celexa

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does anyone have experience with this antidepressant? I started a year ago taking 20 mg once a day, and 6 months later increased to twice a day.  I am curious as to how long a span you can take this and its effects long term. 

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  • pabbie
    pabbie Member Posts: 370
    edited September 2009

    Hi Susan-I took Celexa since 2003 with prempro before I was dx'd with the BC. I just stopped taking it 2 months ago and started taking zoloft. Zoloft is recommended for hot flashes (a very bad tamoxifen side effect I have) and is a stronger anti-depressant than the celexa. I took 10 mg. of celexa and could never increase the dose because it activated me. (made me feel hyper)

    It was a wonder drug for me for awhile before the BC when I took it w/ the HRT. I don't know how long you can take it. Take care. And I hope you are feeling better after your lumpectomy and rads in July.

  • holligoog
    holligoog Member Posts: 75
    edited September 2009

    My Onc put me on Zoloft first. Did not work, switched me to Effexor XR, working much better, Ask to try something else. You have been on it so long you may have built a tolerance.

  • LynnVA
    LynnVA Member Posts: 174
    edited November 2009

    Bump.......I just started taking this and I find it a little sedating.  I dont have much faith in pills and have only taken Ativan as needed for anxiety.  I'm willing to give it a try to help with anxiety and this dark hole I seem to be slipping into.  Would love to hear from others who are taking this.

  • Sierra
    Sierra Member Posts: 1,638
    edited November 2009

    Hello:

    I took Celexa many years ago

    after all my Tx

    and also some counselling with it

    It worked for me

    at the time and I did not stay on it

    for a long while, nor did I take a large amount

    Best to you

    hope it helps

    Sierra :)

  • LynnVA
    LynnVA Member Posts: 174
    edited November 2009

    Thanks Sierra..................Bump

  • leaf
    leaf Member Posts: 8,188
    edited November 2009

    Well, this study suggests in the short term citalopram was associated with neuroplasticity. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19427633

    This study looked at 12months of treatment in panic disorder. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18090457

    In this study, SSRIs were associated with some weight gain over 2 years; sounds like citalopram was in the middle of the group. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15491240

    In OCD, they are recommending treatment for at least 1-2years. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14767394

    "The more frequent adverse events (nausea, somnolence, dry mouth, increased sweating) are mainly transient, mostly mild to moderate in severity, and observed consistently across studies at rates similar to other SSRIs. Analysis of laboratory values, ECG, and vital signs revealed no unusual findings. Only a small, clinically unimportant reduction in heart rate was observed, similar to that seen with other SSRIs. Citalopram treatment did not increase risk of suicide, overdose, seizure, or arrhythmia. Thus, the pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic, and safety profiles of citalopram demonstrate that it is safe for use in adults with depression and depressive symptoms, including the elderly and patients with mild to moderate renal and hepatic disease." http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14561952

    The database encompassed 1344 subjects treated with citalopram (20-60 mg/day) for a period of no less than 6 weeks. Statistically significant age-related distribution was found for five side effects: bradycardia, nausea, diarrhea, sweating and headache. Bradycardia was more prevalent in elderly (>65 years) patients as compared to the younger population (2.4% vs. 0.2%, P<.05), whereas gastrointestinal side effects, sweating and headache were less prevalent in the elderly. The age-related differences in the side effect profile may be attributable to altered sensitivity of the serotonergic system. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12691792

    They were using citalopram for 28 months in this study. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11740983

    In this study, up to about 15% of women had some sexual dysfunction by week 24. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11270911

    (1996 paper) Since citalopram was first approved in 1989, it has been prescribed to an estimated > 600 000 patients. An integrated safety database has been prepared, including data from 3107 patients from 24 clinical trials. In placebo-controlled trials, nausea, dry mouth, somnolence, increased sweating, tremor, diarrhoea, and ejaculation failure, mostly of mild to moderate severity, occurred significantly (p < 0.05) more frequently with citalopram. The excess incidence of these events over placebo was always less than 10%. In pooled comparative studies, citalopram's tolerability profile was similar to that of other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and superior to that of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). Spontaneous adverse event reports arising from clinical use have confirmed the safety profile defined during the trials programme. Specific monitoring of all serious adverse events from around 10 000 patients receiving citalopram in clinical trials (including small open studies) has indicated a low potential for convulsions and extrapyramidal effects. There is no evidence of withdrawal phenomena on abrupt discontinuation, no clinically relevant effects on cardiac or laboratory parameters, and little or no effect on psychomotor function. When taken in overdose alone, citalopram appears to have a relatively wide margin of safety. Citalopram has been well tolerated in both short- and long-term use, and the profile seen in trials has been confirmed in the clinic. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8732443

  • bjsvaughn
    bjsvaughn Member Posts: 7
    edited November 2009

    I took 10mg for 5 years. At first for a divorce and such but then it was workign well for my stomach ( there are seratonin receptors in the tummy). I stopped when I stated chemo as it felt like everything was making me dizzy.... I did not have any ill effects from using it... 

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