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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Lyn on May 19, 2000, at 17:20:41
In reply to Re: Just starting Celexa,to wondering, posted by carolyn on May 19, 2000, at 9:36:04
> I've now been taking celexa for a week. The only improvement I've noticed is that now I go outside and sit on the deck in the sunshine to enjoy the birds and flowers instead of hibernating in a dark, curtained bedroom. It's an improvement, and I remain patient and hopeful. For the past two nights, I only sleep four hours instead of seven, but maybe that's a transient thing. Reading inputs from those of you in the same situation is helpful. Thanks to all.
Carolyn - I've also been on Celexa for one week and already feel a bit better, too. I was unable to sleep the first three nights without waking every 30 minutes, but have now started to get back to my normal 7 hours. I'm hopeful that the insomnia was temporary - as well as the sweating that occurs late every afternoon. One positive side effect - it seems to have curbed my appetite. Good luck to all!
Posted by Steph on May 20, 2000, at 20:59:38
In reply to Re: Just starting Celexa, posted by Rictis on May 5, 2000, at 13:18:03
>
I know you posted this a while ago but I was wondering if anyone has experienced a yucky metallic taste in the mouth as a side effect. I have been on Celexa for 6 days now and i am doing okay so far at 10mg. just a little irritability and lethargy. Nothing incapacitating. Today I have some sinus drainage and this very strange taset in my mouth. I didn't read this as one of the side effects so I was curious if it is common. As I have read everyone is different and have individual reactions. I also find that those who actually are better probaly don't read this list anymore because they have better things to do. But as I am new to this AD experience I will perservere. I am lucky not to be is such dire straits that hope is not available. I think that this med will help me out.
Thanks for any comments.
Steph
Posted by carolyn on May 23, 2000, at 20:38:16
In reply to Re: Just starting Celexa, posted by Steph on May 20, 2000, at 21:01:55
I'm in my tenth day of celexa and I too have a bad taste and drainage - I've tried all kinds of tongue scraping, mouthwash and brushing; no help -
Posted by Steph on May 24, 2000, at 19:06:48
In reply to Re: Just starting Celexa, posted by carolyn on May 23, 2000, at 20:38:16
> I'm in my tenth day of celexa and I too have a bad taste and drainage - I've tried all kinds of tongue scraping, mouthwash and brushing; no help -
Amazingly the next day after I posted to the list--it disappeared. Now I am just sleepy---I yawned too much during an important meeting and I didn't feel I was concentrating at my best. I am drinking a bit more coffee. We'll see--I just uped the dose to 20mg.
Steph
Posted by Steph on May 24, 2000, at 19:07:49
In reply to Re: Just starting Celexa, posted by carolyn on May 23, 2000, at 20:38:16
> I'm in my tenth day of celexa and I too have a bad taste and drainage - I've tried all kinds of tongue scraping, mouthwash and brushing; no help -
Amazingly the next day after I posted to the list--it disappeared. Now I am just sleepy---I yawned too much during an important meeting and I didn't feel I was concentrating at my best. I am drinking a bit more coffee. We'll see--I just uped the dose to 20mg.
Steph
Posted by Daciana on May 25, 2000, at 11:10:42
In reply to Re: Just starting Celexa, posted by Steph on May 24, 2000, at 19:06:48
My biggest thing is the sleep...I am way too tired...all the time...my therapist said that I was sleep deprived but it's different now for some reason...no matter how much sleep I get I am still tired...and I can fall to sleep at the drop of a hat...it's ruining my job!
> Amazingly the next day after I posted to the list--it disappeared. Now I am just sleepy---I yawned too much during an important meeting and I didn't feel I was concentrating at my best. I am drinking a bit more coffee. We'll see--I just uped the dose to 20mg.
> Steph
Posted by celexy on May 26, 2000, at 6:14:16
In reply to Re: Just starting Celexa, posted by carolyn on May 23, 2000, at 20:38:16
it`s been a month now since i first started on celexa and i can say it`s the best i felt now in a long time.i still yawn more but all of the other side effects have all gone away.before celexa i would think of suicide every morning and i couldn`t understand why.i have a great home,two wonderful daugthters,and the man anywoman prays for.so i talked to my doctor about the way i was thinking and he told me i was having a depression,and like someone having diabetes needing insuline,i needed celexa to help me .so i can say this drug has saved my life .i no longer have those sick thoughts and look foward to my life with my family.i hope this can help someone out there.let me know .good luck
Posted by Noa on May 26, 2000, at 10:30:15
In reply to Re:one month on celexa, posted by celexy on May 26, 2000, at 6:14:16
Great to hear you are feeling so much better. Enjoy.
Posted by Archangel on May 26, 2000, at 15:30:16
In reply to Re:one month on celexa, posted by celexy on May 26, 2000, at 6:14:16
Celexy, I too am glad you’re feeling better. I recently discontinued Celexa. While taking it I couldn’t honestly say it was helping. Now that I’ve stopped, I realize it was. Depression has descended upon me again. Like you, I’m thinking suicidal thoughts. Like you, I have a life that other, less fortunate people would envy. My therapist/pdoc said she would write a new prescription for Celexa if I want to resume taking it, however she would rather help me uncover the underlying reasons for my depression. I’ve decided to tough it out. Celexa did help me. Obviously it’s helping you, too. Keep taking it, and revel in the joy that it has helped you rediscover. Best wishes, Michael
> it`s been a month now since i first started on celexa and i can say it`s the best i felt now in a long time.i still yawn more but all of the other side effects have all gone away.before celexa i would think of suicide every morning and i couldn`t understand why.i have a great home,two wonderful daugthters,and the man anywoman prays for.so i talked to my doctor about the way i was thinking and he told me i was having a depression,and like someone having diabetes needing insuline,i needed celexa to help me .so i can say this drug has saved my life .i no longer have those sick thoughts and look foward to my life with my family.i hope this can help someone out there.let me know .good luck
Posted by R. on May 28, 2000, at 23:41:40
In reply to Re: celexa makes me gag, posted by JAN on February 16, 2000, at 7:46:30
My husband has been on celexa for the past 8 months. I had never seen someone so depressed, sad, lonely and no longer caring if he lived.I couldn't stand to see him feel this way I begged him to go for help. The doctor put him celexa and within days he started to smile again. D. has tried prozac,zoloft,paxil, this seems to be working the best. At first it was difficult for him to have a orgasm but that is no longer a problem. Those of you that are hearing all the bad things, give it a chance to work, it just might work for you too.
Posted by jacquie on May 30, 2000, at 20:58:02
In reply to Re:one month on celexa, posted by Archangel on May 26, 2000, at 15:30:16
how are you? Having rough times...contemplating meds again. Prozac maybe? I don't know. Now they say I bruise too easy and should take ssris...ugh. you okay. I haen't hear from you and have wondered alot how you are. I am sorry my message was so brief the other day. I literally could hardly focus I was so beat. my apologies. hope to hear form you...the notify part of th epost doesn;t always notify me. be well, michael.
> Celexy, I too am glad you’re feeling better. I recently discontinued Celexa. While taking it I couldn’t honestly say it was helping. Now that I’ve stopped, I realize it was. Depression has descended upon me again. Like you, I’m thinking suicidal thoughts. Like you, I have a life that other, less fortunate people would envy. My therapist/pdoc said she would write a new prescription for Celexa if I want to resume taking it, however she would rather help me uncover the underlying reasons for my depression. I’ve decided to tough it out. Celexa did help me. Obviously it’s helping you, too. Keep taking it, and revel in the joy that it has helped you rediscover. Best wishes, Michael
>
>
> > it`s been a month now since i first started on celexa and i can say it`s the best i felt now in a long time.i still yawn more but all of the other side effects have all gone away.before celexa i would think of suicide every morning and i couldn`t understand why.i have a great home,two wonderful daugthters,and the man anywoman prays for.so i talked to my doctor about the way i was thinking and he told me i was having a depression,and like someone having diabetes needing insuline,i needed celexa to help me .so i can say this drug has saved my life .i no longer have those sick thoughts and look foward to my life with my family.i hope this can help someone out there.let me know .good luck
Posted by kris on May 30, 2000, at 21:30:10
In reply to Re:archangel, posted by jacquie on May 30, 2000, at 20:58:02
>hi..i am starting on celexa for the first time..i have had depression now midly
since i was 16..i have been on paxil for the longest time but recently noticed
that i was sleeping more..having down time more..and just lacking interest in anything
around me...my concern in starting this drug is will it impair my judgement with the
side effects...i am a nurse..so my mind needs to be clear as possible
and what is the best way to deal with some of the above listed side effects..
utterly confused
>
Posted by Archangel on June 1, 2000, at 14:18:58
In reply to Re:archangel, posted by jacquie on May 30, 2000, at 20:58:02
Jacquie,
You have mail :) Thank you so much for thinking about me. I hope your rough times have passed. I'm thinking of you... Michael
>
> how are you? Having rough times...contemplating meds again. Prozac maybe? I don't know. Now they say I bruise too easy and should take ssris...ugh. you okay. I haen't hear from you and have wondered alot how you are. I am sorry my message was so brief the other day. I literally could hardly focus I was so beat. my apologies. hope to hear form you...the notify part of th epost doesn;t always notify me. be well, michael.
Posted by Hermit on June 3, 2000, at 22:10:24
In reply to A painful experience with Celexa, posted by Stephen on May 14, 2000, at 14:47:54
I haven't read this entire message board, so perhaps this topic has already been broached, but I'm wondering whether the depression I suffer is chemical or behavioral. How can you tell the difference? I know that certain unfortunate experiences in my past have exacerbated the depression, but I also know that I sometimes find justifications for feeling low that, when I think it over later, don't seem sufficient reason for, for example, fantasizing about suicide, etc. All I know is that the doctor at my school was pretty adamant about giving me Celexa after I'd taken an absurdly short questionnier (sp?) that revealed I often am self-critical, tired, all the usual symptoms.
I have been taking Celexa for about two days now, after already wanting to sleep all the time.
Posted by Andre Allard on June 4, 2000, at 5:58:49
In reply to chicken or egg, posted by Hermit on June 3, 2000, at 22:10:24
Your depression is likely caused by both chemical and behavioural factors, as are most cases. ADs will take care of the chemical aspect. The rest is up to you. Psychotherapy, cognitive, as well as behavioural therapy can assist you in improving your depression. I have found behavioural therapy to be the most helpful since I can practice it when ever I feel the need. This type of therapy consists of the "ABC" method. A is for the action or the event which has occured. B is for your belief or your perception of what has just occured. C is for the consequences or your feelings (depression) from your perception (belief) of what has happened (action).
For example:
I break up with a girlfriend (action). I think that I cannot be happy without her and that this is a disaster (belief). I feel very sad and depressed (consequence). Now, what behavioural therapy teaches you is to change your beliefs so that you do not become depressed. Remembering that you cannot change the action, this is how I would "rethink" what has happened.I break up with my girlfriend (action). Although it is disapointing that we have broken up, I know that in time I will get over her and that I will find someone else who I can share my life with (belief). I feel SAD and not DEPRESSED (consequence).
Do you see the difference? I have changed my belief and therefore I no longer feel depressed but sad. To get more info on this type of therapy and others, browse the net. Good luck!
Posted by Hermit on June 4, 2000, at 7:58:36
In reply to Re: chicken or egg, posted by Andre Allard on June 4, 2000, at 5:58:49
Andre, thank you for the advice and example. It was an especially useful example for me, since I have a hard time dealing with break-ups. I too have gone to a behavioral therapist and found it useful. I know that the way I think about things certainly effects my mood, although at times I seem unable to control my thoughts. Anyway, best of luck to you too.
Posted by Noa on June 4, 2000, at 13:00:59
In reply to Re: chicken or egg, posted by Hermit on June 4, 2000, at 7:58:36
Hermit, I agree with Andre that it is nearly impossible to pull apart the nurture-nature aspects of depression. They are mutually influential, and often, a multimodal approach to treatment can help--go after the neurotransmitters while also going after the maladaptive thought patterns, emotional experiences, etc.
Posted by JD on June 4, 2000, at 16:50:33
In reply to Re: more Celexa sharing, posted by erin on April 8, 2000, at 14:36:18
> I have been on Clexa for 5 weeks now. Am a little concerned as I am having suicidal thoughts, also am feeling depressed. I am only taking 20mg and must decide if I should increase the dosage or change to another drug. Thing is I don't have as bad a side-effect on these as on effexor. I am scared that my anxiet will increase with uping the dosage. I have read what some of you have written and maybe I should wait a little longer. Is it worth the try? Anyone out there who suffered from the anxiety and suicide thoughts in the beginning?
Posted by forth meg on June 6, 2000, at 1:21:29
In reply to chicken or egg, posted by Hermit on June 3, 2000, at 22:10:24
The ultimate question -
What's caused by our brain vs. what's caused by our mind?
There's no easy answer.
The terms "endogenous," "chemical," "biological" when applied to depression are really fairly meaningless.
Truth is:
1. Life Events and Stresses can trigger a clinical depression that's indistinguishable from depressions which are purely "endogenous" and can be treated the same way. That's why the distinction between "endogenous" and "reactive" depression is now largely obsolete.
2. When you're depressed you tend to magnify negative events (so you think the depression is "caused" by an event, when in fact depression depression is "causing" you to feel much worse about it than you otherwise would)
3. Depression causes depressogenic behaviors. It leads to vicious cycles (oversleeping, overeating, avoidance, procrastination, withdrawal) that make depression worse.
So it really IS the chicken and the egg - it's very hard to know what's "chemical" and what's "environmental."And maybe it doesn't matter.
> I haven't read this entire message board, so perhaps this topic has already been broached, but I'm wondering whether the depression I suffer is chemical or behavioral. How can you tell the difference? I know that certain unfortunate experiences in my past have exacerbated the depression, but I also know that I sometimes find justifications for feeling low that, when I think it over later, don't seem sufficient reason for, for example, fantasizing about suicide, etc. All I know is that the doctor at my school was pretty adamant about giving me Celexa after I'd taken an absurdly short questionnier (sp?) that revealed I often am self-critical, tired, all the usual symptoms.
>
> I have been taking Celexa for about two days now, after already wanting to sleep all the time.
Posted by D on June 7, 2000, at 7:37:35
In reply to Re: more Celexa sharing, posted by JD on June 4, 2000, at 16:50:33
JD,
I would try to see if you can hang in there w/ Celexa for another week or two. If after that point, you still feel bad, I would talk with your doctor about changing meds or upping the dose. I've had good results with Zoloft (50mg), so that may be an option for you. I wish you the best! D
Posted by JD on June 7, 2000, at 21:12:50
In reply to Re: more Celexa sharing, posted by D on June 7, 2000, at 7:37:35
> JD,
> I would try to see if you can hang in there w/ Celexa for another week or two. If after that point, you still feel bad, I would talk with your doctor about changing meds or upping the dose. I've had good results with Zoloft (50mg), so that may be an option for you. I wish you the best! D
D Thanks for the words. I am already feeling a little better. Am having difficultly identifing what are "normal" feelings and drug feelings. Having been in drug fog for a long time, I am finally feeling things. All I need to do now is wait and see if I can handle these new feelings or if I will revert to the extreme depression again. Right now I have some hope and that is good. Thanks again for your response. I did try Zoloft and bounced off the walls. Different strokes huh! Thanks for the input. JD
Posted by D on June 13, 2000, at 8:57:36
In reply to Re: more Celexa sharing, posted by JD on June 7, 2000, at 21:12:50
JD,
It's great to hear that you are feeling better. It IS difficult to distinguish sometimes what are "drug" feelings and what are "normal" feelings. I guess whatever feelings you can deal with are the ones to go for. It's hard to know sometimes. I hope that things continue to get better.D
Posted by celexy on June 15, 2000, at 9:45:46
In reply to Just starting Celexa, posted by Wondering on May 4, 2000, at 13:54:21
i feel alot better about myself now.most side affects were mild and well worth it all.i want to wish you all the courage in dealing with life ups and downs.keep taking your celexa and good luck,everything takes time,have patience,it will pay off.
Posted by RobX on June 22, 2000, at 15:45:31
In reply to Celexa Side Effects, posted by Marie on March 19, 2000, at 18:18:55
>This site is helpful. I was just put on Celexa today and I was a little nervous about taking it. I was on Paxil, but I didn't like the decreased sexual functioning. I noticed some people have this problem with Celexa, but it appears to go away after a while. Is this true? Anything else I should know about Celexa? Any comments (pro or con) are welcome. I'm working on my anxiety in social situations as well as depression. Hope Celexa is the one, living in San Francisco makes it tempting to go to the Golden Gate Bridge one last time and say bye bye. I'm getting so tired of the strain and drain of living. Well, I better take my meds.
Posted by RocLex on August 10, 2000, at 17:04:02
In reply to Re: Celexa Side Effects, posted by Valley Girl on March 20, 2000, at 13:43:12
I was taking 20mg of Celexa since March 2000. A few weeks ago
my doc increased the dosage to 40mg. I felt more irritable, restless,
and just plain bitchy. Now, I'm taking 20mg of Prozac. I am wondering,
how long before I notice any effects? Instant or do I have to wait a few
more weeks. I've been so darn depressed lately...
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