Celexa Questions

[dadinTN]

I've got some general questions about celexa....been on 40 mg for 5 months, dropped down to 20 mg for the last month or so.  

My anxiety as a whole as dropped tremendously, but I still have anxious moments.  No panic attacks, just a little shortness of breath.

My question....can Celexa actually cause a little bit of anxiety?  I understand that anxiety can initially increase when starting meds, but I'm wondering if it can continue to cause a bit of anxiety.

I'm at the point where I'd like to wean off, but am a little hesitant as I still have some anxiety.  

[northernsunshine]

Hi there,

I'm no expert but my first advice would be to talk to your doctor.  

Just to share a bit of info with you....i've been on Celexa 20mg since May/09.  I had been on them before and had weaned myself off because i hate beeing on meds. but within a few months my panic attacks would come back.  The last attack i had was the very worst of them all.  I had a little bit of stress for about 1 week and a few days later the panic attack was the end result of the stress i had went through.  I started shaking, feeling like i was going to stop breathing and die, my chest was pounding, couldn't eat, slept for almost 3 days straight.  My loving spouse would wake me up to have something to drink so that i wouldn't dehydrate and he'd stay by my side all the way (I'm so lucky to have him in my life).  When i saw my doctor i was put back on the Celexa and the first week was hell of course with all the side effects...but eventually it did some good and i feel much better now.  Like yourself I also have shortness of breath occasionally still but the pills do help control the attack from going out of control. I believe the shortness of breath stems from situations that i use to have major attacks in but now only experience one effect (the shortness of breath).  It's as though one place or situation triggers in my brain that i use to have attacks during those specific situations. Because of my last attack i've now decided to stay on the meds since they seem to work, until my doctor advises me to go off or switch to something else.

So my advise is to talk to your doctor and see what you both can come up with...but in the end only you know what makes you feel better.

Good luck.

[Paxiled]

Don't expect any med to eradicate your symptoms.  They just mask symptoms, they aren't a cure.  Often, that's the best we can do, and often that's quite a lot.  But you still need to try therapy and find a cure for it if you can.