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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Eliza on January 6, 2001, at 17:49:25
It's been four weeks now and I keep waiting...and waiting..and waiting. I'm still profoundly depressed. How much longer should I expect to wait before pulling the plug on Celexa and trying something else? Paxil began working for me within one week.
Posted by stjames on January 6, 2001, at 18:14:44
In reply to WHEN will Celexa start working for me?, posted by Eliza on January 6, 2001, at 17:49:25
Read http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001231/msgs/50906.html
james
Posted by dennis on January 6, 2001, at 19:42:01
In reply to WHEN will Celexa start working for me?, posted by Eliza on January 6, 2001, at 17:49:25
> It's been four weeks now and I keep waiting...and waiting..and waiting. I'm still profoundly depressed. How much longer should I expect to wait before pulling the plug on Celexa and trying something else? Paxil began working for me within one week.
If you want my opinion, and I want to say I am not a doctor, I dont know anything about celexa, but just my feeling from reading your post and from what I do know about these drugs I would say give it another week and then try something else, you need to get better and you want to do it fast, I dont see why you should have to waste time on a drug that doesnt work when there are plenty other drugs that at this point have a much better chance of working than celexa.
Posted by SLS on January 6, 2001, at 20:10:27
In reply to WHEN will Celexa start working for me?, posted by Eliza on January 6, 2001, at 17:49:25
Dear Eliza,
> It's been four weeks now and I keep waiting...and waiting..and waiting. I'm still profoundly depressed. How much longer should I expect to wait before pulling the plug on Celexa and trying something else? Paxil began working for me within one week.
Unfortunately, crystal-balls are in short supply. :-(I have a few questions and a few comments.
1. Why did you stop taking Paxil?
2. Did it "poop-out" and stop working?
3. How long did it work for?
4. Why didn't you try Paxil again if it worked the first time?
If you were at the 6-week mark, I would be hard-pressed to make a recommendation. However, at the 4-week mark, I would recommend that you continue it for 2 more weeks and try raising the dosage if that is appropriate.1. Did you feel a short-lived improvement within the first 5 days of treatment?
2. Has your depression lightened up at all?
3. Do you find yourself getting more things done, despite feeling so depressed?
4. Do you feel you are expressing yourself in words a bit better when you speak to people?
5. Have you been out and about more, even if it is only to run errands?
6. Have you felt a little less anxiety around people? (if this was a problem)If you answered yes to any of the above questions, I would say that it would not make sense to discontinue Celexa at this time.
(crossing my fingers and eyes)
Hang-in for a little while. You'll never know otherwise. Although it is common sense that the probability of your responding to Celexa *monotherapy* declines with each passing day at this point, it is also common sense to acknowledge the possibility that you fall into a minority of late-responders. It is a lot to weigh when making your decision. Believe me, I know. Sometimes you have to trust your logic more than your gut.
I am very, VERY interested for you to answer my questions, as the answers will be helpful for the both of us.
Sincerely,
Scott
Posted by Jackster on January 7, 2001, at 2:25:32
In reply to WHEN will Celexa start working for me?, posted by Eliza on January 6, 2001, at 17:49:25
> It's been four weeks now and I keep waiting...and waiting..and waiting. I'm still profoundly depressed. How much longer should I expect to wait before pulling the plug on Celexa and trying something else? Paxil began working for me within one week.
After 6 weeks and a rash I gave up on the Celexa.
Posted by c on January 7, 2001, at 10:29:52
In reply to Re: WHEN will Celexa start working for me?, posted by Jackster on January 7, 2001, at 2:25:32
Hi Eliza, I started Celexa 4 weeks ago for anxiety and depression. At that time I was also taking xanax and trazadone. As the Celexa began working around the 3rd week I have been tapering off the other meds. I have hit the 4 week mark now and am off xanax but still take 50 mg trazadone at night. I take 20 mg of Celexa in the morning. I have no side effects and I feel great.
What dosage are you taking? Perhaps you need to up it a little-talk to your doc. Good luck to you.
C
Posted by JohnL on January 7, 2001, at 18:26:44
In reply to WHEN will Celexa start working for me?, posted by Eliza on January 6, 2001, at 17:49:25
> It's been four weeks now and I keep waiting...and waiting..and waiting. I'm still profoundly depressed. How much longer should I expect to wait before pulling the plug on Celexa and trying something else? Paxil began working for me within one week.
Sorry Eliza. One day can seem like an eternity. Not to mention four weeks. Yikes.
I would agree with an earlier post to give it one more week before throwing in the towel. Sure these things take time to work, but it should have given you some kind of hint by now.
SLS brought up some good questions though concerning your history and why Paxil was stopped. Somewhere in there lie the clues to decide what to do next.
John
Posted by Eliza on January 8, 2001, at 11:37:50
In reply to Re: WHEN will Celexa start working for me?, posted by Eliza on January 8, 2001, at 11:33:30
>
> >
> > Unfortunately, crystal-balls are in short supply. :-(
> >
> > I have a few questions and a few comments.
> >
> > 1. Why did you stop taking Paxil?
> > 2. Did it "poop-out" and stop working?
> > 3. How long did it work for?
> > 4. Why didn't you try Paxil again if it worked the first time?
> >
> >
> > If you were at the 6-week mark, I would be hard-pressed to make a recommendation. However, at the 4-week mark, I would recommend that you continue it for 2 more weeks and try raising the dosage if that is appropriate.
> >
> > 1. Did you feel a short-lived improvement within the first 5 days of treatment?
> > 2. Has your depression lightened up at all?
> > 3. Do you find yourself getting more things done, despite feeling so depressed?
> > 4. Do you feel you are expressing yourself in words a bit better when you speak to people?
> > 5. Have you been out and about more, even if it is only to run errands?
> > 6. Have you felt a little less anxiety around people? (if this was a problem)
> >
> > If you answered yes to any of the above questions, I would say that it would not make sense to discontinue Celexa at this time.
> >
> > (crossing my fingers and eyes)
> >
> > Hang-in for a little while. You'll never know otherwise. Although it is common sense that the probability of your responding to Celexa *monotherapy* declines with each passing day at this point, it is also common sense to acknowledge the possibility that you fall into a minority of late-responders. It is a lot to weigh when making your decision. Believe me, I know. Sometimes you have to trust your logic more than your gut.
> >
> > I am very, VERY interested for you to answer my questions, as the answers will be helpful for the both of us.
> >
> >
> > Sincerely,
> > Scott
> Dear Scott:
> Thanks for taking the time to respond in-depth (and thanks to all others for your responses to my query as well)
>
> In answer to your questions:
> 1. I stopped taking Paxil after three years because I entered a new relationship and discovered I was sexually dysfunctional. I also had put on about 15 pounds with Paxil. As soon as I got Paxil out of my system (no easy task), I became sexually functional and thinner.
>
> 2. Paxil did not "poop out"; in fact, it worked for my depression EXTREMELY well, and seemed to keep working better all the time
>
> 3. It worked for the entire three years I took it
>
> 4. I may have to go back to Paxil, but I would like to have a pleasurable sex life and not be overweight
>
> Second group of questions:
>
> 1. Yes, I felt a little bit less depressed with Celexa after about a week;
> 2. Yes
> 3. Only a little
> 4. No
> 5. Yes, but only because I have to for survival. I would still prefer to stay in bed all day under the covers
> 6. No
Posted by SLS on January 8, 2001, at 12:44:43
In reply to Responses to SLS's questions , posted by Eliza on January 8, 2001, at 11:37:50
Dear Eliza,
I won't make any recommendations regarding a continuation of Celexa. I think you have all of facts necessary to make that decision for yourself.
As far as the sexual side effects are concerned, is it libido that is affected, ability to have orgasms, or both?
Unfortunately, you are a member of a not-so-selective group of people. The good news is that many of those who have encountered these problems have come up with ways to remedy them. Has Celexa produced the same side effects as did Paxil? How much Celexa are you taking now and what was the dosage of Paxil to which you responded so magnificently?
I think you should begin a new thread asking for suggestions on how to remedy antidepressant-induced sexual side effects, and give them a try if you should need to back to Paxil, or if you encounter the same situation with other drugs you may try. If you can hold out longer to try other drugs, perhaps you will find one that suits you. If not, you might feel it necessary to return to Paxil and employ some of the strategies that people here will suggest.
e.g. Add Wellbutrin 150mg to Paxil.
Good luck, and thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.
Sincerely,
Scott
This is the end of the thread.
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