KittenMoon Posted September 8, 2006 Share Posted September 8, 2006 Well, I started celexa last night, as prescribed for my anxiety and depression. I feel all medicine heady today, as well as having a headache. For others who have taken SSRIs, what should I expect as reasonably normal side effects early on? What long term side effects have you experienced? I know every person is different on every SSRI (isn't that weird?) but I'd just like to hear other's experiences. Link to post Share on other sites
Rikka Posted September 8, 2006 Share Posted September 8, 2006 I was on a mild dose of Celexa (10mg) for 2 years on and off. I cannot recall any severe or odd side effects (but it was a while ago). For the last year and a half I have been on another SSRI (Paxil) at a moderate dosage and compared to other medications, my side effects have been low. From what i have been told it takes a good month or so until your system adjusts to the medication, and that is usually the point when the side effects subside completely. I have heard people talk about getting really jittery while adjusting to Celexa, but I never experienced that personally. Some will suggest staying away from coffee while on it (increased jitteriness) But I am a coffee adict and am still going strong while on SSRIs - see what works for you. I am sure you were told that alcohol is a pretty general no-no as well while on a medication for depression. I myself prescribe to that one, merely from personal experimentation. But you have to find what works for you. Yeah, that's all I've got (and I am in no way a medical professional or practitioner just a fellow sufferer, so everything I have said is anecdotal) Good luck with your treatment and if you want to talk VIA PM or whatever, great. Link to post Share on other sites
laRubiaBonita Posted September 8, 2006 Share Posted September 8, 2006 i was on prozac.... initially i itched, especially on my sides. it also gave me a really dry mouth...... i chewed alot of gum. Maybe that is why i cannot stand gum now? i never had any "sexual side effects" that i could tell. oh, i took mine before i went to bed, and i had the most off the wall vivid-crazy...yet not bad, dreams.... very entertaining! Link to post Share on other sites
Rikka Posted September 8, 2006 Share Posted September 8, 2006 i never had any "sexual side effects" that i could tell. oh, i took mine before i went to bed, and i had the most off the wall vivid-crazy...yet not bad, dreams.... very entertaining! Me neither (sexual side effects) still as randy as ever!!! Same with the dreams (I have now switched my meds to morning time) I was having the most bizzare and vivid dreams. My doctor told me that ins't usually an effect... so I said whatever. It was fun though. Link to post Share on other sites
2sunny Posted September 8, 2006 Share Posted September 8, 2006 I asked my doctor to "GET ME OFF THIS" because I could NOT for the life of me have an orgasm while I was taking it.... Wellbutrin seems to be keeping me stable for the time being... no side effects.. Link to post Share on other sites
Author KittenMoon Posted September 9, 2006 Author Share Posted September 9, 2006 My doc said alcohol was alright in moderation- but I'm reading conflicting info on that- any opinions? I know alcohol is a depressant, but I have never felt depressed on it. Actually, I usually feel LESS depressed after a night of alcohol (the next day). Link to post Share on other sites
magichands Posted September 9, 2006 Share Posted September 9, 2006 I know alcohol is a depressant, but I have never felt depressed on it. Actually, I usually feel LESS depressed after a night of alcohol (the next day). (Haha...that once confused me too.) One of the things alcohol does is slow down the whole body, especially the nervous system. It's a depressant in that context - not the one you are thinking of. One could say that alcohol (talking dependency here) can contribute to the onset of depression. http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/nutrition/drinks_alcohol.shtml Link to post Share on other sites
Rikka Posted September 10, 2006 Share Posted September 10, 2006 As a "drug" alcohol is a depressant. (Just like caffiene is a stimulant). So if you are using an anti-depressant it is counter-intuitive to add a chemical depressant to your system (such as magichands explained alcohol as a depressant). In moderation, yeah, you should be fine. Have a glass of wine with a meal. Have a couple of drinks after work etc. Binge drinking... probably not a good idea. Alcohol is a funny thing. The reason I avoid it is because I have bipolar disorder (mixing that and alcohol is generally not a good idea). I actually crave alcohol (aka - desire to go out and get rip roaring drunk) when I am on an upswing. The desire for a "drug" that will help bring me down. Or so my wonderful therapist explained the counter-intuitive logic to me. Link to post Share on other sites
reservoirdog1 Posted September 10, 2006 Share Posted September 10, 2006 For about a year after my marriage ended, I was on Celexa. Honestly, I didn't notice very much in terms of "effect" -- I was still pretty messed up emotionally. (Although, maybe it would've been worse without it.) It evidently had some effect, because at one point I tried to go off it cold turkey and I started feeling like my brain was constantly getting electric shocks. About a year ago I was put on Cipralex. Only stayed on about four months. It's very similar to Celexa, but it worked very quickly for me -- kicked in after about 2 weeks. The side effect I experienced is called "inorgasmia" -- I was interested, I could do the deed, it just took forever for me to finish. Kinda sucked, too, since I was dating somebody at the time. Link to post Share on other sites
scarletletter Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 During the first couple of weeks you can expect to feel jittery, nervousness, possilby even sleepnessness. Once you adjust will you be so glad that you are taking it. It totally turned my life around. I was on celexa for 3 years and then about a year ago switched to lexapro. Both do about the same thing but I think I had plataued on the celexa. People that I work with know when I have skipped a dose or 2 (which you should not do) because I get very "bitchy". It has saved many relationships for me and spared me a couple of nervous breakdowns. I always take mine at bedtime and it usually helps me to sleep also. I wake up a little tired but as the day goes on, I feel great. Link to post Share on other sites
kitesurfer Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 "inorgasmia" here too--but all the girls loved it! Link to post Share on other sites
Author KittenMoon Posted September 12, 2006 Author Share Posted September 12, 2006 "inorgasmia" here too--but all the girls loved it! Once again men get the easy end of things. Still feeling a little "out of it" on these things. But its helping control the anxiety already. Link to post Share on other sites
kitesurfer Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 another solution to the anxiety drugs. for me...anyway. 10 years ago when wife #2 left me because of her infidelity, i was shattered and could not deal with life. so i took paxil (ever ending hard on) and then switched to zoloft. zoloft worked but i didn't like being drug dependent or the way it made me feel, as in 'out of it.' so, this time when my wife #3 planned and executed her "escape" of her 7 year prison term as she put it, i was determined not to become a zombe again. so i turned to the herb of my youth and it has worked for me very well. my trouble times came when coming home to an empty house...intense feelings of helplessness and panic. so when i felt it coming on, a used the miracle cure that God provided and so far i have managed. not recreational use at all, but effective emotional control. guarantees a good night sleep and a good meal--neither of which i was getting. Link to post Share on other sites
DeeBrod83 Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 Also, everyone reacts differently to different drugs. Sometimes if you have side effects on one that dont' subside within a month, they can switch you to a different drug that may not have any effects on you. I take a low dose of lexapro and have no real side effects.... Link to post Share on other sites
happymom Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 has anyone gained weight after taking zoloft over several months?? I'm on 50 milligrams a day and 300 of wellbutrin. Link to post Share on other sites
MsArtful Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 Anti-D's can make you feel numb, and often don't take away the sadness but rather your ability to express it. Link to post Share on other sites
la_luna Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 Three years ago during my first bout of serious suicidal depression i was prescribed 20mg Seroxat. From the first pill i experienced HORRIFIC hollucinations and heard imaginary banging sounds and voices. I could not physically function and spent my days on an emotional flatline. I suffered severe insomnia and night-terrors. After just two weeks my suicidal thoughts worsened and i slashed my wrists on a window. I stopped taking the pills I suffered withdrawals that an ex-heroin addict friend likened to 'cold turkey': muscle spasms and stomach cramps that left me in crumpled anguish for 7 days. I still have the unique night terrors. Once i recovered from the physical side effects of the antidepressants, i bagan slowly to rebuild my life with great success. Personally, i find a good counsellor is far far more effective, making me more self aware and able to cope with my emotions and the behaviour that sometimes contributes to my unhappiness. best of luck x Link to post Share on other sites
SixthSt.Girl Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 I stopped taking Celexa after the second day because it made me so groggy I couldn't function. It was difficult just doing things around the apartment. I wasn't prepared to spend another day like that, even if the side effects gradually went away. I was able to cope on my own, but lately have had several events happen all at once that were just too much to handle. I am now taking Lexapro. My doctor had wanted to put me on it before, but it wasn't covered on my old insurance. I've been taking it for a week. I feel tired for about an hour or so when the medicine kicks in, but it's nothing like Celexa - I'm able to function normally. It helps with my moods, but I go through these periods throughout the day where I'm almost manic - I have a lot of energy, and my mom says I'm almost "too happy." I'm guessing it's just the medicine trying to stabilize my moods, and that this is temporary. At least I'm not crying all the time, and I'm no longer dwelling on past events. I don't want to become a new person - I'm afraid that it may change my outlook too much. I want to be able to feel emotions - it's hard to explain. I'm commited to sticking with Lexapro, though. If you want something with few side effects, Lexapro may be something you want to look into. It can take a few attempts before you find the right AD. Link to post Share on other sites
Brittanyjean06 Posted October 4, 2006 Share Posted October 4, 2006 Some people say to just deal with anxiety considering there are alot of disadvantages from taking anti Ds. I just got subscribed to zoloft today because of my intense anxiety. I don't want pills that make me feel out of it, zombified or any where near the feeling of being drunk. I want something that helps with anxiety and possibly calm down my temper. I also don't want to change as a person from medication, or become numb and a mindless fool. I think some people have thos effects of meds, some meds . Some don't Link to post Share on other sites
Author KittenMoon Posted October 4, 2006 Author Share Posted October 4, 2006 Some people say to just deal with anxiety considering there are alot of disadvantages from taking anti Ds. I just got subscribed to zoloft today because of my intense anxiety. I don't want pills that make me feel out of it, zombified or any where near the feeling of being drunk. I want something that helps with anxiety and possibly calm down my temper. I also don't want to change as a person from medication, or become numb and a mindless fool. I think some people have thos effects of meds, some meds . Some don't Brit- give the meds a week or so even if you feel out of it. I felt BIZARRE for about a week, but then it started to go away and I felt normal again, and better than before. The first few days were the worst. If after a couple weeks you still feel really funky, talk to your doc about a dif med. Good luck, I hope your anxiety gets as reduced as mine did, because it feels good. Link to post Share on other sites
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