citalopram

[soontobemrs]

Hi, I take 5mgs of citalopram every other day I am wanting to get pregnant for the 2nd time, the thought. Of being on AD whilst pregnant scares me and I really want to stop this drug. Thing is I feel bloody amazing on cit, I have a appt with the fertility clinic and I don't know what they'll say bout me being on ADs. Will sjw benefit me? I know I'm on such a low dose but if I stopped it I'd feel like shite.

I'm frankly amazed that you feel good on any AD that you take any other day plus 5mg is deemed subtherapeutical anyway so I wonder if there is some placebo effect going on. I think you can safely reduce this amount further and stop.

I am a big fan of SJW but I would not recommend it if you want to get pregnant. It has been reasonably well tested, better than most natural supplements, because it is actually prescribed by GPs in some countries but still it hasn't had the full drug trials that citalopram has had. And it comes as not recommended in pregnancy.

Thanks for replying, I know I can't believe I'm feeling OK on such a low dose either, trust me if I stop it I get awful!! What do u mean by placebo effect?

Ps I'm hoping to get Metformin again as I have pcos! Will ADSs affect this

What I mean is that you may feel better because you are taking it, whether or not it has a clinical effect on your body (So it may be the thought of taking it). I'm thinking this because whereas GPs are keen on the idea of taking citalopram every other day (particularly when weaning off) everyone I know who's tried it (including my dh) feels really weird doing that. DH was constantly light headed and dizzy until I got him a cheap pill cutter and he started taking half a tablet a day. Then he stabilised.

Normally my response to it being 'placebo' would be sod it who cares, it works, but with you wanting to get pregnant the stakes are a bit different.

I had a look for metformin and ADs and it seems there are serious pros and serious cons so that's one for you and your doctor to decide!

Hi - for some people the low doses work very well. (doseage guidance has always been a bit hit and miss).
Citalopram also has a slightly longer half life than some other ssris (no where near as long as prozac which has the longest but longer than something like seroxat.) Half life is basically the amount of time it takes to leave your body. This is probably why you have been ok taking a small dose every other day without getting 'withdrawal' symptoms.
Even at small doses people can have problems stopping so i would talk to your gp about that and also the pros and cons of staying on it at the same as TTC.