Lexapro (or Celexa citalopram)
 

:(Okay....just need advice from anyone who might have or does take Lexapro or Celexa.

I have been on Lexapro about 4 yrs. I didn't want to go on it; no matter how often I read the description of this med and the 'why' of taking it, I cannot find how it relates to my problem.

My parents and inlaws all died within 18 mos. time. Hard to deal with; yes it was depressing. They were in nursing homes; had awful time of it and in the midst of my mom and dad being ill, we had to move due to a career change. This also meant leaving my son and grandchildren (subsequently my son had to take a job assignment in a foreign country .... so I hardly get to see the g'kids anymore!).

However I don't understand how the normal depression of feeling grief over loss of loved ones means a person needs an antidepression drug.

I argued this with my doctor. At the same time I'd told him I was very tired and (used the word depressed) about being sick due to MS, Sinusitis and Asthma plus Hypothyroid.

Does anyone agree with me that it is perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed by one's illness plus the loss of parents?

The doc talked me into using Lexapro (10 mg) and yes I've taken it faithfully.

No incredible improvement because frankly I don't think I have clinical depression or ever did.

To me the docs are too quick to judge a person as 'depressed' just due to life events plus chronic illness. I think i'd be nuts if I hadn't been depressed.

In the course of taking Lexapro I've put on 30 lbs. Now that is depressing.

What I'm essentially about in this post is that I can't take Lexapro any longer as my insurer will no longer cover it. Their suggestion is to switch to Prozac! Lord!

My doc suggested Celexa or it's generic equivalent which is Citalopram HBR.

I haven't taken anything for about 2 weeks. My doc had said it was not habit forming or hard to go off. Everything I've read and my own experience is different!!! I itch; I am weepy (which I wasn't prior to taking it), I sweat almost all the time.

I don't feel trust in my doctor enough to talk to him.

Has anyone here just stopped taking Lexapro?

Tootsie

Hi Tootsie and Polar,
It's sometime since your post but I agree with Polar many doctors revert back to a persons "mental state" being the cause of all symptoms. You are right many people look on a human response like grief as a weakness or mental illness, your just human. It would appear no matter where you are if you have been on an antidepressant you will always wear a label on your forehead; sad world.
It isn't all in your head, the effects are real and well known. Lexapro has a short chemical half life - it washes out of your system in a few days not giving enough time for your brain/body to adjust to the change in levels hence the withdrawl symptoms. To avoid this is to gradually reduce the dose over a period of time; that time frame determined by you and your ability to cope. Slower you go the better.
Nick

I started Lexapro in December and it has helped me tremendously. I have not had any side effects from it.

I have been diagnosed with situational depression and I understand how hard it is to lose a family member and deal with life's problems. It is natural for us to be sad in sad situations.

I understand that I have to deal with whatever comes my way so I have not been on antidepressants for very long even though I have had MS for 16 years. I was on one when first diagnosed and a couple of short periods over the years when things were extra bad.

I believe sometimes that situations are so hard to cope with and accept that we do need some help. I have been told that situational depression can turn into clinical depression.

I knew I needed some help in November when the holidays were coming up. I know myself well enough to know when things aren't right and I didn't want to do anything. I simply refuse to live an unhappy life and will do whatever I can to enjoy what God has given me.

I talked to my PCP and just cried like a baby telling her that I knew I needed some extra help. I felt like I didn't want to get out of bed and I was just miserable and so sad.

I am glad I did and I plan to stay on Lexapro forever. I think even though I am a strong woman and have had a very tough time in life, not to mention MS, that I am in need of some help to live life as best I can. I don't think antidepressants are a miracle cure but they do help me keep plugging along.

For your doc to tell you that Lexapro is not hard to go off is very ignorant on his part. Lexapro can have severe withdrawals if not titrated down very slowly. Some have been known to have permanent damage by quitting suddenly. IT is also known to cause huge weight gain. Is this your regular doctor or a psychiatrist.

http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/lexapro_ad.htm

There is plenty more out there if you just look around, do not go on the Lexapro official site because often it won't tell you what you really need to know.

Celexa is a lot milder. I took that for over 2 years and had no problem going off but most ADs should be titrated down. Not just quit. Everybody is different. Lexapro is quite heavy for someone who suffers from situational depression.

Ask to see a psychiatrist. I am so sick of hearing of regular GPs handing out the psych drugs like candy and misinforming their patients.

I need to correct my post about Lexapro. I am on the generic form which is Citalopram generic for Celexa.

I have been to counseling several times over the years due to very serious problems regarding my son. I have also been counseled by my PCP before prescribing an antidepressant.

I do not have a problem with PCP's taking care of all of their patient's needs. Two of my PCP's have helped me more than some of the counseling sessions I attended. They knew who I was and my specific problems and didn't charge $75.00 for 15 minutes.

houghchrst,

I read your post with interest. I'd like to correct a couple of misconceptions you may have.

1.) Lexapro is not difficult to discontinue.
2.) Lexapro is not known to cause "huge weight gain" in fact it has the least weight gain of all SSRIs.
3.) Celexa is not "milder" than Lexapro.
4.) Lexapro is not "heavy" for someone suffering situational depression.
5.) There are very few "regular GPs" still around. There are Family Practitioners and General Internists but very few General Practitioners. I doubt the physician you saw was in fact a "GP." So I don't understand your disgust for primary care doctors.

While it is true that some people have difficulty stopping Lexapro, some do have a significant weight gain, some tolerate Celexa better than Lexapro, and a host of other adverse reactions most find Lexapro to be an overall better drug than Celexa.

This does not in any way mean that the side effects you experienced were not significant. However, to make sweeping generalizations that are factually incorrect is troubling. I'd like to know what "permanent damage" you are aware if Lexapro is not titrated slowly.

Kindly,
Dennis

I'd like to see some data to support this list.

I agree...some doctors are too quick
 

However, there is such a thing as protracted grief that goes on much too long and much too intensely. I think 3 years of extreme grief is a bit too much wouldn't you say?

People should be given the time to work through real life emotions. It's only when things become a struggle to the point that it interferes with one's ability to live their lives that one needs help.

Sometimes depression can become a clinical-like depression if left untreated for too long. Sometimes people don't handle stress of this nature well at all. Some doctors like to head things off at the pass so to speak. And there is this too....I was told and found this to be true that however long it took me to get to the point of needing medication was how long it was going to take me to get my brain chemicals stable again.

The bottom line is no one has to do anything they don't feel is necessary. If you don't think you need a AD then don't take it. But before you make that decision ask others around you how they perceive you and your behavior. You might be surprised. Depression can sometimes come on so gradually a person doesn't realise just how bad they *are* feeling until they feel better.

I'm a long time suffer of anxiety and depression. It comes and goes. I've been medication free for well over a year now. But that's my choice after much research and trial and error and I've found other ways to deal with my conditions besides medications like AD's and benzos, etc. For some of us meds are necessary and others we can find other ways to deal successfully with our conditions.

I also found that a temporary relapse I experienced was caused by quitting smoking. My body was so out of whack, chemically speaking, for several months I felt like I was coming unglued at times. I'm happy to say that at almost 6 months post quit I'm feeling better than I have in a very very long time. :)

I won't blame a doctor for my not speaking up and being my own best health advocate. :D After all, I know how to run my mouth, that's for sure. LOL!

Wow, me too! Cause I have much experience with both Celexa and Lexapro. They're both known to cause weight gain. At least in the real world with people taking it and documenting anecdotal evidence. For the record: Celexa is the 'parent' drug of Lexapro. They say that Lex has less side effects as a result of splitting the Celexa isomer. That's true for some and not for others.

All SSRI's must be stopped slowly. That is, one must wean off of SSRI's. And that time frame varies for each person just as the sides that a person may or may not experience is very individual.

As far as permanent damage...I don't know that for a fact. I do know that one can find any info to support any statement if they look hard enough. But is it reputable information?