Anxiety Disorder - Prescribed Citalopram

[kat1885]

Hi there,

Just wondered if anyone had any advice out there. I have a wonderful husband and two DS - one is 4 and the other is 11 days old.

I have had a problem for a considerable length of time which has got worse throughout my pregnancy and after the birth of DS2 around germs (well, germs from ill people).

In brief I have severe anxiety around my family getting ill. I know it is totally irrational (and I also know that they will get ill) but I can't help with the "it will be the end of the world" thoughts. If anyone so much as mentions feeling sick I have a panic attack and I am very nervous over anyone touching DS2 in case they have anything (had a panic earlier because when we were out someone sneezed near him).

Today I thought enough is enough and went to see my GP (actually saw a locum but hey ho). I have been prescribed citalopram and am being referred for CBT.

After reading the side effects of the tablets I am quite worried about taking them incase they affect my ability to look after my wonderful boys. I am already going to have to stop expressing my BM for DS2 (currently mix feeding) as the medication transfers which makes me feel bad but what happens if I get the side effects and cannot look after them properly?

If anyone else out there is on this medication please let me know what I am in for.

I have a bit of a habit of getting prescribed meds, then reading the leaflet and not taking them please at least talk to your doctor or a pharmacist about your concerns. I wish now that I'd read this yesterday, so you could have called your gp without having to wait 2 days

Hi Kat, I think some people on the HUUUUGE "sertoline and other antidepressants" thread are also on Citalopram,, have a skim/search of that and you might get some info.

Regarding the breastfeeding, do you have access to Hales's book? It is THE resource on what medicine is proven to be safe/proven to be unsafe/inconclusive for breastfeeding. If you don't, someone else might be able to help (ask on the breast and bottlefeeding board, also someone on that other thread might be able to help): most medicine leaflets will say something about "don't take/consult your doctor before taking" while pregnant or breastfeeding, STRICTLY as an arse-covering exercise, and not because there's any evidence either way. Of course, if you've already looked it up/know it's not right, ignore me, and just find out what anti-anxiety meds ARE safe/safe-ish for breastfeeding- then tell your Dr off on monday for willfully prescribing you medicine that's innapropriate to your situation :)

Thanks for your reply. I have done a bit of research and it looks as if this is the pill with the least side effects which is shocking. Started taking them last night so haven't expressed since then, my boobs are so sore.

My dh wanted me to start taking them now as he is still on paternity until Tue so we have 3 days to monitor their effect on me side effect wise. So far just a bit of nausea and felt spaced out about 1hr after taking the pill but will be taking in the nights anyway. I will check out the other thread though as its sometimes easier to talk to people who know what ur going through.

Express a tiny bit, just enough to relieve the pressure, your boobs will thank you :) also cabbage leaves down the bra will help.

Hi Kat. I have taken citalapram in the past as it helped a great deal. I also used to look at the leaflets then never take them but some do say affect less than 1 in 1000000 and I think they have to list everything to be safe. The last time I took these I got to the point of my anxiety driving me to breaking point and couldn't stand feeling so low. I got the common side affects of dry mouth, mild headache for a about 2 days and upset tummy but nothing anywhere as bad as the anxiety I was feeling. The positive was my mood improved within 2 weeks and i felt great again (the real me)and I returned to work early.Now this is the wrong bit I did, I still had the tummy upset and because I felt better and desperately want to try for a baby I came off them after 6 weeks thinking I would now be ok but like the gp advised I could crash for not being on them long enough to work fully. I was ok for 6 weeks and then started getting anxious again about my feelings for my husband. I lost my mum last may and I feel numb and my worst fear is I will stop loving my husband and split up my family and lose all I have. I know I don't want this to happen but get panic attacks about me telling him to go and because I feel numb I can't feel the love for him I once did to know this is irrational. It got so bad this week I went back to the dr and called my consultant to ask of any tablets are ok to use while pregnant and she said Citalapram is ok. I'm on day 3 and only a low 10mg dose so not seeing any benefit as yet but I can't wait until they do kick in like before and I get to feel normal again, happy around my family, looking to the future and being positive and having a quiet peaceful mind! Ah bliss! I think only you can decide wether to take them and I hope if you do you will see the fantastic result and get to enjoy your little ones as much as possible. Sorry to ramble but I always remember a dr saying if you had a broken leg you'd take what I gave you to help but your not taking something that will mend your broken head. That put a different perspective on it for me and it was a great result which I hope to get again soon. Good luck!

Thanks for your reply. Have taken the pills for 2 days and want to stop as I am so spaced out on them I feel I can't look after my dss. Have text my mum who works for mind and she said she would talk to me tomorrow. My anxieties are all to do with germs but I also catastrphise (made up word) everything (when stopping for a red light I worry the car behind will go.into me etc). Cbt I know will work well for things like that so thinking I should just try that first. Just feel crappy.