*Health issues>>>Mental Health issues

Please tell me your experience on taking Celexa...?

Issue
I have Obsessive Complusive Disorder and it's causing me to have severe depression. I am having alot of trouble controlling my emotions. I went to the doctor yesterday and unloaded my concerns and he perscribed me Celexa. I have already gained 30 pounds in the last 2 years with out taking anything for my depression and I have been having trouble getting it off. I am concerned this drug will cause me to gain even more weight. Can anyone tell me how it has helped or effected their life? I have not started taking it yet.... and I want to know what's in store for me if I do.

Best Tip

Since your doctor has prescribed Celex you can take it. What is the doseage (in mg/day) prescribed. Do not exceed the prescribe dosage at any rate. If you can reduce it slowly it will be better. About Celexa - read -

Citalopram or nitalapram is an antidepressant drug used to treat depression associated with mood disorders. It is also used on occasion in the treatment of body dysmorphic disorder and anxiety. Citalopram belongs to a class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It is sold under the brand-names Celexa鈩?(U.S., Forest Laboratories, Inc.),

Citalopram is safe and well tolerated in the therapeutic dose range of 20 to 60 mg/day. Distinct from some other agents in its class, Citalopram exhibits linear pharmacokinetics and minimal drug interaction potential, making it a better choice for the elderly, or comorbid patients.

Citalopram can have a number of adverse effects. In clinical trials, over 10% of patients reported fatigue, drowsiness, dry mouth, increased sweating (Hyperhidrosis), trembling, headache and/or dizziness, sleep disturbances, arrythmia, blood pressure, nausea/vomiting, impotence and ejaculatory problems. In rare cases (around over 1% of cases), some allergic reactions, convulsions, mood changes, anxiety and confusion have been reported.

Others
I took Celexa for depression (not weight gain). It is the only medication that helped my depression, unfortunantly my insurance stopped paying for it so I had to switch to something else that doesn't work. I think Celexa could help your depression but you should ask for something for your eating problem, like a prescription diet pill. I didn't eat more or less on the celexa, it's just for the depression part. If your eating because you are depressed it may help. Unfortunantly ther eis no miracle cure, and pills won't give you a miraculaous recovery. They provide subtle changes that may or may not help. Ask for a diet pill.
I was prescribed a low dosage of Celexa a few years ago to treat slight anxiety problems. I no longer take it because I don't need to , thankfully, but when I was taking it I didn't notice any adverse affects from it. It did not cause any weight gain and no other side affects that I noticed. But, I'm sure that like anything else it affects people differently especially depending on the differences in the dosage amounts. Good Luck and I hope it helps you feel better : )
former Celexa user
Are you taking anything else?
I've been on Welbutrin for about 7 years and this spring, I had to admit that I was depressed again. It came on so slow and I realized it during a routine check-up when the doctor gave me a questionare.
He put me on Celexa. I feel better. I have my feelings still and the main side affect is PMS decrease and I actually feel like doing the things I have to do. I have OCD "tendencies" and have had depression for a while. I haven't had weight gain with the Celexa and I do feel better, although it's not just a "magic pill", you have to do counseling,etc with it. I hope things work out. See another doctor if you want another opinion. The very first time I was diagnosed, the doctor prescribed prozac....that would have sent me over the edge since my depression shows up as mania or hyperness. I saw a real Psych who explained to me which med & why.
Hi I was on celexa a year ago, I didn't experience any weight gain from it. However being from the Paxil family it made some of my symptoms worse, like irritability...Apparently my personal chemistry does not agree with anything in the Paxil family of anti-depressants. Something to keep in mind if it does not work, trying another family of anti-depressants. Good luck
I currently take Citalopram (the generic version of Celexa). I have found that it really helps with my OCD tendencies. I have not fully been diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, but I have the onset of the disorder, per my therapist.

I have also found that Celexa really helps with my depression as well (I AM clinically depressed). Because it is the serotonin reuptake inhibitor, it seems that it really helps me function more effectively daily. I don't have spells of the extreme fatigue and listlessness that I had when I wasn't on any anti-depressants, which both of the symptoms I have been told go along with depression. Of course, I'm not as emotional either. There used to be days where I could not even hardly get out of bed without physically pulling myself from the pillow... now that's not so much a problem for me. I, also, feel that I have more confidence in myself to do the things that I want to do... And that maybe perhaps be because I'm not constantly paranoid about what others are thinking about me and so immersed in my depression.

Side effects have been sometimes hard to deal with, however, for me. I have not gained any weight from taking Citalopram; however, I do have bad sleep disturbances. I don't have any trouble actually falling asleep, but I wake up sometimes twice a night either wide-awake or from a very vivid and strange dream that I just can't seem to understand. I wake up EVERY night at least once. It's starting to become a real pain because I'm tired then when I do have to get up in the morning, so am considering talking to my doctor about switching medications.

However, I feel that you should give Celexa a try since your doctor prescribed it. If it weren't for the side effects I'm experiencing, it would be what I call a "miracle" drug for me. Hope this helped... and good luck.