antidepressants

[LAEnggren]

Hi everyone
If anyone has any feedback on Celexa prescribed for anxiety and sleep problems. I go to the Dr. with problems sleeping and concentrating and have been told antidepressants help. I am just not sure sometimes I feel like, and excuse my bluntness,if I went to the dr. for a sore butt they would prescribe antidepressants. Any thoughts or experiences would be appreciated
Thanks
Lisa

 

[ivorygorgon]

It's so hard to say because people react so differently to different anti-depressants. I have taken Celexa and probably liked it the best of several I have tried. I, however, developed terrible night sweats (like I do with all SSRIs) and thus it interrupted my sleep. At first I did think it helped a bit with depression, but after I went off of them (which was tough, I had terrible withdrawal symptoms for about 2 months) I couldn't tell any difference. Hope this helps a bit.

 

[clareMc]

Hi Lisa:

I am taking Celexa and I do well with it. It is the only drug in the SSRI's that I can tolerate. It does take a few weeks before you feel normal after you start taking it. I never had trouble sleeping, the opposite: it made me drowsy. I never had weight gain either. I take it for depression.

I have always understood, from my research and readings on anti-depressant medications, that Celexa was not targeted at anxiety, rather at depression. Drugs targetting anxiety are usually Paxil (which I would not wish upon my worst enemy because reports from people trying to come off it are real bad), and Buspar, which I have never heard anything negative about.

I can see why your doctor might initially prescribe Celexa for you to aid with sleep problems (insomnia), but the need to sleep extra and drowsiness that it induces wear off after 4-6 weeks, so it's not a long term solution for you.

I therefore question your doctor's prescription for you. What I recommend you do is resarch anxiety medications and the anxiety condition itself. Only when you are thoroughly informed can you sort through the morass of contradictory information and subjective comments you will receive from books, doctors, individuals (like me!) and make good choices to better your own health.

I would say: research BUSPAR as your first port of call.

Clare

 

[LAEnggren]

Thank you both
there is so much conflicting info Iiwll check into buspar
Lisa