Questions about citalopram

[OberonTheHopeful]

Has anyone any experience of this?

I've suffered a serious depressive relapse in recent weeks that's affecting everything and the doc is pushing citalopram quite hard at me. I've never taken AD's before and have always been nervous about doing so.

Has anyone any ideas of the potential side-effects. I've read the data sheet and it doesn't look promising :(

[brooker9]

After the awful 1st night on citalopram, things seem to have settled down now. 5 days in still feeling a bit sick and headachey, but fine to go to work etc. So stick with it!

[fridakahlo]

Two weeks is the longest I've found disruptive side effects go on for, havving now tried four different anti-depressants. Citalopram was really effective the first time I took it and like you Oberon, it was to help deal with intense issues from the past.
Good luck everyone!

[brooker9]

I've finally admitted I've a problem with depression and went to doctors yesterday, got prescribed citalopram and referred for councilling (2-3week wait for that though). Took 1st one last night and had quite a scary night - couldn't sleep (usually sleep like a log), feeling sick, got up and fainted, took ages to come back round, when I did I was bathed in sweat and boiling up. I've taken day off work today as I feel a bit odd and still a bit sick/dizzy. I'm intending to carry on with them (spoke to dr this morning), did anyone have these problems - and how long should it take for the side effects to be more bearable. I feel ok today - mainly very pleased with myself for having been to dr - now just got to consider how/whether to tell work/family/friends.

[OberonTheHopeful]

Thanks, I know I'm probably going to have to try something. The doc mentioned CBT, but I probably won't be able to do that alongside the counselling I'm already having and I don't really want to give it up. He also said that I may well still need AD's anyway.

Part of the problem is that I'd reached a stage where I was starting to discuss some things that happened a very long time ago and I hadn't given much headspace to in years, and some recent events have interrupted that. So it's left me with a lot of very difficult feelings and regular flashbacks, so staying with the counselling is a bit of a must really.

I'm worried about some of the initial side effects, especially as I can't really take much time off work at the moment, but hopefully they would be manageable. I've been reading about the sexual dysfunction one and apparently it can persist for some time even following withdrawal, not at all happy about that.

I'll have to give this some serious thought, I feel like I'm in a real bind :(.

[sharond101]

Citalopram is used as on of the first choice antidepressants because it is relatively well tolerated. Most commonly you are started on a low dose and this is increased after a couple of weeks which minimises any side effects you will have. Some people find they get tummy effects like nausea or diarrhoea. Others find themselves tired whereas others feel a bit more agitated so sleep less. These side effects will not be experienced by everyone and may appear at a different severity in different people. They tend to wear off within a couple of weeks when improvements begin to be noticed such as improved sleep patterns. After four weeks improvement in mood can be evident although continued use for at least six months is required for full and lasting benefit. A more longer lasting side effect which is often experienced for the duration of treatment and for a short time afterwards is sexual dysfunction. Caution must be taken when using citalopram alongside other medications as interactions causing more serious side effects can then be a problem, especially when used with other medications affecting the serotonin system in the body (e.g other antidepressants and some antipsychotics).
Although the information leaflet is a scary read it has to be considered that every effect experienced by anyone participating in clinical trials with this medicine has to be noted and that not all of these can be attributable to the citalopram. It is humorous to think that the information leaflet for paracetamol lists "headache" as a side effect despite this being the most common indication for its use. Use of citalopram must therefore be determined on a risk verses benefit premise whereby a "major depressive episode affecting everything" poses a significant risk in itself to ones wellbeing, relationships, career and daily functioning. If your Dr is pushing this then maybe you really do need something to help you recover? If you were to experience intolerable side effects it doesn't take long to clear from your system.

[rumpleteaser]

Some people have tiredness and take the pills in the evening but I personally don't and I feel best taking mine in the morning.
Been on them now for 9 yrs and 30mg is best for me.

I never had weightloss as a side effect !

[fridakahlo]

If you started them on a weekend, as long as you didn't end up feeling drunk like Body of Eyore, then you'd have a couple of days to get over the worst of it. I found with the anxiety even though I felt really tense all the time, I could cope with it because I knew it was a side effect. Oh and forgot to mention I had diffuculty peeing sometimes for the first month or two! But I already have issues around that anyway.

[OberonTheHopeful]

Thanks everyone, it looks like citalopram works well. I'm a bit worried about the initial side effects though as it will make work difficult.

I had been making good progress since last year, but had a setback recently and now my scores are way, way up. I don't think I've ever felt this bad before and getting through the days is really hard so I have to do something.

I've agreed to go back in a few days so I've got time to think about it.

[TheOriginalNutcracker]

Oh i sweat more now too, but i think that is starting to wear off.

I have been taking mine since early December 2010

[TheMonster]

I've been on citalopram for several years now. I started on 20mg, went up to 40 and then 60mg. I have now been down to 20mg for 18 months.
The side effects were a bit alarming at first. I felt drunk for the first three weeks (which I quite enjoyed!), but I sweated a lot for months and ground my teeth for over a year.
All of these have now passes and I would say it really has been worth it.
Previously I had tried fluoxetine (Prozac) but that was not me for me at all as it turned me into a zombie.
Good luck.

[TheOriginalNutcracker]

I am on citalopram. I started off on 10mg, and then 20 and finally settled on 30mg.

My side effects were yawing alot and clenching my jaw after each yawn, and trouble sleeping. These wore off after about 2 weeks though.

In my case the benefits certainly outweighed any side effects.

I wish i'd had weight loss as a side effect though lol.

[OnlyWantsOne]

I took them for a while. I don't remember side effects. Apart from no longer comfort eating and promptly lost 2 stone. I was on 50mg

[fridakahlo]

You will probably get side effects for the first couple of weeks. I spent the first two to three days on 20mgs feeling, for want of a better word, stoned. After that passed I spent a week or two in a really high level of anxiety but when that passed I found a large improvement in how I was feeling overall. I resisted taking anti-ds for years but I am really glad I did start taking them, they just make everything slightly easier to deal with.