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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by dave on February 17, 1999, at 0:39:35
Hello All,
Well, I started Celexa today, 10mg for 3 days then to go
up to 20mg a day, problem is is that it wont let me
reach orgasm, just like Zoloft did. Does anyone know
if this side effect goes away? Cuz if it doesn't, I
think I will have to choose what little sex life I have
over being free from depression. I quit the Zoloft
immediately when this happened. Should I wait and see
if my body adjusts to the Celexa? I felt depression
free on Wellbutrin but when I was up to 300mg I started
itching real bad. It shouldn't be too much to ask to
have normal sex functions and be free of depression.
Any input will be appreciated.
dave
Posted by lisa on February 17, 1999, at 7:28:39
In reply to Celexa side effects, posted by dave on February 17, 1999, at 0:39:35
>Dave,
I just started Celexa about 7 days ago for the
same reason. I am totally frustrated with having
to sacrifice my sex life for my mental health, so
I completely feel for where you're coming from.
(When are they going to invent a AD that works
for most everyone but dosen't have that awful
side effect?!). Anyway, I'll keep you posted
on how it's working for me (it's too early to tell
yet b/c I'm still waiting for the numbing prozac
to wash out of my system). Since starting, I've
read a ton of these newsgroup posts over the
internet and it just seems to vary from person
to person--some have experienced no sexual side
effects at all, some have, and others have found
it to at least be LESS numbing than the others.
There was a post from a woman who took Zoloft who
said that she felt much more on Celexa than she
did on Zoloft. I seem to be reading that Remeron
and Serzone don't have the sexual side effects,
but serzone makes alot of folks sleepy and Remeron
makes them gain weight. I've heard about folks
that take other things with their regular AD's
to counteract that effect. It all seems like a
major pain in the ass. I hope the celexa works
for you, I have heard that the side effects go
away with time, and maybe that one will too. Only
time will tell, I guess, and we'll just have to
be patient in the meantime :-(
I will cross my fingers for both of us :-)
Posted by Shelley in Seattle on February 17, 1999, at 17:35:44
In reply to Re: Celexa side effects, posted by lisa on February 17, 1999, at 7:28:39
I know how individual we humans are in our psychopharm responses, but -- I hope this will offer you some hope.
I have been on Celexa for almost 2 months now. I am a 32-yr old female taking 60 mg/day. It took a full month for Celexa to work for me, but when it did it was like an epiphany. I had mental whiplash just adjusting to the change! The sexual side effect continued until just last week: I was to the point where I could barely have an orgasm at all and hardly thought about sex, and then it just happened. There was no very-numb feeling and no big delay! I really didn't expect that side effect to go away, so I am thrilled. I still get dry mouth, but I just keep increasing my h20 intake.
I really made myself give Celexa a chance -- I was so desperately depressed when I started taking & it was really hard to wait, but I am so glad I did. It's tough to say what you should do since we are all so different, but -- you might want to hang in there a bit longer if you can. I hope both of you find something that will work if Celexa doesn't.
Shelley
Posted by dave on February 17, 1999, at 18:02:47
In reply to Re: Celexa side effects, posted by lisa on February 17, 1999, at 7:28:39
> I will cross my fingers for both of us :-)
Thanks for your reply Lisa. I am gonna talk to my doc asap.
I guess I'll go ahead and take the Celexa today too, see what
happens. I do seem to feel better in other ways
already but man, what a tradeoff. I cant deal with
that. I'll stay hopeful and keep trying, I'll cross
my fingers for us too. Good luck, Lisa and thanks
again for the reply.
dave
Posted by dave on February 17, 1999, at 18:15:15
In reply to Re: Celexa side effects, posted by Shelley in Seattle on February 17, 1999, at 17:35:44
Thanks Shelley, wow, your note really gave me
hope! I really wanted Celexa to work and I am
already feeling better but...that side effect..
If I think it might go away I guess I will
stick with it and try to hold on. The truth
is is that I had already given up on it today
and took a wellbutrin instead of the Celexa
(my first stray into the land of doing things
without my docs knowledge) I know I shouldnt
have but, well many of you know what I mean.
I mean, I was depressed before but now This?!
I guess I will take my Celexa and keep trying.
I sure appreciate the encouragement for you all.
I guess at least I know that with Zoloft (and it
felt the same) once I stopped it, everything went
back to normal working order. Thats comforting anyway.
Sincerely
dave
Posted by dave on February 18, 1999, at 11:19:01
In reply to Re: Celexa side effects, posted by lisa on February 18, 1999, at 9:15:24
Hello All,
Things seem to be getting a little better for me.
I'll keep everyone posted. I only slept like 6hrs
and dont feel that tired--I have been sleeping
12-14hrs a day. We'll see what happens.
dave
Posted by Matt on February 23, 1999, at 0:04:52
In reply to Re: Celexa side effects, posted by dave on February 18, 1999, at 11:19:01
Pretty much any drug that operates mainly by blocking serotonin reuptake is going to give you the sexual side effects. But there are some that don't work on serotonin directly (like Wellbutrin) or don't block reuptake/of if they do bind to postsynaptic serotonin receptors as part of their action (Remeron, Serzone). Though TCAs are out of style now, they're still very good drugs for treating depression. I mean, there is a bit of an SSRI bandwagon--people tend to think in terms of Kramer's phraseology: SSRIs are "clean" and drugs that don't work on just serotonin are "dirty." I think that this is unfortunate terminology.
One good thing about SSRIs, though, (so I don't sound as if I'm totally down on them) for those of us with atypical depression is that they work on so many other psychological issues.
My main side effect on Celexa has been that I've been waking up after sleeping 4 hours, and I can't get back to sleep. I've since added a bit of a sedating TCA to help (though this was for other reasons, too--Trazadone normally would be the drug to add in this case).
Matt
Posted by dave on February 23, 1999, at 2:58:51
In reply to Re: Celexa side effects, posted by Matt on February 23, 1999, at 0:04:52
> Pretty much any drug that operates mainly by blocking serotonin reuptake is going to give you the sexual side effects. But there are some that don't work on serotonin directly (like Wellbutrin) or don't block reuptake/of if they do bind to postsynaptic serotonin receptors as part of their action (Remeron, Serzone). Though TCAs are out of style now, they're still very good drugs for treating depression. I mean, there is a bit of an SSRI bandwagon--people tend to think in terms of Kramer's phraseology: SSRIs are "clean" and drugs that don't work on just serotonin are "dirty." I think that this is unfortunate terminology.
>
> One good thing about SSRIs, though, (so I don't sound as if I'm totally down on them) for those of us with atypical depression is that they work on so many other psychological issues.
>
> My main side effect on Celexa has been that I've been waking up after sleeping 4 hours, and I can't get back to sleep. I've since added a bit of a sedating TCA to help (though this was for other reasons, too--Trazadone normally would be the drug to add in this case).
>
> MattThanks for your reply Matt, Actually, the sexual
problem pretty much cleared up before I quit
celexa but i was doing something bad to my skin,
i couldnt deal with that. actually, I have been
off it a few days now and dont feel that bad, my
doc will probably put me on something else though
anyway. oh well, I'll keep everyone posted.
thanks again for your reply
Sincerely
dave
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