I had tried Lexapro a couple of years ago. Took one pill at 10:00 pm went to bed and woke up at 12:00 thinking I was dying. I was so weak and felt like I was just going to pass out and die. I started Celexa 6 days ago, taking 10mg at 8:00 am and was fine until day 5. I woke up with a nose bleed (which I have a blood phobia with all the bleeding with peri) and I had the same thing happen to me as the Lexapro. Had to go outside in the cold...didn't help. So I had to lay on a concrete floor to cool down, felt like I could breathe, my limbs were all weak. Is this a reaction anyone else has had? Would this be something that will pass in time. Today is day six and I don't want to take this pill and I can't get to the doctors till tomorrow. The pharmacist said my nose could have bleed from high bp, but he can't say for sure unless the bp is taken after the pill. He also thought that the pill would not have made me feel like that 15 minutes after taking it. Any thoughts anyone???

I just started Celexa, it will be two weeks on Wednesday. I started at 5 mg because of my sensitivity to meds, then upped my dose to 10 after a week. I had also tried Lexapro and after about a week I had such anxiety I couldn't calm myself down, it was awful. So far, I've not had any reactions to the Celexa other than a dry mouth, but I also started on a lower dose than you, I'm just now on 10 mgs and it's only been three doses.

Could it be that you were nervous to be taking the meds and maybe worked yourself up unknowingly? I know I am watching myself very closely since starting this because I am afraid of a reaction. I pretty sure that the pharmacist is right in telling you that it is unlikely you'd have a reaction that quickly after taking it. Is there any way to contact your doctor, there has to be someone on call, I would think.

I pulled up info on the web (copy and pasted below) and nose bleed is a Rare Side Effect. That's probably what it is and if it happened to me I would stop the me immediately. I hope you feel better soon.




Side Effects of This Medicine
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. One rare, but very serious, effect that may occur is the serotonin syndrome. This syndrome (group of symptoms) is more likely to occur shortly after an increase in citalopram dose.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Decrease in sexual desire or ability

Less common

Agitation; blurred vision; confusion; fever; increase in frequency of urination or amount of urine produced; lack of emotion; loss of memory; menstrual changes; skin rash or itching; trouble in breathing

Rare

Anxiety; behavior change similar to drunkenness; bleeding gums; breast tenderness or enlargement or unusual secretion of milk (in females); difficulty in concentrating; dizziness or fainting; increased hunger; irregular heartbeat; irritability; lethargy; low blood sodium (confusion, convulsions [seizures], drowsiness, dryness of mouth, increased thirst, lack of energy); mood or mental changes; nervousness; nose bleed; painful urination; purple or red spots on skin; sore throat, fever, and chills; rapid weight gain; red or irritated eyes; redness, tenderness, itching, burning, or peeling of skin; seizures; serotonin syndrome (agitation, confusion, diarrhea, fever, overactive reflexes, poor coordination, restlessness, shivering, sweating, talking or acting with excitement you cannot control, trembling or shaking, twitching); shakiness; slow or irregular heartbeat (less than 50 beats per minute); stupor; swelling of face, ankles, or hands; trouble in holding or releasing urine; unusual or sudden body or facial movements or postures; unusual tiredness or weakness

I had all kinds of symptoms--trouble swallowing due to dry mouth, insomnia, vivid dreams, light sensitivity, no appetite, and, worst, high anxiety when starting celexa. You feel worse before you feel better. A few months in and Celexa has helped me a lot--reduced my anxiety and panic greatly.

That said, you should maybe check in with your doc to make sure you are not having any real allergic type reaction if you feel that bad, if only to give you the confidence that you shouldn't be scared of the drug. It could be you are "just" experiencing a panic attack.

I also started at 5 mg for sveral days, crept up to 7 mg etc. and it took me a month to get to 20.

There are lots of other SSRIS too, so maybe ask your doc if another kind would be worth trying instead if you find the side effects intolerable...

Hope you feel better soon!

I had increased anxiety also when starting Lexapro. Ativan got me through the initial breaking in time. I wouldn't trade it for anything now. It has literally saved my life. I'm now on the generic Celexa (Citalopram) and it is just as good at a fraction of the cost.

Wow, I had a lot of the weird side effects and didn't even know they were side effects of Lexapro. I am thinking of switching to the Celexa but I'm concerned that I may not respond as well. It's what the mfr uses as it's non active base that can affect a med even if the active component is the same. So sometimes when there are diff. mfrs of a generic drug you can feel different on the generic form of any medication then you would on the brand name drug. That is my concern. Thanks, Mich