Celexa and Tiredness: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• March 25, 2008

For Depression "I responded after one week. The side effects (lethargy, some bowel problems) are the only reason I didn't rate this medicine a 10. After 44 years of excessive anxiety and depression, I finally feel like I can be 'myself' instead of enslaved to unreasonable thoughts and frustrations. Ironically, I avoided these types of meds for years, instead 'self-medicating' with alcohol and cynicism. Had I switched to this years ago, maybe I would still be married to a wonderful woman. Sad, but true."

• Sha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 19, 2020

For Anxiety and Stress "Okay so this is my first day taking it, and it’s crazy, I already feel a difference. In my group today, I was talking like crazy, wasn’t nervous at all, and I feel like I have so much energy, but I’m also tired because I haven’t been sleeping due to the stress I’ve been under. I'll update next Wednesday to see how it is! I’m so excited to not feel so nervous all the time and depressed. I’m so happy!"

• Anonymous
• February 18, 2009

For Anxiety and Stress "I have been taking Celexa 20mg for about 3 months for social anxiety disorder and it's worked great so far. I am much more talkative and social around people. I don't get shaky and don't dread meeting new people anymore. Someone at my last party asked me if I was high at a party when I hadn't been drinking or anything. He said usually I am sitting in the corner being anti-social. I had a touch of nausea when I changed from 10-20 mg, but other than that I do sleep deeper and I think I have less nervous energy than I used to. I was also yawning uncontrollably for the first month, but I am much happier."

• mel...
• May 20, 2014

For Depression "I am a 28-year-old female. I was prescribed 10 mg. I read a lot of reviews on Celexa where people said they felt a difference the first week and was starting to get really disappointed when I felt no different in that time frame. I have been on it for exactly 7 weeks now and am just now starting to notice a difference. My interests have returned, I have more energy, and I am able to focus. Overall I am definitely happier and don't feel down in the dumps anymore. The only side effect I had was it made me very tired in the beginning but that has gone away completely. For me, Celexa is working!"

• Bri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 23, 2014

For Anxiety and Stress "This medicine is incredible. I had about four months of out of the blue, never had it before in my life terrible panic and anxiety. I was to the point I was throwing up every morning and constantly worrying and thinking about it. I finally went to the Dr. after crying and feeling miserable for days/months. She prescribed me Celexa 10mg to wean on (minimal side effects - nauseous and a little more tired than usual, but I take it at night), then a month later I went to 20mg and I'm happy there. Absolutely no more anxiety or panic, and I don't feel like an emotionless zombie, I feel just like myself. My sex drive is normal, just takes a bit longer to get there."

• Mom...
• September 13, 2009

For Depression "I have suffered from depression off and on for years and have taken Zoloft in the past. This time it didn't seem to be working. I also was hit with overwhelming anxiety because of my husband's job difficulties. The doctor prescribed Celexa a couple of months ago. After 3 weeks, I was ready to give up on this because it took longer to kick in than Zoloft. I also had terrible dry mouth and food just didn't taste good. But the doctor bumped me up to 60 mg and that really did the trick. I only have dry mouth when I first wake up in the morning and food tastes good again. My hubby said that on Zoloft I was more 'flat emotioned,' but on the Celexa, I have the normal ups and downs that everyone else has. The only negative is that I am on the tired side, but not terribly bad. It is a lot better than wanting to jump in front of a bus. I urge everyone to give this a try and stick with it. Good luck!"

• cak...
• February 2, 2015

For Anxiety and Stress "I've only been on Celexa for 5 days. I understand that this will not be an entirely accurate review of the medicine because it takes about 4 weeks to get the full effect, but my experience is worth sharing for those just starting. Reasons for being prescribed: -anxiety associated with emotional stress -depression (seasonal) -inability to sleep due to anxiety -panic attacks (only about 5 in a 2-month period). Days 1-2: 10 mg - felt awful. I felt anxious, foggy-headed, weird. Day 3: I was quiet but full of energy. Some trouble sleeping (woke up in the middle of the night). Day 4: Tired because I didn't sleep well that night. Midday exhaustion. Somewhat antisocial. Still 'myself' though. Day 5: General good mood, positive. Productive."

• cak...
• February 2, 2015

For Anxiety and Stress "I've only been on Celexa for 5 days. I understand that this will not be an entirely accurate review of the medicine because it takes about 4 weeks to get the full effect, but my experience is worth sharing for those just starting. Reasons for being prescribed: -anxiety associated with emotional stress -depression (seasonal) -inability to sleep due to anxiety -panic attacks (only about 5 in a 2-month period). Days 1-2: 10 mg - felt awful. I felt anxious, foggy-headed, weird. Day 3: I was quiet but full of energy. Some trouble sleeping (woke up in the middle of the night). Day 4: Tired because I didn't sleep well that night. Midday exhaustion. Somewhat antisocial. Still 'myself' though. Day 5: General good mood, positive. Productive."

• Anonymous
• July 27, 2008

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have been taking Celexa for only three weeks, but I've already noticed a difference in my mood. I feel a bit more relaxed, and the panic attacks are null if any. I started with 10mg for 4 days, then up to 20mg, which proved to be way too much for me, so I backed down to 10mg and have felt great since. Side effects: some slight yawning here and there, but not a big deal. I recommend this medicine for those with mild anxiety/depression."

• Ali...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 1, 2014

For Depression "I think I waited too long to start taking this medication. I, too, along with many others, was against 'happy pills' as I used to call them. I started having anxiety attacks at work, and my emotions were starting to bleed into every aspect of my life. I had to do something. Depression is sneaky... you don't realize what it's doing to you until you can step out of it and take a breath, a real clear-minded breath. That's what Celexa has been for me. It made me so tired at the beginning, and I didn't eat much, but after about a week, I noticed I was not crying all day like before. I can't say I feel super happy all the time, but I notice that I am not as sad and I have energy to do more than lay on the couch on the weekends!"

• Anonymous
• November 3, 2009

For Depression "Citalopram is the best thing that ever happened to me. It was like a cloud was lifted, and I could see everything in my life clearly. It is amazing, and I have very minimal side effects. Just more intense dreams, and at first, it messed up my sleep schedule. I would be tired a lot and then not be able to fall asleep. But that passed after a few weeks. I've been on it for about 9 months now, and it is still working great!"

• Str...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 22, 2013

For Anxiety and Stress "I started taking Celexa about 2 months ago. I told the doctor that I was always overwhelmed and having anxiety attacks while driving and waking up in the middle of the night sweating. I immediately felt the effects within the first few days, but the dry mouth and yawning was unbearable. I switched to taking it before bedtime since it knocks me out anyway. About 2 weeks in I noticed myself acting a little goofy and happy again. I've noticed a dramatic difference in myself since I had my second child and my husband was working 60-70 hours a week, but now with the Celexa I feel much more normal like when I was younger. My doctor told me it would take about 3 months to fully kick in, but so far so good."

• fro...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 3, 2013

For Anxiety and Stress "I started having anxiety and the fear from that (worrying if I was having a heart attack) led to straight-up panic attacks. My Dr. gave me Celexa (20 mg), and after a few days, I felt so much better. I didn't have to take my Xanax anymore, maybe one a week. It was great, and after 2 months, I came off. But about 7 months later, my anxiety came back. So I gave Celexa another try, and at 20 mg for 11 days, I felt in a fog, really tired, and still had the anxiety. So after reading tons of posts, I lowered to 10 mg, and I felt great!"

• Eli...
• January 12, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "I'm a 57-year-old male who has suffered from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) on and off during my life. It was only three years ago that I started taking medication for it. I started out with buspirone, and it worked great for 1.5 years, but then its effect just started tapering off and not really working for me. I tried without it for about 6 months and was feeling good, but had another bout of anxiety. My doctor recommended Celexa 40mg in the morning once a day. The first few days were horrible, I felt spaced out, tired, and could not function at all. I talked with a nurse family member, and she said the dose was too high. I cut down to 20mg (half a pill) for two weeks. I did that and then bumped it back up to 40mg. It worked! My side effects slowly went away. I have been on Celexa for over three months and feel much better now. Buspirone had more of a calming sedation feel, while Celexa puts me in a better frame of mind. That is the best way to describe the difference between them. Anxiety symptoms have gone away. It might be a rough start, but stick with it."

• Had...
• June 24, 2016

For Anxiety and Stress "So far, so good. I'm only four days into taking it. I take it at lunchtime every day and notice I get a bit drowsy and yawn like crazy for a couple of hours after I take it. However, my anxiety is already feeling better so this side effect is nothing in comparison! My anxiety was becoming debilitating, just so much stress...I lost my mom to cancer, my cat passed away, going through a possible separation, just horribly stressful situations now. I have a lot of support from my family and friends and feel like this is the first step in getting back in check."

• Ano...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 9, 2013

For Anxiety and Stress "For the last 7 months, I have taken 30mg/day. It eased 90% of my anxieties and obsessive thoughts. My family and friends quickly noticed my new, laid-back state. I laughed more and cried (a whole lot) less. I have never been so emotionally stable. However, these benefits come at a price. First, I'm extremely tired. Next, my libido is gone. Also, my memory is awful. I constantly forget simple conversations or tasks. Similarly, I now struggle to articulate my thoughts. I often stumble over words and lose my train of thought mid-conversation. Lastly, at times, I feel like an emotionless zombie. For these reasons, I plan to taper off the medication. I instead hope to learn new coping techniques."

• Its...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 4, 2018

For Anxiety and Stress "Was on Zoloft for months for panic disorder. Thought nothing could ever help me. After months of going from 25 mg to 200 mg of Zoloft, my doctor finally switched my medication to the same one (Celexa) my mother takes for depression. The first about 8 days or so were awful. Withdrawing Zoloft and Celexa side effects. Hot flashes, nausea, dizziness, dry mouth, extreme panic, and tiredness. Then suddenly I just felt better. Happier. Less anxious. Normal again. It saved my life!"

• Bee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 31, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "I've been on 10 mg of Celexa for about 6 months now. I remember automatically feeling 'happier' after a few days being on it (placebo effect maybe :)). I started to notice I also wouldn't dwell on things that upset me. I went through a horrid breakup. I remember not thinking as much about my ex and being able to feel more positive and not ruminate on negative thoughts that would typically trigger my anxiety and moodiness. Everyone has different experiences on SSRIs, so it's hard to find the right one. The only issues with this medication were the complete loss of libido and occasional digestive issues. I also suffer from IBS, so if you have a sensitive stomach, this may give you occasional digestive issues? And lots of yawning, lol! Other than that, this SSRI was the best I have ever been on (Zoloft makes me sick and tired..)"

• Jud...
• October 5, 2011

For Depression "To all starting out on Celexa, please don't judge it by the first 3 weeks. I am now at 8 weeks and I've never felt better. My doctor said the full effect will be felt at 8 weeks - I can truly tell. The first 3 weeks I was beyond tired, getting up and getting to work was painful. I'm usually a night owl but I was ready to crash after dinner every night. By week 4 all of my energy came back. My moods were amazing, my social skills did a 180-degree turn. This medication truly changed my life. I haven't tried anything before for my anxiety/depression as I am in my early 20s. I knew I needed help when my illness began to destroy my personal relationships. The constant yawning, tiredness, fogginess will go away. Your body will adapt."

• Jud...
• October 5, 2011

For Depression "To all starting out on Celexa, please don't judge it by the first 3 weeks. I am now at 8 weeks and I've never felt better. My doctor said the full effect will be felt at 8 weeks - I can truly tell. The first 3 weeks I was beyond tired, getting up and getting to work was painful. I'm usually a night owl but I was ready to crash after dinner every night. By week 4 all of my energy came back. My moods were amazing, my social skills did a 180-degree turn. This medication truly changed my life. I haven't tried anything before for my anxiety/depression as I am in my early 20s. I knew I needed help when my illness began to destroy my personal relationships. The constant yawning, tiredness, fogginess will go away. Your body will adapt."

• LIZ...
• May 27, 2015

For Depression "I have depression and high anxiety. I have had these most of my life but refused treatment. Now, having a son of my own, I have realized I need to be better for him. I have only been on it for a week and have noticed a lot of improvements! I no longer feel upset about my life. I can talk to my child like he should be talked to, not because I'm stressed and anxious all the time. I have had a few side effects so far: weird dreams, headaches, muscle spasms, dry mouth, and tiredness, but to feel 'normal' is worth it. I finally feel like I'm going to be okay."

• Joe...
• August 11, 2017

For Anxiety and Stress "I suffered from extreme panic attacks, lack of concentration, constant worry, and restlessness, which led to a stint of sleep deprivation. I am currently two and a half weeks in and have gone through the gamut of side effects: increased anxiety, night sweats, tiredness, and loss of sexual desire. But I can gladly say that these side effects are already seemingly disappearing and I can focus again! It's amazing, my sense of humor isn't back yet as I am generally sarcastic, which I am struggling hard with right now, but ultimately I can feel the drug working. My girlfriend doesn't think I'm completely insane (which is nice), and I feel like I am on the better side of the Celexa now."

• TIm...
• August 14, 2011

For Anxiety and Stress "The doctor said it would take 10 days to 2 weeks to kick in, but at day 8 I noticed a real difference. I was on Wellbutrin for several years and took myself off 2 years ago. But as life happens, I need a happy pill again. I was having severe panic attacks, which I had never experienced before. So glad to have my doctor prescribe Celexa, it's so awesome to feel normal again. The only real side effect was yawning for a few weeks. No sexual side effects at all, it's better because I feel better. So if you are questioning it, don't, for the sake of you and your loved ones. Try it."

• Mom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 9, 2013

For Postpartum Depression "I am not sure if I had postpartum depression or not. My youngest child is 2, and it seems ever since having her I've not been the best mom out there, or wife. I was very moody all the time, and just recently it has gotten worse. I felt like I was always on a rage at home, yelling at everyone, everything getting on my nerves, snapping at family members, it was terrible. Celexa saved my life! I felt improvement within days. I feel more calm and no longer have the urges to yell and get angry with anyone. I have experienced headaches, fatigue, and yawning but nothing compared to how I was feeling before so I can handle the side effects. I am on week 3 now, hoping they diminish with time."

• Hay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 8, 2015

For Depression "Within a few weeks of starting Celexa, my depression disappeared almost completely. The side effects that are the most noticeable for me are tiredness, weight gain, and sensitivity to light. The stuff does its job, but the side effects are a bit hard to deal with."