Celexa for Depression User Reviews (Page 5)

• Lis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 8, 2014

"Started Celexa a month ago. At first, tremors, dry mouth, shaking, and dead libido. After a week, my jaw was petrified, my teeth hurt, was always biting my tongue. My energy was gone. Was sleeping 9 hours at night and 3-4 hours napping in the afternoon. I was a zombie. I just switched to Wellbutrin, and I pray for better results."

• Anonymous
• February 28, 2010

"I've been taking Celexa for almost a year now and it's been wonderfully helpful. I've had depression/anxiety on and off for years (as well as hypothyroidism). However, I was always hesitant to take any medication that I didn't feel was 'absolutely necessary', so I never took antidepressants before trying Celexa. Initially, I started with 20 mg, and that worked well for a couple of months, but then I needed to go up to 40 mg, and that has been the dosage that works consistently for me. Other than the first few weeks of treatment, I've had NO bad side effects whatsoever. It has really increased my sex drive (which has been non-existent for years)."

• Can...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 30, 2015

"I can't say enough good things about this medication. I've fought mild-to-moderate depression on and off for twenty years. I've done counseling and read tons of books. I also tried Paxil years ago but found it numbing. Celexa has been WONDERFUL. I'm on 20 mg a day. The crying spells, feelings of doubt and despair, and constant negative thoughts have all gone away. I still have up and down moods and feelings, but they feel normal and manageable... like what regular people must feel like. I feel much more confident, happy, and engaged with life. As for side effects... not to be crude, but the only side effect I've experienced is delayed orgasm and, as a man, this is more of a benefit than a problem ;-) I highly recommend this medication..."

• vag...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 22, 2016

"I've been on Celexa for almost 5 months now. On my 5th month, my doc bumped me up to 60 mg. I initially started taking Celexa for depression. At first, it seemed like I had a ton of energy, and I felt better than ever. After the first month, I was not feeling better anymore. Although my dosage has increased, I still don't feel a sense of relief. I do, however, have no anxiety. I don't dwell on mistakes I make like I used to. I actually feel very relaxed, so relaxed to where I'm very lazy. I think I've gained at least 7 lbs on Celexa, probably mainly due to my sedentary lifestyle. I really don't have much energy to do anything. I can function and go to work and all, I just feel blah."

• ano...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 29, 2013

"After trying Prozac (didn't like) and Wellbutrin (better than Prozac but still not terrific), was given Celexa by a new doc. I have dysthymia that increases in winter months (probably due to less light where I live, during the shorter days from Oct-March). Celexa gave me an almost instant 'happy' boost and I haven't been off it for more than 6 months for a long time. Pros: more energy, no crying spells when daylight lessens during winter months. Cons: did not work for my GAD (I take alprazolam for that), libido is almost non-existent, and my emotions are somewhat blunted (meaning, I don't really cry often, when before I used to be emotional over a lot of things... but I can take that!) Impact on libido is the most annoying side effect."

• Anonymous
• December 21, 2008

"I took Celexa in January 2002 for about 6 months. I was dealing with too many losses, I was crying day and night for a couple of months. I went to the doctor, and he put me on Celexa. It was amazing. I was so happy all the time. I figured I could handle everything, so I stopped it. You really need to come off this slowly. Now I am depressed again and plan on getting back on it until I can get past losing my job and the months of being out of work."

• 746...
• August 30, 2013

"I am 14 years old, and I started taking Celexa a few weeks ago for depression, and I took it a couple of years back for anxiety. It has worked well. I have been feeling depressed since the third grade and have been having uncontrolled, regretful thoughts for a while. This works, and I am feeling better. It gave me such a weird feeling, which I think is happiness, but anyway, it's new thanks to this medication."

• Che...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 5, 2016

"I've been on and off for 9 years, and I'm 25. I have been on 10 mg before and am currently on 5 mg. I went off it for a while, and I find that I am able to laugh harder but also feel deeper sadness without them. They stabilize me. I get to a very dark place without just that 5 mg to keep me level. I would rather be a bit unable to express emotion than over-emotional. I struggle with anxiety, paranoia, and low-stress tolerance. It helps me live somewhat normally. Higher doses make me feel robotic, unable to process my own emotion. I am sensitive to meds, and so 5 mg (half of the minimum dose) helps me! The therapeutic dose is 20 mg, and for me that would lessen the quality of my life as I would be unable to feel emotion. I love Celexa. Try it."

• Mid...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 30, 2020

"I've been on Celexa for a few days, and I'm experiencing some odd side effects. I can't seem to stop twitching, and I have a cold, clammy sweat. I'm currently taking 10 mg. I'm hoping that my body will adjust to it over time and these effects will subside."

• Bri...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 27, 2018

"I found Celexa to be very helpful. I experienced virtually no physical side effects. As far as psychological, I found that it caused me to be a bit colder and more rational-minded, rather than feelings-oriented. That had its positives and its negatives. I also found while I was on it, I was less creative - though I’m not really sure if that was the Celexa or the aftermath of the depression. I will say: DO NOT go off this cold turkey. I attempted this because I was feeling better. It affected me with physical symptoms and emotional. Google for the typical symptoms. It was extremely unpleasant."

• MxM...
• July 6, 2017

"Experienced depressive symptoms lightly for years. Then over the past year, when exposed to many life stressors, it has been significant in impairing my quality of life. Celexa has greatly improved my quality of life, and most days I feel little to no depressive thoughts. I have been taking Celexa for 6 weeks. It also got rid of my anxiety (70-80% of it) and has improved my OCD symptoms a great deal. I started on 5 mg, upping to 10 mg."

• Flo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 24, 2014

"Along with Celexa at 20 mg, for about 5 weeks, I take 150 mg of Wellbutrin and 40 mg of methadone. I've had several back surgeries, so I live with chronic pain. Along with an improvement in depression and anxiety, I noticed that my appetite has decreased. No weight gain, maybe lost a couple of pounds. I noticed improvement in the first couple of days! I've tried Prozac and Wellbutrin, individually and together, but not much help. I recommend giving Celexa a try over any other medicines."

• Anonymous
• April 15, 2011

"I was kind of surprised to read so many comments here that sounded exactly like my Celexa experience! I thought maybe it was just me who responded so well to this medicine. I have been on 3 other anti-depressants over the past 14 years. Some stopped working after a while or some never worked for me. But within a week of taking Celexa, I began to feel better than I could have hoped for. After 5 weeks of taking it, I can honestly say I am happier now than I have ever been in my adult life. This is how living is supposed to feel every day!!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 11, 2021

"I have been off Celexa for about 6 months after taking it for 18 months. When I first started, 20 mg a day for a week, then 40 mg. I was a zombie for a month! Foggy-headed, that ended after a month. I started caring less and less about anything. The lack of motivation got worse. Then I would cry because my house was in such a mess! Nothing else bothered me. I have only seen the Dr. a few times after I started the medication, that was over a video appointment. I was gradually gaining weight, my heart pounded, blood pressure was high. No motivation! I'm now on another med and feel great!"

• wvd...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 22, 2015

"Initially, Celexa seemed to be a drug designed for me. The abysmal lows and occasional glimpses of normality eventually gave way to an emotional state that was calm with no anxiety. On the other hand, there were no highs, just the flatline sense of calm. From the beginning until about the two-year mark, my serenity became so overwhelming that paying bills, house cleaning, checking the oil, getting to work on time, making and going to doctor appointments, and a dozen other aspects of daily life all became unimportant. Nothing disturbed me-overdue notices, collection calls, etc. This went on for about two years until I reached the height of serenity, and then began an ugly, violent, self-destructive, and ultimately suicidal state of mind."

• Daw...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 8, 2014

"Celexa is literally a magic pill for me. 20 minutes, tops, and I feel like myself again. I've been taking it for about 4 years for 1 or 2 months a couple of times a year. The holidays are always bad. I get so sick of crying all the time. Sobbing, actually. I've tried a few other antidepressants, but nothing works like Celexa for me. May not be for everyone. Other people may need to take Celexa for a longer or more regular period of time, and it can take up to 2-3 weeks for the medication to completely work for a lot of people. Ask your doctor and give it a try."

• Anonymous
• December 8, 2008

"I have been on Celexa for about 4 months now. I was diagnosed with depression when I was 13 (hereditary). At first, my mother had me go to therapy for help. The therapy helped me figure myself out but didn't help me with my depression. I switched doctors, and my new doctor prescribed me Celexa. It helped me considerably with my depression and my anxiety and stress problems. I take a small dose at night along with a herbal supplement to help me sleep. I don't feel hopeless or 'boxed' anymore. I really like this medication, and I plan to stick with it for a while."

• Anonymous
• December 8, 2012

"I started taking this medication about 2 months ago for depression and uncontrollable anger issues, both have ceased. I have mild side effects with this medicine, the most notable would be a persistent sore throat. Not sure if anyone else is experiencing this, so your input would be appreciated. I'm thankful that there is actually something out there to help with these issues. So far, so good, and I highly recommend this for anyone looking for relief of anxiety."

• Ble...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 18, 2019

"I have been on Celexa due to depression and chronic neuropathic pains. After three weeks, my pains have really gone down, but I temporarily get brain fog in the morning and severe anxiety. I also feel chest pains and difficulty in breathing. I also have gastrointestinal issues, which the doctor says are not due to Celexa, but due to anxiety, which will come down as I continue taking the drug. So far, it's good on pains, but anxiety and side effects are not so good for now."

• Doc...
• May 16, 2018

"I have never left a review of a medication, and as a clinical provider, I am arguably the worst patient ever! After a major MVA, I suffered several injuries and was in constant pain for almost two years. The pain and inability to move due to a spinal injury caused me to fall into a deep depression. I'd suffered with anxiety most of my life but found alternative methods of coping. I typically make 15k or better steps a night during my ER shifts, so to suddenly be unable to move, I was floored! My neurologist recommended I try an SSRI (Celexa) temporarily to help with my being depressed, and I reluctantly agreed. I was adamant about not taking SSRIs as I don't like anything fooling around in my brain. But it worked. I had minimal side effects, and even they eventually subsided within the first month of use. Thankfully, I no longer require the use of any SSRI, as I am two years post the accident, but I am grateful that it was available to me when I needed it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 18, 2012

"In 2003, I started on (brand name) Celexa 5 mg a day for anxiety and depression. Within a week, I started to feel almost a magical feeling of well-being and a nice calmness within myself. The world looking brighter and so much better. For once in my life, I felt that the hole in my soul was healing. No more anxiousness and crying most of the time, and no more waves of horrible emotional pain. I gradually worked up to 10 mg a day, and now I am on 20 mg a day. I did have a headache, nausea, and loss of appetite. They went away. I gained weight but was feeling so much better. I tried generic Celexa for almost 1 month, and I felt irritable-like a dark cloud descended upon me. It is not the same as the brand."

• BBC...
• October 8, 2017

"I am on my second round of Celexa. I took it many years ago for a few years, only 10 mg a day. It definitely worked, but after a few years, I decided to get off it. You need to wean yourself off it very slowly if you’ve taken it for a long time. I experienced voices and hallucinations the first couple of days going off it completely after I thought I had weaned myself enough, so I had to wean myself for another month. I had never had symptoms like that in my life. However, I got off of it. Now my depression and anxiety came back for quite a bit, so I went back on Celexa 20 mg, and it is definitely helping. My recommendation is to avoid a lot of caffeine while on this drug, or you will notice anxiety increases more so than when you’re not on Celexa."

• g o...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 14, 2016

"This med has helped me (male, 50) considerably to deal with depression and panic attacks. I experienced the usual side effects of night sweating and still have some occasional sweaty palms and some yawning. After beginning, my depression initially got worse, but 8 weeks later, I feel better balanced. I switched to taking the med after dinner. I tried 40mg with no additional benefits, only more tired, then back to 20mg. It does take several weeks to reach effectiveness, so be patient if you don't feel immediate improvement."

• Be ...
• July 25, 2015

"I started this medication due to depression and uncontrollable panic attacks and anxiety. I started on 10 mg and had very bad nausea, very tired, and no appetite. The first two weeks were the same, but definitely by the 3rd week, I could feel my body calming down and was quite pleased. Unfortunately, I started having awful tingling and burning in my arms, mostly the left. Now I have titrated off and now on Effexor, but I am still having the burning and tingling in the arm but have had only 1 panic attack. The first two weeks are hard, but hang in there. It will be worth it!!!! I wanted to give up as well, but I had to think about my family, and that pushed me through. I'm not 100%, but I can drive and socialize now without getting as panicked."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 3, 2016

"I have only been on Celexa for 4 days. I take 10 mg. I sleep very little, sweating, nausea, and have become very anxious about everything. I do drink a lot of water. I just want to feel like myself again."