Citalopram side effects and breastfeeding

[DrinkFeckArseGirls]

This is my 10th day on a low dose (10mg) of Citalopram. I was quite chuffed with myself all last week that I didn't suffer form any major side effects, just a bit of mouth dryness and a little bit tired half way through the day.

Today I'm feeling physically much worse. I was so tired I spent a good couple of hours in bed during the day (not ideal with a lively toddler) and was asleep for half an hour when she was too. Knackered for the rest of the day. Now feeling a bit giddy, my jaw is very tense, mouth dryness is just awful and I'm feeling a bit nauseous. Is it common that the side effects kick in a while after the Citalopram is started to be taken? I assumed that if at all I would get them straight away, as the body would react to a new substance. My doctor told that it would take a week for the med to start working and I'm wondering whether that means that the side effects are to be expected around the same time.

Also I mentioned to my GP twice that I am still breastfeeding and she said said OK. But now I'm looking online and almost everywhere it says that Citalopram is not that great for breastfeeding and that sertraline (sp!) is much better. So now I'm a bit anxious about that too. What are your experiences of Citalopram and breastfeeing?

It could be that the drug has now built up to a level where it is having some sort of noticable effect. Ten mg is a very low dose, so could take a while to build up.
If you are worried go and talk to your GP.

I went and asked for help about nine days in because I was suffering the worst anxiety I had ever had. All they said was "keep on taking it", which I did and the anxiety tailed off over the next week or two.

I breastfed DS on 10mg of Citalopram, he's two and a half now and completely fine and gorgeous. I did it to avoid the crushing PND I had after DC1, where it took me 2 years to get a GP to listen to me.

I was also breast feeding at one point whilst on Citalopram, but my DS was over twelve months at that point and only feeding two to three times daily. When six weeks post-natal I was put on seroxat 'because it was suitable for breast feeding'. A couple of googles later and I had found it was not advised, but I kept on regardless.
The advice against taking it is mostly down to not being able to do studies and therefore get empirical evidence of what the effects might be.

thank you for your replies.
frida I'm not worried as yet but I do feel shit and I wouldn't like it to progress as it's only me to take care of DD.

fanjover that's awful. why did it take so long?! I go to different GPs for different issues, so I asked a receptionist who is nice and sympathetic (and more likely to listen) and I went to her with my issues. For my wrist I go to a different GP whose bed side manner is less pleasing but he gets the job done.

Hope you're feeling okay drinkfeck (great name!)

It was nearly 10 years ago and when I had my 6 week review with a locum I explained that I couldn't stop crying and he said wearily "That's just what it feels like to be a parent." So as a first-time mum who had just moved to a new town and had no friends nearby (nor family but they are all chocolate teapots ;) ) it took me a long time to get the courage up to go again. I started a course of Prozac about a fortnight before DC1 turned 2 and I remember playing with her at the swings on her birthday and thinking, "This is the first time I have enjoyed myself for 2 years!"

I was so pleased that I took it as soon as I had early warning signs second time around, saved a lot of heartache and stress. Was easy to come off again, too, 10mg is such a tiny dose. Good luck!