didnt communicate it well, not sure......i dunno, sorry for the rant.. im just feeling so hopeless right now and wondering if this is even the right drug or it it will even help...not that i was hoping for anything overnight.. but i am starting a job   next week that i went to school for and was hoping it would be a new start..i was hoping to have been feeling better by then but the way im still feeling i dont know if i can handle it.. :( ....any info, comments,any input at all would be much appreciated, you guys seem to know more than anyone i've spoken to so far...thanks....

Welcome to DF, two_zeros!
Congratulations on taking the major positive step of talking to your doctor (sorry she didn't take more time, or reinforce that she heard all your concerns).
No, you haven't wasted two weeks. I wouldn't worry about the changing times you've taken your doses - just start to take the Celexa around the same time of day now. It will give you a better idea of how it's affecting you (for instance, if you take it in the morning and you're tired all day, you can try changing it to a nightthime dosing. Always check out changes with your doctor, though). It will also keep the medication in your system more evenly.
It's not unusual for it to take a month or two for the good effects to really kick in, although everyone reacts differently. Try to be patient.
Celexa is FDA approved for depression. I'm not aware of it being specifically targeted for anxiety, although, again, everyone responds differently. Don't hesitate to pester your doctor if your concerns aren't addressed, and certainly keep her informed of how you're feeling.
Keep posting here for support, and let us know how you're doing.

Hello two_zeros,

I am on the second time around with Celexa.  The first time I started taking it was just after 9/11 2001.  I had suffered deperession/anxiety for years and 9/11 sent me into a downward spiral.  I was perscribed 40mg of Celexa.  I started at 10mg and worked up to 40mg over 2-3 weeks.  I stared to feel some effects in 2 weeks and the full effects in about a month.  I stopped taking it Nov. 2003.  I had gotten some disturbing news in August and alot of my anxiety and depression came back, so I was perscribed 40mg Celexa again.  I've been on it for about a month now, I am starting to feel better again.  Celexa did help my anxiety.  I think that you just have to stay with it.

Welcome to newbies two_zeros and joez.  Two_zeros, I think that it can be beneficial to take the Celexa at a similar time each day, but I don't think that it has a humongous impact on efficacy.  If it would help you remember to take it then that is fine.  As Lizard said, Celexa is an antidepressant.  However, it is in the class of medications called SSRI's which may help anxiety and OCD because they focus on serotonin which is involved in many mental health issues.

Joez, I hope you get good results with your Celexa this time around.  Over the past 4 years I have been on and off Celexa about a half dozen times.

Katie

Hi,

I just started taking Celexa three days ago. I haven't had bad side effects yet...except for sweating a bit. I really hope this works, I am so tired of staying in my bed all day and having no interest in life. I have never been on medication for depression before.....I feel like everyone else has it together. I am looking forward to feeling better.

Hi, J.J., and welcome to DF
I hope the Celexa works for you also, and that each day sees you feeling better. Let us know how you're doing.

My doctor put me on 20 mg/day of Celexa in order to treat me for "severe" depression.  

1) The first three days, I was placed on 1/2 tablet every 12 hours.  10 mg/1/2day, and I was  :wwww: or  :taz: or
2) I started coming down the third day and went to one full tablet once a day on the fourth and felt like :Oo: I was zoned out.
3) Most of the time, since the fourth day I feel so exhausted, now that I end up going through the day like this:  :sleep_1:

Either way, though it feels better than being up and down on the rollercoaster that I was before.

Welcome to DF, The_Animal!
Give the Celexa some more time to really kick in. Keep us updated on how you're doing.
Wishing you well...

Hello Everyone,
I have been coming to this forum for some time now for inspiration as well as information from all of you. Only now, after what is close to 2 years since, have I summoned the courage to post. Depression and or anxiety have been my companions for as long as I can remember. The past couple of years the old tricks began to fail and the combination began to take its toll on both me and my family (wife, 2 kids). To date I have been on quite a few AD's, (Zoloft, Effexor, Paxil, SAMe, etc ) none have been effective. I am currently starting slow on Lexapro (2.5mg) in the hopes of getting some relief, or just getting to a different version of me. So far side effects have been tolerable, but positive effects have been minimal. I will up the mg's at the end of this week. I have been a professional insomniac for 2 years now and long for some relief from the nightly early waking, the struggle to get through the day with fatigue and 2 young kids is becoming routine, which has made me wonder if there will ever be a better day. So, I just wanted to introduce myself, and to thank you all for the support and courage each of you share. Heres to a better day for us all. Starting today.

atticus,
Welcome to Df! I'm glad to meet you, and to find you've taken some comfort here.
Wishing you well...

Hey guys, its me again..
well i've been on celexa for about 2 months now...the doc put me up to 30 mg and still nothing..i guess i'm just here for some kind of support cause i dont know what to do. I can only really see her about 1 every month now casue of my work and i dont know, im feeling nothing from it at all. Ive been at my new job for a month now and i cant concentrate, make mistakes an dont reallyt talk to anyone and feel pretty bad like usual.. im seeing that im not gonna lasdt long there but i want to..anyways i guess what im wondering from you guys who have more experience with the medication ...do you think it may be tiome  to switch meds or do somethign esle after 2 months of nothing? i realzize you guys arent doctors but to be honest i dont think my doctor is very helpful.. maybe if i go in to my next appointment with some ideas i wont waste any more time or maybe ill just ask her to refer me to a psych doctor or something...I need advice ..thank you so much for your input on my other post too..thanks, diana
p.s just wondering also..some of you guys who have gotten better from depression/social anxiety...what changes did you actaully notice/escpecially in the beginning??
BYE :holloween:

Hi, two_zeros,
Sorry I didn't check in here sooner - I've been a bit spacey lately.
I certainly think it's worth talking to your doc about tweaking your meds after two months on the Celexa; you may decide together to give it more time or you may choose to add on another med, or make a switch.
If you're able to get a referral to a pdoc, I would go for it. Why not get the advice of a specialist?
Let us know how you decide to proceed, and how you're doing.
Wishing you well...

Hi,

I started taking Celaxa in July, it seemed to be helping at first but then i hit some major anxiety problems in October and didn't feel like it did anything to ease my anxiety. So rightly or wrongly i stopped taking it about a month ago, it didn't help that my councillor at the surgery told me to go on a diet and exercise regime and she would help me when i completed that regime. Now i'm on nothing and feeling terrible, should i get back on celaxa or explore an alternative with my G.P.

Hi, Radar, and welcome to DF  
If the Celexa wasn't helping that much, I would consider alternatives (although a different dosage of Celexa or a combination of meds might work). There are a number of ADs that also help with anxiety problems; you may want to read through some of the other AD threads, and look through the Anxiety room.
Is it possible for you to see a psychiatrist instead of your GP? They specialize in the management of these medications.
I wish you well, and hope you find some relief. Let us know how you're doing...

Hello,

My name is Doug. I'm 34 years old and started having panic attacks last summer. I've suffered from social anxiety for many, many years, and as of late had a bit of depression.
My doctor put me on Zoloft, but I was on it for around 12 weeks and unfortunately it didn't work...just side effects. So my doctor is switching me to Lexapro. Here's my transition schedule...

Today I reduce my Zoloft from 100mgs to 50, and combine that with 5mgs of Lexapro. This goes on for 10 days.
Step 2 is to reduce the Zoloft to 25mgs and increase the Lexapro to 10mgs. This lasts a week.
After that week, I am to discontinue the Zoloft altogether and stick with the Lexapro at 10mgs.

I am also on Klonopin - I take 2mgs/day and have been taking it for about 5 months now. This I am not happy about as I have read about physical dependance and such, but my doctor assures me that when the time comes he will wean me off properly and the withdrawal should be minimal. I hope he's right. I can't argue, however, as the Klonopin stopped my panic attacks and was a lifesaver.

So that's basically my story. For further reading into my condition and it's history you can check out the "My Zoloft Journey" thread over at the Zoloft board. I'll be updating it if I have a hard time with this transition period.

Just wanted to say hello for now and wish everyone well. I'm sure I'll be posting in the future with a bevvy of questions.

Let us know how your transition to 10 mgs Lexapro goes.  It sounds like you gave Zoloft a fair run.  I used to take Klonopin, but now I take Xanax XR.  I worry like you about tapering off of a benzo, but it sounds like your dr. would wean you slowly.  Keep us updated about your experiences with Lexapro.

Katie :)

Let me add a welcome to you also, Doug. Please let us know how you're doing.

Hi All,

I have been on Lexapro since May this yr for my severe depression and anxiety.   I find it is very good for my depression but does not help the anxiety much.   But there is no way I will go off of it.   It has saved me this time around.

Hi, I am on Celexa and I feel it helps for my depression and OCD.  I would like it to help more for my anxiety, but I take Xanax XR for that.

Katie

so its me two_zeros again...well after 4 months of bulls*** with celexa i have taken it upon ymslef to slowly go off it and i started taking meridia which is a weight loss pill and apaprenyl you cant take SSRI's with it cause it can cause serotonin syndrome, but i foudn this out on my own with no doctors approval or anythuing cause i think ive gotten much worse..since the celexa wasnt doing s**t i though i should foceus on weight loss instead...i guess i just felt like ranting casue im at home today because ive quit my job whcih i actaully liked to take another one which i thought would be better cause it was permanent but i hate it   so i didnt feel like going and i think  im going into a very bad place now
had anyone taken meridia out of curiosity??

and also  i wanna know what people have done to get theiur lives back cause i dont know if medication is gonna do it for me
i was on 40mg of celex...ahhhhhhhhhhh god

two_zeros,
I'm sorry you're having such a tough time.
Have you been on other ADs? There are lots of meds out there, and it can take some trial and error to find the right one or combo of meds that works for a given individual. Also, therapy can be beneficial; do you see a therapist?
I don't have any personal experience with Meridia - sorry.
I wish you well. Let us know how you're doing, OK?

I started Lexapro this morning -- my first AD ever. I am on 5 mg for the first 3 days and then 10 mg a day after that.

This may be naive of me, but if Lexapro works, I'll take it no matter what the side-effects are. All I want is to stop feeling this way. I'll put up with anything.

Welcome, Basil  
I like your attitude! Controlling the depression is my number one priority also.
Best of luck - let us know how it's going...

Basil, checking in to see how the lexapro is working for you. I hope it is working for you. Good luck.

Thanks, lizard, trina!

Today I took my second 5 mg dose, and I can't say I have experienced any side effects. I feel some of the depression lifting, but I think that has more to do with my normal mood swings and not with the Lex. Anyways, I haven't even started my 10 mg doses yet (Friday is the first full dose day), so I'm not panicking. I'll give it time to do its thing.

Hope everyone else is doing well!

Thanks for the update. Glad to hear that you are not experiencing any side effects thus far. Im on celexa which is similar, and I noticed a differance with in about 4 days.

Hi, I'm new to the room. I have had anxiety for way long & over the years it just seems to get worse. This winter I've apparently added depresson & I went to a psychologist recently who calls it "agitated depression."  I don't pace or lose my temper or wring my hands but I guess the anxiety makes the depression agitated!  I've taken Paxil before for panic & that worked fine but I didn't like the numbing out  or the weight gain. Had a bad experience with both Zoloft & Kava Kava, so I've been more or less maintaining on Xanax PRN for years. Since I'm paranoid about what I put into my body (had a problem with alcohol years ago), I just don't want to take any more meds. But I've gotten to the point now where this anxiety is just too overwhelming. I get that awful feeling of doom & sick fear every morning as soon as I wake, I worry over absolutely everything, I get nothing done, can't make decisions properly  etc etc etc.  The psychologist prescribed Lexapro, said it was the best in her opinion for both anxiety & depression in one pill, but I just can't make myself take it yet. I keep putting it off.  Hope maybe I'll find the push here to go ahead & do it.  Thanks for listening.

Sukisue

Sukisue  :wave: nice to have you on Board!

Maybe once you have started Lexapro and got a nice feeling about life again, your anxiety will lessen and you will pick up ..... give you brain a break - these drugs are designed for short-term use when we need them.  Just like a cold remedy, tummy settler or neck rub.  It's much better to feel well again - and maybe once you do begin to be more relaxed you will stop worrying abut the effects of the drug ?????

My worry was whether the meds would work and how long it would take!  I never bothered about what I was putting into my body as I need my head to be as clear as possible.  Fortunately Lexapro helps the depression and anxiety, plus a betablocka at night.  It enables me to function: before I was a shivering wreck in the corner of the bed unable to get very far at all!

The only big drawback is busy, involved, long, dreams - and I'm even getting used to those  :nod:  If I find myself over-tired I catch up during the afternoon or have a lay in after hubby has gone to work - depending on which  :EmoticonDogRun: is here!

Keep posting!   :;):

I have responded very well to Lex. I am doing so well that I can study now, and I am happy and content with life. The only side-effect is a little fatigue and dizziness.

I hope everyone else is doing well.

Sukisue, Lexapro has done wonders for my depression and anxiety! Please, please take it. It will help you.

It's wonderful to hear how well you're responding, Basil. Thanks for sharing - I hope your positive experience encourages others.
Wishing you continued wellness...

Thanks for those who responded to my first post.  I just started the Lexapro today.  Just 1/4 of a 10 mg tablet.  Things had just gotten worse to the point where I couldn't get rid of that sick, anxious, scared feeling all the time.  And the worrying is just terrible.  At night I have to take Xanax to sleep. Only 1/4 tablet at a time usually but then naturally I wake up in 4-5 hours & have to take another one to get back to sleep.

It doesn't help any either that I have an ill 20 year old cat & cancelled a trip to see my daughrer & her family. They don't understand my love for my cats  & laid a huge guilt trip on me. But for me, cancelling the trip because of a sick cat, especially one who has been with me for so long, is something that I would do for a sick child.  The guilt trip doesn't help.

Thanks for the encouragement. I don't suppose it's ok to have a glass of wine while taking Lexapro?

Sukisue

I also wanted to ask what dosages of Lexapro you all started on?  5 mg?  Has anyone started on 2.5?  

Suki

:wave: I started with 20mg lexapro and am now down to 10mg at night.  Because of the virus [now into my 5th week of coughing and spluttering ] I upped the doseage to 10 in the morning also because my mood was very low.  

Taking a little amount at first and working up is fine.  After 3-4 days you can take 5mg and then increase to 10mg.  

As for the guilt feelings about the cancelled trip.  They don't know how your cat is - so they don't see the hours you spend watching and tending him.  I did it many times: we only went on day trips to family instead of staying a few days because pussies and the spaniel needed drugs/special food/ extra fuss.  In the last 18 months of their lives we didn't go away on holiday, just days away.   So I could tend to them overnight.  You did right  :nod: - let the family wait.  YOu have enough anxiety to deal with without a trip away from home on top.

Hugs to puss-cat  :hearts:

Don't know about the wine though: I don't drink although I often have a sip of hubby's choice of the day  :;):

Hi, I visited my doctor yesterday after suffering from depression for nearly 8 years but never having the courage to do anything about it.
He has prescribed Citalopram Hydrobromide 20mg to me but I am nothing short of terrified about taking it and am thinking of throwing the prescription in the bin!

The side effects sound terrible and as I had an eating disorder for 3 years the thought of gaining weight fills me with terror. I also live alone and am away on business a lot and am concerned about how the side effects will effect my work as I drive such long distances.

I am also concerned that it has negative effects on the contraceptive pill.

Are the stories about weight gain true - I hear some people have gained up to 20 pounds!

Any guidance would be much appreciated.
Thanks, Vics

Hi Everyone I'm pretty new to this site

I have been taking celexa for the last 8to 9 years and really want to go off this drug. I find that the side effects are really starting to get to me. I am constantly tired, I have muscle aches, headaches and other symptoms. I think I am going to try Lexapro. Has anyone gone from celexa to lexapro. Do you have to stop the celexa before starting the celexa? Anyone who has done this please let me know.  

Thanks Lori

hello vics & ljs. Welcome to the forums!

vics: are you seeing a t? if i may be so blunt, a therapist could help you to better see the forest through the trees. having an eating disorder is rough. i was bulimic for a time and still suffer from some other compulsions. starting lexapro and controlling the constant adrenaline rushes of anxiety and the worthlessness of depression had to become a priority.  on the flip side of that, i did lose ten pounds my first 2 months, i think. after that it did make me crave food more. it's not the drug itself that made me gain weight, but the desire to eat.

please do visit the eating disorder room here. there's lots of folks that share in the same issues that could relate.

like you, i struggled with lots of things before taking the drug, like the stigma of being someone on ADs, worrying about the fatigue, other side effects, etc. i do some travel for my job and a lot of commuting (50 mi a day). it became a non-issue. i took the lex after i got to work. some folks take it at night if they find that it makes them really drowsy. you might have to play with the times to see what best suits you. what i did was start the drug on the weekend, so i could guage my reaction. just a suggestion.

ljs, i have not switched from celexa to lexapro so can't offer advice there. but i do know that you should be off of one or close to, before starting the next. the compounds are too similar and may cause an overdose... I got this from Drugs.com

maybe someone else can give you advice on making the switch. has your doctor given you advice on making the switch?

Hi,

Thanks for the words of advice, I will have a look at the eating disorders forum.

I am on the waiting list to see a therapist at my doctor's surgery. The problem is that the UK NHS is pushed to its limits and I have to wait 2 months.

How have other people coped with thier relationships? I am concerned that my partner has distanced himself from me and I feel abandoned by him when I need him most. He doesn't understand and treats me like  a stranger since I have put the word "depression" to how I have been feeling. It's as though putting the label to it has pushed him away. We have been together nearly 4 years and suddenly he acts as though we have no bond or love between us. I am terrified of losing him.

Vics

Hi: Figured this was the place to introduce yourself.  I have been on Celexa for fifteen days, have not taken it today need a break from the side effects.  I will get to that later.  It was prescribed due to severe major depression disorder, possible generalized anxiety disorder and more then likely post traumatic stress disorder, sheesh. Through in a bunch of suicidal ideations and you are pretty much getting the big picture.  Anyway back to celexa here are the side effects that seem to be growing: tmj pain, headaches, no appetite, barely sleep (I also take calazapham(SP?), my chest feels like it has an infection, have the shivers, oh and I am freaking paranoid.....so this is why I need a break for I do not think this AD likes me.

Take Care

welcome trg!

have you called your prescribing doctor? those side effects sound pretty harsh. i didn't take celexa, but was on lexapro. however, they are pretty similar. lex worked great for me for the GAD and some of the PTSD stuff. unfortunately it did make my jaws ache and clench too. my headaches lasted for the first week and i was ok. i found relief in drinking tons of water. i rarely left the ladies room, but it really relieved some of the se's. please call your doctor on monday. skipping doses won't help either, as they may drag out the side effects even longer. when the se's started getting out of control, i broke the pill in half for about 4-5 days and re-upped the dose. that seemed to help some too. hope you get relief soon.