![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
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 Rockets on April 24, 2000, at 23:07:16
Hi,
After 15 years of perfect health (not counting the common cold, I had a panic attack and paced around the house for days on end when not at work. I went to see a Psychiatrist. They put me on Celexa 10mg per day. I stopped taking the Ativan (I only used it for 9 days) which the general MD had prescribed the day of the panic attack.
I am really depressed in the morning with some bad thoughts and anxious at night hard to sleep (I take it at night) but I have found life tolerable again so far.. instead of that horrible anxiety.
I'm on short term disability right now and my psychiatrist says that I should be over with it in six months at which point she will start me off the Celexa. Apparently one shouldn't work full time, pull 15 units at night with straight A's (I graduated right before the episode), run a music business, and lament the loss of one's friends who got married and all moved away while drinking heavily and taking lots of herbs (all sorts) from the health food store. Oh yes.. I HAVE learned an important lesson in life.
My only complaint is the bad thoughts I sometimes get now but I don't know if that's from the Celexa or not and also since anxiety is my issue I wonder if BuSpar wouldn't have been better.
Any one care to comment or share?
Posted by worryworryworry on April 25, 2000, at 9:26:39
In reply to Celexa, anxiety, and bad thoughts, posted by Rockets on April 24, 2000, at 23:07:16
> Hi,
I thought that BuSpar may have been a better choice, too, but my pdoc told me that at least 40mg is a theraputic dose for Celexa and you will definately need to work up to a higher dose. I noticed a BIG difference when I went up to 40mg a couple of weeks ago. I still have fleeting anxious thoughts which are worse during "that time of the month" (it's WONDERFUL being a woman-LOL) but I can get through it on the 40 mg where I couldn't on only 10 or 20. It also takes a good 8 weeks or so until you REALLY notice how much better you are feeling. It's been 3 months for me and I still notice marked improvements week after week. I've also been told by a few doctors that when you suffer from anxiety AND depression, you should stay on the meds for at least 9 months, if not a year. I read where it takes at least a year for a person to get "cured" of depression and/or anxiety. It took a long time to get sick so be patient with the recovery.Good luck! You may want to get a second opinion on the dosage and/or length of treatment. I would. I've heard a lot to the contrary of what you are staying in those regards and I know others who would agree with me.
Posted by Rockets on April 25, 2000, at 16:17:17
In reply to Re: Celexa, anxiety, and bad thoughts, posted by worryworryworry on April 25, 2000, at 9:26:39
Yes you are right, it really did take time to get this way. I reckon it took me an entire year not counting the attitude precursors.. etc..
Now I am focusing on recovery and change so that I will not be that "personality type" that end up like this. I am working on learning more about life and changing the beliefs that are wrong (or just plain don't work.. heh). I did take .25mg (very small amt) of Ativan today today to take the edge off after three days without any. I think my doc is upping me to 20mg Celexa next week. Peace.
> > Hi,
> I thought that BuSpar may have been a better choice, too, but my pdoc told me that at least 40mg is a theraputic dose for Celexa and you will definately need to work up to a higher dose. I noticed a BIG difference when I went up to 40mg a couple of weeks ago. I still have fleeting anxious thoughts which are worse during "that time of the month" (it's WONDERFUL being a woman-LOL) but I can get through it on the 40 mg where I couldn't on only 10 or 20. It also takes a good 8 weeks or so until you REALLY notice how much better you are feeling. It's been 3 months for me and I still notice marked improvements week after week. I've also been told by a few doctors that when you suffer from anxiety AND depression, you should stay on the meds for at least 9 months, if not a year. I read where it takes at least a year for a person to get "cured" of depression and/or anxiety. It took a long time to get sick so be patient with the recovery.
>
> Good luck! You may want to get a second opinion on the dosage and/or length of treatment. I would. I've heard a lot to the contrary of what you are staying in those regards and I know others who would agree with me.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.