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Will I get an increase in dosage first or new SSRI?
I've been on 20mg of Celexa (generic) for 4 wks now and thought i felt better after the 2nd week, but now I know its not working. Again I've lost my appetite, feeling uneasy, down and worried ( I also feel like I need to take the Klonopin I got which is making me drowsy and more depressed). I will see my doc in a few days. Will he increase my dose or give me a new med? This is my first med and now feel more depressed ever that I might never get out of this rut. I've been laying bed for 3 days now and take the Klonopin to ease some of my anxiety which I thought would be helped by now with the Celexa. Just wondering if this is common? I don't want to keep taking the Klonopin. Will an SSRI eventually work on my anxiety as well? I'm so scared...Which med would be considered next?
I wish I had a much more definite answer for you, but your only real option is to discuss this with your doctor. I can't begin to guess what he may recommend. He may very well tell you that since you've only been on the higher dose for a week, to give it a bit more time. Sometimes increasing a dose will take as long to reach it's new therapeutic levels as when you first began the medication. But you say that on this new dose you are now experiencing diarrhea and stomach cramps, which I am assuming you didn't when you first began treatment. Your doctor will certainly take this into consideration.
I know we've talked about trial and error with this class of meds and it's also possible that this one is simply not right for you. You and your doctor may decide to try a different one. I know this can be a very frustrating process and when you devote a month, sometimes longer, only to find out a particular med just isn't going to work for you, it can be extremely disheartening as well. But one thing we tell folks here is that in the case of antidepressants, patience is not only a virtue, it's a necessity!
I understand how you're feeling and can only encourage you to keep on trying. You will eventually find the one that works for you and all of this will have been worth it. I promise!
Let us know what the doc had to say and what you've decided to do. We are always here to listen.
Stay strong. You'll find your answer
Peace
Greenlydia
I know we've talked about trial and error with this class of meds and it's also possible that this one is simply not right for you. You and your doctor may decide to try a different one. I know this can be a very frustrating process and when you devote a month, sometimes longer, only to find out a particular med just isn't going to work for you, it can be extremely disheartening as well. But one thing we tell folks here is that in the case of antidepressants, patience is not only a virtue, it's a necessity!
I understand how you're feeling and can only encourage you to keep on trying. You will eventually find the one that works for you and all of this will have been worth it. I promise!
Let us know what the doc had to say and what you've decided to do. We are always here to listen.
Stay strong. You'll find your answer
Peace
Greenlydia
Well its been a week and I feel worse on the higher dose. I have diarrhea and stomach issues now. The Klonopin dosen't help either (not that it did wonders). I will see the doc again tomorrow and don't know what he'll say. Will he tell me to wait a few more weeks or will he give me a new med? I feel like an anxious fool, but I'm suffering! I just want to start a new med and get on with it. Any advice please...
Trial and error it is with head meds. I can't count the number of times I've tried and failed to get results with various meds.
SSRIs are the new generation of antidepressants; generally fewer side effects and good results.
For what it is worth. I have a friend who wouldn't pay for Lexapro so she was put on generic Celexa: I see her every day and knew she was going downhill. When she saw her psychiatrist, mentioned how she'd been feeling for past 6 weeks, showed her bottle of generic Celexa, and doctor immediatedly wrote a script for medically necessary ....so we will see how she does.
Know that your doctor wants you well as much as you do. Be brave and honest about how you are doing. An increase is often the first response. Hang in there: takes time and everyone is different. Best to you. Keep us posted.
SSRIs are the new generation of antidepressants; generally fewer side effects and good results.
For what it is worth. I have a friend who wouldn't pay for Lexapro so she was put on generic Celexa: I see her every day and knew she was going downhill. When she saw her psychiatrist, mentioned how she'd been feeling for past 6 weeks, showed her bottle of generic Celexa, and doctor immediatedly wrote a script for medically necessary ....so we will see how she does.
Know that your doctor wants you well as much as you do. Be brave and honest about how you are doing. An increase is often the first response. Hang in there: takes time and everyone is different. Best to you. Keep us posted.
Thank you Greenlydia, I will keep you all posted. I feel I have a new family here. I wouldn't mind having a rescue med as long as it stays a rescue med. But at this time, the Klonopin is becoming my main med (in my mind). I will see my new Pysch. tomorrow. He wasn't the orininal doc to prescribe me this, so I hope to start a good relationship with him and hear his expertise on the matter. I have a beautiful family and are able to stay at home (during these economic times) so I need to get stable for them (especially for my 4 yr girl). I thank you for your wonderful response.
What you are experiencing is very common when we, and our doctors, are trying to find the best medication for us. It is very often a trial and error process and I don't want you to give up! Sometimes we have to try several different meds before we hit on the one that works for us. It CAN be a very frustrating process and there just isn't any magic way for your doctor to figure out which med will be the one for you. Just be assured that there are many options.
Your doctor MAY increase your dose. You've only been on it for four weeks at the lowest dose and citalopram can take as long as three weeks to reach therapeutic levels. I doubt that is etched in stone and it may take a week or two longer for some folks to begin to feel relief. Your doctor may suggest you give it a bit longer. But the fact you've been in bed for three days, taking Klonopin for the anxiety will probably have him changing some aspect of your treatment. (Just my guess)
There are many SSRIs out there that control both depression and anxiety, and you and your doctor can explore those options. You need to let him know that you do not want to take the Klonopin but for many of us we feel better if we have what is known as a "rescue med" on hand. This would be an antianxiety med that we would take on a strictly prn (as needed) basis if we had a breakthrough anxiety/panic attack. This too should be discussed with your doctor.
We cannot tell you what medication you should try next if you and your doctor decide the Celexa is not working. That is a discussion and a decision for you and your doctor to make. We are all different in how we react to meds, what works for me may not work for you and besides, we are, none of us, doctors, and cannot tell you what meds to take. We can only tell you of our personal experiences and opinions.
You could read a lot of posts on the forum and get some idea of what people are saying about the different meds out there, but just remember that what you're reading are not fact but opinions.
I can understand your fear since all of this is new to you. But you're in a rut that MILLIONS of us are in or have been in and no, it's not fun, it's not easy, it can be scary and frustrating and there are times we may feel we're never going to come out of it. But we do. It takes hard work and patience..........but there's always light at the end of the tunnel, ya just gotta keep moving forwards toward it.
Don't be scared. You're not alone. You've got us to walk you through this.
Keep posting and let us know how you're doing, OK?
Peace
Greenlydia
Your doctor MAY increase your dose. You've only been on it for four weeks at the lowest dose and citalopram can take as long as three weeks to reach therapeutic levels. I doubt that is etched in stone and it may take a week or two longer for some folks to begin to feel relief. Your doctor may suggest you give it a bit longer. But the fact you've been in bed for three days, taking Klonopin for the anxiety will probably have him changing some aspect of your treatment. (Just my guess)
There are many SSRIs out there that control both depression and anxiety, and you and your doctor can explore those options. You need to let him know that you do not want to take the Klonopin but for many of us we feel better if we have what is known as a "rescue med" on hand. This would be an antianxiety med that we would take on a strictly prn (as needed) basis if we had a breakthrough anxiety/panic attack. This too should be discussed with your doctor.
We cannot tell you what medication you should try next if you and your doctor decide the Celexa is not working. That is a discussion and a decision for you and your doctor to make. We are all different in how we react to meds, what works for me may not work for you and besides, we are, none of us, doctors, and cannot tell you what meds to take. We can only tell you of our personal experiences and opinions.
You could read a lot of posts on the forum and get some idea of what people are saying about the different meds out there, but just remember that what you're reading are not fact but opinions.
I can understand your fear since all of this is new to you. But you're in a rut that MILLIONS of us are in or have been in and no, it's not fun, it's not easy, it can be scary and frustrating and there are times we may feel we're never going to come out of it. But we do. It takes hard work and patience..........but there's always light at the end of the tunnel, ya just gotta keep moving forwards toward it.
Don't be scared. You're not alone. You've got us to walk you through this.
Keep posting and let us know how you're doing, OK?
Peace
Greenlydia
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