topic Re: anxiety in Wellness

anxiety

halfpint1 — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 02:21:32 GMT

I just took one for I am ready for bed -I have a few left-he didn't order not even for 10 days. It is generic for celexa 10 mg at bedtime.

Re: anxiety

RedTop — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 02:59:41 GMT

@halfpint1,

The doctor wanted you to take the Celexa medication every day until it ran out and then let him know how it was working, so he would know whether to prescribe more of it for you, or change to another type of anxiety meds.

Anxiety meds need to build up in your system over a length of time to be effective. They are not like a Tylenol or Aleve to be taken as needed to bring relief.

Doctors are very very careful about ordering certain medications for older patients. They do not want to give any medication that may cause the hangover type of drowsiness that could make the patient unsteady on their feet, and at increased risk for falls. My mom started her Zoloft doses at night, and was told to be aware of possible drowsiness in the mornings, but she did not have that side effect.

You will benefit from anxiety medication if you take it properly. Anxiety meds will calm you physically, but also mentally, helping your mind focus more on the tasks you do at home. If you have trouble staying on task and finishing what you start, and at the end of the day realizing you didn’t really accomplish anything, anxiety meds can help you stay focused longer.

Re: anxiety

mom2four0418 — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 02:59:36 GMT

@halfpint1 wrote:
I just took one for I am ready for bed -I have a few left-he didn't order not even for 10 days. It is generic for celexa 10 mg at bedtime.

Celexa is an antidepressant, which can take up to six weeks to feel the full effect. It is not the type of medication that you just take once in a while. It seems that you have questions about what you have been prescribed. The best thing to do is call your doctor's office and speak to a professional to get answers.

Re: anxiety

Hoovermom — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 03:14:22 GMT

@halfpint1 : Have you seen all of the posts on your thread you started the other day? Lots of people reached out to you, and I hope you see that.

Re: anxiety

butterfly123 — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 03:59:58 GMT

Hello @halfpint1

I’m happy to read you’re taking your medication.

Will you please call your doctor in the morning and ask for a refill so you don’t run out of medication.

Hugs,

🦋

Re: anxiety

halfpint1 — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 04:24:42 GMT

I can't fall asleep--its been and hour-I had some warm milk and am looking at a recorded program -thinking of taking melatonin. I need to sleep.

Re: anxiety

hckynut — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 05:13:43 GMT

@halfpint1

Is there a question in this post I missed? I have been taking Citalopram 10mg.(generic for Celexa) for many years, no noticeable side effects.

If there is a question here?

hckynut

Re: anxiety

Still Raining — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 12:43:59 GMT

It is a big step in the right direction to start the pills. As so many have mentioned, it can take a period of time to feel the good effects. They need to be taken each and every day. If you only have a small supply, call and get more. There are lots of us here who need this medicine, so you have a lot of cheerleaders.

Re: anxiety

RedTop — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 16:17:20 GMT

@halfpint1,

If you are taking the Celexa at bedtime thinking it will help you sleep, you DO NOT understand the purpose of this medication.

Celexa is NOT a medication to help you go to sleep, or stay asleep. Celexa is an antidepressant; an anxiety medication. You were instructed to take the med at night- -every night- -to see if you were compatible with it. If you get a good nights sleep, but wake up groggy and unsteady on your feet, this would have been something you needed to report to the doctor, so he could decide if Celexa was the right choice for you.

If you had taken the Celexa correctly and reported back to the doctor letting him know how it was working for you, he would have decided to keep you on it, or try something different. The long term benefit of this medication is that with daily doses, it will bring an overall calmness to you mentally and physically, which will naturally help your sleep pattern. You HAVE to commit to taking anxiety medication every single day.

@halfpint1, my heart goes out to you with what you are going thru. I may be a complete stranger on the other side of the country, but I understand your situation very clearly. All of us forget things, we misplace things, but I feel there is a specific issue beyond your control as to why you are forgetting or misunderstanding the doctors instructions about your medication, and why you are struggling every day.

The diagnosis, and help you need must come thru your doctor. I do wish you the very best.

Re: anxiety

lulu1 — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 15:04:53 GMT

@halfpint1

You seem to be having such a difficult time on all fronts. I appears your son is not going to attune himself to your needs. At this point I would contact my senior center and see if you qualify for a patient advocate. They would accompany you to the doctor and be better able to make sure you understand what your medications will do for you in the proper dosage.

You flip flop between not being able to sleep, anxiety, loneliness, hearing things, etc. While you have friends here, they cannot take the place of a real life person, familiar with your conditions and needs.

I hope with help, you will be better able to cope with life without your husband.

Re: anxiety

Nightowlz — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 18:32:05 GMT

I get anxiety now too but don't take anything for it. I did have to take xanax in the car last time we went to SC.

My sister takes Ativan for hers. It's only meant to be used for so many months. She has been taking it forever. The doctor should not be prescribing it. As long as she has been taking it I don't know how it could work. She pops them like a piece of candy.

I read low magnesium could be a cause so I just got some to try.

I bought Life-Flo magnesium oil spray.

It's also suppose to help with sleep.

Re: anxiety.

halfpint1 — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 01:26:48 GMT

MY son helps as much as he can. I go with him to thrift shops to get out of the house and then we get something to eat. He changed all my clocks this week.

Re: anxiety.

september — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 01:51:34 GMT

@halfpint1 wrote:
MY son helps as much as he can. I go with him to thrift shops to get out of the house and then we get something to eat. He changed all my clocks this week.

I’ll bet your son is a great guy. Do share with him, all of the things you may have mentioned in the q forums. He needs to know all of this.

Re: anxiety

halfpint1 — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 02:34:31 GMT

The doctor never really explained things to me. It is not that medicine just the generic to it. I am taking melatonin at night so I can sleep. Anxiety is no fun for me.

Re: anxiety

halfpint1 — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 02:36:59 GMT

Thank you mom to 4 I will get in touch with the doctor. I never had it like this the last 2 days.

Re: anxiety

mom2four0418 — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 02:49:00 GMT

@halfpint1 wrote:
Thank you mom to 4 I will get in touch with the doctor. I never had it like this the last 2 days

You are most welcome. My late mother had a long bout with depression/anxiety and took Celexa for many years. It helped her a lot. It is always best to be treated by a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner. They are more knowledgeable about all of the medications compared to a primary doctor. It takes a lot of courage to ask for help with mental health issues. I applaud you for reaching out.

Re: anxiety

RedTop — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 03:24:16 GMT

@halfpint1,

I assure you the anxiety level I have witnessed is ugly and very concerning; Mom always thought she could handle it, but she was wrong. My mom jumped and screamed at the slightest noise, she was so unfocused she could not keep up with basic functions, or remember what she did 5 minutes ago. During the doctor visit when we talked about the anxiety, mom was tested for dementia and she did not do well with the very simple tests. It let us know there was a lot more going on with mom and the struggles she was experiencing.

Celexa and medications like it are prescribed to elderly patients with caution, due to the fact some patients experience problems that can make them fall. Patients are often given only partial prescriptions for 10-14 days to see if they are compatible with the medication. That is what your doctor did, but I think you forgot what the doctor said to you about this medication. I do believe you thought that by taking the medicine at bedtime meant it would help you sleep. One Celexa tablet is not going to help you fall asleep, but if you take the med every day and control your anxiety, there will be an added benefit of better sleep after this med builds up in your body for a few weeks.

Just recently you said you couldn’t remember what your doctor said about the pill for your heart, and you also said you were not aware of several of your husbands health issues that are listed on his death certificate. I do believe everything was discussed and you knew it at the time, but I think you have forgotten as time has passed. Dementia has made my mom the same way. I say common things to her sometimes and she looks at me and says “really? I don’t remember that”.

I know Bob is a good son and it sounds like he tries to do what he can to help, but sometimes sons just don’t catch what daughters catch. My two brothers are very helpful to our mom, but they know my relationship with her is very different from theirs. I picked up on mental changes in my mom nearly 7 years before she was diagnosed with dementia.

Re: anxiety

Sooner — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 04:24:36 GMT

Sometimes any child is helpless. Sometimes things are out of their hands you know. The parent sometimes has to cooperate with those trying to help them and accept the help offered. I hope OP will think about what her part is in this. Writing down instructions and following them and such.

Re: anxiety

sophiamarie — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 18:10:38 GMT

Halfpint: If you are not getting any information from your doctor, then ask your Pharmacist. Believe me, they know more about medicines than doctors do and they can help you with side effects and answer any questions you might have. They will look things up for you while you wait. Don't be afraid to talk to your Pharmacist.

You might want to ask your Pharmacist about ZzzQuil. It's an OTC syrup and will help you sleep

Re: anxiety

halfpint1 — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 22:33:12 GMT

RedTop did you say your mother takes it during the day? I probably could use it today -You know I have t alked about noise that alot of people do with the heater. I know it isn't on but it waits at the point I set and I hear that as crazy it seems. I just wonder if I take it in the daytime also I can't sit home all day. Will discuss with the doctor when I see him. I must of had something like this when I was pregnant--had to get out and walk. No one was here for me then.