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Posted 1/23/2012 2:57 AM (GMT 0)
i am  on celexa for 4 weeks and 2 days

i am still on 10mgs because after my first week i bumped it up to 20mg and that night i had horrible diarhea and stomach aches and trouble sleeping . so my dr said stay on 10mg and then bump it up if i want

now if i bump it up after 4 weeks and its on my system will i still get side effects or no

should i just stay on 10mg i am somewhat better than before i heard it can take 6-8 weeks to work fully and im on week 4

so should i stick with 10mg

thanks

Posted 1/23/2012 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
well i would like to say i have panic disorder for over 25 years now had every test in the book done on my heart ... chest... , and i take zanix 2mg 4 times a day and i still have them over the years i started on a low dose of 5mg then 10 and so forth but it is only a 3 hr drug remember that ... i also have chrons and that dont help with the panic problems... but i have to say i found playing ether xbox or ps3 helps faster to stop an attack if i get my mind off it quicker the faster it stops ... i am not a gamer nor do i play them no more then i need to but if you find a game you like dont matter what it is try it and see , it helps me .... i even play on pogo.com at times its free as a guest and eats the time of the pain and thoughts i am having ..and i also found some foods will cause an attack so watch what you eat see if you have one if so try to avoid those foods ... gas build up in the stomic is common for me and that sometimes starts an attack ,,,, and i also had some of them when i was in the army they dont understand but i got out on my ets date and seen a doctor and yes a counselor that does help some ...good luck friends
Posted 1/23/2012 3:17 AM (GMT 0)
Hmmm ok
Posted 1/23/2012 3:36 AM (GMT 0)
Hi bigtex and welcome!

Actually, you gave some excellent advice;) Diversions of any kind have a great effect of stopping panic in its tracks. Video games, hobbies, movies, sociaizing, puzzles, ect...it depends on one's interest...but they are all distracting from the anxiety.

Thanks for the helpful advice, it was nice of you to take time to help a fellow member. You are absolutely welcome to post anytime with questions, sharing or when you need support. This is a caring community, and we are glad you have joined us!

Talk to you soon,

Scaredy Cat
Posted 1/23/2012 3:47 AM (GMT 0)
but all this still isnt answering my question
anyone out there with advice on celexa
Posted 1/23/2012 10:26 AM (GMT 0)
hey ameyers6,

I had a very similar experience to you when trying to up the dose of celexa. My psychiatrist told me to just increase it from 10 to 20 mg all of a sudden and I freaked out and had the worst panic attack ever.. and so ended up going back to 10 mg and then VERY SLOWLY increasing it to 20 mg (which required some pill splitting skills haha..) but I think I did 15 mg for a week or two before trying to take the full 20 mg again.. and eventually my body got used to the full dose and it was good and did help me a lot.

I can't say if 10 mg will be good enough for you or not because 1) I didn't stay at that amount and 2) it affects everyone differently. If you feel like you would still like to be doing better than you are now then maybe try again to slowly increase it. Make sure you tell your doctor what you're doing though and keep him/her informed of side effects, etc. I'm obviously not a doctor and so am only speaking from my own experience.

Good luck and let us know how it's going!

toutserabon
Posted 1/23/2012 2:23 PM (GMT 0)
ameyers6

I have responded to many of your questions re Celexa however the final decision has to be yours on whether or not to stay on the Celexa or not.  I know your health anxiety is causing you to have so many problems with making a decision re this medication and I understand that.

My last response to your thread of yesterday:

Meds work different for each person.  I liked Celexa but still used some Valium as needed for high anxiety days.  No med will take you anxiety away completely.  It will help you feel better so you can learn to deal with your anxiety through therapy etc.

 

Be Well and remember this takes a lot of hard work so one step at a time in your journey.

Also here is the link to another thread of yours re Celexa:

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=9&m=2314435

Perhaps reviewing what the members have posted to you in this thread may help you in making your decision but remember we can only offer our own personal experiences and no 2 people are the same.

I wish you peace,

Kitt

Posted 1/23/2012 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi ameyers6

Like kitt said it really is a personal choice weather you decide to go on a AD, increase dosage, lower dosage etc etc. I was on celexa and found it to be a good medication and helped with my symptoms without to many side effects.

When I first took a AD for my anxiety I was very focused on that medication and felt it was going to make me better. AD will only help to ease symptoms so a lot of work is required personally to first identify the cause and triggers of the anxiety and second to learn ways of dealing with the anxiety so it does not have such a negative affect.

I had to first accept that for me my anxiety was chronic which was hard for me to do but once I did I was able to work at getting better. For me medication does play a big part in keeping my symptoms lower but I have to work daily on keeping my life as settled as possible.

Speak with your doctor regarding an increase and follow there advise or if you have a pdoc speak with them as they are the experts when it comes to medication. You have a good support network here and we are always here to listen and give advise when we can. Keep posting.

Hibee
Posted 1/23/2012 4:21 PM (GMT 0)
If you are not feeling any better, then split some of your pills in half and take one and a half pills (15 mgs) for a week or two and then try to go up to the full 20 mgs.

With any SSRI, most people do experience some side effects while increasing the dosage, but it's nowhere near as bad as just starting. You might experience an increase in your anxiety for a bit, but it will settle.

But that said, I do agree with Kitt....It is personal choice as to whether you want to increase or not. If you are feeling that the 10 mgs isn't helping like you think it should, perhaps an increase is in order, but you have to make that decision on your own, and of course, with your doc....
Posted 1/23/2012 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
i know my trigger is thinking or worrying about seizures
Posted 1/23/2012 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hey there,

Try taking a look at these links and see if there is something that you would be willing to try to help you stop worrying about seizures.

Self Help sites with breathing/relaxation exercises instructions

Panic attack relief exercises:

http://www.healthyplace.com/

http://www.stress-relief-exercises.com/

http://www.ehow.com/video_4405003_breathing-exercises-panic-attacks.html

http://www.psybersquare.com/anxiety/panic_relax_I

When you get these thoughts try to calm down and remember the power of anxiety.  I know it's hard, because the feelings we all get are so very real.  And our minds immediately jump to the worst conclusions about the smallest of things. Knowing  what  your trigger is can at least help you know that it's anxiety and not something serious.

When you catch yourself actually worrying about seizures then immediately start thinking about something else, anything. Break the cycle of spinning thoughts.

Be well and know we care.

Kindly,

Kitt

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