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Should I stick with Celexa

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Posted 9/29/2013 3:54 AM (GMT 0)
Dr put me on Celexa for my anxiety and panic attacks. Been six days now. I am miserable. I cannot usually get to sleep till after 1am. Then I wake at 4 every morning the first day I didn't get back to sleep. Once I get back to sleep, I wake every hour or so. Shaking my legs or fidgeting. Usually sweating like crazy even if I am not hot.

I take it first thing in the morning. Most of my morning involves me sitting at my desk in my own little world. My anxiety feels worse. My leg is constantly shaking. Sometimes crazy fast. I feel like I am shaking pretty much constantly on the inside and don't really care much about what is happening around me. I feel like I am in a dream state. I sweat all a lot. I have spurts where I feel hyper and energized, but they are usually short lived.

I am being told by friends who have been on stuff like this that it'll pass, but it may take several weeks. I just don't know if I can take it and tomorrow, I am supposed to double the dosage.

I also take Ativan as needed in case of an attack. It works great. Maybe I'd be better off sticking with the ativan as needed. I did take Buspar for a bit. It seemed to help, but made me exhausted. I was falling asleep by 7 every night. Anyone have any thoughts on Buspar vs Celexa? I almost feel like I'd rather wait out the Buspar making me tired... If that goes away over the way the Celexa makes me feel. I just don't know.. UGH!!

Post Edited (darryl7575) : 9/28/2013 10:32:20 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/29/2013 1:46 PM (GMT 0)
Did you start at a high dose? I'm wondering if you could titrate up slower. I am very sensitive to meds and need to do this myself. Some of what you are reporting I have experienced with Lexapro. The sweating and I do get shaky as well. I told my doc I wanted to increase slow to give my body a chance to level out before hitting it with more. I also changed the time of my dose. I take the Lexapro at night because I was having too many side effects during the day. This way I sleep through most of the side effects (dizziness, nausea, etc.). Maybe talk with your doc about other options to help this process be easier on your system. I also take klonopin as needed to help with some of the anxiety associated with my body adjusting. I know how difficult the process is as I'm still going through it myself (been on this med for a month). I will say some of my symptoms have begun to subside so maybe there is hope that in time you will experience this as well.

So sorry, it's so unpleasant to have things get worse before they get better. I would talk with your doc, maybe the initial dose is too high and you need to take it slower. It's also possible that this med is just not right for you -- although I think it is hard to determine that this early. I do know of people that have had success with Celexa, but we are all different biochemically.

I wish you the best on this journey... know you are not alone!

Peace,
Sue
Posted 9/29/2013 1:49 PM (GMT 0)
Oops, one more thought. If the Buspar makes you tired is it possible for your doc to prescribe this to counter some of the symptoms from Celexa? Maybe that is already the case. When I was increased on the Lexapro I was given an increase in klonopin to help with the anxiety and shakiness from side effects. I don't want to rely on klonopin and I am very careful with how I take it. But I did need help in getting through those initial side effects.
Posted 9/29/2013 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi sue

I am taking 10 mg of Celexa and supposed to go to 20 today. I haven't taken the buspar in about a year. I am not sure I want to take both.

I went ahead and took the new dosage today. I'm scared to death of the side effects, but everything I read says that they will pass and the results are worth it. I certainly hope so.
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