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Original poster

Citalopram 40mg Long term side effects?

180 replies

Sparklingbrook · 08/01/2012 09:12

Started on 20mg in July 2011, 30mg in September moved to 40mg in November.

Had lots of side effects when I first started but I seem to have retained a few-

Constipation
Clenched jaw at night
Feeling very hot for about 2 hours after waking
Vivid, bizarre dreams (not nightmares-just odd)

Anyone else? or is it just me? I must say the benefits far outweigh any of them.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sparklingbrook · 15/01/2012 14:45

Hello and welcome Patches. It sounds like you need to see another GP possibly? I have not shed a single tear since July because as you do I feel like I can't. Nothing happens. I don't think it's a good indication of how you are doing.

Maybe a change of meds altogether? Are you having any counselling?

I think the problem with other people is that when you are stood there with smile on, wearing make up and doing school stuff they think everything is ok. Depressed people should be in a big heap crying and unable to get out of bed shouldn't they? It's hard for people to understand definitely.

OP posts:
spanky2 · 16/01/2012 16:35

Alot of the time when I was depressed I was emotionally numb. Patches your doctor was rude and unprofessional. If I was you I would complain to the surgery manager. You can't possibly think of dieting until you are mentally well.
I am sad today as a so-called friend of mine has upset me. Years ago when we were all on a committee together, one of the women there was excessively rude to me and it ended in a row. I left in tears and cried all the way home. My so-called friend was there so saw the attack came out of no-where. Anyway, on Saturday I said I was amazed how nice this woman's ds is as she is awful, and my so-called friend told me not to speak about her like that as she was a friend and very sweet. I know I'm holding a grudge, but I cannot believe her lack of loyalty. I would have stood up for her if the situation was reversed. When my so-called friend took an overdose I put her kids to bed, when her husband left her I dropped everything to be there for her, many times, I feel so disappointed at how she has behaved to me. I have deleted her from my phone. I feel so sad about it. It wasn't just that, she hangs around with people who take cocaine and sleeps around. Sad I have been working hard not to do the obsessive thinking of what I should have said. Please don't flame me and tell me to grow up!

dottyspotty2 · 16/01/2012 18:36

Had mine upped to 20mg today plus diazepam every other night she agreed the citalopram would not be helping my sleep offered me more sleeping pills at first but told her I wasn't safe with them.

spanky2 · 16/01/2012 19:13

I'm really glad you have increased your medication. Please remember it is a long journey. It is really positive and brave of you to go back to the doctors and get help. I think stay on the setee if that is where you are comfortable at night. Why not, who says you have to go to bed to sleep?! I go to sleep with the light and the t.v on, because I have problems with switching my internal monologue off. I think your honesty is going to be helpful to your recovery. My counsellor said that about me! It is so good to know there are others out there going through the same shit as me. I am having a low day today.

spanky2 · 16/01/2012 19:16

Sparklingbrook, I meant to say but got distracted, I take sudafed, the behind the counter when I have a cold, although I'm on venalfaxine, so I don't know if that's different, or okay! Hope you are feeling better.

DollyTwat · 16/01/2012 19:44

Just checking in
Glad to hear you've seen your dr dotty. Hope you soon start to feel better
Patches what you say rings a lot of bells with me. Single for 7 years now and my friends all think I'm strong, cope, etc. I find at the times I need help I tend to avoid people. They'd all think I am fine at the moment, which I am thanks to the ad's

Original poster
Sparklingbrook · 16/01/2012 21:18

Hi all. Still feeling a bit grotty. Actually felt a bit down today, but I think it's because of the cold and not being able to go for a walk and get on with stuff. I can take the Beechams though so that's good. Very tired though.

OP posts:
DollyTwat · 17/01/2012 23:57

Are you feeling any brighter sparkling?

Original poster
Sparklingbrook · 18/01/2012 07:16

Hi Dolly. I am just full of cold and sooo tired. Sad This thing that's going round seems to take ages to shake off. Sad

OP posts:
dottyspotty2 · 18/01/2012 12:13

My mood has lightened already just shouldn't need bloody drugs to do it, still not brilliant but it wont be until this sorry mess is over with. Had 4 hours unbroken sleep as well last night that was without the Diazepam must stay in system.

Original poster
Sparklingbrook · 18/01/2012 23:13

Hi all. Sorry to abandon my own thread. I hope everyone is reasonably ok. Smile

OP posts:
spanky2 · 19/01/2012 18:03

I have PMT so am fed up. DS2 opened the car door while I was driving along (he's 4 1/2.) He was sitting in the front because ds1 had a friend over and they were sitting in the back together. Ds2 said it was my fault because I hadn't put the child lock on. I had just told him to stop fiddling with the door. He then told ds1 and his friend he hated them, then last night he shouted kill, kill at ds1. He is being testing again... Dottyspotty2 if you had diabeties you wouldn't say I shouldn't need drugs. It's just the same, we have a chemical imbalance in our brains, not a personality defect. It is the depression that is making you feel this way, I did too. You are ill, not a defective person. I think we are braver than most people and work harder than most people. You should feel proud of yourself for being honest about your illness and doing something about it. I do. At the end of the day I think I made it! Sparklingbrook are you feeling better?

dottyspotty2 · 19/01/2012 18:14

Spanky the only reason I'm going through this is because what I was put through as a child by my so called brother its his fault

spanky2 · 19/01/2012 19:09

Poor you. I can't properly understand how you feel. I wonder how many others are like us because of trauma. My first boyfriend when I was 19 at his worst tried to suffocate me and raped me. As well as physical abuse he was very cruel and manipulative. A friend of mine who also has depression was beaten and thrown down the stairs. Maybe to get us through that we used up our seratonin. Here is a hug, as it is all I feel I can do. Apart from kick your brother.

spanky2 · 20/01/2012 20:41

Oh dear, did I kill the thread?

brooker9 · 20/01/2012 20:53

Hello all. Hope you are all doing ok. I had to go AWOL for a few days as been a bit under the weather. Feeling well again now, but had to miss the odd tablet as haven't been eating/had head down toilet so seemed pretty pointless taking them, so as a result feeling a bit crap moodwise. Have you recovered now sparklingbrook, hope so. How's everyone else doing?

spanky2 · 20/01/2012 21:16

Glad to know that you are still here. I'm fed up, not depression, just annoyed with the so-called friend... Feeling glad to be alive after finding out today that another Mum at ds2's school who is the Mum to a 6 year old and a baby has 6 months to live - secondary cancer everywhere. I feel terribly upset for this stranger and at the same time grateful for my lot. Brooker9, it will only take afew days for the tablets to get back in your system. I love an upset tummy for the weight loss! My diet has slipped - again. I have just eaten 3 biscuits. I comfort eat...

DollyTwat · 21/01/2012 00:25

I'm still here
In fact if I didn't have this thread in watch I'd forget to take my tablet

I've had a good day, even though I'm beyond tired now, as I met the parent co-ordinator from school to talk about ds1's behaviour. She was so lOvely and positive. Says she'll make a referral to cahhms for me, do a caf reprt. So feels like I'll get some support now. Wish I'd asked sooner.
I used to feel like I'd admitted defeat by asking for help but I don't anymore. I do need some support

brooker9 · 21/01/2012 12:21

Asking for help is such a difficult step to take, but there's always been a positive reply and I've felt better for doing so. I'm glad you're getting the support you deserve dollytwat.

I really hope the tablets get back into my system soon, I was just starting to feel better after upping the dose and now I feel back down again. Somehow the bad days now, can feel worse than the days before I started taking the medication. I'm not sure if I'm distorting it in my mind, but it certainly feels that way :( I've just been signed off work for another 2 weeks so at least I've got a bit of breathing space to get myself sorted. Just need to try and get myself out of the house a bit during that time.

brooker9 · 21/01/2012 12:27

And I also want to tell a couple of friends about what I'm going through at the moment instead of hiding away. I find it difficult though, as I feel ashamed and don't really understand why I'm suffering when there are so many people worse off than me. I'm also massively guilty about taking time off work and dreading having to go back and people asking what was wrong. Plus, I'm an emotional wreck and I'm crying just writing this, so I'd better buy a bumper pack of tissues if I'm actually going to go through with telling people face to face! Any tips for telling people? Or even tips on how to stop crying once you feel the tears coming?

dottyspotty2 · 21/01/2012 12:44

I've been on them for 8 weeks first 2-3 weeks was numb then couldn't stop crying had them upped on monday and feel numb again. TBF I am going through really heavy counselling sessions every fortnight have another one on friday not looking forward to it at all.

allnewtaketwo · 21/01/2012 20:46

Hi all, thanks to all who said hello!
Have now been on citalopram 20mg for about 6 weeks. Side effects now are limited to vivid dreams/nightmares and mild nausea.
I think they've starting to kick in, and on the whole I'm feeling more positive, I think. I'm terrified though of falling back in to negative thought patterns. I think I need to seek counselling now that I'm feeling more stable.

allnewtaketwo · 21/01/2012 20:47

For those of you who have started counselling - do you mind me asking what type?

spanky2 · 22/01/2012 19:09

I didn't know there was different types. You could try cognitive behaviour therapy. It worked very well for me and negative thought patterns. Although I did do two years of counselling before. Counselling is why are you like it, CBT is you are like it, it doesn't matter why, this is what you are going to do to stop it! I had a nice day at the seaside. Very windy. Had a sleep in the car on the way home!

dottyspotty2 · 22/01/2012 19:37

I think the type of counselling you receive depends on the reason we are feeling the way we do for me it is going to take a lot to get through this part of my life. As much as I would love a quick fix and many times I want it over with and never to go back to either Dr or counselling.