Just been prescribed Citralopram

[Anniecel]

Hi all just looking for a bit of input/advice .
I have always been the sort of person that "just copes" no matter what is thrown my way I am usually laid back and nothing bothers me too much however after DH and I seperated over a year ago( partly due to his own mental state) I feel I have been slipping. To begin with I was absolutely fine carried on working and raising my three children things are still amicable with Dh and he has the youngest son (his biological son other two are from previous but dont see their natural father) every weekend. Just recently my health has started to deteriorate I suffered two chest/throat infections within two months and never seemed to recover properly I felt really low but just put it down to tiredness as I am not sleeping properly and even when i do get a good nights sleep still feel exhausted and drained the next day. All that said i still thought nothing of it and carried on, things at work weren't great what with changes to contracts imminent and possible redundancies on the horizon after a long consultation period I was informed that I had kept my position at the hospital where i work but that I would be expected to cover all shifts which i can not do as i cant work evenings and weekends due to having the children to look after, things got worse and worse and eventually I couldn't face going into work signed myself off for a week s i was suffering severe headaches and stomach pains, the following week i went to see a doctor (not my own gp) who signed me off for a week and ordered blood tests to be done which came back all clear, the week after that a duty doctor signed me off sick for another week telling me to continue taking painkillers for the headaches but offered no other help told me to see my own gp. I tried to get an appointment this week to see my own gp but nothing available till next week, I was due back at work this morning but had a panic attack a mini breakdown !! I phoned the doctor asking to speak to my gp who rang me back i told him all that has happened and he immediately prescribed me Citalopram signed me off for another week (my 4th now) and i have to go back and see him wednesday next week.
I guess depression finally got hold of me and the anxiety has been too much to bear so am glad that finally i may be getting some help but have never taked AD's before has anyone else taken Citralopram? is it any good does it work??
Sorry for the rant

[Elk]

I have taken citalopram for a while now for depression and anxiety. To be honest I have a love-hate relationship with it. I hate having to take it, but I love the way it makes me feel. I too used to have both stomach pains and headaches, they are often a physical symptom of depression.

When I first took citalopram I felt a bit naseous and 'spaced out' within 3 hours of taking the first pill, but that disappeared after couple of days. It took surprisingly little time to feel better, but much longer to feel normal (I hope that makes sense).

[Anniecel]

Thanks for your input Elk, have taken my first tablet and am feeling a little light headed but otherise ok so far, have read the humongous list of side effects! Am already suffering from some of them before even taking the meds ! so hope it doesn't get too much worse. Back to the docs next Wednesday but he's given me a months supply of pills.

[SrirachaGirl]

I love Citalopram. It made me feel dizzy, spacey and sleepy (lots of yawning) the first week or so but those things didn't last long. I think it was about a month before I felt 'normal' and it made me realize how awful I felt before taking it (I had physical symptoms as well as mood ones). Good Luck .

[Anniecel]

Thanks Sriracha good to know what to expect, I know they will take a little while to work properly but it will be worth it if they make me feel better in the long run.

[PebblePots]

Took a while to get my dose right, ended up on 40mg cos that was what worked for me, started on 10mg. So it took a few months to feel better, I wish that had happened quicker. No side effects, except crazy dreams however they have settled down over time so may just have been a symptom if my anxiety.

Good luck, I hope you feel better soon

[Saltire]

I've been on citalopram for over a year now and it has helped me immensely. I ,like the toehr posters, did feel spaced out and tired for a few days after first tkaing it but now I get no noticeable side effects

[PebblePots]

Took a while to get my dose right, ended up on 40mg cos that was what worked for me, started on 10mg. So it took a few months to feel better, I wish that had happened quicker. No side effects, except crazy dreams however they have settled down over time so may just have been a symptom if my anxiety.

Good luck, I hope you feel better soon

[Anniecel]

I have been started on a 10mg dose but doctor did say when i go in to see him next week he may up the dose as he prescribed over the phone today initially for the anxiety but says he may up the dose in order to settle the depression as well. Took my sicknote in to work this afternoon not sure my boss (whom i have never met properly as he has taken over from previous supervisor whilst i have been off sick!) will be too happy as this is my fourth week off so am pretty sure that wth my sickness and all the changes at work with our contracts I will be getting the push soon!

[Virgil]

I've had it for a week. I'm tired and incredibly thirsty. Other than that not sure it's kicked in yet!!

[Anniecel]

Doctor told me it can take 2-4 weeks to work properly so i'm not expecting instant results. Virgil keep us updated on how you get on with it and Good Luck

[fluffydressinggown]

I have been on citalopram. I didn't feel tired or spaced out with it, just lots of yawning and I felt very hot in the morning.

[Peachy]

Been on it a year now and Dh probably about 5! I never plan to come off of it, the events that triggered the depression are unchangeable and the Psych agrees with that.

i love the stuff; I do experience sleepiness and waves of exhaustion where I HAVE to just stop and sleep for a few minutes, although I am quite sleep deprived anyway so that's probably why I get it that way. I've ahd nothing else though, and in turn have lost my phobias, and the multiple panic atatcks I ahd every day.

Dh's needs were different and i don;t think he takes enough but it saved out marriage certainly, he gets stomach issues that eman he ash toa void coffee and spicy foods but that's it.

We both take 20mg though Psych has a note on my file saying it can be upped to 40 if needed

[hurricanewyn]

I've been on it for almost a year. A bit yawny at first (and sweaty )

It's made a huge difference though. I'm me again

[Anniecel]

Thanks all it all seems encouraging so far, my DH is also on AD's now can't help thinking if he had got the help he needed sooner we might not have seperated!!
So second day on Citralopram and am feeling really sleepy and a little nauseous and woozy, came home from dropping DC at school this morning and fell asleep on the sofa for over an hour!! Had a restless night last night although I went to bed early and was asleep by about 10.30 I was tossing and turning all night and kept waking up but I'm guessing all that will settle in time .