Celexa and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 2)

• joa...
• December 18, 2014

For Anxiety and Stress "I have suffered from panic attacks for about 12 years. Because I have a brother who became addicted to Xanax and ended up detoxing in a hospital, I have been afraid of all medication. After a major scare concerning a health issue, I found I could no longer ignore the consequences of the attacks. I have lost 20 lbs in 5 years and am now very underweight. I had no appetite and dreaded meals. I started taking Celexa 3 weeks ago, and the change is amazing. I still wake up in the middle of the night, and I do have very vivid dreams. However, now when I wake up, I do not go into a panic attack. I am eating 3 meals a day. The only side effects I have are headaches and constipation. I would recommend this medicine."

• jul...
• November 15, 2010

For Anxiety and Stress "I was prescribed Celexa a week ago. At first, I had trouble sleeping, horrible headaches, and was very tired during the day, but now I'm starting to sleep better and not be as tired during the day. I also find myself not being as stressed out. I hope to see more results."

• Jes...
• February 4, 2021

For Anxiety and Stress "10 years ago, I had a lot of things going on at home and work and was very stressed! I was having chest pain and headaches every day. I was started on Celexa 10mg - that stopped my chest pain. I was then increased to 20mg, and that stopped my headaches. I still have times when I feel overwhelmed, and I have Xanax for those times when I feel I’m about to lose it! I do feel that sometimes I don’t care enough about some things. My husband makes sure I don’t run out. He calls them my 'Be so much nicer to my husband pills.'"

• Anonymous
• October 4, 2018

For Anxiety and Stress "I was on Celexa for 6 years. I recently weaned off the Celexa due to the unpleasant weight gain that I experienced. I wanted to try a different anti-anxiety medication that was less likely to gain weight. I tried a combination of Lexapro and Wellbutrin for a while and then Zoloft. None of those drugs were able to help ease my mind. I experienced increased anxiety and depression, especially panic attacks. I am hoping to get back on Celexa next week, as it was my saving grace for 6 years! My only complaints about Celexa are the weight gain and the headaches that occur if you accidentally miss a dose (as well as the weaning off headaches). Crossing my fingers it works a second time!"

• Car...
• December 11, 2013

For Anxiety and Stress "I just started taking Celexa, and the only thing I notice are the headaches, which are very unusual for me. Sometimes they are worse than others. Can be distracting at work, but not so bad that I'm willing to throw in the towel just yet. Also, my stomach has been a little upset too, but again not enough to give up on trying to feel better!"

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

For Depression "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."

• Kas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 31, 2023

For Depression "The side effects were horrible. Fatigue, GI problems, headaches, hot flashes, sleep issues and nightmares, general malaise, increased anxiety, and a zombie feeling. The clinician said I will get used to it after a while. To me, this is poisoning your body and having your body get 'used' to the poison over time. Definitely not for me."

• Eng...
• May 22, 2011

For Depression "I resisted my doctor's claim that I was depressed and suffering from anxiety due to chemical imbalance due to being premenopausal. I have always felt in control of my emotions, generally happy and optimistic, but for the last year, I lost the ability to stay calm and feel happy, my moods kept slipping away from me, and I felt angry and sad at the same time. My doctor put me on Celexa. My very first dose, I had the worst headache I have ever had, I do have periodic migraines, but never a headache like this. I continued Celexa, reluctantly, and made it through the first week. Two months later, with an occasional headache and frequent yawning, I feel like a dark cloud has lifted. My emotional state is remarkably calm and even a bit upbeat. Yea, Celexa!"

• Rel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 6, 2022

For Anxiety and Stress "Best choice I have made. I have been going through an extremely stressful and difficult family situation leading to panic attacks and anxiety. Unable to eat (25 lb loss in 1 month), sleep, constant anxiety, uncontrolled crying. It was affecting work, personal life, focus, motivation. Spoke to my doctor and therapist about relief and said it had helped 20 years prior in a similar situation. Was prescribed 10 mg in Feb 2022. Started Feb 18. By Feb 24, the positive effects were very noticeable. Complete reduction of severity of anxiety. April 2022, anxiety is mostly eliminated, and what remains is minor and manageable using therapy techniques, so it lasts only a moment. I managed to attend a court matter related and stayed calm, focused, and functional with no anxiety, no racing heart, no sweating, no trembling. It changed everything for the better. Side effects: First 2 weeks only a mild headache at the back of the head, base of neck."

• C G...
• September 5, 2009

For Depression "I feel so much better since I started taking Celexa 2 weeks ago. I am 41 and was feeling very negative, tired all the time, and sad. I didn't want to interact with people. Now I feel like I did 15 years ago, it's great. I have more energy, I sleep less, and I am doing more things socially already. A few side effects were headache and eye pain, but they have almost completely gone away, and I am so glad I stuck with it."

• Cha...
• February 1, 2016

For Postpartum Depression "I have always struggled with depression, but after giving birth, my depression spiraled out of control. I was miserable every second of the day. My husband finally told me to make an appointment, or he would make it for me. I started off at 10 mg of Celexa and was moved up to 20 mg. It has completely turned my life around. I finally feel like I'm living again. I haven't had any side effects other than minor headaches."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 17, 2012

For Anxiety and Stress "I took this medication for anxiety and stress for only 2 months. I really did not see any improvement, and the side effects were pretty bad: insomnia, nausea, headaches, felt like my nerve endings had little electrical surges, lethargic, night sweats, and zero sex drive."

• Bet...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 17, 2015

For Anxiety and Stress "I just started taking 10 mg Celexa the evening of Jan 14, took another one at the same time the next night. The next morning, I was miserably sick. Nausea, more retching than vomiting, weak, headachey, all-over sick feeling... This was like (but this time much worse) the reaction I had when I started Prozac. The doctor agreed that my first bad reaction was to the Prozac, called yesterday, and said I won't take more Celexa. I am done with SSRIs. I am wondering if anyone else has had this same reaction..."

• kam...
• December 9, 2015

For Depression "Two years ago, my oldest daughter was murdered, and then this year, I went through a divorce. My youngest daughter lost her job and moved in. I'm on disability, and mounting stress was huge. I also am in chronic pain due to degenerative disc disease. Finally, I went to my doctor and said I give in. She put me on 10 mg of this medication, and the first two weeks I slept all the time, but now I'm noticing a change and feel a little more level. Anxiety is still here, but not as bad. I do suffer headaches, sleep long and hard, and have a huge increased appetite, ugh. But overall, I'm feeling better and more positive. Glad I gave it a chance."

• Lea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 24, 2019

For Depression "I started this medication today, about 8 hours ago, and I thought it'd be cool to leave a Day 1 review. This is my first SSRI, and I am usually sensitive to medications. Maybe I'll come back and update it, however, 6 hours in, I had pressure in my head and felt really tired. I took a small nap for 20 mins, and now it's 2 am, and I can't sleep, and I feel like I could do 100 laps. The energy spike is definitely there. Someone also told a joke, and I could NOT stop laughing, even 30 mins after the joke had passed. That's really it, nothing extremely negative like I've read. ~Leah."

• mak...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 2, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "This drug is awful. I took three doses for anxiety and went into some kind of mania for a week. Literally the most painful experience of my life. It felt like someone was constantly stabbing my head. I never experienced anything like it before. It's been two months, and I'm still nowhere near normal. I have constant splitting headaches and an inability to do my work. Still have anxiety. Be very, very careful. This drug can and will seriously mess you up."

• ERr...
• April 6, 2012

For Anxiety and Stress "Currently on week 2 of my experience with Celexa to treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and depression. The first couple of days were absolutely terrible due to side effects (nausea, insomnia, headache, flu-like symptoms, and a huge increase in my depression). Don't know why I had such a severe reaction to the medication right off the bat since I've heard this is one of the more tolerant SSRIs in terms of side effects. But after a few days, my system normalized, and I'm already starting to feel like myself again. The doctor said it could take up to 4-6 weeks for it to fully be in effect, but I find myself sleeping through the night and waking up with a much more positive attitude and not on edge with anxiety like I had been in the past. So far, so good!"

• Anonymous
• November 28, 2011

For Anxiety and Stress "I just finished my first week on Celexa. I have experienced mild headaches, strange dreams, yawning, loss of appetite, very sleepy all day. Nothing extreme, and I expect as my body gets used to this medication, I will not have so many side effects. I'm taking Celexa for anxiety and panic attacks."

• Anonymous
• March 16, 2009

For Depression "Took Celexa first after I lost my job in early 2008. It worked great until I was laid off in the wake of the financial crisis in November 2008. After the first of the year, I noticed that the effects were less and less. My problems are depression (mild), stress, lack of motivation (depression, I guess), and erratic mood swings. I already had the dosage increased when I was laid off in November to 40 mg. Went to the doctor the other day because of it not working anymore. He changed and put me on Cymbalta. So, I have to say that in that first year, Celexa worked wonderfully. The only side effect I had was the dip in sexual drive. Other than that, there were no side effects at all. But missing a dose caused headaches and dizziness."

• Anonymous
• October 1, 2012

For Depression "Gave this a try after the culmination of several things. Another round of double depression hit me in the spring, and I decided to go with Dr.'s advice and try this. This is month 7, and I have stopped it because of the following: severe headaches, claustrophobia, dizziness, stomach upset, heart pounding, severe insomnia, feeling like I wanted to scream but can't get it out. It has essentially numbed my emotions, and it's not a good thing. I go back in a few days to get something different."

• Soc...
• November 10, 2017

For Anxiety and Stress "Don't let my rating scare you away from trying Celexa. It worked WONDERS for my anxiety! I could sleep again and go places and do things I couldn't have done without anxiety or panic attacks in over 2 years. Very little side effects and felt the effects immediately. However, 6 months in, and I developed horrible stomach pains, swelling, acidity, etc. I've also developed horrible headaches. I stopped it a week and a half ago, and all symptoms have vanished. The doctor said it was the Celexa and not a stomach bug that we had thought, so we're switching it up. I hate that this happened since it really was a blessing and a relief to my life! Good luck!"

• Beu...
• August 6, 2014

For Depression "I began taking Citalopram while having severe headaches, the haze caused by the aches gave me severe anxiety, so I began taking this while finding a solution. I'd always had a bit of anxiety and bouts of moderate depression, and I noticed after about three weeks of taking Citalopram that I consistently felt glad to be alive for the first time ever. Living, the tasks associated with it often feel like a chore, leading to a general cynicism for me. I began at 10 mg, and the newfound joy of life was accompanied by a constant need to sleep. 12 hours a day and lethargy in between. The drowsiness was so bad I couldn't study, so I had to switch to 5 mg. I'm less tired, less happy, and more anxious. Compromise. I also take 25 mg Nortriptyline."

• Anonymous
• June 6, 2011

For Depression "Since I was 14, I have battled with severe depression. I never believed that I actually was depressed until one point I felt driven to the edge of taking my life. I decided that this was the only option I had not tried. After only a week, I began to respond, with the only side effect being an awful headache following the first dose. I have my life back again, and man, does it feel good."

• lit...
• September 1, 2011

For Depression "I have been dealing with clinical depression since I was in kindergarten (I'm 41 now). Have been on and off many different antidepressants over the years (mostly off because of the side effects and some making me feel worse). Therapy never helped. Have been on Celexa 20 mg for the last month - month 1/2, and it's working very well. I have actually lost 11 lbs being on it because of loss of appetite. The only side effects I don't like are increased headaches and decreased libido. I do still feel sad and alone at times, but not as bad as I used to. I am using Xanax a lot less too."

• Anonymous
• December 13, 2010

For Depression "This medicine is not for me. I only took it for three nights, and I started throwing up, seeing things that were not there. I have a huge headache, felt like I was hit by a truck. Have been getting cold sweats and just felt like I was going to die. My heart rate jumped up to 175, and I normally run at 86ish. I have not been able to eat, and I sleep but not like I used to. I am asleep but I hear everything. This medicine is not for me. I hope other people have better luck."