[drunksunflower]

So I have been taking Celexa for two or three months now, went back to doctor to get a refill, told him I was stressed and that most of the time it was working but sometimes I felt like it wasn't, and he said he wanted to put it up a little bit (to 30mg).

It seems to be working already (after a week and a half?)

But initially I was meant to be on it for 6 months, so I was kinda planning to be off it by February at the latest.

My question: does an increased dose mean you have to stay on something longer? Or is that just the dose that works for you personally?

any hints would be appreciated

[drunksunflower]

No one ever had this situation?

[LMo]

Ok, not that I'm a doctor or pharmacist, but here's what I've been told:

It's not so much the dosage, as it is the amount of time needed to "retrain" your brain to break negative thinking patterns. My husband's pdoc and my doctor told me that it takes about 9 months to get rid of the bad habits (via talk therapy etc) so they recommended that he stay on meds for at least that long.

[darkeyes]

I don't think so, I do remember with SSRI's 6 to 9 months was an average for it to work after 9 months to a year, and all dosages have been brought up to the highest reccomended dose and not much response has occured or has stopped, that usually is when the doc will switch you to a different one. Your increased dose is most likely the dose needed to be therapeutic for you, and feeling better now, doesnt mean you should just stop them now or way before 6 -9 months, it's so important to go with the plan the doc who is treating you with the medication.
Stopping or shortening the time needed, can create further problems, always check with your doc, to play it safe.
Dosages aren't really what determines treatment length, but in some cases can. Some disorders are permenant and meds are a fact of life, but you can live "normal" while on treatment plan, so the life long deal of the med is fine vs not being on a treatment plan.
Some treatment may only be for a few months, allowing the brain to balance, which many meds can do for brain chemical imbalances.
Nothing is ever in stone, but that was pretty much what I heard from my pdoc, that many of the SSRI's poop out after awhile,and I learned that with my own experiences,before he switched me to Lamictal, when it came to the fact Antidepressants weren't helping anymore and that a mood stabilier was more beneficial.
What Lmo stated is very true.

[drunksunflower]

okay, so i shouldn't worried about the dose, just how things go?

i feel ok im just stressed with work.

thank you ladies

[Hopefull]

I'd concur. I am hoping to do an anti-depressant for six to eight months. I just have a bad feeling that I might get stuck on it because I have always been a negative thinker.

[allosteric]

6-12 month minimum, once you are on the right dose with the proper response. It has more to do with complex biochemistry mixed with behavioral change. These meds are not harmful, and if you come off the meds and relapse you will need to be on it or another med for a minimum of 2 years, and from there if it fails for life. It is best to stay on the med as long as your doc says, if you have side-effects mention them to your doc as most of them are treatable.

Dr.S.