Celexa
The below information on Celexa has been taken from official FDA sources, but we cannot guarantee it's accuracy. Please use this site for educational purposes only. This site does not replace a proper discussion with your doctor.
| Brand Name: | Celexa |
| Generic: | Citalopram Hydrobromide |
| Availability: | Prescription |
| This drug was approved by the FDA in one form or another on: 1998-07-17 , | |
| This drug is made in one form or another by the following companies: Forest Laboratories | |
| This drug is available in the following forms: Tablets and Oral Solutions | |
| View the actual FDA approved label for this drug at the following links: http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2005/020822s29lbl.pdf |
About Celexa
Celexa is in a class of medicines called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Celexa tablets and oral solution are used to treat depression.
Side Effects of Celexa
- Possible life-threatening serotonin syndrome when used with triptan medicines.
- Infant persistent pulmonary hypertension.
- Suicidal thoughts or actions:Persons taking Celexa may be more likely to think about killing themselves or actually try to do so, especially when Celexa is first started or he dose is changed. People close to persons taking Celexa can help by paying attention to changes in user’s moods or actions. Contact your healthcare professional right away if someone using Celexa talks about or shows signs of killing him or herself. If you are taking Celexa yourself and you start thinking about killing yourself, tell your healthcare professional about this side effect right away.
- Stopping Celexa: Do not stop taking Celexa suddenly because you could get side effects. Your healthcare professional will slowly decrease your dose.
- Bleeding problems: Celexa may cause bleeding problems, especially if taken with aspirin, NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen), or other drugs that affect bleeding.
- Mania: You may become unusually hyperactive, excitable or elated.
- Seizures: You may experience a seizure (convulsion), even if you are not taking Celexa close in time with an MAOI.
- Pregnancy: Tell your healthcare professional if you are or may be pregnant . In addition to the issue described in the alert, babies delivered to mothers taking Celexa late in pregnancy have developed problems, such as difficulty breathing and feeding.
- Sexual problems: You may have problems with impotence (erectile dysfunction), abnormal ejaculation, difficulty reaching orgasm, or decreased libido (sexual desire).
- Other side effects include dry mouth, nausea, and sleepiness.
- Tell your healthcare professional about all your medical conditions, especially liver or kidney disease. Tell your healthcare professional if you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed your baby.
Who Should Not Take Celexa
Never take Celexa if you are taking another drug used to treat depression, called a Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI), or if you have stopped taking an MAOI in the last 14 days. Taking Celexa close in time to an MAOI can result in serious, sometimes fatal, reactions, including:
- High body temperature
- Coma
- Seizures (convulsions)
MAOI drugs include Nardil (phenelzine sulfate), Parnate (tranylcypromine sulfate), Marplan (isocarboxazid), and other brands.
Interactions with Celexa
- Do not take Celexa with Lexapro (escitalopram), another drug used to treat depression, because they are very similar and you could get an overdose.
- Celexa may interact with medicines other than the ones already mentioned in this information sheet. These interactions can cause serious side effects. Tell your healthcare professional about all medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements you take.
- If you plan to drink alcohol, talk to your healthcare professional.
Recent Forum Posts on Celexa
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Celexa
I have been on celexa for a year and a half now and it has done wonders for me. I have suffered depression and anxiety all of my life and celexa 40 has really calmed me down and allowed me to cope with my fears and difficulties with patience and calm. Perhaps some of the folks going through anxiety and panic are not meant to come off the medication. This is something important to talk with a psychiatrist about. He has informed me that due to my upbringing and my history of depression I will always need an anti-depressant. I am okay with this as I am a better person on the medication. It os okay to be on medication if it helps.
Posted By Tracey at Mon 6 Jun 2005, 12:00 AM in Celexa || 0 Replies
Celexa
Celexa cause me to gain 50 lbs! I had memory loss and still don't have memory back. It was a mess.
Posted By Sherry at Fri 2 Dec 2005, 12:00 AM in Celexa || 0 Replies
Dramamine to reduce withdrawal brain spurts & Vertigo
I had a very tough time comming off Celexa just like the people here described, I suffered brain spurts and experienced a bout of severe Vertigo. I never had Vertigo before and it scared me and made me nausious for days.
I called the advice nurse (Kaiser) right away when I experienced Virtago and she recommended Dramamine, the OTC travel sickness drug. I took a pill a day for a week and I have experienced no more brain spurts and I am off the drug now!
Hope this helps for some, I am done with this drug forever.
Robert
Posted By Robert Bleeker at Sun 13 Jan 2008, 7:04 PM in Celexa || 2 Replies
side effects
If I had known when I was considering starting Celexa what I know now, I promise I will never recommend Psych drugs. I felt very depressed and had axiety maybe two days out of the month and I was ready to try to avoid those feelings. Now that I have been taking Celexa for 8 months, I still have days where I feel depressed and have anxiety but now it is more frequently and more intense. Now, I want to discontinue this drug and my doctor says no. I decided to do a little experimenting of my own, I mean, I could handle any funny side effects if I am expecting them. I lower the dose by at least half per day and waited 5 days...I felt nervous, my thought process was very slow, my vision seemed effected, I was angry then fine periodically through the day and for some reason my jaws were clinched shut. Today I took the normal dose again because I was so "off" that it was effecting my work. Now, I feel trapped...so to speak. I wish I had never started because now I have a whole new set of concerns.
A Sincere Christian,
Kristi
Posted By Kristi at Tue 5 Jul 2005, 12:00 AM in Celexa || 0 Replies
getting off celexa
I too have gone off celexa cold turkey 20 days ago. It has been quit a trip to say the least. The first two days I experienced stomach aches and dizzyness. The next five days I experienced electrical shocks going from my left temple to the middle of my forehead. The next four days I experienced cluster shocks in the back of my head. The next four days I experienced high blood pressure and headaches.
Today I am experiencing dizzyness and a headach on the left side of my head while at work. I am glad that I do not have much work today, for I am having a difficult time concentratinga and I feel really tired and dizzy. I have also felt panicky and have thought about calling a doctor, but I have done this before and all they do is put you back on celexa or something else. I well stick with the plan of going off of celexa. It has been 20 days now.
Does anyone know how many days that it will take me to completly get off of celexa. I was taking the medicine for the past 5 years with 20 mg per cay?
thanks
Peace
Posted By henry at Sun 13 Jan 2008, 7:04 PM in Celexa || 0 Replies
getting off celexa
I too have gone off celexa cold turkey 20 days ago. It has been quit a trip to say the least. The first two days I experienced stomach aches and dizzyness. The next five days I experienced electrical shocks going from my left temple to the middle of my forehead. The next four days I experienced cluster shocks in the back of my head. The next four days I experienced high blood pressure and headaches.
Today I am experiencing dizzyness and a headach on the left side of my head while at work. I am glad that I do not have much work today, for I am having a difficult time concentratinga and I feel really tired and dizzy. I have also felt panicky and have thought about calling a doctor, but I have done this before and all they do is put you back on celexa or something else. I well stick with the plan of going off of celexa. It has been 20 days now.
Does anyone know how many days that it will take me to completly get off of celexa. I was taking the medicine for the past 5 years with 20 mg per cay?
thanks
Peace
Posted By henry at Sun 13 Jan 2008, 7:00 PM in Celexa || 0 Replies
Celexa
I was on celexa fo a little over a month 10 mg. My Dr. took me off about a week ago I feel so tired and week,was also on Risperdal 1/2 mg. since May 07 she had me stop that too,, how long will the yucky week tired feelings last. she said since they were low doses I should be fine. Im stressing over not taking them,,I hate meds like this.Feel free to email me with comments if thats allowed
Posted By Unregistered at Wed 21 Nov 2007, 11:02 AM in Celexa || 0 Replies
celexa
Bonjour ,Je prend présentement ce médicament suis a l annonce d un cancer .......le médicament semble bien fonctionné dans mon cas , aucun symptome ne semble apparaitre je prend 30 mg... chaque jours merci pour votre site et bravo p.s , continuez
Posted By Unregistered at Wed 8 Oct 2003, 12:00 AM in Celexa || 1 Reply
Celexa
I have been on Celexa for several years. I had beed diagnosed with anxiety and slight OCD. I was started on 40mg but have been weened down to 20mg. Celexa has worked tremendously for me in improving my life as well as helping me to focus. The anxiety that has at one time practically crippled me has all but gone or I can rationally deal with it. the only negative is my low sex drive. Now this could very well be attributed to some emotional issues but all in all I have very little sex drive. I am about to turn 41 and I would like to get this drive back. does anyone know of any real libido enhancers that they have had some actual success?
Thank you.
Posted By T at Sat 3 Dec 2005, 12:00 AM in Celexa || 0 Replies
panic attacks
The dr. has recently given me celexa for my panic attacks,
He would like me to start at 10mg a day, I am so afraid to deal with the side effects, Are they really bad?????
Posted By Unregistered at Fri 2 Dec 2005, 12:00 AM in Celexa || 0 Replies
No Subject
My son had depression, OCD, and anxiety disorder. He had racing thoughts so bad he could hardly attend school. Up to seven severe panic attacks a day and very bad depression. He missed one hundred and one days of school in his junior year. Nothing helped. He was put on Celexa finally at the age of seventeen after suffering this way for a year. Celexa did wonders for him!! He is able to function in his daily life. He graduated with honors from high school and is now in Asia teaching English before going on to University. Celexa gave him his life back and while he still has the occasional panic attack in new situations it's nothing like things were before. He's had very minimal side effects of some sleeplessness and minor headaches at times. For people who have such severe problems drugs like this one can really change lives for the better!!
Posted By Mom at Mon 12 May 2008, 1:57 PM in Celexa || 0 Replies
No Subject
I am coming off Celexa and have to put in vacation time from work because I am afraid of getting fired. I have become irritable and confused. I lost my train of thought while talking to my customers, and have a short temper. I am slurring and the right words do not come out, I had to proofread and correct this several times for it to make sense because I am so disoriented...I can't walk straight because the dizziness is so severe. The overhead lights burn my eyes and any noise pounds through my head. My face and fingers are numb and tingly, and I feel those brain zaps. I am numb all over. This all started 3 days after I stopped taking Celexa.
DO NOT START TAKING CELEXA IT IS NIGHTMARE TO WITHDRAW FROM
Posted By Unregistered at Mon 12 May 2008, 1:56 PM in Celexa || 0 Replies
No Subject
I was taking Paxil for bad anxiety for 4 1/2 years up until April 2007 and I had gained about 8-10 pounds on it and it lowered my sex drive and made me tired. I weaned off paxil durinf a 4 mnth period and experience no withdrawal effects. 2 months after i went off the paxil the anxiety came back and not as panic attacks but ongoing non stop everyday anxiety...trouble breathing, heart palpitations, headaches, stomach issues....the works! anyways i tried stuff from a naturopath but it dint work and now im taking homeopathic products but if these dont work im going to try celexa. Is it true that you gain more weight on paxil than on celexa?
Posted By Unregistered at Fri 9 May 2008, 8:25 AM in Celexa || 0 Replies
celexa withdrawal
After a 3-month taper to allow my body time to adjust to the lower dose before lowering again, I have finally been off Celexa for 6 days, which have been the six most uncomfortable, difficult consecutive days of my life. EVER. I have a complex psychiatric diagnosis (Major depression and PTSD) so I do will continue to take psychiatric medication. However, Celexa took away much of what makes life worth living. Sexual side-effects, in particular, have been extremely frustrating. After several years on SSRI medications, I just want to get off, you know? I have been tapering onto Remeron as I've tapered off. However, the final elimination of Celexa has been very difficult. I am experiencing electrical zaps along with severe joint and muscle pain all the way down my right arm from the shoulder to the tips of my ring and pinky finger. Last night I experienced severe panic for no particular reason at all. My head is in a haze with frequent bouts of vertigo and general malaise. I've been very argumentative and of sharp opinion this past week. Just getting through each day so I can return home to a controllable environment has been unusually difficult. From reading what non-drug company-sponsored information I can find on the Internet---taking care to avoid agenda material by groups including Scientologists, among others---it seems that I should expect to continue feeling lousy for another one to two weeks. It's a terrible situation to be in. I believe very firmly that there was not adequate warning when I started taking SSRIs as to what could be expected when I chose to discontinue. In fact, I believe it is part of the drug companies' plan to get people on medications they can never stop taking. Or am I just experiencing paranoia due to acute withdrawal? Thanks to all for your previous posts, which have at least helped me determine that I am not completely crazy and that the worst symptoms will likely soon pass.
Posted By neKFS at Thu 7 Feb 2008, 12:54 PM in Celexa || 0 Replies
Celexa/vertigo
I have been on Celexa 40mg for about a year for mild/acute anxiety/depression and my doctor said to wean about 8-9 months after my symptoms were alleviated. I went to 1/2 pill for 7 days, 1/4 a pill for 7 days, then skipped a day, took a 1/4 pill and stopped. I have had no anxiety or emotional problems from weaning at all (except some irritability but it's also PMS time so who knows!) However, like some of you, I have been experiencing some really awful dizzines/vertigo. It makes me a feel a little bit drunk, like if I take a corner too quickly, I will fall over. I am also having some sinus pressure and wonder if that might be a factor. I called my psychiatrist's office and they said it is a common withdrawal symptom and should go away on it's own in a couple of weeks.
As a a side note to some of you who think you may need to be on medication forever, please don't resign yourself yet! Any medication regimen for depression/anxiety should be accompanied by therapy with a licensed counselor. That is the only real way to be able to move past your issues and learn to cope so that you don't need the medication. I can honestly say that the medication was a very helpful tool during the most intense portion of my therapy and for that I am grateful. However, the therapy is what really got to the root of my problem and I am feeling more whole and healthy emotionally all the time. Good luck!
Posted By Unregistered at Thu 13 Sep 2007, 11:20 AM in Celexa || 0 Replies
No Subject
I am totally disgusted with the medical profession. I was not smart like some of you all and cold turkey quit taking my medication. I have been taking 40mg for 3 months only and thought that there was no way withdrawals would be so bad. Atleast I see that weening off of it causes withdrawal too. I was prescribed this medication for mild anxiety. I wanted to stop because of the sexual side effects and I became concerned that I was feeling quite robotic and not feeling the good things with the intensity that I desired. After a week and a half of not taking the medicine I have been sick to my stomach, dizzy, extremely sleepy and cranky. At first I attributed these symptoms to my period, even though this was not normal to me and I began to search the web. Why would they allow a drug to be on the market that caused such side effects of withdrawal even if you taper off as suggested. I hope and pray that sine I was only on the medication for a short while that my symtpoms will subside and I can return to my normal life. I will never turn to medicaiton again for my anxiety problems.
Posted By Jessica at Thu 13 Sep 2007, 11:12 AM in Celexa || 0 Replies
celexa
I have been on celexa for 8 years. I noticed that it was not working as well as it had been and spoke to my physician who suggested switching medication. Before switching I have to come off the drug entirely. I stepped down from 3 pills to 2 pills for 3 nights to one pill. It has been a week and I hate the side effects. The doctor prescribed sleeping pills to help with the withdrawal and they made me so dizzy I couldn't function. The doctor said that might be due to the withdrawal of celexa. The fear of the dizziness has caused me not to take the sleeping pill and now two days later I can't sleep because as soon as I doze off I feel I am having a panic attack. I am very irritable, lots of sweats, heartburn and just feeling lousy. The more I think about how I feel, I start feeling panic attacks coming on.
Posted By Unregistered at Thu 13 Sep 2007, 11:17 AM in Celexa || 0 Replies
withdrawl sucks
So I went to the pharmacy to pick up my celexa and there was a mixup. So since I go through the local health dept no way to get into contact with the doctor.Its been 2 days now without it and Ive had to do it like this before.I hate the feeling in my head like a weird Im here but Im out of it.I am on other meds and I have been on so many and celexa has one of the worst withdrawls. Most meds take a few days to feel anything, but this is only 2 days and I feel confused.I stopped taking lamictal and I was on 900mg and I didnt feel at all as bad as the 20 mg of celexa I missed 2 days.I hate having to take this stuff and it sucks cause since i am bipolor its hard not to be on anything. I would say to parents, dont throw your kids on meds just cause there a little down , its part of growing up. Also , people are misdiagnoised to much get a second or third opinion from someone else first before going with a diagnois. Well, yeah, thats it.
Posted By kittykat at Thu 8 Nov 2007, 2:22 PM in Celexa || 0 Replies
another sufferer
After 6 days of going off of celexa - cold turkey, which everyone told me was NUTS - I feel worse than ever, but I am hopeful this will soon pass. I have no focus, the crazy WHOOSHING or electric shock feeling in my head, dizziness, gagging, etc. Any ideas about how long this should last? I'm willing to do a couple of weeks, but no longer. I'm ready to go back on just to feel somewhat normal.
Posted By Unregistered at Thu 13 Sep 2007, 11:09 AM in Celexa || 0 Replies
celexa withdrawal
hello,
I was on celexa for about a year when I ran out of the prescription a week ago. I do not have I initially started taking it to relieve anxiety/panic attacks. Then the other night I was in bed, trying to get to sleep when it hit me like a ton of bricks. I felt dizzy, confused, out of body, all sorts of thoughts were going through my head. Was I having a heart attack? I was sure that I was dying, but again, with no insurance I was not going to the ER unless I absolutely had to. I called a friend and she came right over. I couldn't stop pacing back and forth, and nothing I was saying was making sense. I took a xanax and was able to calm down and get to sleep. But I am still feeling VERY weak and just want to sleep. I literally slept all day yesterday, and was still able to go to bed early and sleep late. I just wanted to post this for anyone who is thinking about going off of this medication cold turkey. If you have insurance, GO TO YOUR DOCTOR!!! And do not self-medicate. I'm also posting this to let people know that what they're feeling is normal, and that they are not dying. I will have to stick it out for a little longer, but a friend of mine who is a nurse told me that it could take a couple weeks for the drug to completely be out of the system. If there is nothing you can do to get back on the drug like me, she said to take xanax or something similar to alleviate the symptoms and help you get through the withdrawal. If anyone needs to talk, please let me know. I know how comforting it is to know you're not the only one going through these feelings.
Posted By kelly at Thu 13 Sep 2007, 11:08 AM in Celexa || 0 Replies