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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Michele on December 29, 1999, at 8:25:45
Hello again all--
Hope the holidays were good to all of you.
I'm the girl who was feeling better on Celexa, then had killer PMS, then
I felt great from Thursday until Sunday when things went downhill
again. It's back again. I don't know if I feel quite as bad as before I
was on the med, I think some of that ravaging emotional pain is not
there, but still there is some. I have no interest in anything whatsoever and
have gone home from work the last two days to a combination of wine
and sleeping pills so I could sleep and get away from it. It's quite strange
going to bed at 5:00 in the afternoon. I feel bad for those of you who are
having trouble sleeping, I guess my method of sleeping isn't the best, but I
could care less. It gets me away from "it".My question is, I've been taking the Celexa for three weeks now. Could this be
just a setback and the Celexa isn't stable in my system yet? On top of
everything, I feel so awful because I thought I had my chance at a normal life
after losing so much of it. I knew some of what I was feeling would "wear off",
and that some of it was just the euphoria of feeling good after feeling bad for
so long. But this is almost the way I was before the medication.Any help you guys can provide would be appreciated.
Michele
Posted by dove on December 29, 1999, at 11:04:44
In reply to I should've known it was too good to last., posted by Michele on December 29, 1999, at 8:25:45
A quick note to let you know that you're not alone. So many of us are going or have gone through similar experiences. PMS over-rides my meds any day of the month it wants to, and I think the fluctuating hormones effect my moods even when I don't have PMS, you know what I mean?
I think it is not a good idea to be sedating yourself with alcohol and sleeping pills, though I understand the reasoning, put yourself out and then you don't have to worry about doing harm to yourself nor do you have allnight to ruminate on negative thoughts. One day is good and the next is real bad, I have the same thing going on right now and for the last month at least. Talk to your Doc or an emergency room Doc, or any P-doc on call. If your own doc can't help you, then you need to find someone who will, or at least give you some ways of coping with the monster while the celexa starts exerting some power, or maybe you are not responding to the meds and need augmentation or a switch.
I wish I had more to offer you, but I really don't. Please know that you're not alone and please don't give up, and I know it's so much harder than those simple words portray. My blessings, thoughts, and prayers are going your way. Keep us updated.
dove
Posted by Nancy on December 29, 1999, at 12:14:43
In reply to Re: I should've known it was too good to last., posted by dove on December 29, 1999, at 11:04:44
Hi Michele,
Sorry to hear that you are not doing well. I am in a similar boat, too, with a different med. Please remember, as dove said, that you are not alone, there are so many people out there that are going through the same thing. Hang in there and remember that there are people thinking about you and looking out for you.
Have you talked to your doctor about taking another med along with the Celexa? I am taking Remeron along with my Prozac (which was working great until a couple of days ago too!) but I am starting to feel better, and this low was not nearly as bad as my lows on the Prozac alone. Just something to consider! Take care of yourself and keep me updated.
Nancy
> A quick note to let you know that you're not alone. So many of us are going or have gone through similar experiences. PMS over-rides my meds any day of the month it wants to, and I think the fluctuating hormones effect my moods even when I don't have PMS, you know what I mean?
>
> I think it is not a good idea to be sedating yourself with alcohol and sleeping pills, though I understand the reasoning, put yourself out and then you don't have to worry about doing harm to yourself nor do you have allnight to ruminate on negative thoughts. One day is good and the next is real bad, I have the same thing going on right now and for the last month at least. Talk to your Doc or an emergency room Doc, or any P-doc on call. If your own doc can't help you, then you need to find someone who will, or at least give you some ways of coping with the monster while the celexa starts exerting some power, or maybe you are not responding to the meds and need augmentation or a switch.
>
> I wish I had more to offer you, but I really don't. Please know that you're not alone and please don't give up, and I know it's so much harder than those simple words portray. My blessings, thoughts, and prayers are going your way. Keep us updated.
>
> dove
Posted by Zeke on December 30, 1999, at 3:33:45
In reply to I should've known it was too good to last., posted by Michele on December 29, 1999, at 8:25:45
It sounds like you fell back into a hole. I hear you're doing the best you can to escape the pain and I can't blame you. But do remember how different -- better -- its been lately. Use it as an anchor. Don't do anything too crazy. But I know you're not trying to hurt yourself -- just trying not to hurt.
The Celexa should pull you up again. If per chance you continue to be down, or if you crash from PMS again, ask about estrogen which can also bring back the sunshine (and in particular where PMS presents -- strong research here)!
Posted by JohnL on December 30, 1999, at 17:56:55
In reply to I should've known it was too good to last., posted by Michele on December 29, 1999, at 8:25:45
Hey there Michele. Hope things have smoothed out a little for you today. It is SSSOOOO discouraging to feel good and then have it stolen like a thief in the night. Believe me, I know. It seems so cruel and unfair. This site is dominated by lots of people with the exact same problems. I know it doesn't help enough, but just understand you are nowhere near being alone in your struggles.
It may be that you have reached a point where it is time for a dose increase. It's not unusual to have to raise the dose a couple times to find that plateau where things stabilize. Another possibility is that the good days you had might be a sign of more to come. It's not unusual to have some good days, more bad days, good days again, bad days again....but each time the good days become more while the bad days become fewer. Sometimes these drugs just kick in all at once, but sometimes they come on slowly in a yo-yo fashion that eventually levels out nicely. It's only been a few weeks and these drugs really take three months to reach full effectiveness. That is, after the correct dose has been reached.
Shoot, I wish there was some easy way to deal with this. But those are my thoughts. I suspect if we took a survey of doctors on your situation, a high majority would suggest raising the dose and giving it more time. After that has been done, then they might consider either an augmentation or a switch. But it's still early in treatment and it may be that all you need is a little more dose. Anyway, been there, done that, know exactly how you feel. Hang in there. You've got cyberfriends all over the world who can relate. :) JohnL
Posted by cameron on January 8, 2000, at 18:05:24
In reply to Re: I should've known it was too good to last., posted by JohnL on December 30, 1999, at 17:56:55
> Hey there Michele. Hope things have smoothed out a little for you today. It is SSSOOOO discouraging to feel good and then have it stolen like a thief in the night. Believe me, I know. It seems so cruel and unfair. This site is dominated by lots of people with the exact same problems. I know it doesn't help enough, but just understand you are nowhere near being alone in your struggles.
>
> It may be that you have reached a point where it is time for a dose increase. It's not unusual to have to raise the dose a couple times to find that plateau where things stabilize. Another possibility is that the good days you had might be a sign of more to come. It's not unusual to have some good days, more bad days, good days again, bad days again....but each time the good days become more while the bad days become fewer. Sometimes these drugs just kick in all at once, but sometimes they come on slowly in a yo-yo fashion that eventually levels out nicely. It's only been a few weeks and these drugs really take three months to reach full effectiveness. That is, after the correct dose has been reached.
>
> Shoot, I wish there was some easy way to deal with this. But those are my thoughts. I suspect if we took a survey of doctors on your situation, a high majority would suggest raising the dose and giving it more time. After that has been done, then they might consider either an augmentation or a switch. But it's still early in treatment and it may be that all you need is a little more dose. Anyway, been there, done that, know exactly how you feel. Hang in there. You've got cyberfriends all over the world who can relate. :) JohnL
I've been on Celexa (20mg) for a little more than a week, and I can relate to the 'blues' after feeling so good. Right now I feel a little down, and very very very very wired.Overall, I think I feel better. I hope it's not some kind of placebo effect, because I've noticed
I am a much calmer, nicer guy after a few days on Celexa. In fact, I did not get upset, angry, irritated, or even mildly annoyed. I can actually concentrate at work, and I
feel as if there is finally hope. I am hoping that another few weeks will bring even more improvement.From what I'm hearing, Celexa seems to be a faster-acting drug, but still takes time to stabilize. That may be our problem....
-cam.
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