Celexa and sessions

****OKINPA: I can't wait to hear how you're doing with the generic Celexa, because I just started it today. I have noticed a couple side effects: fatigue, shaky hands and sort of "in a fog" but I feel much more relaxed than I did yesterday!! I'm praying to God that this medicine will just be a guide to help me begin the journey of counseling. I am only on 10mg and hope I don't have to increase, just need a little something to calm my nerves so that I can actually make it to the counseling sessions without having a panic attack. I was also prescribed ativan to use as an immediate relief until Celexa kicks in. I take half of the .5mg tablets of the ativan. I HATE taking medicine and any weird change in my body makes me paranoid, so I can't believe I'm actually trying this. BUT, I have to, I'm so sick of being a prisoner in my home.

I've been taking Celexa for about 10 years now...in beginning it was 40mg and it took a good 3 weeks to totally be free of the horrible depression/panic/anxiety attacks that came on me like a flood. I was in bad shape when I finally found out what was wrong with me and I was a total basket case for a month before and 3 weeks after. When the drug took effect slowly I came out of this horrible funk. The side effects mostly were sleepiness, loss of sex drive and sensation like many here are experiencing. Gradually I tapered down to 20mg and now 10mg. I don't take it everyday but about every other day and just enough to keep some in my system so that if I nose dive again I up my dose and it doesn't take as long to feel normal. I don't handle trauma, stress or confrontations well and they have a tendency to make me switch into these nose dives. Celexa and dosage works for ME...I believe each one of us has different chemical structures which is why one pill doesn't work for all of us. I think high dosages tend to make you more "zombie" too. I've tried other types of anti depressants and always come back to Celexa because the side effects aren't anything like the others to me. So, please keep trying different meds to see whats good for YOU. If a doctor gives you a hard time, FIND ANOTHER! I suggest a Psychiatric one too. GP's and OB/GYN's aren't trained enough in this area to really know how to prescribe and help treat this and have a tendency to prescribe what they've been given freebies of. Not all Psych's are good either. Keep trying to find the right one please! I know, I've been there. Above all, pray....it helps. :)

No horror stories to report. Was on Lexapro 20mg for several years. Am switching to the generic Celexa soon because that is what insurance will pay. I have had weight gain problems with Lexapro, hope that subsides with the Celexa.

At times I did notice "weird sensations" while taking Lexapro. Seemed to come on if I missed taking the med or took it late. Almost like some type of withdrawal symptom. I just work hard at taking it as prescribed. Lexapro worked well for the Panic/Anxiety though. Will let you know how things go with the Celexa in a few weeks.