Citalopram and appetite

[FragglerockAmpersand]

what ho!

Is anyone on low dose (10mg) Citalopram and finding they can't eat very much?

I'm on my 5th week, and feel wonderful, mentally - and I feel OK physically, aside from some light-headed spells in the early days - but I really cannot eat very much, which is a bizarre sensation for a noted trencherwoman such as myself

For example - today I had porridge and 1/2 a banana at breakfast, and at early lunch (12.30) had some good brown bread and cheese and some dates, and ever since have had felt as if I've eaten at least an entire Christmas dinner with seconds. Trust me, that lunch would not have had this effect 2 months ago.

I've got rotten indigestion and am swearing never to eat again. Anyone else?

[AwkwardSquad]

Hello, Fraggle, revolting young blot

Citalopram killed my appetite stone dead for a good few weeks. It has now gone the other way - I'm getting really hungry and my 'I'm full' switch seems to be going on the fritz.

I also have acid reflux so it can be hard to sort out what condition is causing which response, iyswim.

[JellyBabiesSaveLives]

I am on week 4 at 20mg. Breakfast and lunch are normalise but by the evening I just cannot be bothered to eat. I look at the lovely food and feel like it's just not worth the effort of lifting the fork!

It's a little strange.

[JellyBabiesSaveLives]

Normal-ish not normalise

[littleballerina]

I had to stop taking it because of this. I have poor appetite anyway and it went to non existent.

Now hoping sertraline may help.

[Athrawes]

I wish! I am on 40mg a day and eat like a sugar fueled horse!

[littleballerina]

Oh good!

[hazeyjane]

I find the opposite - I seem to have lost my off switch for eating, and could graze all day. I have put on a ton of weight since starting, and have only been on 10mg a day, have just gone up to 20mg a day, and am desperate to lose some weight.

[FragglerockAmpersand]

Awkward that is my favourite ever greeting on MN, and now I'm racking my brains to work out if I know you

Thanks for this everyone. I am quite overweight so not at all perturbed - delighted would be a better word for it! - but will need to keep an eye on my appetite in case it changes and I end up lying face-down in carrot cake, as in days of yore

On Sunday I did manage to force down some bread and cheese (can you tell I've not done any grocery shopping for ages?) about 8 hours after lunch, but only really because it was 'there' - if I'd had to cook or shop I wouldn't have bothered.

Hmph. All very interesting.

Does anyone get broken nights on citalopram, worse than when suffering the depression? Before taking ADs I was waking with night sweats, panic attacks and frantic, manic episodes in the night. I'm still waking up quite frequently, only this time mildly worried and wondering if I should have a cuppa.

Brains, huh? Crazy things. Literally.

[FragglerockAmpersand]

Sorry, I mean 'but NOT worse than when suffering depression...'

[AwkwardSquad]

I would make a wonderful Aunt Dahlia

[AwkwardSquad]

And yes re the night waking. I'm knackered but it's better than waking with the panic attacks. That was shite.

[FragglerockAmpersand]

You would!

I asked someone about the night waking and they v. reasonably pointed out that so long as I don't have to drive a train at 6am or something (clue: I don't) there's nowt wrong with just pottering about for a bit until sleep returns. Which was kind of helpful - I mean, I'm AWAKE, that's all. It's not the end of the world. . .

[MadameLeBean]

Hmm when I was on it I was always hungry and put on 20 lbs!

[way2serious]

I have been on 10mg for nearly four weeks. I was barely eating before I started on citalopram and had lost quite a bit of weight as a result of my anxiety. I am eating a little better now but don't want to put a lot of weight back on and so am being quite careful. I could easily be eating all the time now. I am sleeping much better now which is great!

[FragglerockAmpersand]

This is all so interesting.

I wonder if it's about balancing out disordered eating? When I'm depressed I over-eat, and so now I am coping much better I don't feel that urge so much.

Whereas perhaps those who have little appetite when anxious and depressed feel levelled out and can eat more?

No idea though! Just so, so grateful to be well again. That's the main thing. Glad you're sleeping better Way2!

[MadameLeBean]

I agree as when anxious I can hardly eat at all. I will say though that the citalopram although making me more relaxed and so more able to eat also got rid of any natural appetite regulation.. Now I am off it AND not stressed I eat more "normally" - not hungry all the time. When I was on it I literally could eat non stop

[Bookworm13]

I have been taking Cit for 9 days now for anxiety/depression and just wondered how other people found it and when it seemed to start working for you? My appetite hasn't returned yet but I am making myself eat as my stomach is grumbling! I think it is calming me down a bit in the morning (placebo?) but keen to find out how others find it. Thanks.