I have been on Celexa for about 15 weeks, most recently at 20mg/day.
I was about 70% better until last week. But in the last week I have been feeling dizzier, returning to the feeling of movement while laying in bed, poorer balance, and the one-second panic feelings of being disoriented/dizzy when seeing complex visual stimuli. I am now down to about 50-60%. Maybe the Celexa is pooping out. I have already switch once to Lexapro for 5 weeks, but it caused me to clench my jaw so I went back to Celexa.
My doctor wants me to updose to 30mg for two weeks, and if that doesn’t work, he wants me to switch within the antidepressant family (SSRI or SNRI).
Anybody out there who can compare Celexa to Zoloft, Effexor, or Cymbalta, which are the next drugs in line for me?
The good thing about Celexa is that it is pretty good for my mood, makes me lose a few pounds, and helps me sleep. I am worried that I will sacrifice those if I switch. I am fearful of SNRIs because I am anxious already and don’t really want to be jolted.
I can probably steer my doctor toward one of these drugs, but which one?
Doug
Both effexor and cymbalta are indicated for mood and anxiety. Other than the initial hyped feeling, that was lessened by klonopin, I had less start up anxiety on cymbalta than on lexapro. They also say that snri less likely to poop out than ssri. Maybe because it hits two neurotransmitters??
Anyway, I think either is worth a shot?
Kelley
Ps
You can always add a low dose tricyclic to ur celexa?
Doug
Both effexor and cymbalta are indicated for mood and anxiety. Other than the initial hyped feeling, that was lessened by klonopin, I had less start up anxiety on cymbalta than on lexapro. They also say that snri less likely to poop out than ssri. Maybe because it hits two neurotransmitters??
Anyway, I think either is worth a shot?
Kelley
Ps
You can always add a low dose tricyclic to ur celexa?
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Hi Kelly, how was the weight gain on Cymbalta? Is it known to be weight neutral?
I don’t think one bad week on any drug is a reason to consider jumping ship. These drugs do not kill migraine completely and it is still very possible – for whatever reason – to have a “fat kid jump in the pool” and you take it all in the face as Rauch puts it. In other words youre symptoms can all be back in swing briefly and they go again. If you’ve been doing well on Celexa, I’d stay right on target at 20 mg. I wouldn’t increase the dose yet either. SEs are dose dependent and I don’t think you’ve been on 20 mg long enough to fully reap the benefits.
Remember that Nick Silver said it’s possible for some triggers to totally render a drug useless. You may have hit a trigger lately that is messing with you. Silver cites caffeine intake (some cases) as something that can screw it all up for example, drugs or not.