medication question

SwedishChick2011

Have any of you been on Celexa or Adderall?  How do or did you like them?  Any bad experiences with either one?  Thanks!

P.S. I felt like I shared a little too much personal information in my original post, so I deleted most of it and also most of my subsequent posts.  Sorry.

JK10910

The big problems with Adderall tend to come from people taking it who don't need it for ADHD.  Have you been tested for it? 

FutureMrsTR

FWIW - 103 lbs at 5'7" is not healthy so I wouldn't be too upset about gaining some weight.

That's all I've got.

laurenclaire1386

I'm allergic to adderall, gives me hives. That's all I've got too. Sorry.

Koopa17

My FI has been off and on adderall most of his life, for ADD (not ADHD).  I know he has never had any addiction issues with adderall and has always been able to go on and off with no issues.  Not that this speaks for everyone on it.  I would think as long as you are taking the recommended dosage and are not relying on it too heavily it would be fine.  Obviously I don't ACTUALLY know what I'm talking about, but that's what I've seen based on FI.

ac_in_dc

I've been on celexa (varying doses) for years. I took some wellbutrin for a while as well to help with the effects I was feeling from quitting smoking.

I was on 40mg/day at my peak but now that I'm pg I take 10 mg/day...haven't been able to quit entirely. My problem has always been depression, no anxiety or other stuff mixed in.

Celexa is a fairly standard SSRI, although I've heard it helps with anxiety (like you say). The other unique thing about it is that it has a short 1/2 life in your system compared to stuff like prozac (only 30 hours, I think) so you really feel it if you miss a dose.

I don't get any side effects from Celexa anymore. But in the past it has made it difficult (not impossible) to orgasm (sorry for TMI), sometimes made me sweaty.

I hope this is somewhat useful. FWIW, I think you & your doc should be examining your symptoms a bit more carefully to make sure you know *precisely* what your diagnosis is before you go on too many new meds. Make sure you're doing non-medication related interventions, too (exercise, cognitive therapy).

Good luck!

Kati0105

Yeah I'm with TR, 143 at 5'7" sounds pretty healthy to me.  I took Adderall in college after being diagnosed with ADD but it gave me terrible insomnia and made me very jittery.  I didn't have any issues with Celexa but I did find that while it seemed to work great at first after a while I began to feel depressed again.  Then again I was never able to find an antidepressant that worked for me long-term so I'm not much of a help.  I read somewhere that antidepressants can only cause weight gain when they are accompanied with behavior changes (i.e. you are happier so you start eating more socially or stop restricting if you were previously doing that - which sounds like it may have been the case with you).  I think caco/bbycks was discussing this recently, so maybe she'd have some input?

AmoroAgain

Dude, we're the same height and I definitely weigh 145lbs.  You were definitely all right with that weight. 

Also, it kind of seems like you steer the relationship with your doctor and not the other way around.  You mention drugs and she says okay, here, have two more.  I'm definitely concerned about the fact that she's giving you an ADHD med without you being diagnosed.  That's messed up.  We are such a pill popping society, it's ridiculous.

Anyway, I've been taking lexapro for a year now and definitely notice the difference in my anxiety level, which is mostly my issue.  I really like it (once I figured out the dosage) and am not sure that I'll ever go back off it.  I don't like taking it, but having tried it a couple of times without it, and seeing how miserable I was and literally unable to do anything, I don't think I'll go back.

kikibaby

Related, but a little off track... out of curiosity, did those of you on anti-depressants get them from your regular physician or from a psychiatrist?

SwedishChick2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_medication-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:f2c64faa-b76a-441e-a227-12558d4783a5Post:68285932-4abd-4cc6-8adf-f0519e019ec0">Re: medication question</a>:
[QUOTE]Related, but a little off track... out of curiosity, did those of you on anti-depressants get them from your regular physician or from a psychiatrist?
Posted by kikibaby[/QUOTE]
Kiki, I get mine from a psychiatrist, although your regular physician might prescribe them for you.  Personally, I think it's better to go to a psychiatrist, though, because they know a lot more about mental health issues and may have a better idea of what the best drug for you is.  One time my regular doctor prescribed an anti-depressant for me, and it really wasn't the best drug for me.  Also, a psychiatrist can provide therapy or refer you to a good therapist. 

JK10910

I'm sorry, but there are better ways to diagnose (at least to get a preliminary diagnosis) than just to start you on a medication and see what happens.  That's complete crap and laziness on her part, IMO.  I'd be looking for a new psychiatrist.

Kati0105

Thanks koopa, ac, kati, and amoro.  I was offline for a while.  Also, thanks for making me feel a little better about my weight.  I know it's a healthy weight - it's just a big change for me.

Yeah I definitely understand, I was once 120 at 5'5" which isn't necessarily unhealthy for everyone but it was for me.  Having been an athlete for so long I have a large bone structure (haha, yes, I know, but I swear it's the truth) and a lot of muscle so I have just had to accept that 140 is probably my ideal weight (I am 150 right now so I'd like to lose a bit but not go crazy). 

AmoroAgain

Yeah, I don't think she's really doing the best job possible with just giving you drugs to "see".  I was prescribed my anti depressant by my regular physician, but one I'd been seeing since I was little, so he knew me pretty well.  I was also in therapy and had been diagnosed as clinically depressed. 

saschaduran

I was prescribed Adderall about a year and half ago from my family doctor after telling him how I used to be extremely focused and I had completely lost my motivation and focus at the time.  I loved the energy and focus I felt, and the weight loss, but I knew it was wrong to be taking it.  My anxiety got much, much worse and I had heart palpitations. 

My husband absolutely hates my doctor, by the way, because he will give me anything I ask for, and I have issues with feeling pills will fix everything.  I am working on changing that about myself and limiting my medications.  Although I have since seen a proper psychiatrist and am on Lexapro now and love it.  It helps tremendously with my anxiety and obsessive thoughts.

JK10910

Also, one month on Adderall isn't going to tell you anything.  It takes several months to get to the proper dosage for most people, plus it takes a couple weeks to "stabilize" and give you consistent effects.

saschaduran

Amoro...if this is too personal just tell me to MYOB...but do you plan on having children?  I do, and one of the main reasons I am terrified to start trying is how miserable I have felt being off antidepressants.  Some doctors say although it is not ideal, it is acceptable to be pregnant and on antidepressants, but I can't wrap my head around that being ok.

Just curious if you have thought about this issue or if you ever spoke to your doctor about it.

JK10910

Sascha, Ac_in_DC has talked about that before--maybe you could PM her.  (Sorry if that's not my  place, AC, I just figured since you put it out there once, maybe you could help someone else )

Bubbalub

I'm on Celexa and have been for almost 3 years. I was taking 20 mg with 10 mg Paxil but weaned off the Paxil over the last few months because it isn't safe for pregnancy and we want to start a family this year. I definitely noticed that the 20 mg Celexa alone wasn't cutting it and my anxiety warning signs started coming back. I'm antsy, fidgety, can't focus and have bad stress dreams. I also worry constantly and get focused on something and can't stop worrying about it. I'm up to 30 mg Celexa now and my doc wants to add Buspar on top of it as it is an anxiety-specific drug and I don't seem to have depression.

I have taken meds for GAD for 10 years now and I know that I will stay on them indefinitely because I eventually become non-functional without them. I now see 3 doctors at UCSF Women's Health center: OB/GYN, GP and a pharmacologist from the medication alliance clinic. The pharmacologist keeps in contact with me every couple weeks to monitor how I'm doing and makes medication recommendations to my GP when necessary. The pharmacologist is a leader in SSRI research and I feel more comfortable getting my medication recommendations from him as he is cmopletely up-to-date at all times on the latest research, as opposed to the GP who has a lot of other stuff to keep track of so only really knows the basics.

It might be worth your while to get a second opinion. I did and it was totally worth it for the peace of mind.

AmoroAgain

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_medication-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:f2c64faa-b76a-441e-a227-12558d4783a5Post:55aaffeb-0175-415e-afd8-8e0e7dae0397">Re: medication question</a>:
[QUOTE]Amoro...if this is too personal just tell me to MYOB...but do you plan on having children?  I do, and one of the main reasons I am terrified to start trying is how miserable I have felt being off antidepressants.  Some doctors say although it is not ideal, it is acceptable to be pregnant and on antidepressants, but I can't wrap my head around that being ok. Just curious if you have thought about this issue or if you ever spoke to your doctor about it.
Posted by saschaduran[/QUOTE]

I've thought about it, but right now, we're not planning on having kids.  My understanding is that it's ok to stay on them.  I can't imagine going off for 9 months and then the preceding breast feeding period.

saschaduran

Thanks Amoro...yeah the breast feeding period too.  Forgot about that.

Duh....why do I keep forgetting that AC is preggers? 

saschaduran

AC...I sent  you a PM:)