Celexa

I have been take Celexa 20mg for 3 weeks, switching over from Effexor.  I am also taking ativan .5mg 3 times a day to help alleviate some of the side affects until Celexa kicks in.  Can anyone tell me how long it will take for the Celexa to begin to work on my anxiety.  I wake up feeling anxious and nauseated.  Does it really take 4-6 weeks for this medication to kick in? Would be great if anyone has any advice on this.  Thanks

[mammo]

You should start seeing an imporvement by week 4, and it will reach full therapeutic level by week 6.  If by week 6 you don't feel better, call your doctor as this is often when we need an increase in the dosage.  Try taking your last dose of Ativan closer to bedtime and see if that helps.  Take care.

[ajg33]

i switched from lexapro to celexa about 3 weeks ago due to insurance. i was on 20 mg of lex for a month and im on 40mg of celexa for 3 weeks along with .05 klonopin in the morning when my anxiety is at its highest. in my opinion i dont feel like the celexa even touches my anxiety thats why i take the klonopin with it in the morning! I dont know if maybe i need to give more time for the celexa to work even if i was on lexapro before it for 3 weeks? i know somepeople take up to 60mg of celexa so i would like input too!
all the best
Anthony

[JustinDobbs23]

Stop taking Ativian right now. I loved Ativan. But .5 MG of Ativan Is just going to cause you to withdraw Into panic attacks over and over and over. Ativan Also causes you to get mentally and physically addicted much like It's your emergency pill.

Try Klonopin, If you're getting Ativan you should have no problem getitng and using this medicine as they are In the same class (Benzodiazipine) and much less In strength and addiction.

Klonopin will make you feel normal, much like the ativan does (1mg would make you feel normal I assume and 2mg will make you very drowsy) same for Klonopin.

Celexa will not technically help your anxiety at all. Do not believe what the doctors try to tell you, you will find that part out later.

Celexa will take 3-4 weeks to begin working and usually works well for depression, and slighly well for anxiety and panic attacks.

Please do not use Celexa as your fall back medicine for anxiety
Most doctors will not give you Ativan or other benzo's so easily, but please try.

[love72]

I am feeling some releif this week, i am to up the does every two weeks, I just upped it to 30mg this week.  I am not waking up so anxious, actually very little in the morning and my nausea is low also.  As soon as I get stable on the Celexa my Dr is going to work on switching me over to Klonopin, I hope it works.  They switched me to Diazapam and it made my agitated and more depressed.  I really hate being on the Ativan, however I have been taking it for 5 years now.  I am hoping I will not have to take it for the rest of my life.  Thanks everyone for your comments.

[lifewithoutmeds]

I started taking Celexa 20mg 1mo ago and I notice a big difference.  However, I'm not taking a benzo anymore b/c I felt like it was countering the positive effects of the Celexa by 'depressing' my CNS.  I would take Xanax at night to sleep and found that when it wore off, I would have twice the anxiety as normal.  I felt like the xanax was a 4hr bandaid, and the after-effects (dbl anxiety) just weren't worth it.  Once I cut xanax outta my diet, I noticed the Celexa working like a charm, and that I no longer needed the bandaid of xanax... Anyways, the Celexa took about 4wks for me to notice a measurable improvement.  But again, eliminating the 'depressive' effects of the benzo was critical for me to even notice the Celexa working.  PS: if you MUST take a benzo/nerve pill, Ativan is the best of the bunch, having less of a half-life and hangover potential than all the others.  Xanax is the worst, Valium not much better.  Hope u get better!  Take care! - RJ

[lynn57]

Celexa has been an excellent drug for me.  I do have to take 60 mgs for relief.  It took about six weeks to really help. but the side effects were gone in about three weeks.  Ativan is very easy to build a tolerance to.  I take Klonopin .5 mgs  two times a day.  It really works well with the SSRI's for that residual anxiety.  I have taken Klonopin off and on for many years with no tolerance problems.  In fact I take half the dose that I started out with.  I found that I had rebound anxiety with any of the short-acting benzos.  Most doctors prefer Klonopin anyway.