Celexa and Depression: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Ms ...
• August 29, 2018

For Depression "Horrible. This medication made my anxiety and depression unbearable, and I took myself off over seven days. I still have issues but will never take psychotropic drugs ever again. I'm going to check out holistic meds and see if that will be enough for me. If things aren't working, then demand a referral to a specialist. Please be careful, this medication made me so sick and so down. So glad I'm not taking it anymore."

• T23...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 15, 2015

For Anxiety and Stress "I started getting anxiety attacks, and my doctor started me off on 10 mg of Celexa. The first few days, I noticed I had more anxiety, and it made me really sleepy and groggy. After a few more days, I noticed it made me not want to get out of bed and lost almost all appetite. I was forcing myself to eat and ended up losing 9 lbs in 10 days. By day 10, I couldn't take it anymore, I knew something wasn't right, and Celexa was making it worse and making me feel worse. I went to my doctor, and she told me to stop right away, that the side effects shouldn't have lasted that long or made me feel depressed. It didn't work for me."

• Hal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 22, 2016

For Depression "I was put on Celexa for depression, bipolar as well as my OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). I started off taking 10 mg and then later upgraded to 20 mg, but my experience wasn't entirely the greatest. The Celexa aggravated my OCD tics, making them occur more frequently, which automatically raised my level of anxiety and stress. I am always tired and feel like a complete zombie, I find it tiring to even laugh and smile. My appetite has increased drastically, I pretty much never stop eating. And it has really affected my bipolar, making me very irritable. Ever since I've been on Celexa, I've had many child-like tantrums where I have gotten physically violent. This pill wasn't for me. I am currently still on Celexa but am being weaned off of it."

• anx...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 22, 2016

For Anxiety and Stress "Awful. Didn't help and made me feel so apathetic. My school performance significantly decreased. I tried weaning off from taking 20 mg, then 10 mg daily, then 10 mg every other day, then 5 mg every other day and had the worst withdrawal symptoms ever. Increased anxiety and depression. I was crying all the time and sometimes felt manic. I had more pain and also had a fever of +102.8 for three days. Would not recommend."

• anx...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 22, 2016

For Anxiety and Stress "Awful. Didn't help and made me feel so apathetic. My school performance significantly decreased. I tried weaning off from taking 20 mg, then 10 mg daily, then 10 mg every other day, then 5 mg every other day and had the worst withdrawal symptoms ever. Increased anxiety and depression. I was crying all the time and sometimes felt manic. I had more pain and also had a fever of +102.8 for three days. Would not recommend."

• snu...
• April 18, 2011

For Depression "I have struggled with anxiety, depression, and insomnia my whole life. Nothing ever had any noticeable effects until I was prescribed Celexa back in 2007. I was on it for years, then decided to try life without it and was tapered off. The thing about Celexa (and all antidepressants) is they work well in that you won't spend as much time crying and all that, but they also inhibit you from feeling genuine euphoria! You just stay at a baseline."

• Cas...
• June 14, 2018

For Anxiety and Stress "I was on Citalopram for 10 years. In university, I started showing signs of anxiety, and my doctor told me Celexa would get rid of the physical symptoms. It worked. However, a few years later, when I tried to come off it, I failed. So, on the medication, I actually developed depression and social anxiety, and my anxiety in general got worse. Recently, I decided to stop taking it. I took myself down half a dose each day for one week, and then every other day the second week. And I feel amazing! Aside from a few mild withdrawal symptoms, I’m feeling better! As a result of Celexa, I spent 10 years of my life a prisoner to this medication. I was always depressed, always afraid. I stayed so deep within myself I missed out on friendships, career opportunities, and happiness altogether. I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone! Get actual help for your anxiety, a pill is merely a band-aid that will cause you more harm than good in the long run."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 22, 2012

For Depression "Was on Citalopram for 1 month, then asked my doctor to change. During the first 2 weeks, I was getting an average of 3 hours of sleep a night. Bed at 11 pm, wake up at 2 am, 3 am, 4 am, 5 am, 6 am, give in and get up at 7 am. Was completely devoid of emotions. Lost all focus, motivation, attention span, was so much worse than before diagnosis and prescription. Second 2 weeks, I was given sleeping pills, so I was sleeping 7-8 hours a night, but being 24 years old, I refused to be dependent on sleeping pills and antidepressants. Have now been on Mirtazapine just over a week, was like a light switch. Now sleeping easily between 10-12 hours a night. Emotions are back, but as unpredictable as they were before diagnosis. Will wait and see."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 22, 2012

For Depression "Was on Citalopram for 1 month, then asked my doctor to change. During the first 2 weeks, I was getting an average of 3 hours of sleep a night. Bed at 11 pm, wake up at 2 am, 3 am, 4 am, 5 am, 6 am, give in and get up at 7 am. Was completely devoid of emotions. Lost all focus, motivation, attention span, was so much worse than before diagnosis and prescription. Second 2 weeks, I was given sleeping pills, so I was sleeping 7-8 hours a night, but being 24 years old, I refused to be dependent on sleeping pills and antidepressants. Have now been on Mirtazapine just over a week, was like a light switch. Now sleeping easily between 10-12 hours a night. Emotions are back, but as unpredictable as they were before diagnosis. Will wait and see."

• Jim...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 2, 2019

For Depression "Lost feeling from the belly button down. Lost the ability to run. It messed up my neurological system horribly. Cannot feel physical intimacy. All kinds of issues in my lower body. This was the only med I was on. Only time taking an antidepressant. Avoid it like the plague and find natural remedies."

• ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 5, 2018

For Anxiety and Stress "I was prescribed Celexa and took it for about a month. During that time, I was waiting on it to start working, so I kept taking it. Around the end of the month, I was starting to have breakdowns and suicidal thoughts. I honestly heard voices in my head and was so (even more than when I started it) depressed. I was put on suicide watch for 2 weeks while I was coming off of it. NEVER will I recommend this to anyone."

• Anonymous
• January 3, 2010

For Depression "I've been taking Celexa for about a month now. It helped me a little at first, now I'm having crying spells and feeling hopeless again. The glass is always half empty. I'm taking 20 mg. I was hoping Celexa would work. I had been taking Paxil 20 mg for about three years, and I was so happy on it! It didn't matter what was going on in my life. I felt great. I stopped taking Paxil because it made me sleepy all the time. I guess I'll continue for a few more weeks with Celexa. If things don't get better, I'm going back to Paxil."

• mro...
• March 6, 2011

For Anxiety and Stress "I have been on Celexa for 16 days now, and my anxiety, mood, depression, and panic are markedly worse. This is the worst I have been in a couple of years. Is this something the drug can cause before it gives you some relief?"

• Ric...
• June 8, 2010

For Depression "I was in a marked crosswalk when a person ran the red light and T-boned me, pushing me into oncoming traffic, right in front of two Portland police cars. I was knocked out for two days in ICU. When I woke up, I found that I could not use my left hand, and I was left-handed. I had other injuries too, but after being left-handed for 60 years, and 32 of those years, I was a computer designer. After about a year of tests and two failed operations, none of the doctors could fix the nerve damage to my hand. I had to retire from work. Learning only the basic skills with my right hand, which was also damaged. I became very depressed. I am now up to 80 mg a day, and it has helped me a lot. I am also on 20 mg of oxycodone every 4 hours for constant pain."

• Anonymous
• December 21, 2011

For Anxiety and Stress "Really helps with my anxiety, which is the main reason for going on it. However, the underlying depression that was masked by anxiety is not being helped by Citalopram. So, rate it for anxiety, but find it makes me emotionless, totally apathetic, and tired all the time. So, solves one problem but makes me feel even more depressed."

• Anonymous
• December 21, 2011

For Anxiety and Stress "Really helps with my anxiety, which is the main reason for going on it. However, the underlying depression that was masked by anxiety is not being helped by Citalopram. So, rate it for anxiety, but find it makes me emotionless, totally apathetic, and tired all the time. So, solves one problem but makes me feel even more depressed."

• fel...
• February 1, 2016

For Anxiety and Stress "This medication is definitely not for me. I suffer from social anxiety and panic attacks. I took 10 mg daily for 2 weeks. Although while on this medication, I did not have my panic attacks; I still had social anxiety. I was completely emotionless, couldn't stay asleep, and never had an orgasm; the total zombie effect. It gave me headaches every morning and jaw pain - I guess a withdrawal side effect. I would not recommend it to anyone unless you are coming off of some hard drugs. Every addictive! Severe side effects!"

• Lin...
• February 7, 2016

For Anxiety and Stress "I woke up from the absolute craziest dream I've ever had... FREAKING OUT... COULD NOT BREATHE, AND THOUGHT I WAS DYING... I immediately called people in my family that have been on antidepressants, and they said just give it time, the side effects will go away... so I continued to take it... today is day 14, I am more nervous and depressed still... I have NO emotion, my head hurts constantly, STILL have no balance... I think my doctor WRONGLY prescribed me something I DIDN'T need, that COMPLETELY ruins you (when you don't really need it). I'm severely annoyed... stopping my med tomorrow and flushing the rest of my pills... I'm so disgusted."

• Lin...
• February 7, 2016

For Anxiety and Stress "I woke up from the absolute craziest dream I've ever had... FREAKING OUT... COULD NOT BREATHE, AND THOUGHT I WAS DYING... I immediately called people in my family that have been on antidepressants, and they said just give it time, the side effects will go away... so I continued to take it... today is day 14, I am more nervous and depressed still... I have NO emotion, my head hurts constantly, STILL have no balance... I think my doctor WRONGLY prescribed me something I DIDN'T need, that COMPLETELY ruins you (when you don't really need it). I'm severely annoyed... stopping my med tomorrow and flushing the rest of my pills... I'm so disgusted."

• sam...
• January 22, 2020

For Postpartum Depression "Initial symptoms, premenstrual dysphoric syndrome. Extreme irritability in evenings the week before the period. While I used to be fine after the period, I started having a depressed mood. The only time of the month feeling good was around ovulation. Started on 10 mg. First week, queasiness, dizziness, no appetite, brain fog. Allowed self to eat junk or whatever sounded appealing. Protein shakes. Initial effects improved after the first week. No real notable difference. After a few weeks increased to 20 mg. Lack of appetite returned. Started having excruciating headaches, tension headaches, and clenching of jaw. Worsened depression. No motivation or desire to do anything. Headaches resolved. At 7-8 weeks. Extremely tired. Sad, blah, heavy face feeling. Anxiety may be worse. Probably less irritable, but don’t feel the other side effects are worth it. Felt better the next day after decrease to 10. Then switched to Paxil and have had no side effects and doing well one month in!!!"

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 28, 2017

For Depression "I was prescribed this a few weeks ago but had to stop taking it. I currently take Seroquel (Quetiapine) 100 mg and was not sure why the psychiatrist would prescribe the Celexa (Citalopram) as I had been informed by a pharmacist that combining Seroquel and Celexa is dangerous and could possibly cause heart problems. There is a major drug interaction between those two meds, as that would explain why my chest was hurting and my depression actually got way worse. I also didn't have an appetite at all while on the Celexa, so I had to just stop taking it. Horrible drug."

• Lon...
• October 12, 2010

For Depression "I have used Celexa and its generic since 2001. I had suffered from undiagnosed anxiety and depression for years before seeking therapy and medication. At first, Celexa was a godsend. In the space of 3 weeks, I went from 8 severe anxiety attacks a day to less than 8 in the last 9 years. I became more outgoing and confident as a result. I did and continue to have side effects. The long-term effects are basically flat affect, weight gain, increased appetite (I don't need either of those), and sexual indifference. The latter is very difficult to live with, as you might imagine. I have tried to wean myself off Celexa once, in 2005, and it was an unqualified disaster. I guess I'm a 'lifer'."

• Nik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 17, 2018

For Anxiety and Stress "I took Celexa 6 years ago and took it for a year or two and got off it. I started taking it after withdrawal and severe anxiety. I do not remember the side effects being so severe. Now I am super lethargic, feel some depression (I haven't felt depressed for a while before taking the meds). So I'm not sure where I stand right now. Want to keep taking it but if these side effects keep going I will be forced to quit."

• Rob...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 26, 2016

For Anxiety and Stress "Celexa does get rid of anxiety, however, it also destroys the rest of your life. They should call it the boner killer because you will never get an erection as long as you take Celexa. And it's tough to call yourself a man if your junk isn't working. That leads to depression. So right now I am in a tough spot. Go back to anxiety, or stay depressed? I don't feel like this throwing darts type of treatment is good. Either something works or it doesn't. In my opinion, if the side effects are worse than the problem, the drug doesn't work."

• Mob...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 16, 2015

For Anxiety and Stress "Sometimes I think that someone employed by Celexa, Inc. creates the responses I read on this site. Most of the positive experiences do not seem likely. Celexa has been a nightmare for me. It makes me so angry. I'm from the Big Easy and would like to consider myself laid-back. I have a very strong belief that the reason this medication is prescribed so frequently is so the docs or the powers that be can receive the kickback from my pharmacy. I truly believe that. I'm going on month 4 and currently take 40 mgs. I cannot report any positive effects. I can attest to a loss in libido, rashes, depression, weight gain, dry mouth, loss of appetite, aches, and I can go on. And the only reason I take it is to obtain the medication that I do get relief from."