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From: Melissa
Date: 07/07/03
Time: 22:17:03
Remote Name: 67.84.99.154
I know this is long. Scroll to the bottom parts for the summary, what I've learned, and my take on the drug.
MY STORY:
I was on Celexa for a year. I went on it because I was flipping out about every little thing (not being able to find my shoes, my sister touched my laptop, anything). I was 21 when I started and was about to go into my senior year of college at rpi. I always felt that I had my life under control and it was kinda like I was living in a fantasy. I actually believe the problems I was having at the time were a result of me not following up on my treatment for Bulimia that I suffered from for about 3 years in high school.
I dealt with the life change to college quite well for about 3 years. I was ready to go away to school and take that step in life, but as the step of leaving school grew closer, I started this whole flipping out thing. I went to my doctor because my parents were worried about me. My sisters hated me because I was being an ultimate bitch (which was strange, bc I was always like this super nice person) and so the doctor prescribed me 20mg of celexa.
I trusted the doctor. I mean, he is a doctor. He should know best, right? So, I went on it. I never felt side effects from medications really before so I wasnt worried. I trusted the doctor.
So, when I started it, I didn't get the nausea or anything to start out. I started to feel calm again and thought everything was better. I actually graduated early from school, so I was done in December, but didn't want to leave, bc my bf since the beginning of my freshman year would still be there til may. So, I took a fixed term position on campus.
Throughout my year on Celexa, I gained about 30 pounds. I mean, I gained a little bit when I started birth control, but the celexa added like another 30, which was a shock to me, being used to being like 102lbs. I didn't completely accredit it to the drug, though. I also completely lost my sex drive. I thought it was just a sacrifice I would need to make.
Wow I'm writing too much...
Anyway, so my last day at my fixed term job was Monday (one week ago), so I no longer have insurance through them...at least I think. I ran out of refills on my prescription that same day. However, it wasn't even my current doctor who had prescribed it in the first place. So, I really didn't know what to do, so I just was like oh well and went off of it.
It's been a week now, and I have had like all the symptoms people have been talking about. I am super tired, still no sex drive, flipping out again, eyes taking too long to focus, feeling hungry but then feeling sick after eating (i really haven't eaten anything that I haven't puked all week), and just overall not feeling right. However, the worst effect for me is my 100% loss of motivation. I cannot make myself do anything at all. I can't convince myself to eat, clean up at all, make important phone calls, do simple things that need to be done, etc. I think that is the worst of anything. Does anyone else have that problem? I mean, this was also something that I felt a lot before taking the drug.
MY TAKE:
It's evil. It traps you into needing it. It doesn't cure anything. I mean, some things are better when you're on it, but they dont' want you to ever feel good enough that you can stop, bc they like you paying monthly to get a new prescription. They make it so horrible to go off of, that people will try and change their minds just to suck you into staying on it and keep spending money on it. That is why I'm dealing with these side effects. I don't want to give that evil company anymore money.
WHAT I'VE LEARNED:
I will never in my life ever blindly trust a doctor and just take a drug that is prescribed to me again. I will do my own research - not only on side effects, but on withdrawal. I only wish I woulda seen this site before taking it. Honestly, I dont think I'm any better off than I was before taking it. I am just without $240 that I woulda had if I hadn't dropped 20 bucks on a prescription for it every month for a year.
SUMMARY:
I know I'm only 22 years old, so I am in no way old and wise, but I just really hope more people read about it before putting themselves through what we all went through. I have no clue what is going on in my life right now and I partially accredit this to the evil drug. I appreciate being able to read about everyone else's experiences. It sucks other people had to go through it too, but it is comforting to know I'm not alone.
If anyone wants to talk to me or has any advice, please contact me at [email protected].
Sorry for writing a post that went on forever, but I am in no way good at being breif. It is worth it if anything I had to say helps anyone, like how the ones I read today have helped me.
Good luck to everyone. Melissa