Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be worried about Citalopram?

17 replies

tripletrouble · 01/07/2012 23:19

I have been happily taking Citalopram for about 8 months (20mg dose)- and then this morning read in the papers that it can cause heart disease- and now I am even more anxious than I was before!

OP posts:
squeakytoy · 01/07/2012 23:36

Untreated stress and anxiety can also cause heart disease, but if you are worried, check with your GP.

I couldnt get on with citalopram, it made me feel worse, but when I was prescribed propranolol I was much much better and the anxiety attacks and panic attacks were finally under control.

clemetteattlee · 01/07/2012 23:39

Does it help you? Is your life made better by it? Keep reminding yourself of the answers to those.

Unfortunately a fair few drugs have been linked to heart disease including ibuprofen and steroids. Talk to your GP but following the principle of as low a dose as necessary to control your symptoms is a good way forward?

kotinka · 01/07/2012 23:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

gingerchick · 01/07/2012 23:49

All drugs have side effects sweetheart, if you are getting on with it as an AD and it is a good one then try not to worry. Definitely don't stop taking it and talk to the doctor about your worries next time you're in. Newspaper articles are often wildly exaggerating and the doctor will have weighed the risks when giving it to you take care

MorrisZapp · 01/07/2012 23:51

All drugs have possible side effects.

Your GP will have weighed up risks and benefits before prescribing. You must stay on the meds, and speak to your GP about any concerns.

Above all, please don't panic!

missingmumxox · 02/07/2012 00:00

yabu all drug have side effects, ffs don't stop taking, this is a drug which needs weening. I have taken it, talk to your GP,

puds11 · 02/07/2012 00:23

Wow missing no need to be a twat! OP states she has anxiety, so she is obviously going to be worried by this.

NoGoodNamesLeft · 02/07/2012 00:33

Another one saying talk to your GP but don't stop taking them without advice -sudden withdrawal can cause definite problems as opposed to continuing taking them and having a slight possibility of heart disease.

The medication I have to take has a horrendous list of side-effects and funnily enough, I started 'noticing' them once I'd read the list. When I forgot about them, they disappeared. The mind can play funny tricks. Hmm

Original poster
tripletrouble · 02/07/2012 10:07

Thank you for all the reassurance! I have made an appointment with the GP - dont really know what to do because my life has been transformed by taking it- can talk to people without bursting into tears, have stopped thinking everything that goes wrong is my fault,etc- but know that the first thing is to chat to the GP.

OP posts:
WhiteWidow · 02/07/2012 10:20

Triple dont worry about it. Every drug you take will have side effects, if you worried about every single one then we'd all be very poorly people! One of the POSSIBLE side effects if citalopram is, wait for it... Depression! Hmm

If they're making to feel better then please take them. I was on them for four years. Hopefully your GP will put your mind at rest.

I'm currently taking feminax and heart failure is in its 'EXTREMELY RARE' side effects, it just shows they have to put these things in legally.

gamerwidow · 02/07/2012 10:26

OP please don't worry about this 20mg is a very low dosage (prescribed dosage can be up to 120mg).
If you are concerned go and see your GP to put your mind at rest but you won't do yourself any damage by continuing taking them in the intervening time.

gamerwidow · 02/07/2012 10:39

Just did a quick search and the risk is for patients on doses greater than 40mg/day or those who have certain risk factors so no need for you to worry.

Couldn't find the UK warning but heres the ink to the
Australian one and a US new link.

FrothyOM · 02/07/2012 10:51

Speak to your doctor - don't withdraw suddelny without medical advice as it can make your symptoms worse. Your GP will probably wean you off slowly if you decide to switch.

I agree with those saying newspapers scaremonger. It's probably a tiny increased risk.

ratspeaker · 02/07/2012 11:42

Please dont get worked up about a newspaper scaremonger story.
If you look at the links gamerwidow has posted the US report there was from August last year, over 10 months ago, so its not a new finding.
The report there says "changes leading to" not causing.

It also mentions a study of 119 taking a doseage three times as high as the one you are taking. Statistically that is a very small study group.

Your GP has you on 20mg which is well within recommendations. You say it has made you cope better. Keep this in mind when you discuss it with your GP

FrothyOM · 02/07/2012 18:11

www.nhs.uk/news/2012/07July/Pages/antidepressant-citalopram-qt-heart-rhythm-safety-warning.aspx

Just saw this on twitter. Thought it might be useful to you, OP

fridgepants · 02/07/2012 19:06

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the user's request.

Hebiegebies · 02/07/2012 19:17

Interesting that this has come to light now. The have been various threads about GPs asking MNers to reduce their dose is they are in a high dose.

The article is great, thanks for the link. Basically if you don't have a history of heart problems and you are on 20mg only you are OK

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread