Celexa and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Vin...
• August 30, 2011

For Depression "I've been on 10 mg Celexa for over 11 weeks. Started on 10 mg for a week, then 20 mg for a week. Side effects on 20 mg: headaches, confusion, constipation. Now on 10 mg for the balance of the Celexa experience. I weigh 162 (lost 5 lbs.) and am 71 yrs. I stopped alcohol (2-3 oz. per night, 7 days a week), which may have caused some side effects with the 20 mg and not the cause of Celexa. I still have some headaches, constipation, and that's it on side effects. My depression (clinically defined as down, sleep 10 hrs., not much interest in life, more) has lifted. I may continue to use Celexa and no alcohol for life, as I have been depressed numerous times. I was the primary health caretaker for my chronically ill wife for 11 yrs. She died 12-10-10."

• Djc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 13, 2018

For Anxiety and Stress "I never leave feedback, but this was the most horrible feeling I have ever felt in my life. I couldn't sleep from 1 dose. Was wide awake for 3 days straight. Had a ton of energy, but it made me feel crazy. Upset stomach, nausea, headache, jitters, jaw clenching the entire time and the list keeps going. Then when the medicine was coming out of my system, I couldn't stop crying. It's horrible... For me anyways. I'm kinda scared to try another antidepressant. Are they all like this?"

• Anonymous
• August 17, 2021

For Anxiety and Stress "I started taking this medication at 10 mg at the end of May. It’s now mid-August, and I will admit it took a while to work. The first couple of days, my side effects were enhanced anxiety, could not sleep, early awakening, fast heartbeat, and headache, but it all went away after the first week. Before taking citalopram, I would have breakdowns out of nowhere, intrusive thoughts, and panic attacks. I tried everything before trying medication because I was definitely hesitant, but I’m really glad I tried it. It’s now been over two months, and I feel a lot better. I don’t worry about having to leave a situation because of a breakdown anymore, and I get less panic and can brush off intrusive thoughts. Obviously, there’s no magic pill, so I still get anxiety, and I still have bad days (especially around the time of my period), but citalopram has helped a lot, and my family and friends have noticed. It’s really nice not to be crying all the time, lol."

• Not...
• September 27, 2017

For Anxiety and Stress "Worst experience of my life on this drug. Extreme insomnia, even taking an Ambien would not get me to sleep. If I did get a little sleep, it was not restful, felt awake. Could not remember what happened 5 minutes ago. Short-term memory gone. Could not eat, I would try, but could barely swallow, and food would fall out of my mouth, especially carbs like bread. Major muscle twitching, extreme sweating, especially in inappropriate places like my groin, so then I had even more anxiety feeling like I looked like I wet my pants. Headaches. This happened on a low dose taking it 3-4 weeks. Once stopping Celexa, it took me 3-4 months to feel normal again, however, I also feel this drug did some permanent damage to my brain."

• Anonymous
• June 9, 2012

For Anxiety and Stress "I started taking Celexa to help with anxiety and panic attacks. It helped with the panic attacks and made me feel numb as far as emotions. I had to change because I would have to take a nap every day that sometimes would last 2-3 hours. I also began sleeping very late in the day, which is unusual for me. The pill would cause me to have annoying headaches. Also, the first few weeks on it, my appetite was suppressed."

• Its...
• September 14, 2011

For Depression "I just started taking Celexa 1 week ago. I've been a depressed, sad, sorry person for over 15 years. For some unexplained reason, I was always so low. I began hitting myself around the age of 7 and would give myself nosebleeds. I'm now 28, and my self-inflictions are numerous places on my body, and my flesh will hang off my muscle. In the 4 times I have been taken to the E.R., not one doctor or hospital therapist has said or done anything to help me understand why. Finally, 1 week ago in the E.R., the physician put me on 20 mg Celexa. I felt really weird the first day. I have a loss of appetite, minor headache. NO ANXIETY. Still feel low, but I'm set an appointment for therapy. WONDERFUL FEELING! The world is different and not so ugly. I am tired though."

• mil...
• September 19, 2009

For Depression "Was put on Lexapro in May 2005 after having lost my husband in October 2004. Worked great for me, headaches at first then those tapered off after about 2 weeks. Found a job which took my mind off of my grief in December 05, so weaned off of Lexapro then stopped altogether. In June 08 lost my job, the depression came back eventually and finally went back to my doctor and was put back on Lexapro in April 09 with samples from my doctor. This worked after about 4 weeks, I was feeling more like myself and less crying. Then went to fill my prescription and my insurance company denied it. My doctor prescribed Celexa. Only took it for two nights, and have had shakiness both mornings. Hoping this will subside. Have had several bouts of crying spells."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 13, 2018

For Depression "This medication was extremely dangerous for me. When I began taking it, I started to sweat profusely, I had a terrible headache, I was nauseous and shaking uncontrollably. Luckily, I was at an inpatient facility. The psychiatrist immediately stopped the medication and told me I was suffering from serotonin overdose, aka serotonin syndrome, which can be deadly. I was so pale I started to turn gray. Once the medication was out of my system, it took about a week to feel better."

• Anonymous
• April 4, 2012

For Depression "I'm 17, and I've been on Celexa for roughly 2 months now, and it's fantastic! I went from a depressed/suicidal teen to a happy, outgoing person. I have my life back, I've never felt this good in a long time. I have struggled most of my teen years with depression, eating disorder, and severe OCD, and now I am free to live my own life. My obsessions and compulsions have gone away, and I am far from depressed, I feel more normal than I have ever been. It took about 4 weeks to finally start working, I started at 10mg and now I'm at 20mg, works great and no side effects besides slight headaches occasionally and crazy vivid dreams."

• 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."

• Los...
• June 21, 2022

For Anxiety and Stress "I’m in my 20s and a male. Started taking Celexa 2 years ago. It helped my anxiety a little but would get really severe headaches. But the worst thing was that I ruined my sex drive. And I mean for good. I stopped taking it because of the sexual side effects, and I never returned to normal even after months of stopping it. I was diagnosed with post-SSRI sexual dysfunction. Do NOT take it unless you want to ruin your sex life for good."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 23, 2021

For Anxiety and Stress "I have been on Celexa for 3 weeks now, and I can already feel a huge difference. I was having panic attacks while at work to where I would need to walk away and go into a bathroom to calm down. I would have meltdowns at home, getting home from work and having to deal with my two boys (3 years old & 10 years old), who were not listening and coming home to a messy house after working all day. Now I come home, and I am more at ease, calm, and not having any attacks. The first week and a half were a little rough with the side effects: tiredness, nausea, headaches, increased panic attacks, hot flash symptoms (sweating a lot), hungry (I am talking every 10 minutes, not feeling full hungry), and now on week 3, all of my symptoms have gone away. I am taking 10 mg Celexa, and I see my primary on 11/30 for a follow-up, so hopefully, by week 4-6, my anxiety will be gone as well."

• Anonymous
• January 25, 2012

For Anxiety and Stress "I was on this for 1 week, and it helped within that time, though I was switched off it due to my side effects, which included a loss of 13 lbs in 6 days, awful headaches, and insomnia. If you don't get those side effects, it is well worth persisting on."

• Anonymous
• May 31, 2012

For Depression "I have been on this almost a month. It doesn't seem to work every day. And the side effects are not so good either. I get headaches, yawning, can't sleep, and if I forget to take it that day, my belly hurts really bad, and I feel like throwing up. But I am giving it a little more time to get my body used to it. I hope I can find a better medicine or something."

• 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!!!"

• 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!!!"

• Anonymous
• April 15, 2011

For Depression "Just in my first week of taking Celexa 20 mg for depression and mood swings. I have had a terrible headache since I took the first dose, very nauseous, and this yawning-gagging thing is worrying me, but mood-wise I can already tell a difference. I hope it continues to work well."

• ran...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 12, 2021

For Anxiety and Stress "I took Celexa for three months. Side effects included headaches, horrible period pain, sexual dysfunction, and horrible heartburn, to name a few. For me, I knew the medication wasn’t working about three months after I upped my dose to 20 mg. I just wasn’t getting better; I also had really bad mood swings, and since my anxiety wasn’t improving, I was taking a lot of my emergency medication (Xanax). I switched to Zoloft and love it... good luck to everyone trying to find what works for them! Hang in there."

• Anonymous
• June 24, 2011

For Depression "I've only been taking this medicine for about a week, and I feel like a zombie. I have no emotion, lack of coordination, sometimes confusion, slurred speech, and a constant headache. Hopefully, this gets better."

• Pin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 11, 2018

For Anxiety and Stress "I just got prescribed this med Thursday and took it Thursday night. Had me up all night. Next day had a never-ending light headache, repeated bowel movements, and nausea. But I will say I had a productive day at work with no anxiety. My symptoms prior were raced heart rate, over-emotional, shortness of breath with stress and worry... still having the heart racing on day 3 and will see how this goes."

• Sle...
• April 3, 2014

For Anxiety and Stress "Day 2 of Celexa for anxiety. Ended up with headache, panic, dizziness, racing heart, and thoughts. My typical anxiety wasn't even as bad as that. Day 1 seemed okay, but after day 2, I'm not happy with it. No more for me, thanks!"

• Jul...
• April 10, 2016

For Anxiety and Stress "It has saved my sanity and kept me at peace. At first, I was sick and had a mild headache, now I'm eating way too much. I'm terrified if I stop taking this. I'm thankful for Celexa."

• Mrs...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 24, 2021

For Depression "I only had two 20 mg doses of Celexa, and it made me feel very strange. It was like feeling out of reality, and I experienced blurry vision and headache. I never want to use this medication again."

• Anonymous
• July 7, 2009

For Depression "I took this medication for about two months, and it did not relieve any of my symptoms, and it gave me headaches."