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Celexa & Menopause???????

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Posted 5/26/2010 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
Just wandering if anyone has been put on Celexa for severe menopause symptoms? Does this drug usually cause a weight gain? And when is the best time to take it...am or pm?...about how long does it take for you to be able to tell a difference with depression?.... Really appreciate your help...thanks!!!
Posted 5/26/2010 3:39 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Starsandstripes,

Welcome to the depression forum. It sounds like you were just put on celexa, so expect it to take four to six weeks to reach it's full effect. Though you might notice a change before then. Which would be great.

Have you googled celexa? It is easy to do to get some answers about the medication. Did the pharmacy give you a sheet of paper with the side effects? I believe you can also do a quick search on the forum and it will take you to some posts about it. Not positive of that. But a lot of antidepressants do cause weight gain, but a lot of it is the timing too and our ages. Often we do less when we are depressed so we burn less calories. So it has a lot to do with lifestyle and how much you eat. Being you are menopausal, you have to take that into consideration. I am too, but right now I am losing weight. Slow, but it is happening. I have been over weight for a while and it is nice to see the pounds coming off.

The doctor should tell you when to take the celexa, I would assume if he didn't specify, it might not matter. But with the family of medications that it is in (effexor, lexapro, etc.) I am inclined to think it would be morning. But your doctor should tell you when to take it. Or it should be on the medication bottle.

I am going to do a search on celexa and if I come up with any specific information, I will post it.

Hugs, Karen

From what I can see, there is no mention of weight gain with celexa.  But everybody is different, so you never know.  Though it didn't mention it in what I read.  It did mention anorexia though.  So there may be the opposite results.  And it said it could be taken in the morning or the evening.  That is what I have found so far.

Posted 5/27/2010 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
Karen, Thanks for your reply!...I was put on Celexa for menopause, not so much for the depression but for the hot flashes and night sweats, I've had up to 17 of them in one night and up to 22 of them during the day. They dont want to treat with me estrogen because of my past history of cancer. I just couldn't anything that say they treat menopause with Celexa...and it doesn't sound like it's going to be a quick fix either!...Again Thanks...Stars & Stripes
Posted 5/27/2010 2:06 AM (GMT 0)
I am going through the hot flashes too and so hot at night. It has been in the 90's here as of late. I don't have as many as you do. I don't think they would put me on estrogen either because I had microcalcification in my breast and had to have a fine needle biopsy. I was on estrogen then and then they took me off of it. I guess I am just going to have to deal with this. I haven't cycled in the last two months. And before that it was every other month. I will be so glad when this is over. If it ever ends.

I hope that you feel better soon. Thanks for posting.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 10/16/2012 1:58 PM (GMT 0)
I see this is an older thread, but this perimenopause is new to me. I went from feeling fine, to waking up with weakness in my legs and internal shaking, jitters. I went to doctor all my blood work came back fine, but they didn't check my hormone levels. I was given Ativan 1mg and would break it in half, but that wasn't doing much good so I started taking the full dose. I can get by taking two per day, but I don't want to feel like I have to have them. I saw where someone was given Celexa for their symptoms, is that mainly for the hot flashes or does it have a calming affect on all the symptoms of perimenopause? Also, my head has a funny feeling in it that I can't explain. It's not like I'm dizzy, but maybe floaty. It feels like my equilibrium is off, if that's even possible. If I can stay busy, getting out to do things with my family, working, I feel a sense of normalcy and these feeling don't bother me. It's when I sit down, or I'm by myself that I get all anxious. Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Posted 10/16/2012 2:19 PM (GMT 0)
Its Different,

I am 51, and don't have MP symptoms yet, but if you are taking Ativan 2x day I think you should go back to your doctor and discuss other medications and review your symptoms and possible side effects again. Maybe Celexa is not the best medication for you or the dose is too low.

I take Ativan myself, on an as needed basis. It is an addicting medication so you want to be careful with it.

Perhaps others on this forum can give you better info, however I would be more proactive with my doc.

Stay strong and keep posting we are here to support and listen

Trina
Posted 10/16/2012 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
BnotAfraid,
Thank you - that has been my worry since it was prescribed. I sure don't want to feel I have to have a drug to live. I wonder if there is any natural remedy anyone has tried that has worked for them.
Posted 10/16/2012 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
It's Diff

go to the posting Alternative treatments to Depression and read those responses, see of anything helps.

Trina
Posted 10/16/2012 3:28 PM (GMT 0)
I had perimenopause for years and went through my change in the last three years. I am 53. I am glad that it is over, though I did have hot flashes last week. I hope it goes easy for you guys. I didn't have a hard time with the actual menopause, but the perimenopause sucked.

There are so many things that you can do besides medication and therapy. Mindfulness as Trina mentioned, and proper diet. Walking everyday helps me both mentally and physically.

Do you have any symptoms such as pain and fatigue? If so, I would check the fibromyalgia forum and go to "fibro 101" and take a look at fibromyalgia symptoms and see if you have any. Be forwarned though, there are a lot.

I sure do hope that you feel better soon. Feel free to start a thread of your own also if you would like to introduce yourself.

Take care and have a great day...

Hugs, Karen
Posted 10/16/2012 5:26 PM (GMT 0)
When I first started I thought I was getting MS. That's why I went to the doctor, my feet were tingling/burning. The next week my left arm started doing the same thing, and I was having chest pain. I was admitted overnight, did the stress test (I was so proud of myself) everything checked out okay with my heart. I explained to the nurse how I was feeling and of course had a break down and she offered me Ativan. I told her I had been prescribed that the week before but would only take 1/2 the dose, but it wasn't helping the symptoms. She told me to take it to calm myself down and within an hour or two all the burning/tingling in my feet was gone and it also left my arm. If I can stay busy I'm fine. When I get the weird feeling in my head I think it causes me to panic, and I start self-diagnosing myself with what could be wrong there. I will check out the other threads you suggested and I appreciate being able to talk to others that have gone through the similar feelings.
Posted 10/16/2012 9:02 PM (GMT 0)
Anxiety has a lot of physical type symptoms. It can feel like a heart attack or have other types of symptoms. It sounds like the ativan is helping you.

Yea, self diagnosing can get you into trouble. I think things can get magnified. I remember once my leg was warm and pink by my knee. My girlfriend who at that time was an lpn. She told me if it was hot and red to go to the hospital. I almost went anyway. but at the last moment I changed my mind. I thought I had a blood clot. But I didn't. I don't know what made me decide not to go. But I am glad that I didn't. I would of felt rather dumb if I would have. But in my mind I think I magnified the symptoms. And I think anxiety caused it.

Learn to take life one day at a time and try to roll with the punches. It can be done, and when it is, we are a lot less anxious.

Take care and have a good day all...

Hugs, Karen
Posted 10/17/2012 12:03 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the encouragement "getting by". Each day put one front in front of the other and eventually we'll reach the top of the mountain. I've never been sickly, and this just hit me all at once and it is overwhelming!
Posted Today 6:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hello. I came across this post today. I hope you dont mind that I am posting here, but I'm at a loss and need some advice/information. I am a 38 year old breast cancer survivor and have come here looking for answers. I think I may be in premenopause, but cannot be entirely sure. I've seen my dr and had blood work done which shows my hormone levels borderline menopausal, but as my dr said, they can fluctuate from day to day. The problem is you mention 'hot flashes' to your doctor they automatically assume your are in menopause or premenopause. I've been having what I guess could be called hot flushes that start in my head. I get a feeling that comes over me where I feel disorientated, kind of foggy, then get warm and tingly. I've also noticed I have reflux at times. Also been feeling moody and depressed at times. Is this normal? I'm an 8 year breast cancer survivor and am terrified it is something so much worse. Am I reading too much into things? Please help. I appreciate any information or advice. Thank you.
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