I am 18 and was diagnosed with depression a month 1/2 ago. Even though I know it has been longer. However I have been seeing a therapist. I also saw my doctor.. I orginally went in there to get sleeping pills (Trazadone) on top of this the doctor gave me Celexa. It's now been 3 weeks and it just sits in my room. I am so reluctant to take it because it seems there are many bad side effects to this stuff. (It's like take this so you can develope this and this and thia) Why would I want this??? I want help, but geeze this is scary reading all of the effects. I have read VERY FEW positive things about this. I am wondering if anyone else has been taking this and how it has positivly effected or negativly effected them. I was given 20 mg, and I am just so afraid of taking it. I am looking at it right now and I am just asking myself, is it worth it?

Please help !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*** scared,curious,and confused

I took Celexa and it did nothing for me. Tell your DR your feelings about taking it. Would you consider another drug? They all have side effects but not everyone gets them. Some get mild,some get more. If you are worried about the side effects maybe have someone with you for the first few days or see if they have an in-patient place you can go where there is someone there to monitor you and if any side effects show up.

Hi there nice to meet you, http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif
I take Celexa and have for about 6 months .
It has worked wonders for me.I have had absolutely no side effects.I also know of many other people who take it and have had good results.Take it ,give it some time and if eanthing you can always stop taking it.I just wanted to let you now that I was terrified to take eanything too.But I couldn't stand to feel so bad eanymore.I just have to say that I'm glad I took it.
Good luck with your decision.
Spungy http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by spungy (edited 03-26-2003).]

Hi,

By the way, Trazadone is not really a "sleeping pill". It's an anti-depressant. I took 25 to 50 mg a night for about 7 years for sleep though. It was the only non-addictive med that (occasionally) helped me get some sleep (and some side effects). Never tried Celexa, but tried all the rest of the SSRIs (Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac, etc.), and the tricyclics (Pamelor, Elavil, Imipramine, etc.). They were all the same to me; nothing but side effects. The only way to know if an anti-depressant is going to work, or make you sick all the time, is to try it. That said, if I got bad side effects from one formulation, I got the same thing from the rest of the genre.

I finally stopped trying to deal with my depression with meds after about 10 years. Yes I still feel depressed most of the time, but, it's better than what I went through with the meds. With the meds, I was still depressed all the time, but, I was sick with side effects all the time too. I turned to running 3 miles a day, moderate weight training, and trying to focus my attention on being useful and helpful to others. Did these things cure my depression? No, but, it helped and I'm fit, physically healthy, and a useful, helpful member of society. Did I get over my chronic insomnia? Yes, but I still have sleepness nights when I'm over stressed (often).

Living with depression is very difficult, but it is still living. I used to isolate because I couldn't stand being around other people when I was depressed (which was all the time). Everything that I heard others say (even if it wasn't directed at me) sounded like a sharp criticism of my self-worth. I still experience these things, but, I don't isolate so much anymore. I'm learning that I can have a good, productive life, even if I'm not filled with glee all the time.

This sounds like "bite the bullet", "tough it out", etc., and it is. This is where I've ended up after years of struggling with doctors, shrinks, therapists, and meds. I hope you have better luck with meds than I did, but if not, life is not over, it's just tougher than it is for some (but not all) other folks.

Working out and socializing with gentle friends are the best anti-depressants that I've found. Getting someone that's depressed to exercise is a tough job, though, cause it's feels impossible to get started. Remember what runner Jim Fixx once said though: "The hardest part about running is putting your shoes on." I try to remember that whenever I find myself telling myself that "I can't do [whatever] because I'm so depressed". I've noticed many times that once I actually "put my shoes on" (get started), I can usually follow through with the rest of the activity. I can no longer tolerate being idle; it's too depressing.

Ardor ~

Thanks for writting all of that. I still am just staring at this bottle wondering if I trying it is worth it though... I mean it's funny you brought up working out, that is one thing I can say for sure that I do continue to do. I weight-life and do cardio excercises about 6 days a week, my diet is pretty strict to what I eat. It's very balanced but I get more protein that most. the hard thing is just picking up the phone and calling people. And now that it's spring break right now.. I am even more lonely, just because the couple friends that I will talk to are out of town on vacation. And my fiance is in the military so I don't get a chance to really talk to him unless it is after 9:00 my time. Which causes for late night talks. He is really the only reason I get up in the morning. I love him to absolute death. I just wish I could just get out there and have fun like I used to.
Did you ever feel like that. I mean really if I'm not going to school, I'll get up, workout, eat the "fuel" I need and then sink into the couch and stay there until it's time for bed. Maybe one friend will call me but even then it's like "Why bother picking up the phone?" Anyhow I'm rambling.


Thank you to everyone who has responded to this question. it's nice to know you can get support from other people. Makes me wonder where are people like you around my life that I could actually talk with? Probably no-where which is why I am already attached to this idea of polls.

Thank you and hope all is well with all of you,
Nicole http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/blob_fire.gif

[This message has been edited by Arturosgal18 (edited 03-27-2003).]

Yeah, I've felt like that many times, and sometimes for a long time. I used to think that it was a mistake to try to "force" my way out of depressed inertia (the act of sitting and thinking for hours or days on end). I still do that sometimes, but, less and less as time passes. I actually do force myself to do the very things that my depressed brain tells me I can't do.

Depression has its roots in brain chemistry (according to researchers, anyway), and in that regard has a physical basis. But what its done to me is "train" me to think differently than I used to when I felt healthy and not depressed. It tells me that I can't do something that I could do for myself that would alleviate some of the depression. It also tells me that "it's no use trying to do anything because everything is useless-pointless-and-we're-all-gonna-die-anyway-so-why-bother." So, it seems like there's another mind within my brain telling me to self-destruct, albeit slowly, and at some point I started to fight back. Depression is like many illnesses in at least one regard: it can and will overtake everything in my life if I don't act against it. I've found that "action", almost any action, is better for me than sitting and thinking. 'Cause that's where depression wins every time. Clearly I can only talk about my own experience in all this, and hope that it strikes a chord with someone.

I really hope you can find some peace, solace, and relief soon.

I took Celexa for 2 years without any side effects. I think it was the one that helped me the most. I know its scary and at your age, I would have felt the same way (in fact I did). But because of that I suffered so many years due to my fear of taking medication. It wasnt until I was 33 that I realized I my quality of life at that time was shot and I really had nothing to lose. That was 7 years ago, and my only regret is that I didnt take it sooner.. Hang in there and good luck. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by JDtweety (edited 03-27-2003).]

Thanks everyone for your input, because of all of your responses, I swallowed the first 20mg pill of Celexa today. I have to admit it didnt go down easy. I took the bottle, I thought I would shove it down not a problem anymore...right? WRong !! I sat there for what must have felt like forever, but was really 2 minutes. I held the pill in my hand with my bottle of water stared at it.... stared at it.... palms started to sweat... I thought come on Nicole just do this... I re-read all of your e-mails, and then put it in my mouth... drank some water, but didn't swallow the pill, eventually I said what do I have to lose and just swallowed it, now that I have, I am nervous as heck. I am so scared still but there isn't anything I can do now I started it... I need some emotional comfort. I am freakiong out guys... http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/eek.gif Oh man....
Help me guys, why is this such a hard concept for me ?
Lots of love, you guys are the reason I took it today. It meant something to me what you all said.

Thank you, I know in the long run this is a good thing,
http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/blob_fire.gif Nicole

[This message has been edited by Arturosgal18 (edited 03-28-2003).]

[This message has been edited by Arturosgal18 (edited 03-28-2003).]

Nicole, I took my first pill yesterday, too. Mine is generic Prozac, the only thing that the insurance company will cover right now (if it doesn't work, they'll let me try something else,seems like a game). So you and I are going into this together!

I am 37, a single Mom and decided that I had to take the pills for my kids. It is the first time in my life that I have thought I needed meds to make me feel better. Looking back, depression was always there, just silently. It exploded for me about a month ago. I lost my SO because of it. He just doesn't want to be with me any more because I am never happy. I am taking the pills because I am tired of hurting the people who care about me and because I have lost every friend that I ever had.

Keep posting here and we can talk about how we are doing since we are starting at the same time. Incidentally, my MD has me taking a half dose for 4 days to see how my system reacts. Two days and so far nothing except I yawn more (I think that is an odd side effect, but it is one).

------------------
"Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly." Langston Hughes

Way to go Nicole! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif
I know it's scary to take medication,but you'll probably be glad you did.It will take a few weeks to start working fully so just hang in there.I was realy afraid to take eanything so I know exactly how you feel.I am only 25 so I know it's harder even when your young to know you need to take a medication.You probably wish you could just be like everyone else.But you would be suprised how many young women are depressed.Hang in there and let me know how your doing o.k.?Take Care
http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/heart.gifSpungy http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Hello Nicole & lfantell!

Stick with the antidepressants... I know that it is scary taking them, and sometimes when you get the side effects that you get at first, it freaks you out even more. Please know that this is normal and it may take some time to get used to them -- most importantly -- don't give up! Talk to your doctor about how you are feeling and what side effects you are getting from meds. There are other things out there that have less side effects than others. I've heard some people say that taking Benadryl can help you adjust... that might be something to keep in mind.

I'm proud of you guys! Best of luck to you! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

I'm on 5mg of Lexapro now (was on 10 and cut down to 5 b/c of sexual side effects and things are going pretty well) as well as going to a great therapist once a week. It has helped me tremendously! Stick with it!

Hugs & lots of love to you all!

Lauren http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/heart.gif

P.S. lfantell, I love your Langston Hughes quote at the bottom -- have you ever read the poem "mother to son?" (I think that's what it's called?) it says "Life ain't been no crystal stair..." that is one of my favorites. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

------------------
I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way they handle these 3 things: a rainy day, lost luggage and tangled Christmas tree lights.

Hi Nicole and ifantell. I can relate to what you are going through, also, Nicole. I took my first generic prozac about a week ago, and I too just stared at it for the longest time, I was so scared to take it. But I figured I had nothing much to lose. I suggest you keep a very detailed journal of everything physical and emotional you are feeling. I had some rare and scary side effects, like shortness of breathe, chest pains, severe headache and nausea, facial flushing, dizziness. I told this to my doctor and he said I must have had an allergic reaction. I only took one dose and didn't like how I felt. He recommended Celexa and I'm in the process of deciding whether I want to try it. I think you'd be wise to take charge of your health and make sure you're very aware of how you are feeling. If you feel uneasy or if you dislike anything, report it to your doctor immediately. I've battled depression for years, and always assumed it was situational rather than chemical, and to a degree I still think it is. The last five years have been hard. My boyfriend left me, I had a falling out with my best friend of 20 + years. I realized that I had been neglecting my dog, the one bright spot in my life, and had decided to devote more time and energy to her. Then I learned she had cancer and she died about a month later. Then I learned a few months ago my ex boyfriend married about 6 months ago. This is what tore it for me. If anyone else has input on Celexa, I would appreciate it. But hang in there, Nicole, and take care of yourself!

Ninispjc, you reaction to the generic prozac was that quick? This is my third day on it (half dose for 4 days to start) and so far the only thing I notice is being tired for a few hours after taking it and yawning more. I am wondering if that will change when I start taking the full dose.

Even though, it is not in my profile for some reason, I am on ICQ if anyone wants to chat.

Hi,
I hope the Celexa works well for you. I have been on it for over a year and have had no bad side-effects from it, other than being tired the first few weeks.
Believe me, I know what you mean about taking meds. I wouldn't take a pill for years because I had such a bad reaction from an antibiotic.I do feel better since I've been on the Celexa.I had such terrible anxiety and also had some agoraphobia symptoms. I did go out by myself, but sometimes it was difficult.
I also exercise and do some relaxation tapes and deep breathing.
Good luck!

This was the first anti depression drug my Doctor put me on and wow, I hated this stuff.
It might work well for you though. Just have a friend or familly memner keep an eye on you the first couple of days to make sure your not acting wierd.

I knew it was'nt for me right away. The second day I took them I felt like some one gave me a bad hit of LSD. It was like rat poison to me.

Now I'm on Wellbutrin SR and I like to think it helps. It seems week to me, but there was no creepy feeling or side effects so I stay on it. I still have mild depression though.

HEY EVERBODY ! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Been a couple days, I just wanted to thank you all so much for helping me out again. It feels really good to know I have more of a chance to get better. I had a few side effects at first, hey has anybody gotton a cold from the first wekk of taking celexa? Anyhow I have been getting the headaches the stomach aches like I am going to be sick. The common stuff I suppose. I jsut wanted to give you all a heads up as I know some of you wanted to keep tabs http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/t_up.gif
Other than that I haven't noticed any changes in my depression yet, I know it take awhile.. I'm just anxious to get better. Hope all is well with every one http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif I'll keep checkin in with ya'll http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Love you guys,
http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/blob_fire.gif Nicole

Hang in there. Hope you get some relief soon.

[This message has been edited by Jayellcee (edited 05-02-2003).]

Hi,,,Just a note,,Ive been on celexa for 8 months,,,& it took at least 4 wks for me to feel better.
So give it a chance.
Good luck~~