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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Using Celexa or Zanax
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
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Using Celexa or Zanax
by mmsna, Aug 21, 2002 12:00AM
I am having strong chest pains, heart palpatations, occassional butterflies in my stomach and twitching in my eye. This has all started within the last few months. I found out that my boyfriend was planning on asking me to marry him. I realize that it is not "normal" to be feeling this way. I am seeking therapy and my therapist has suggested taking Zanax for the chest pains. I would prefer not to take medication as this is the first time that I have felt this way. This is also my first time seeking help through therapy. I feel that my therapist is wonderful and provides insightful info. But I still am not sure about taking this medication. I recently told my boyfriend how I felt and that my body must be telling me that this was not meant to be for us. I plan on moving out. But this too is difficult to do. I am having difficulty waking up and do not enjoy things like I used to. My therapist has suggested taking Celexa. I am afraid to take this or any other antidepressent for fear of gaining weight and other unwanted side effects. The withdrwal side effects that I have read about in this forum worry me. I would appreciate any advice that any of you have to offer. This as I said is a very difficult time for me and I would like to make an informed decision. Thank you for your time!
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Aug 22, 2002 12:00AM
, Aug 22, 2002 12:00AM
I believe you are thinking this through quite correctly. YOur anxiety is related to a very important decision you are making and a conflict of choice with yourself. The way to treat this is through talk and thinking and making a decision. You need insight into your fear rather than medication. Once you decide, one way or another, your symptoms will immediately diminish.
Xanax is particularly difficult to stop once you start taking it.
All antidepressants have side effects. STay the course without medication if you can handle the symptoms.
Xanax is particularly difficult to stop once you start taking it.
All antidepressants have side effects. STay the course without medication if you can handle the symptoms.
I have had panic attacks and axiety problems for over 13 years now. I did not start taking medication until about 7 years ago. I felt the same way you do about meds. and I still do. I was on Prozac, Xanax and a few others that I can't remember. I got the hell off of Prozac because it did nothing and the side effects were unacceptable. To this day I take a Xanax when I need one, the smallest doage that will ellicit an effect. Fortunately for me I do not take one every day. I probably average one a month. I take them situationaly. I also drank heavily for many years, which I do not recommend.
My advice is this. Keep your healthy skepticism about the meds but try them out. It can take time to find the right one and the right dosage. Be very careful about what the Dr's tell you. I found that my dr. was very non-chalant about prescribing this stuff to me, especially considering that I drank alcohol, which I told him. He advised me to wait a few hours after taking Xanax before I drank. I'm lucky to still be alive. DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL with any of these meds! Talk to your pharmacist, they know more than the docs.
I also would not take this as a sign that you and your boyfriend are not meant to be, although it could be your sub-concious telling you it's not the right thing but why throw it away before you've uncvovered the real cause? Therapy and time will help uncover that.
Good luck!
my advivce would be to definetly stay away from zanax or any other benzo. i have been addicted to them for over a year now. the problems i thought pills would cure only got worse. the meds are soooooo sooooo sooooo easy to abuse and become addicted. i thought i had control but i didnt. i was hospitalized for a week because i over dosed on the meds. please what ever you do be careful...
First, everyone has different opinions and experiences when it comes to Mental Health issues. That includes doctors as well as patients. This is because no two people are alike- what works for one may not work another. Saying that, I hope you will keep an open mind when it comes to your life and mental well being.
I am 25 years old and am currently taking 30mg of Celexa everyday. I have been since Jan of this year. Started out at 20, went up to 40, and finally down to 30.
It works wonders for me, and I call it my magic little pill. I am a new person. But, it's not just the pill, it's learning ways to change my life because of my issues. For the past 4 years, I have been on a learning spree which means I read anything I come across that pertains to mental health issues.
Your post, while explaining your physical symptoms, did not say what you have been diagnosed with. I was diagnosed with mild depression as a child, and because of a combination of lack of counseling/therapy, or help that didn't work, it progressed and I found myself a very sad person.
I was suicidal in my teens until age 21. I was always sad and reclusive. I had no hope for my life or future.
It's a long story, too long to share, but I am now 25, married and am a totally different person thanks to finally getting good therapy, taking Celexa, and taking charge of my life by finally hitting rock bottom one day and saying I cannot live this kind of life anymore. I'll either commit suicide and give up, or do what I can to survive.
It was taking charge of my life, that lead to where I am today, which is taking the Celexa everyday, and down to seeing my counselor only once a month.
Taking the Celexa had helped me not be so obsessive complusive, able to handle everyday stresses without feeling so overwhelmed I need to stay in bed or in my house, I'm able to eat better, able to function on a daily basis, able to work through my emotions without breaking down, able to have a self esteem I can be proud of, and so much more.
For some people, meds alone don't work. For some counseling alone doesn't work.
I am one of the ones who needs the combination.
I suggest you keep an open mind when it comes to taking meds and getting counseling.
You may have to go through different doctors to find one who can help you. God knows I did. You may have to try different meds to find one that works for you.
I know you are scared about meds being addictive, that fear is understandable. But don't shun away all meds. You may be someone who can benefit from taking meds.
I'm almost tempted to say I'm sorry to hear you're going through some trouble. But I won't say that, because I know there is hope out there. You may have to fight and struggle to find it, but it's out there. So I will say I wish you the best of luck in finding what works for you, and I hope you can go on and lead a happy life. As long as you seek help, you can't go wrong because if you do not seek help, your issues can progress into something worse such as mine did.
God Bless and Keep You
I am now battling with a current relationship problem, we seem to play ping pong with each others feelings. I am pretty depressed and lonely and have to take care of two young children (girls...help me)with hardly no help from their dad so my primary gave me Effexor. I have been taking it for about a month and a half. I noticed my right eye kept twitching, I lost 5 lbs in 2 weeks, sleepy, yawning, uninterested in work and everything makes me cry. I just want to lay around in the bed all the time. Well someone told me to go back to the doc and tell him how I was feeling. I started looking up on the net about side effects and now can see that is just not me, it does this to everybody. Anyway, I am going to go ahead and get off this ****. It worked up until I got to the 150 mg. The 75mg didn't seem like it affected me too much.
I think I will try to ask for Ativan again until I can get over my goofy problems. Does it seem like that low of a dose of Ativan doesn't give you much cravings when you have to stop using it? I am also talking with a counselor to get through this phase. Gives me someone to talk to.