To not know if dd should take antidepressants or not?

[VincentVaguer]

She's been prescribed 10mg citalopram but is hesitant to take them. She's very low with bad anxiety. She keeps asking me if she should take them and I don't know what to say other than it's her decision and if the gp prescribed them then she should take that seriously. I've talked to her endlessly about all her worries, bought lots of supplements etc but I'm nervous to say yes you should or no you shouldn't which is what she wants me to say. She's 20.

I take a low dose of this drug and it has been a total game changer. I am able to enjoy life and am much less anxious (the anxiety gives me horrible physical symtoms). Also am a more kind and patient mum on it. I have come off it a few times but the anxiety returns so I'm staying on it for the time being. Life is so short - honestly why be miserable if you don't have to be!

I didn't put on weight btw

I started 20mg on Sunday and this week has been hard, so just maybe make sure she has time to be able to be at home for a few days if she needs to. I couldn't have even begun to think about leaving the house on Tuesday.

If it helps, I sat on it over a week wondering what I should do. In the end I googled Citolpram and ended up coming across a mumsnet chat on it, loads of ladies saying it was rough up front but had changed their lives, I read enough to really fill me with confidence that it was the right decision for me. So I then googled Mumsnet Citolpram and found more support and... Well, here I am a week later, 6 days on Citalopram and 6 days on Mumsnet!

I've shared this before on here, but my Dr uses a great analogy, and it might help your DD: imagine trying to climb over a wall. You can get your nose over but can't heave yourself up. Then someone comes along and puts a shoulder under your bum and gives you a boost. Then you can scrabble over on your own. That's citalopram

Been on many antidepressants since I was 14 and citalopram is by far the most "gentle" one I've had.

I was on 20mg for years then up to 40mg and now I'm down to 30mg, it has changed my life.

DC (18) started 10mg two and a bit weeks ago. As far as we can tell there hasn’t been too many side effects so far. What has been noticeable is we’re getting DC back. They are much chattier, happier and engaged with life in general. It’s a relatively low dose but seems to have really helped them; although they aren’t so sure they feel tangibly “better” from where we are sitting it’s clearly having a positive effect.

I would say to go for it-they have saved my life and I wish I had done it when I was younger. Just be prepared to support her through the first 2 weeks or so when she may feel worse to begin with-I did and my anxiety got worse, along with other weird side effects but they went and I began to feel like a human being again!

Anxiety and eating disorders go hand in hand. Often eating disorders are a form of ‘self medication’, for anxiety, trauma, etc.

She needs some form of talk therapy in addition to the medication.

Same. My friend was suicidal with awful OCD. Saved her life.

@mamabear715

Because she has anxiety therefore is anxious about the tablets and side effects.

I used to take Citalopram (40mg). Never put weight on with it, and didn't have any problems coming off them either. First couple of weeks the side effects aren't great, though at 10mg they'll be mild, but after that it was all good.

Yes this, she's not thinking straight and would like me to help her to make a decision. This thread has been really helpful. Thanks.