Posted by Racer on March 23, 2007, at 0:07:27
In reply to I am new here, have a ?, posted by gakay2 on March 22, 2007, at 21:54:18
Welcome to Babble.
Paxil and Celexa are both in the same class of anti-depressants, and it's a class that it generally easier to tolerate than the other options. It's considered the safest class, really, but that doesn't mean that it's without problems.
As far as SSRIs go, people here have reported more problems with Paxil than with the others. In fact, my psychopharmacologist -- pdoc -- says he just won't use it, because it's just not a good enough drug to be worth the problems he's seen with it. Of course, there are people for whom it works wonderfully, because that's the nature of these things. Your mileage will vary.
Generally, SSRI start up effects very often include GI upset to some degree. That's one of the start up effects that generally does go away, though, if you can stick it out for a few weeks. Celexa is great for a lot of people, although its step-child Lexapro is considered cleaner in its effects. Is there any reason your doctor is going for the older drugs? Lexapro, from what I've read, is maybe a better choice for a lot of people.
You really haven't been on Paxil very long, so you probably won't have any trouble stopping it and starting Celexa. Paxil is known for a "discontinuation syndrome" -- what anyone here will call "withdrawal," since we're not a drug company representative -- but you haven't been on it long enough, nor at a high enough dosage, for that to be a problem. Most likely. Also, since both drugs target the same catecholamine neurotransmitter, the Celexa itself should counter pretty much anything you do experience.
I hope that helps. And welcome!
poster:Racer
thread:743346
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070320/msgs/743368.html