Posted by Frankie on February 15, 2002, at 12:02:03
In reply to Celexa for anxiety-Comments PLEASE, posted by Pamela Lynn on February 15, 2002, at 0:22:07
> Hi everyone. Thank you for reading my post.
>
> My Father was just started today on Celexa (equivalent to 20 mgs of Citalopram, as a starting point, to be raised in the future if needed). He is 60+ yrs. old. In the past month or so he as been waking up in the early AM hours with horrible anxiety and worry-over what exactly he does not know-This causes him to NOT sleep all night and to feel like hell all the next day; sometimes the anxiety even runs into the next day!! Poor guy. FINALLY my Mother convinced him to change his Doctor (as the one he had just wasn't cutting it). My Mother emailed me tonight to tell me what he had been prescribed.
> Now, I too suffer from anxiety attacks, but I take Klonipin and Xanax to combat my attacks, so I am very unsure of what exactly Celexa does for anxiety/panic attacks. I take other meds. for my depression, and have tried in the past alot of other ones, never Celexa though.
> This is the FIRST time my Father has been on ANY type of med. for anxiety, and he has only 'seen' the side effects of anxiety drugs through what he has heard/seen of me while on them.
> If anyone (please) would shed some light on Celexa (please no fancy 'Doctor terminology', laymens terms would be great! lol) taken for anxiety; and/or their personal experience being on Celexa for anxiety that would help immensely. Side effects of the med. would also be very welcome.
> He's my Father, you know? I love him very much and just want to help him and be as best educated as I can when it comes to what he is taking for the anxiety.
> Sorry this is so long. P.L.
Pamela,Mitch is correct in the fact that many SSRI's will cause insomnia. But, that is why I would strongly recommend the small dose of Klonopin or Xanax with it initially. Or even Buspar. These meds will likely block most of the anxiety based side effects. Buspar, however will not activate until about a month, or maybe even more. The short term one's would be much better. Hope this helps out.
Frankie.
poster:Frankie
thread:94204
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020215/msgs/94261.html