Celexa for Anxiety and Stress User Reviews (Page 4)

• Eva...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 4, 2016

"I started on 10mg after quitting drinking and starting AA, and I had to increase my dose to 20. So I've been on 20 for a week, and I was on 10 for about 3 weeks before. I feel great. My anxiety level is so low and manageable, and so is my negative thinking and my anger towards everyone. I have the right perspectives, just couldn't apply them before, and now I find it easy to. I don't freak out, get mad, irritated, and frustrated like I used to. Life is easier to handle, but you still need tools. So far, my sex drive is still there, though it might take a little more effort to orgasm, but not because I don't feel it as much, but because it's hard to reach a certain level fast enough. My cravings for alcohol and sweet foods are very low. I'm motivated."

• 32y...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 7, 2015

"I am on week three of 10mg Celexa. I felt a difference in my mood immediately. My husband too finds I am much calmer. I was a mixed bag of anxiety, irritability, anger, sadness, stress, mind racing, and exhaustion. I used to snap at every little thing. The mood shifting was not only hard on me but my family as well. I couldn't live like that anymore. Although I was prescribed Celexa, I did not rush out to buy it. I guess because I was ashamed about having to medicate myself. It took me two months to admit it to myself. I now regret not starting it earlier! It has changed me for the better. I am still the same person with the same life problems, but I can better handle my problems now. I can think clearly. The negativity is gone."

• TLD...
• February 3, 2012

"I have been taking Celexa for about a month and a half for anxiety. I didn't go to the doctor on the given day to get anything but an antibiotic for being sick. I walked out of the doctor's office that day with Celexa as well. I was VERY fearful of taking a type of drug like this, but I was also tired of being very anxious - always have been. I was easy to irritate. I couldn't handle stress well and couldn't seem to focus on the task at hand when I was stressed. Celexa has taken away these feelings. I feel 'normal' now, so to speak, and can handle everything better. I can also orgasm with no problems (I am married) ;-) and I have NOT gained any weight! I can cry also and have normal emotional responses. Celexa has been great!"

• Joe...
• July 2, 2018

"*UPDATE* December 19, 2017. I have now completely gotten off of Celexa after a year and feel great. I took 2 months to wean off my 20mg dose. Celexa helped me with all of my issues: extreme lack of focus, panic attacks, not being able to hold conversations, depersonalization. I had to quit my job. But enough of that, ultimately, this medication was the biggest roller coaster ride I've ever been on for the first 6 weeks, but I am so happy I decided to go on it. For me, Celexa muted all of my anxious feelings and allowed me to regain who I was and gain all of my confidence back. So anyways, I thought I would share my final review of this drug. For anyone trying to get through a bout of anxiety that is so bad it destroys their entire life, there is hope! It's hard as anything, but I wouldn't have done anything different. Good luck, everyone! By the way, I was on it from June 16, 2017, to June 27, 2018. The 'it gets worse before it gets better' part was over after about 4-6 weeks."

• Ano...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 15, 2013

"I have been taking Celexa for 13 years for anxiety/irritability, which it works great for. Sexual side effects are terribly disappointing - lack of desire and difficult to climax. Anytime I try to go off, the anxiety and irritability are present within the 2nd day. Really wish I could find something that worked as well without the side effects. No other medicine has even touched anxiety/irritability the way Celexa has."

• Suz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 25, 2020

"Celexa didn’t work for me and my anxiety and depression. I bore with the side effects for four weeks (splitting headaches, inability to sleep or stay asleep, night sweats, cold symptoms, a feeling of dis-reality I hadn’t previously had, loss of all libido, skin numbness, and feeling drained of all energy) but they did not begin to alleviate. I thought nothing could be worse than the depression and anxiety but I was wrong. The treatment in this case was worse than the condition. Now tapering off and trying something different."

• bra...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 7, 2013

"I've been on Celexa for about 1 1/2 years, and I love it. I have a real big history of panic attacks - the ones that make you feel like you're dying. Well, they have decreased a lot. I still have them once in a while, but they have gotten way better. This medication has really made a difference for me. I recommend it to everyone with panic and anxiety disorder, it works."

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 17, 2023

"I used to take Celexa (20mg) back when I was 16 years old for severe agoraphobia, severe panic disorder, severe depression, and PTSD. I would faint, chest would hurt, shaking, hyperventilate, avoided all social places, I had no energy, felt suicidal, (I was homeschooled), I had all symptoms of PTSD, anxiety attacks, and depression. You name it, I had it. I couldn’t even leave home, not until Celexa was prescribed to me, and I got my life back within 2 days of taking this medication. The only side effect I had was drowsiness. I’m now 27 years old with the same issues once again, I’ve been isolated for 6 months now, having severe panic attacks and been avoiding all public places, even avoiding outside and my own family. I was prescribed Celexa 10mg 2 months ago, but I am deathly afraid to try it because I don’t want my anxiety to get worse, it’s my last hope to feel better. I believe Celexa will benefit me, but that’s my anxiety talking. I think I’ll try it today, I can do this!"

• Cri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 2, 2013

"I began taking Celexa during detox for addiction to prescription medication. I honestly thought I would never smile or laugh again, but after about 4 weeks, the fog I was living in lifted and I felt better than ever! This was the second time I went through detox, and after the first time, I used Celexa - and once I began feeling good. Unfortunately, I stopped and relapsed. Stopping Celexa without tapering was the equivalent of hitting a wall of great sadness. I have been clean and sober for over 90 days, and I believe Celexa plays a huge role in my decision-making process."

• Bil...
• July 20, 2017

"Completely changed my life. I was having severe anxiety accompanied with frequent panic attacks and was feeling hopeless about improvement. First two weeks on Celexa were terrible, but I can't necessarily attribute all symptoms as side effects because my anxiety was so bad it could have been that. I was waking up with night terrors, had extreme fatigue, dizziness, and dissociation. But then at some point I forgot about my anxiety and was living a normal life again. I started at 10 mg and went to 20 mg before coming back down to 10 mg due to improvement. After about 6 months I weaned off the drug completely and have only mild anxiety relapses currently."

• Sar...
• April 22, 2015

"I have been on citalopram for a couple of months now and I absolutely love it. The only side effect I had was dizziness the next day after the first dose, but it went away. As of right now, no side effects at all, and I have noticed that I am more independent and more confident than I have ever been. Before this medication, I took Paxil, which was horrible. The side effects were the worst and the withdrawal (which I have read about) is bad as well, but I got over it. Before Celexa, I would be afraid to talk on the phone and do basic things like calling insurance companies, cable companies, etc. But now I have the confidence to call anyone and the change has been night and day. Highly recommend this medication!"

• blo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 4, 2013

"I just started the medication 10mg for 14 days, then 20mg for 1 month. The doctor wants to see me. I have been diagnosed with anxiety, panic disorder, OCD, depression, and depersonalization. I have been on Celexa for five days, and although the doctor told me it would take 3-4 weeks for full effect, I smiled today. I don't feel heavy with thoughts. I feel like I will come back to me. I didn't mind wander or get too into my head today. That's a great feeling. I think I'm going to be okay!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 30, 2013

"I have been on this medication for a week and have never felt better. I have noticed no anxiety, and my mind does not race all the time. My spouse has even said that he has noticed a difference with my attitude. I feel like my old self. I have been smiling more and feel relaxed. I take 20 mg per day. The only downfall that I have found with this medication is that it upsets my stomach, so what I have been doing is taking it with my dinner meal, and that has seemed to help."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 30, 2016

"Started 10 mg Citalopram 8 days ago, and although they said it would take 2 weeks to really work, I started to feel better on the first day! Minor nausea the first couple of times I took it, but it went away quickly. This stuff has changed my life, helped me quit smoking. It's so strange being able to walk around and interact in public without anxiety. Improved my sleep overall, however, you will probably want to make sure you are active during the day because it takes a little more time to fall asleep. Wonderful Medication, wish I had started it much sooner."

• Str...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 22, 2013

"I started taking Celexa about 2 months ago. I told the doctor that I was always overwhelmed and having anxiety attacks while driving and waking up in the middle of the night sweating. I immediately felt the effects within the first few days, but the dry mouth and yawning was unbearable. I switched to taking it before bedtime since it knocks me out anyway. About 2 weeks in I noticed myself acting a little goofy and happy again. I've noticed a dramatic difference in myself since I had my second child and my husband was working 60-70 hours a week, but now with the Celexa I feel much more normal like when I was younger. My doctor told me it would take about 3 months to fully kick in, but so far so good."

• Wic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 21, 2018

"I was afraid about taking Celexa because of my Christian belief. I prayed for a long time and have been fighting anxiety for 4 years. I feel relief when I read the Bible and pray. But my doctor advised me to get on Celexa. Now, after 5 weeks, I feel a lot better and feel in control. The side effects are minimal. All the negative feelings are gone, and I feel like I’m alive once again. Sometimes your mind makes you think the medicine is not working, but you have to help yourself feel better."

• NH3...
• October 4, 2019

"I want to give people a real review of this drug because the side effects are no joke. Note that my doctor started me on only 5mg to 'mitigate side effects'. Also, I have been on Zoloft before so I am not a newbie to these types of meds. I started Celexa one week ago and am just today starting to feel back to where I was when I started this drug. Basically, I have had every side effect of this drug. People are not lying. It makes you feel 500% worse before it starts to work. I started with severe panicky feelings and insomnia for about 3 days after day 2 on the meds. My blood pressure would shoot up, sweats, skin crawling, etc. My doctor prescribed me Xanax just so I could sleep. I had to take 3 days off of work, it was so bad. Then it switched to massive headaches and muscle aches which has been the last couple days. It feels just like having the flu. Cold all the time, then sweating."

• Mun...
• May 7, 2015

"I went to the doctor because I was too terrified to do any meaningful living, including walking out of my door. I had experienced panic attacks and was under great social stress. The doctor started me out on 20 mg/day, and the first ten days were horrible in that I could 'feel' something at work, and because I was afraid of everything, even afraid of this medical rescue -- and that was hard for me. My husband did not approve, he felt I should overcome my problems on my own. I persisted, and within a month, I felt a blessed relief. I was still having middle-of-the-night anxiety rushes, but when we increased the dose to 30 mg/day, they were gone, too. Nearly a year later, I am grateful every day I have this medication."

• smm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 17, 2013

"I have been prescribed 10 mg and so far have felt ok. I don't feel overly hungry but really thirsty. This is day 4 and I am sleeping really well. This is a first for me. I have always dealt with my anxiety on my own without any meds. This time it was so bad, I had no choice. I feel relaxed and much more positive about each day."

• jls...
• March 5, 2015

"Celexa gave me my life back! I was going through a hard time and slowly but surely hit a wall with depression and anxiety and wasn't able to handle it. I wasn't sleeping or even able to eat, I felt alone and so far from myself. I'd never been on an antidepressant before, so Celexa was the first, and I had looked up all the side effects and was really scared to take it. Don't let the side effects or horror stories fool you. This medicine does help, it takes time to see the results, but it does help."

• liv...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 5, 2014

"I have been on this medicine for only 3 weeks and my love addiction, my sex addiction have all but practically disappeared. I don't feel as depressed. I feel even grounded and no longer have the feeling that I am separated from myself. My obsessive thoughts have all but disappeared. I was constantly thinking about my ex who broke up with me 9 months ago. I feel finally that I got my life back. I prefer low libido than constantly thinking that every attractive girl I connect with might be my future girlfriend. Celexa works for me. I have been on and off them for years now but now I am sticking to the program. Be patient people and stick to the program."

• Anonymous
• October 15, 2008

"I've been taking Celexa 20mg for almost six months, and it has helped me with my social anxiety. It's a lot easier to use the strategies that my psychologist talks about. However, a warning must be given. Celexa has not been a 'magic bullet'. I still have to do a lot of work to not be anxious. However, it has helped me so much that I can't think about quitting any time soon."

• Sam...
• July 11, 2011

"I have suffered with anxiety since my early 20s. I'm now 27. After the loss of my father, it threw me into a depression that I couldn't seem to get out of. I started Celexa 20 mg about 2 weeks ago. The first two days, I could tell I was on medicine. I was a little slow, however, on the 3rd day, I felt like a brand new person. I have no depression, anxiety, or mood swings. I feel as if everything that I thought consumed my life was over. I had a new approach to dealing with everyday life. I think Celexa saved me. I did lose my appetite, but I wanted to lose a few pounds anyways. So another good thing about it, and I have occasional dry mouth. HOWEVER, I feel great. So I'll take it. I recommend this medicine to anyone."

• fro...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 3, 2013

"I started having anxiety and the fear from that (worrying if I was having a heart attack) led to straight-up panic attacks. My Dr. gave me Celexa (20 mg), and after a few days, I felt so much better. I didn't have to take my Xanax anymore, maybe one a week. It was great, and after 2 months, I came off. But about 7 months later, my anxiety came back. So I gave Celexa another try, and at 20 mg for 11 days, I felt in a fog, really tired, and still had the anxiety. So after reading tons of posts, I lowered to 10 mg, and I felt great!"

• Cje...
• September 15, 2017

"Took 8 weeks for 20mg to finally work. I had every side effect there was and was about to give up. Heightened anxiety, insomnia, nervous, and anxious. Dry mouth, tremors in my hands. I was so ready to just check myself into a mental ward. But I hung in there and right at week 8, boom, all of it gone. Feeling great."