More threads by Mashka

Mashka

Member
I stopped my Clonazepam a few weeks ago, I was taking .5 mg daily, and yesterday I started Celexa, taking 20 mg daily. Maybe I'm missing something but this seems like a HUGE difference,
 
Not at all, hon; don't worry. :)

There are HUGE differences in the dosages we take of different drugs. For example... I take alprazolam, which (like clonazepam) is a drug that is generally taken in doses of anywhere from .25mg to two or three mg. Then there's ibuprofen, which might be taken in doses of fifty to over one thousand mg in some cases!!

I also take Celexa, and I'm currently on 20mg as well. At different times in my life, however, I've taken as much as 80mg per day.

Don't worry one bit about it. Drugs are each very different from one another, and so are the dosages used. :hug:

---------- Post added at 01:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:47 PM ----------

And while I'm thinking of it... Keep in mind that these drugs work in very different ways. Clonazepam is something you might take for relief at a particular time. It works fairly quickly, and goes away fairly quickly.

Celexa is very different in that it has to "build up" to a certain level in the body before it has any effect. Taking one pill will do nothing-- it works more slowly, over time.
 

Mashka

Member
i know thats the difference i noticed between the two-i could feel the clonazepam working in the first DAY, ive yet to feel the celexa
 
Yeah, if you only started it yesterday, you probably won't notice anything yet. Usually people start to feel some effect within the first two or three weeks, but it can take up to six weeks for it to achieve its full effect.

I don't know about you, but I had a bit of heartburn and upset stomach when I first started Celexa. If you do, try and wait it out-- for me it went away completely within about a week.
 

Mashka

Member
well i havent noticed the GOOD effects of celexa yet, but my doctor warned me it might hurt my stomach and i didnt believe her because i never had really bad reactions to medications, i guess i shouldve believed her :D i started feeling the stomach pains about 4-5 hours after i took one pill the first day..and today i took it again and have stomach pains ontop of....you know...THOSE monthly cramps :p
 

NicNak

Resident Canuck
Administrator
I am on Clonazepam too. Clonazepam for me, usually works within 20minutes after I take it. Clonazepam is a benzodiazepine

Celexa is an SSRI so those usually take a few weeks for the full effects to show.

Chairity is right. 20mg of Celexa is not a big dosage. For example me, I am on Effexor. The starting dosage of Effexor is 37.5ml the capsules do not come in any less dosage.

They are all different as per the medication. To me it doesn't sound like a high dosage. I wouldn't worry too much about it :) :support:
 

NicNak

Resident Canuck
Administrator
well i havent noticed the GOOD effects of celexa yet, but my doctor warned me it might hurt my stomach and i didnt believe her because i never had really bad reactions to medications, i guess i shouldve believed her :D i started feeling the stomach pains about 4-5 hours after i took one pill the first day..and today i took it again and have stomach pains ontop of....you know...THOSE monthly cramps :p

You can call your pharmacy, unless they advised you already it was safe, if you can take you Celexa with a snack or a meal. Sometimes that helps with the tummy problems. :)
 

Mashka

Member
You can call your pharmacy, unless they advised you already it was safe, if you can take you Celexa with a snack or a meal. Sometimes that helps with the tummy problems. :)

im eating grapes right now-i hope they help hehe
 

Retired

Member
For your information, you may want to read this patient information for Celexa .

As has been mentioned, medications come in various dosages which relate to the potency of the compound used in the formulation. Dosages are determined in the research to find the amount required to produce the desired effect, without causing undue adverse reactions.

Therefore dosage numbers from one medication to another should not ever be an issue.

One medication might be 0.5 milligrams, while another could be 0.5 micrograms and another could be 100 milligrams.

It just depends on the chemical compound.

Think of dosages and potency in the same way an ounce of beer and an ounce of whiskey may be the same quantity, but the effect of that amount of each substance is quite different.
 

Mashka

Member
these pills are making me sick. i feel hungover all the time :S so i started taking half a pill now instead of a full one
 

David Baxter PhD

Late Founder
These side-effects (really adaptation effects) generally only last for a few days to a week at the most. I think someone already suggested talking to your pharmacist to see what you can take for the nausea - I'd second that recommendation.
 
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Jazzey

Account Closed
Member
Hi Kels,

I just wanted to tell you that I was very nauseous when I first started my medication - it went away fairly quickly. Together with my doctor, I mapped out the best time to take it so that the nausea wouldn't affect me as much.

But talking to your doc or pharmacist is definitely a good idea if you're finding it difficult to cope with.
 

Atlantean

Member
I would just like to add that its really important not to get hung up on the numbers, and just work on building a therapeutic level. I think it is really easy o get all wrapped up in "oh my go, Im on 1800 mg of lithium" when before you were on 800mg of seraquel.

Different medications all have different doses and therapeutic levels in different amounts, I think the thing is to stay focused on just finding a therapeutic level or medication that works for you, and not worry about how high or low one medication is in comparison to another.
 
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