What time of day works best for taking citalopram - have just started taking. Any other advice welcome thanks

[CrazyBabies]

Hi. Have just started taking citalopram, and was wondering what time of day best to take. Have taken it about 9 pm, and it hasn't really made me that sleepy, and I haven't settled brillliantly at night time. Woke up about 3ish! aswell. Have only taken it twice.
I thought it would make me really sleepy, but know it affects everyone differently.
Any advice or thoughts on how you felt during the first couple of weeks, and do the side effects fade once it has been taken for a while. Many thanks.

Hello. I am on Citalopram. My GP told me to take it in the morning as it will mess with sleep patterns. I now have it with breakfast and that works for me.

The side effects in the first few weeks can be hard going. Clenchy jaw,feeling very hot were my worst. I must say in the first few days my anxiety got worse.

But after a few works it 'kicked in'. The GP says it takes those weeks to get to the level required to help if that makes sense.

Good luck, it may get worse before it gets better but if you can stick it out you will reap the rewards if it works for you as it has done for me.

Sparklingbrook thanks for your useful words. Did you take it right from the start in the morning, and does it make you sleepy during the day. Has your heart been racing?

I started taking it in the evening, but changed to morning.

To start with i did feel sleepy in the day, my heart raced, felt very hot in the morning and also I had very vivid dreams. Not nightmares, but very real, like films.

I take 20mg every morning, about 7am when I get up

Oh wow, I literally just picked up my Citalopram this morning and came on here to find some relevant threads and saw this! Fate! First foray into ADs so I am really nervous.

I was thinking of taking my first 20mg around 8pm when the kids have gone to bed so I can just see what happens on, but would it be better to take it when I am going to bed?

Cannot, I stared at them for a long time believe me. I was nervous. But you have to be prepared to give it a chance and be prepared for it possibly getting worse before it gets better.

I am not sure about taking it in the evening, maybe after the children have gone to bed rather than just before you do though.

Good luck. x

Thanks sparkling, I was just thinking it might be best not to take them first thing in the morning in case it affects how I look after the kids? I could wait til Saturday when DP is around maybe. Hmm... Maybe I'll stare at them for a few days!

Thanks.

Another morning taker here. Been on them nearly 6 weeks and can't believe how different I feel. As others have said the first few weeks can be tough with side effects especially the tiredness

I took them in the morning but had horrible side effects (Only lasted for the first two weeks) and my doctor advised me to change to evenings to sleep through the effects - this worked better for me and helped make the side-effects more bearable. After 2 weeks the side effects disappeared but I was in a routine so stayed like that.

The side effects don't take effect for a few days so if you start on Saturday you probably won't have any effects until Mon/Tues

making I was thinking it might make sense to try and sleep through the side effects too. I am averaging three hours sleep a night currently so whilst I know a side effect at first can be trouble sleeping I'm not sure my sleep could get much worse!! Zero hours I suppose!

happy so glad to hear you are feeling better! There are so many threads listing side effects that it's good to hear a positive report. I am just hoping that my DP will understand if I have side effects for the first few weeks, he's not much in favour of me taking them at the moment.

I have just thought of something else. When I first started taking it I had zero appetite. Unfortunately as soon as I started feeling better I found the appetite again. I am now trying to lose a few lbs.

Also my GP said it may give me diarrhoea, but I got constipation.

Also interestingly, I have been unable to cry since taking them.

I have been on 20mg for a few months and they are fine after the first few weeks. I take mine when I go to bed. They made me really tired initially so if they affect you that way then evening might be best.

Haven't seen you for ages then two threads in a week.

I've been lurking round the blanket threads and doing my bit to contribute so not much posting from me lately but I am about!

Citalopram is best taken in the morning ( for it to be of most benefit)

just to reiterate to take in the morning. Also, it can tke a few weeks to "kick in" and often this iw when the the side effects disappear. Heart racing is common but if you are bothered by this id see your GP

I went through a host of side effects on taking Citalopram which died down after about 2 months.

Be aware that Citalopram is a mild antihistamine and so can cause drowsiness in some patients. It is recommended that if it acts as a sedative that the dose may be taken at bedtime rather than in the morning.

Here's a list of side effects, many of which I suffered, particularly nausea which caused weightloss as I didn't want to eat. Also clenching my jaw to the extent of getting face ache. I yawned ALOT and had vivid dreams and extreme fatigue.

Common side effects of citalopram include drowsiness, insomnia, nausea, weight changes, vivid dreaming, frequent urination, decreased sex drive, anorgasmia, dry mouth, increased sweating, trembling, diarrhea, excessive yawning, and fatigue.

Less common side effects include bruxism, vomiting, cardiac arrhythmia, blood pressure changes, dilated pupils, anxiety, mood swings, headache, and dizziness. Rare side effects include convulsions, hallucinations, and severe allergic reactions.

There are new studies which consider Citalopram ineffective for mild depression, shown by placebo trials. Severe depression is well suited to the drug however.

It's a mildly traumatic induction period taking Citalopram, but I did find it helped. However I became slow, disinterested without worry, unexcited by anything, content to let the world go by. After 4 years I am now 3 stone heavier. The contentment with life is now juxtaposed with depression with my weight! So I'm dropping from 20mg to 10mg and working my way through the haze to do more exercise.

Good luck !

I take 40 mg at evening meal time, that's what GP advised me 12 month ago.works for me and have not experienced any side effects. Best of luck