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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Liz on April 2, 2000, at 18:28:38
I started taking Celexa about a month ago for sort of a low grade depression, lack of motivation thing. I was taking it every other day. After a month, I started taking it every day, with a dose of Adderall (10mg 2x a day). When my period started, I went into a sort of hypomanic stage, as my psychiatrist "diagnosed" over the phone. I liked the effect of the Adderall, which I guess is a concern. I was wondering if other women had an accentuation of drug effects while menstruating? I was initially diagnosed with OCD with underlying depression. So far, the side effects (delay of orgasm and sleepiness) are about as depressing as anything I reported initially. I certainly don't feel cured and am interested to hear if others took awhile to feel normal, whatever that is!
Posted by Valley Girl on April 4, 2000, at 10:29:40
In reply to Re: new to the board, posted by Liz on April 3, 2000, at 19:50:05
I have been taking Celexa for about a month also. I am severely depressed. I have been most of my life. Paxil did nothing after taking it for a year and half. Zoloft made me feel like a zombie. Celexa gives me severe stomach cramps, headaches and I have just noticed recently that I can't focus or concentrate. I also am having problems spelling and finding the right words when I am talking. When first taking Celexa, I was tired all the time, sleeping 9-10 hours. Now I can't sleep. What's up with that. As for when I start my period, I do feel better with the Celexa, although the rest of the time I feel no different. It is funny but, I didn't have the cravings, or the cramps with my last period. >Food doesn't interest me as much anymore either. I am hungy but food doesn't taste the same. I do not like taking drugs. I have fought with doctors and therapists about this for years. They don't help me.
By the way, I seem to be losing weight with Celexa, maybe because of the lack of interest in food. I am craving clam dip and potato chips though.
I hope things work out for you. I do know that I can not drink alcohol when I have my period because I get really whacked!
Valley Girl
>
I started taking Celexa about a month ago for sort of a low grade depression, lack of motivation thing. I was taking it every other day. After a month, I started taking it every day, with a dose of Adderall (10mg 2x a day). When my period started, I went into a sort of hypomanic stage, as my psychiatrist "diagnosed" over the phone. I liked the effect of the Adderall, which I guess is a concern. I was wondering if other women had an accentuation of drug effects while menstrating? I was initially diagnosed with OCD with underlying depression. So far, the side effects (delay of orgasm and sleepiness) are about as depressing as anything I reported initially. I certainly don't feel cured and am interested to hear if others took awhile to feel normal, whatever that is!
Posted by Liz on April 4, 2000, at 14:01:20
In reply to Re: new to the board, posted by Valley Girl on April 4, 2000, at 10:29:40
> I have been taking Celexa for about a month also. I am severely depressed. I have been most of my life. Paxil did nothing after taking it for a year and half. Zoloft made me feel like a zombie. Celexa gives me severe stomach cramps, headaches and I have just noticed recently that I can't focus or concentrate. I also am having problems spelling and finding the right words when I am talking. When first taking Celexa, I was tired all the time, sleeping 9-10 hours. Now I can't sleep. What's up with that. As for when I start my period, I do feel better with the Celexa, although the rest of the time I feel no different. It is funny but, I didn't have the cravings, or the cramps with my last period. >Food doesn't interest me as much anymore either. I am hungy but food doesn't taste the same. I do not like taking drugs. I have fought with doctors and therapists about this for years. They don't help me.
>
> By the way, I seem to be losing weight with Celexa, maybe because of the lack of interest in food. I am craving clam dip and potato chips though.
>
> I hope things work out for you. I do know that I can not drink alcohol when I have my period because I get really whacked!
>
> Valley GirlThanks for your response! My depression sort of crept up on me; I didn't know what was wrong, but realized at some point that I didn't have any energy, enthusiasm or motivation and that things I used to enjoy seemed like tedious chores. The Celexa made me very tired the first month, 'tho I slept as much as I could before that too. I have really noticed an improvement with the Adderall, even though the Dr. suggested I quit taking it due to the weird effect during my period. However, the combination of the two has helped a lot. I am not un-depressed exactly, but I do have more energy and can concentrate better. On Celexa alone, and even before, I could not finish a sentence without forgetting the subject matter and I too was at a loss for finding words. Also, I had been in the habit of having wine virtually every night, sometimes way too much! I'm know it can't help the medicine work properly, so I'm trying to eliminate all alcohol during the week, at least. My doctor says I have been trying to self medicate and that makes sense as my regular wine drinking kicked in about when I first recall feeling really down. BTW, I love chips and clam dip...always have! Is that a symptom?? Anyway, my appetite has changed too. The Adderall is a definite appetite suppressant, and while I could stand to lose a few pounds, going all day without food is not real healthy. Yesterday I had nothing 'til dinner and felt fine. Today I ate a small lunch but wasn't really hungry and immediately felt sleepy! You can't win sometimes! Have you asked your Dr. about adding a stimulant to the AD? I know you are reluctant to rely on meds, but if the ADs aren't working by themselves, maybe that is part of the answer. Just curious...I guess thats why I'm sort of being non-compliant about my Dr's advice because on Celexa alone I was just a little too mellow. It is suppossed to help with my OCD, but I think any improvement there has been due to my conscious efforts and to a boost from the uppers. Thanks again for reading and responding to my post. I hope you'll keep after things; let me know how you're doing.
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