Celexa

[EndoRN]

You wouldn't even believe where I spent yesterday and last night. In the hospital !! I started having chest pains at work yesterday morning so they admitted me. They did about a zillion tests and they all came up negatory. Bottom line....too much stress (NO ! Really??) And the best part is.....my insurance didn't cover a dang thing. The doctor that admitted me was a friend that I was working with at the time. He was trying to save me time, so admitted me directly (instead of through the ER). Alas....not considered an "emergency" then, so no coverage.

The billing dpt. already called me (Give me a break, I've been home about 5 hrs!) to tell me that I was going to have to pay the entire stay and "how would you like to pay that, maam??" I told her "send it to collections" and hung up.

So anyway, now I'm on Celexa (for my "nerves" LOL). Anybody have any experience with that med (or any of them, for that matter??).

Sigh.....

Your poor poor stressed out friend,

Amy :) :) :)

[shay]

'Nother Celexa user (former) here..... .

It killed my libido. I am off it now, (on effexor), and MUCH.....um......welllll...........INTERESTED. Going off celexa is hell. Withdrawal is misery. When/if you go off it, make sure you taper your dose s-l-o-w-l-y. The withdrawal is very, very bad.

The drug in and of itself is good. Going off it sucks. :uhoh21:

[mario_ragucci]

Aww, endo RN, I am concerned to hear about these chest pains from one of our own. I wish I could do something for your nerves. I would ask you to lay on your stomach and then i would walk all over you, and gently dig the arches of my feet into your spine. All your nerves would be gone. I don't know if that would be better or worse than celexa :-)

[JUSTYSMOM]

I have been on Celexa for about 8 months now. I switched from Prozac which made me extremely tired. The biggest drawback for me (and sorry for hubby too) is NO sex drive. Plus, I have gained weight!

I am going to ask my Dr., the next visit about a small dose of Wellebutrin in addition to Celexa, to counteract the weight gain. I have heard some good things about Wellbutrin and weight loss.

Thanks,

Julie

[EndoRN]

Well, I've been on this a week and a half now. I don't know if I can tell that much of a difference just yet. I think I can. I do feel less anxious.

Haven't noticed any sexual side effects yet ! I hope that doesn't happen. Sorry, but I'd quit taking it if I lost my sex drive! If I don't get sex, than I'll REALLY be anxious. LOL.

One thing, though. I haven't slept very well ever since starting the Celexa. I'm only sleeping a couple nights a week. Tell me this isn't a side effect of this med! Insomnia is one of the symptoms that prompted the Dr. to put me on it in the first place!!

Thanks for all the feedback. :)

Amy :)

[misti_z]

Had a patient started on Celexa by a neurologist d/t migraines from unknown origin. No clinical s/s of depression.

[shabookitty]

Hey Endo RN

I had trouble sleeping too when on Celexa. The Doc said to schedule my med differently. So I began taking it first thing in the morning. It helped a little. I was still sorta restless at night. Needless to say, I stopped taking it! Ha! I would rather be frayed at the ends then sexually frustrated!hee!

[researchrabbit]

For anyone who is having loss of libido with Celexa or other SSRIs (Prozac, Paxil, Luvox, Zoloft, etc), talk to your physician about "drug holidays" (no, this is not about taking cocaine in the South of France :) ).

For some folks, missing a day or two of meds is enough to bring back that interest...but be SURE you talk to your doc and don't just skip. The way it usually works is that you stop drug on Friday or Saturday and resume Monday. Enough should stay in your system to keep the panic/depression/anxiety at bay but enough should be out so that you want sexual activity.

It doesn't work for everyone but it works for many.

OH AND BTW -- Lexapro is now out (a "left-handed" molecule version of Celexa). You may find you have fewer side effects with this one.