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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by dannyboy on October 24, 2001, at 11:09:03
Hey everybody,
Thought I'd start a new thread to get some advice. I was taking Paxil for panic disorder about 1 year ago, and it worked wonderfully to control my panic and allowed me to "relearn" how to function w/out panic reactions. I went off due to weight gain after 4 months. I still experienced panicky feelings, but was able to manage and control them and was comforted by the "way out" that Paxil would offer me if I ever felt out of control.
Well, I began to feel that my anxiety was reaching unmanageable levels, so my psych offered me Celexa, with the hope that I would enjoy the benefits I experienced with Paxil without the weight gain. I started in on 10 mg. / day.
As I posted earlier, I had an immediate negative response. I felt hyper-stimulated, as if I was on speed, coupled with crashing anxiety. My legs felt "weak" or "numb" though both of those words really don't describe the sensation I had. Basically, I felt like my legs would fall out from under me while I was walking. These feelings made me feel increasingly out of control, and I began experiencing panic on a level previously unknown to me. I quit Celexa after 2 weeks.
My problem is this. I have been majorly destablized by this experience. (I had a MASSIVE panic attack while grocery shopping; I'm dreading my next trip to Ralph's). I get overwhelming panicky sensations (particularly in the morning & evening) that come out of nowhere. I feel like I'm "cycling" in the bipolar sense, however, I go from feeling calm & normal to frightened and anxious for no reason at all (no manic or "high" episodes). It is not situational. I can be at home, safely in front of my t.v., and suddenly feel panicky and despondent.
I've returned to Paxil (10 mg./day) after one week with no Celexa. I'm slowly beginning to feel better, and I *think* that the scary episodes are waning in intensity and frequency.
My question - are my feelings after taking Celexa related to Celexa withdrawal? Has anyone with panic disorder had a similar experience with Celexa or another SSRI? I've been feeling very worried and have been missing a lot of work (I'm a 3rd grade teacher - imagine having a panic attack in front of a classroom of 8 year olds! It sucks!) Can I expect these feelings to diminish?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Daniel
This is the end of the thread.
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