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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Citalopram?

72 replies

MrsFoxPlus4 · 15/05/2019 11:52

Didn’t know where else to ask. Iv been prescribed this this morning. Suffered with my mental health since I was 14 now 27. Tried a few things over the past 2/3 years and nothing has made much if any of a difference. I was discharged from my CPN because she didn’t think she could help me and my issues weren’t her speciality. I know they work differently on everyone but I thought I’d ask here how people find them? Maybe I’ll get some hope. I usually ask on a social media group I’m part of but things are that bad Iv deleted all of it.

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Original poster
MrsFoxPlus4 · 15/05/2019 12:19

BettysLeftTentacle Thanks. But they’ve literally been weaning me on and off the above for true past 2 and a half years anyways!

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hellsbellsmelons · 15/05/2019 12:29

It's really helping me as well.
I'm not on the verge of tears all the time and I feel much happier in myself.
I've not suffered any side-effects so far.

U2HasTheEdge · 15/05/2019 12:37

They didn't do much for me.

Recently switched to Sertraline and that works much better.

Prozac saved my life when I was in my 20s. It stopped working for me after being on it for many years though.

Citalopram works really well for a lot of people I know, but they aren't for me. Hopefully they will work for you OP, and if they don't you can experiment with others. Thanks

U2HasTheEdge · 15/05/2019 12:39

Sorry OP I didn't see you had tried other meds before.

SospanFrangipan · 15/05/2019 12:40

I've been on them since July last year, and they've literally given me my life back. I'm no longer consumed with anxiety and depression on a daily basis. Sometimes get a feeling of anxiety but I take a beta blocker and that goes, very rarely happens though.
I hope they work for you x

KM99 · 15/05/2019 12:41

I was diagnosed with mild anxiety and moderate depression in January. After a couple of months off work, see a clinical psychologist and meditation I agree with my GP to go on these to help deal with issues around sleep hampering my recovery.

Started first month on 10mg. Rough the first few days with worse anxiety but then levelled out. Helped a little. Upped to 20mg and made a big difference. Feel much more balanced and resilient.

But for me it's been multi treatment of therapy, exercise and medication. We've also discussed how and when I may come off them 6 months down the line.

As with most antidepressants, you may feel worse the first week or so. It's not a miracle cure and it may take trial and error to get the right dosage, but keep talking to your GP about it.

GoodPlaceJanet · 15/05/2019 12:42

I had this for post natal anxiety and it worked wonderfully. I did have a lot of side effects though, jaw clenching, physical numbness. You need to wean off it slowly too.

Beetlebum1981 · 15/05/2019 12:43

I've been on these for years and they work really well for me. I tried Sertraline and that was horrendous.

KM99 · 15/05/2019 12:44

Meant to add intial side effects for me were nausea and insomnia but that settled down after a couple of weeks.

MadamMMA · 15/05/2019 12:45

It gave me my life back, I don't get on well with any more or less than 20mg of it personally

Original poster
MrsFoxPlus4 · 15/05/2019 12:49

It’s 10mg for 4/6 weeks then I can either have a telephone review or go and see him. I’m absolutely petrified of the GP. I feel like nobody believes me it’s so debilitating

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ladymarian · 15/05/2019 12:50

I hated citalopram. Took it in various doses for around 2 years for PND and anxiety. Got rid of the anxiety by making me completely numb and zombie like. My sister noticed it and was concerned by how much my personality seemed to have changed. Horrible side effects too - excessive sweating, nausea at certain times if the say and just feeling fuzzy and dull. I was desparate to come off them and did it the way my Dr advised (slowly) but this sent me in to a sort of breakdown. I will never use ADs again. Even my psychiatrist said he'd be reluctant to prescribe them to me again.

Original poster
MrsFoxPlus4 · 15/05/2019 12:54

ladymarian I’m sorry that happened to you. I’m struggling to get help from anyone other than my GP and he’s been very dismissive in the past as was the CPN so it fills me with so much fear Sad

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Rachie1973 · 15/05/2019 12:59

I love my 20mg dose. I have to take mine at night instead of mornings as it can make me a little sleepy.

I just ‘cope’ better with the anxiety on it. Can take up to a month to work properly and my first 2 weeks were horrible but totally worth persevering.

MaryBoBary · 15/05/2019 13:01

I was on citalopram for 2 years. I felt really out of it and dizzy for a couple of weeks, and it was very gradual that I saw myself improving. In fact it was more that after a few months I realised I hadn't been crying as much, rather than feeling better if that makes any sense. I weaned off it but the side effects were still awful. Now I'm on Fluoxetine and I've had no side effects and feel significantly happier after just 2 weeks, on half the dose that I was on of citalopram.

ladymarian · 15/05/2019 13:02

Yes OP I'm sorry you're not getting the help you need. My GP is lovely but she's a big fan of ADs and when I say I don't want them there's not much else she can offer. I hope they work for you x

hellsbellsmelons · 15/05/2019 13:05

They do start with a low dose and increase if needed.
I'm on 30mg now but they started me 20mg.
I've haven't taken anything before. Never been depressed before.
I really wasn't that bad, just lots of awful life things meant my brain couldn't cope with it all.
Do you have a Healthy Minds in your area?
Give them a call if you do.

motortroll · 15/05/2019 13:10

I've used them long term for several years. They made me queasy to start so now I always take them at night.

Sparklesocks · 15/05/2019 13:11

It really helps my DP

Original poster
MrsFoxPlus4 · 15/05/2019 13:12

hellsbellsmelons I live very rural and there is zero help. I’m working with what’s available to me. Given I’m petrified of strangers it’s extremely difficult

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hellsbellsmelons · 15/05/2019 14:55

See which one is closest to you?
They do phone consultations and phone therapy so you don't have to see anyone.
Worth an ask anyway?
I'm rural but I work close-ish to my local one.

Piffle11 · 15/05/2019 15:05

I have taken Citalopram in the past: once for about a year and a half, and the other time for about a year. I really liked it as it made me feel like a chilled version of myself (I suffer from anxiety pretty much all the time, to varying degrees) without major side effects. I wasn't on a high dose, and came off it very slowly under Dr's surveillance.

Original poster
MrsFoxPlus4 · 15/05/2019 15:34

hellsbellsmelons like I said I’m working with what’s available to me. That’s my GP and was the CPN who discharged me.

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LakieLady · 15/05/2019 15:51

Citalopram saved my life. I never would have survived the last 5 years of my abusive marriage without it.

I found it much more effective than fluoxetine, seroxat or sertraline. I've been taking it for nearly 11 years, but am gradually reducing. I was on 40mg for a long time and I'm down to 10mg every other day now.

Original poster
MrsFoxPlus4 · 15/05/2019 16:19

Well I took my first tablet at about half 1 then ran a bath, the doctor said to take it once I’d picked it up then figure out what works for me. Said people usually take it in the morning because of the awaking effect but said on my record I tried these when I was 20 and they made me drowsy. So I’ll see how it goes.

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