Becoming bipolar on Celexa?

[Lala63]

Hi everyone!

I've been taking Citalopram for 4 months on different doses because the drug didn't seem to be working for me. I feel like I'm becoming bipolar on it. I developed hypomania on 25mg, went down to 17.5 and have been on it for the past 4 weeks. I felt very angry last week, then had severe depression ( which I usually don't get, I only suffer from GAD and I have some obsessive thoughts), I felt slightly suicidal, then yesterday I couldn't sleep because I had increased energy. It doesn't look like I will be able to sleep tonight either. I just don't know what to do...Is this temporary and will it go away? Because I do feel good- I don't feel like doing "crazy" things or anything, I have no anxiety or obsessions. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Lala63]

And this is my post from 2 months ago

Please let me know I’ll be alright... I started having anxiety again two months ago and I started taking celexa. I started on a low dose, then gradually increased it to 20mg. I was finally starting to feel alright (I was able to get 6-8hrs of sleep some nights), but because of noisy neighbors, my anxiety came back. So I raised my dose to 25mg. Oh boy, I felt horrible. I wasn’t sleeping, had horrible anxiety, occasional vomiting, gagging etc. I’ve been playing with the dose (went down to 20mg one day, then to 17.5mg the next one, then back to 20mg and today I’m at 17.5mg). I was feeling fine yesterday during the day, but then I couldn’t fall asleep again. The last 3 nights I’ve been taking Xanax. Will I ever feel alright? I don’t want to take anything to sleep (I took 25mg of trazadone last night and got only 3hrs of sleep). I’ll stick with 17.5mg. I just want to be able to sleep again without any medication! Why am I still wired from celexa? Shouldn’t it go away after 4-6 weeks? I’m seeing a psychiatrist (we can actually text), he said it’s ok to take Xanax and wanted me to be on 40mg of Celexa!!! It’s so extremely hard to feel that way and work. Please help, I’m not feeling great today.

[Agora1 in reply to Lala63]

LaLa, Are you playing with the dosage yourself? x

[Lala63 in reply to Agora1]

Hi Agora- I did before but now I’m under the supervision of a psychiatrist. My psychiatrist told me now to go down to 10mg and take it for 2 days and text her on Monday to see how I was feeling. What do you think about that? If I have to go back up to 17.5mg, I’ll be a total mess!

[Agora1 in reply to Lala63]

I'm not a doctor but I do know that playing with the dose even with little

cuts and then increases can cause our symptoms to get worse. Every time

there is a change in our meds we feel the effects. Usually medications stabilize

within 4-6 weeks but that is if the dosage doesn't keep changing. Having been

4 months for you seems like a long time. I would think if it were going to work

it would have already. (I'm just going by my own experience)

If your psychiatrist wants you to eventually be on 40mg, be sure to follow his

instructions to a tee in how much of an increase you will need to do each time

until reaching 40mg. It's that up and down that can cause you to feel as bad

as you are. I hope this quiets down soon so you can start getting benefits

from the medication or be switched to another. Finding the right medication

for each one of us is all about trial and error since we all respond differently.

I wish you well. xx

[Lala63 in reply to Agora1]

Thank you Agora for your reply! I can’t go to 40mg, because I became manic at 25mg.. and I feel like I’m manic now (just a bit) with increased energy. I was depressed on Tuesday, I feel like Celexa is making me feel bipolar. Going up to 40mg was an old post. Would you go down to 10mg now like the new psychiatrist recommended? I just don’t know what to do.. I’m thinking that if so much serotonin built up in my system and is causing me this mania, maybe I’ll be doing fine on 10mg, but I’m not sure, I’m scared

[Agora1 in reply to Lala63]

Lala, it sounds like your new doctor is wanting to start decreasing that dose.

I would go with her professional suggestion. You may be very surprised in how

you will start feeling better. My best to you, let us know how you do on that dose. xx

[Lala63 in reply to Agora1]

Hi Agora, she either wants me to go down on the dose or go back up again which I am scared of. I still haven't taken my 10mg..I am waiting for her to text me back. I am scared of how I will be feeling. When I lowered it last time, I was vomiting and feeling very anxious and I need to go to work Monday.

[Agora1 in reply to Lala63]

I understand Lala in that changing the dose either way causes symptoms for

a while. I hope you hear from her soon. The anticipation is adding to your

anxiety. xx

[Lala63 in reply to Agora1]

Hi Agora,

We are lowering the dose of Celexa to 10mg. Thank you so so much for your support here! I appreciate it so much! I was panicking, I didn't know what was going on with me.. Thank YOU!

[Elfje in reply to Lala63]

Manic than you need a moodstabilisator with your anti depressant

If you are bipolen

Because manic from anti depressant for anxiety you gone not be manic

Strange

[Lala63 in reply to Elfje]

Hi Elfje- I am not bipolar. I have never had a manic or depressive episode. I suffer from GAD and I do have obsessive thoughts and ruminations but I think they are part of GAD. That's why the whole experience with Celexa has been very strange to me. Some people do become manic or even bipolar on antidepressants. I am lowering my dose of Celexa to 10mg under the supervision of my doctor. Thank you!

[Elfje in reply to Lala63]

I understand

I get verry hyper and anxious so ye I stopped it maked me really on the edge

[Lala63 in reply to Elfje]

Yes, it did the same thing to me too! I had more obsessive thoughts and more anxiety on the full dose. I’m starting to feel like my old self with the 2 day on 10mg, we will see. Thank you for replying to my posts and for your support!

[Bilabong]

Believe me when I tell you, anti-depressants are not meds you want to be playing with. Your doc will prescribe a dose for you, and you take his/her word as the gospel. Doc says 10mg, you stick to 10mg. If 10mg makes you uncomfortable, make sure you speak with your doc first and not play your own doc. Trust me when I tell you, you play with brain medicine and you WILL end up mental!!!

This is what may happen to you if you play with your dose:

healthunlocked.com/anxietys....

Good luck.

[Lala63 in reply to Bilabong]

I know..I did play with it myself at the beginning, because I had expired celexa before and was fine with going up and down the dose, so I thought it would be fine. The doc wants me to go down to 10mg, but I am not sure if she wants me to go back up to 17.5 or 15mg, I will be a mess...I am waiting for her to text me back. I read you post and wow, coming off Lexapro was tough for you. These drugs are horrible when they don't work or when you wean off of them