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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by darkling on October 8, 2001, at 13:44:47
my doctor just prescribed me celexa (for panic disorder, 20 mg to start, along with xanax to take as needed) and right now its just sitting in my medicine cabinet while i debate with myself whether its worth taking. im not an alcoholic. i guess im a social drinker-i dont drink often, but when i do, i drink quite a bit (never black out-but i get pretty drunk). my doc didnt tell me the effects alcohol may have on the meds-just not to do it.
what should i expect-realistically?
im also pretty worried about sexual side effects. ive read that with some ssri's the side effects may last indefinitely-even after youve stopped taking the meds. i took paxil in the past-it made me feel like a zombie!-and i had some problems with climax, so naturally when i found out (after i stopped taking it), i wasnt too sure about whether i wanted to chance something like that again. honestly, id much rather take something that would mess with my memory and make concentrating more difficult (i have these problems anyway...) than something that will screw up whats left of my social life as much as no sex and no alcohol.
please let me know about any and all of your personal experience! everyone on this site has been so forthcoming and helpful thus far, i cant thank you all enough-im looking foward to your advice.
Posted by Bassoldire on October 8, 2001, at 19:06:12
In reply to alcohol and celexa , posted by darkling on October 8, 2001, at 13:44:47
I was prescribed celexa and xanax for OCD, intrucive thoughts, and depression. The celexa lifted the depression a little. I like to drink too, and found in my expierience the celexa did not interfere at all. Xanax is a different story.(obviously). On Xanax you will become intoxicated much more quickly. I had some side effects with the celexa. Achiving climax during sex was nearly impossible for a while, but that got better with time. Hope this info helps you out.
Posted by JohnX on October 9, 2001, at 2:09:35
In reply to alcohol and celexa , posted by darkling on October 8, 2001, at 13:44:47
> my doctor just prescribed me celexa (for panic disorder, 20 mg to start, along with xanax to take as needed) and right now its just sitting in my medicine cabinet while i debate with myself whether its worth taking. im not an alcoholic. i guess im a social drinker-i dont drink often, but when i do, i drink quite a bit (never black out-but i get pretty drunk). my doc didnt tell me the effects alcohol may have on the meds-just not to do it.
>
> what should i expect-realistically?
>
> im also pretty worried about sexual side effects. ive read that with some ssri's the side effects may last indefinitely-even after youve stopped taking the meds. i took paxil in the past-it made me feel like a zombie!-and i had some problems with climax, so naturally when i found out (after i stopped taking it), i wasnt too sure about whether i wanted to chance something like that again. honestly, id much rather take something that would mess with my memory and make concentrating more difficult (i have these problems anyway...) than something that will screw up whats left of my social life as much as no sex and no alcohol.
>
> please let me know about any and all of your personal experience! everyone on this site has been so forthcoming and helpful thus far, i cant thank you all enough-im looking foward to your advice.I used to drink "a lot" consistently. Like 4 or 5
beers a night. Then I got serious depression and stopped drinking. Fortunately i was not physically dependant on alcohol, so stopping didn't have withdrawl. I was self-medicating the depression by drinking. It sounds like maybe
you are in the same boat. If you treat the depression you may be less compelled to binge drink.So I went on a health kick and stopped drinking, ate the right foods, etc.. Eventually said screw
it. I take meds, but I also have fun....in moderation. If I lose my social life and become
addicted to health what is the point of life?So here is your answer and some people will not
like this: yes, you can have an *occasional* drink while taking some meds. Not everynight. But
if you have a dinner appointment with some friends
then it's ok to a have a few drinks (say 3-4 beers) maybe once a week. MODERATION. An best
not to be driving your car when you 1st try
this.Also, *don't* take XANAX while drinking, and
if the celexa makes you drowsy adding booze
won't help.PS. if you found paxil too sedating, then celexa
may also be sedating. Maybe Zoloft would be better
for you. It is stimulating. it will get you off
your butt. You won't feel drowsy and drugged out, but you may have a little diahhreah and insomnia.
Please take the xanax in moderation, as it is addicting.But as you are thinking: don't let attacking depression be depressing.
-John
Posted by darkling on October 9, 2001, at 12:55:02
In reply to Re: alcohol and celexa » darkling, posted by JohnX on October 9, 2001, at 2:09:35
>
> I used to drink "a lot" consistently. Like 4 or 5
> beers a night. Then I got serious depression and stopped drinking. Fortunately i was not physically dependant on alcohol, so stopping didn't have withdrawl. I was self-medicating the depression by drinking. It sounds like maybe
> you are in the same boat. If you treat the depression you may be less compelled to binge drink.
>
> So I went on a health kick and stopped drinking, ate the right foods, etc.. Eventually said screw
> it. I take meds, but I also have fun....in moderation. If I lose my social life and become
> addicted to health what is the point of life?
>
> So here is your answer and some people will not
> like this: yes, you can have an *occasional* drink while taking some meds. Not everynight. But
> if you have a dinner appointment with some friends
> then it's ok to a have a few drinks (say 3-4 beers) maybe once a week. MODERATION. An best
> not to be driving your car when you 1st try
> this.
>
> Also, *don't* take XANAX while drinking, and
> if the celexa makes you drowsy adding booze
> won't help.
>
> PS. if you found paxil too sedating, then celexa
> may also be sedating. Maybe Zoloft would be better
> for you. It is stimulating. it will get you off
> your butt. You won't feel drowsy and drugged out, but you may have a little diahhreah and insomnia.
> Please take the xanax in moderation, as it is addicting.
>
> But as you are thinking: don't let attacking depression be depressing.
>
> -Johnmoderation was never really a problem wth me because even before i started having panic disorder and being housebound, i really only partied about once a month and i figured that at that rate it was okay if when i did drink i got ripped. (does that sound naive?) but as you can imagine i get out a lot less now-and i never drink at home.
im not being treated for depression(panic disorder)-actually, im pretty wierd, because of the fact that i want to remain the reactive, sarcastic, moody person i am-just without the panic attacks. i like the person i am-thats why i stopped taking the paxil. sure it did a little for the panic attacks, but it was treating my PERSONALITY. ick-i felt like a pod person. thats another part of why im hesitant to start the celexa.sooooo, im thinking that the best course of medicating this to avoid the effects i least desire is to ditch the ssri and go with a daily dosage of xanax (under my doctors advisement of course). and i can take a "drug holiday" when i know im going to be naughty.
what do you think? i look foward to hearing from you-thanx!
Posted by JohnX on October 9, 2001, at 20:33:05
In reply to Re: alcohol and celexa, posted by darkling on October 9, 2001, at 12:55:02
>
> >
> > I used to drink "a lot" consistently. Like 4 or 5
> > beers a night. Then I got serious depression and stopped drinking. Fortunately i was not physically dependant on alcohol, so stopping didn't have withdrawl. I was self-medicating the depression by drinking. It sounds like maybe
> > you are in the same boat. If you treat the depression you may be less compelled to binge drink.
> >
> > So I went on a health kick and stopped drinking, ate the right foods, etc.. Eventually said screw
> > it. I take meds, but I also have fun....in moderation. If I lose my social life and become
> > addicted to health what is the point of life?
> >
> > So here is your answer and some people will not
> > like this: yes, you can have an *occasional* drink while taking some meds. Not everynight. But
> > if you have a dinner appointment with some friends
> > then it's ok to a have a few drinks (say 3-4 beers) maybe once a week. MODERATION. An best
> > not to be driving your car when you 1st try
> > this.
> >
> > Also, *don't* take XANAX while drinking, and
> > if the celexa makes you drowsy adding booze
> > won't help.
> >
> > PS. if you found paxil too sedating, then celexa
> > may also be sedating. Maybe Zoloft would be better
> > for you. It is stimulating. it will get you off
> > your butt. You won't feel drowsy and drugged out, but you may have a little diahhreah and insomnia.
> > Please take the xanax in moderation, as it is addicting.
> >
> > But as you are thinking: don't let attacking depression be depressing.
> >
> > -John
>
> moderation was never really a problem wth me because even before i started having panic disorder and being housebound, i really only partied about once a month and i figured that at that rate it was okay if when i did drink i got ripped. (does that sound naive?) but as you can imagine i get out a lot less now-and i never drink at home.
>
> im not being treated for depression(panic disorder)-actually, im pretty wierd, because of the fact that i want to remain the reactive, sarcastic, moody person i am-just without the panic attacks. i like the person i am-thats why i stopped taking the paxil. sure it did a little for the panic attacks, but it was treating my PERSONALITY. ick-i felt like a pod person. thats another part of why im hesitant to start the celexa.
>
> sooooo, im thinking that the best course of medicating this to avoid the effects i least desire is to ditch the ssri and go with a daily dosage of xanax (under my doctors advisement of course). and i can take a "drug holiday" when i know im going to be naughty.
>
> what do you think? i look foward to hearing from you-thanx!I would have a hard time believing that you could
be a reactive, mooody, sarcastic person even
while taking XANAX. Usually benzos like xanax
or klonopin mellow people out.If you want to avoid the ssris, depending
on the frequency of your panic attacks, klonopin
is generally considered better than xanax as
a stand-alone maintanance med for panic. It
stays longer in your body so it has a more
consistent smooth response, whereas xanax exits your body more quickly and you will have more
ups and downs.ps. I like being moody and bitchy at times too.
I prefer to call it "type A" personality though.;)good luck,
john
Posted by darkling on October 11, 2001, at 10:42:41
In reply to Re: alcohol and celexa » darkling, posted by JohnX on October 9, 2001, at 20:33:05
This is the end of the thread.
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