About Celexa for Mental Health
Are you struggling with depression and want to know your options when it comes to taking medications to help treat the symptoms? Celexa is a commonly prescribed drug that helps people with depression improve their condition. When someone begins taking medication to help alleviate any mental health disorder, they naturally want to feel its healing effects as quickly as possible. When prescribed this particular drug, it leads people to ask “How long does it take for Celexa to work?” Arbor Wellness is in the business of helping people manage and overcome several mental illnesses, including depression. In this article, we explore using the drug Celexa.
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What is Celexa?
Celexa is the brand name of an antidepressant drug called citalopram that is part of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) family. It is prescribed to treat depression in adults and is available by prescription only. It is manufactured in tablet form and taken orally once per day.
What Does Celexa Treat?
Celexa is used to treat people who have depression and need help alleviating the symptoms. While this drug is not FDA-approved for the treatment of anxiety, many physicians prescribe it for this condition due to the positive results reported by patients who use it for this. People who suffer from depression have a breakdown in their brain’s ability to produce the neurotransmitter serotonin. This causes their moods to become low and they experience tremendous sadness and hopelessness. Celexa increases the production of serotonin, which enables the individual to experience improved symptoms.
How Long Does It Take For Celexa to Work?
Anytime someone begins taking medication, they want to know when to expect results. Someone beginning treatment for depression and using this particular medication will want to know, “How long does it take for Celexa to work?” For many, the improvement in their symptoms of depression begins within two weeks. For others, it can take longer until they feel the full effect. Those seeking relief from symptoms of anxiety may start to feel an improvement in their symptoms after about a week of usage.
If a person using Celexa does not receive adequate relief for their symptoms, it may be due to the dosage not being high enough. The prescribing clinician can discuss increasing the dosage to see if that will provide better results.
What Are the Side Effects of Celexa?
Besides wondering “How long does it take for Celexa to work?”, many people also wonder if taking the drug can cause side effects. Any drug can potentially cause side effects, which makes it important to report any that occur to the prescriber. Common side effects of Celexa include:
– Nausea
– Dry mouth
– Feeling sleepy
– Difficulty sleeping
– Sweating
– Tremors
– Diarrhea
– Difficulty ejaculating
While more serious side effects can occur, they are not nearly as common. Should any of these happen, the person should report them immediately to their physician:
– Chest pain
– Shortness of breath
– Suicidal thoughts
– Allergic reaction
– Abnormal bleeding
– Seizures
– Visual problems
Is Celexa Addictive?
Celexa is not an addictive drug. However, when someone stops taking it, they should not quit cold turkey, but instead, taper off it slowly while under the supervision of a medical professional or therapist. Some withdrawal symptoms can occur, and those can be compounded if a person stops using Celexa without tapering down.
Celexa vs Lexapro
Both medications are SSRIs, but while Celexa is the brand name for citalopram, Lexapro is the brand name for escitalopram. Celexa is only available in tablet form, while Lexapro can be taken as a tablet or a liquid. Otherwise, both medications are quite similar in how they affect people.
Celexa vs Prozac
Prozac treats both depression and panic disorders. It can be taken daily or in a delayed-release capsule on a weekly basis when used to treat depression. Prozac takes longer to take effect on average than Celexa with an average of one to two months to feel the full effects.
Celexa vs Cymbalta
Celexa is an SSRI medication, while Cymbalta belongs to the family of serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). While Celexa is only prescribed for depression, Cymbalta can also be used to treat conditions related to diabetes, fibromyalgia, and musculoskeletal pain.
Celexa vs Wellbutrin
While Celexa is an SSRI, Wellbutrin is an atypical antidepressant and is available in both sustained-release and extended-release. Wellbutrin XL can be prescribed to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Who Can Prescribe Celexa?
Celexa is available by prescription only and cannot be purchased over the counter. A person can obtain a prescription for Celexa from the following professionals:
- Primary care physician
- Licensed nurse practitioner
- Licensed physician assistant
- Psychiatrist
- Some clinical psychologists
Find Psychiatry at Arbor Wellness Today
Has depression taken hold of you and caused you to need professional treatment? Arbor Wellness offers focused care for people with depression on both residential and outpatient levels. We provide life-changing therapies that help you understand your illness and live a more peaceful life. Arbor Wellness also offers access to prescription medications to help ease the symptoms of depression. We work with each person to answer questions they have, including “How long does it take for Celexa to work?”
For more information about how you can get the help you deserve, visit our admissions page now. Our staff can answer your questions and go over options for things like medications that can make a difference.
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