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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Mr. Underhill on December 13, 2003, at 21:52:32
I have been suffering from a myriad of symptoms, involving depression, anxiety, and extreme insomnia. About a year after the symptoms began, I started taking Celexa 20 mg/day. It worked so wonderfully, I thought my symptoms were all in my imagination, so I stopped taking it. One month later, my whole life fell apart, so I began again, 20 mg/day. Ran out of money, so I stopped. Third time i started Celexa, it refused to work. Doctor raised my level, first to 30 mg then to 40. Still refused to work.
We abandoned Celexa and started Effexor, which has never worked as well. Have I ruined my tolerance to Celexa, or can I restart it eventually? It has been about 6 months since I stopped taking it, and I have a major business project beginning. I really need the help that Celexa provided, but Effexor doesn't suffice. HELP! What to do about this Celexa issue? Would Lexapro aviod the immunity?
(NB: I did try Lexapro, while quitting Effexor. I felt so horrible that I ceased taking Lexapro -- but I felt that way for another 4 weeks, until I resumed Effexor, 25 mg/day. Thus, it was the withdrawl from Effexor that caused the problems. Unfortunately, I wasn't on Lexapro long enough to see if it worked. Damn Doctor didn't mention a thing about Effexor withdrawl...)
Posted by Sebastian on December 13, 2003, at 22:08:58
In reply to Advice plz: Celexa stopped working, posted by Mr. Underhill on December 13, 2003, at 21:52:32
I started Celexa at 20 mg! Then 30, then 40, then 60, 80; Now I take 60, works best. I didn't find that 40 was enough to fell good. True when I started 20 I loved it, but it was not enough, slowly I went up each time thinking its not enough till I got to 60. You shoud try 60..!
Posted by brussell on December 14, 2003, at 0:55:47
In reply to Advice plz: Celexa stopped working, posted by Mr. Underhill on December 13, 2003, at 21:52:32
Celexa might work again for you since you've been off it for so long. (My psychiatrist mentioned that you sometimes had to take a break from an AD if it quit working.)
I suggest trying Lexapro first. It is just the bioactive enantiomer of Celexa, and in theory does everything Celexa does at a lower dose and with fewer side effects. In practice, it seems to behave like a different AD--some people respond to one and not the other.
Good luck
Posted by Mr. Underhill on December 14, 2003, at 16:10:13
In reply to Re: Advice plz: Celexa stopped working, posted by brussell on December 14, 2003, at 0:55:47
Thanks for the advice, that's what I wanted to hear. Should I try to resume Celexa or Lexapro *while* remaining on a minimum dosage of Effexor? That would assure a minimum coverage. How long does it take one to adjust to 60 mg/day of Celexa? I was on 40 mgs for a few days, and it felt quite weird. I guess you gotta stick it out.
Also, I was unable to drink alcohol while on Celexa -- it made my head feel really strange. Has anyone else had this feeling? This is important to me, because I'm starting up a winery, and some drinking is essential.
Thanks all.
Posted by brussell on December 14, 2003, at 23:14:39
In reply to Thanks. How should I restart Celexa/Lexapro?, posted by Mr. Underhill on December 14, 2003, at 16:10:13
I don't think that SSRI's are contraindicated while taking Effexor, but this is something you should check with a psychiatrist.
As far as how fast you can titrate the dose--everyone's different. I personally always start low and work up slowly.
Effective dosages of Lexapro are quite lower than Celexa (10 to 20 mg is a normal target dose). It's possible that you might have more tolerance for alcohol on Lexapro, although there's no way to tell until you try it.
Good Luck
Posted by Sebastian on December 15, 2003, at 21:35:33
In reply to Thanks. How should I restart Celexa/Lexapro?, posted by Mr. Underhill on December 14, 2003, at 16:10:13
I noticed the same thing everytime I incressed the dose: Tired, which would compleatly go away in 2-3 weeks. Usualy started to feel better right away.
I had the same face thing at first. I would drink one beer and my face would get hot and turn red around the eyes. Took 2 months but this compleatly went away, was gone for all the other increases, even on 80 mg.
Posted by Sebastian on December 15, 2003, at 21:42:07
In reply to Thanks. How should I restart Celexa/Lexapro?, posted by Mr. Underhill on December 14, 2003, at 16:10:13
Go up: 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg. Soon as the tiredness goes away, or when you desigher more. If you are in a rush skip the 30 mg increment.
This is the end of the thread.
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