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Avatar universal

Using Celexa or Zanax

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!
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Avatar universal
I am 36 years old and went through a divorce in 1999.  My doc gave me Wellbutrin (hated it) and Paxil (made my cry)and also Ativan which seemed to help.  Of course when I ran out of Ativan and couldn't continue to pay high costs to go back to the doc...I had to just go ahead and stop it....the cravings for it continued for a while, however, it wasn't that bad, but I was only on 2 mgs a day and cut down to 1 mg a day.

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.
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Avatar universal
i have been on xanax for two years for my panic attacks.  i recently found out that i am pregnant.  i have to stop taking the xanax.  i'm trying to ease myself off of them but i am having the worst withdrawels ever.  if anyone has any advice on how to get thourgh this or how long i'm gonna feel like this please e-mail me.  i would appreciate any help i can get at this point.  my e-mail is ***@****  thankyou and god bless.
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Avatar universal
Hi, I'm a 25 year old third grade teacher working on my second year. I am currently also working my way through graduate school and planning my wedding for three weeks from today. I've had constant nausea and vommitting for years now and finally went through all of the medical tests possbiel to rule out any internal causes. Finally afater many doctors and exams I've been diagnosed with anxiety. With the wedding rapidly approaching I was determined to start on some sort of medication to help get me through the day without any vomitting or nausea. This past week my psychiatrist put me on Effexor and Klonopin. I haven't felt too much different from either, but its only been five days taking the Effexor and 1 full day with the Klonopin. Does that seem to soon to feel results? I biggest worry was that I had another attack last night at dinner with my parents. I starts the cold sweats, disconnectedness, and nausea except this time I didn't physivally vomitt. My concern is that these medication aren't working and I'm running out of time to find a solution for the day of the wedding. If anyone knows of anyone in a situation like my with similar symptoms or taking the same medications, how long does it usually take to take effect? Is it OK to still have an attack after 5 days of being on the medication? And do you know of any fantasic psychiatrists in my area? (Delray Beach Florida) Thank you so much for your time and please let me help you in anyway I can with my experiences.
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Avatar universal
Hello. I hope you are still checking back on this forum.
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
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Avatar universal
i am so glad that i found this page. sometimes i feel like im the only one out there going through all of this.

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...
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Avatar universal
how long did you take the xanax for?
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242532 tn?1269550379
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
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.
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Avatar universal
Sorry to hear about your problems. Stress can do terrible things to us. I personally know first hand. If I were you I would NOT take the Xanax. I had my first panic attack about 6 months ago and the ER doc gave me some. I had no idea what they were and at the position I was in I would had taken anything. He did not advise me that they were EXTREMELY addicting. After 14 days of use my doc tried to take me off of them and I went crazy. I was at a bad point in my life and needed the sanity so she put me back on them along with Paxil. To this day I am still addicted to the Xanax trying to taper off now. I am down to 1.25 mg. You may benefit from some sort of medicine but please do not take Xanax! I am the first to say it helped me tremendously but the withdrawels are not worth it. Good luck.
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Avatar universal
When I had a panic attack, Xanax was the first drug my Dr. gave me.  After a few weeks, we immediately switched to Klonopin (clonazepam is the generic), and I started tapering (so far so good).  Klonpin has a longer half life, so not only is it much easier to withdraw from (from what I've read), but you don't have to take it as often.  They tried me on zoloft first...but THAT really made my anxiety/symptoms worse.  If I taper off the klonopin, and continue to need a drug for anxiety or depression (I tested mild to moderate depression), my psychiatrist (whom I've seen three times) is going to put me on Effexor XR, or Celexa.  Hang in there...there are a lot of people out there that have these problems...your not alone.  Good luck!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
mmsna,

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!
Helpful - 0

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