Just started on Citalopram

[Nanabana]

Have read old threads about side affects and quite worrying, but will give it a go. Hope it kicks in soon

Good luck tomorrow colouringin. I'm back at docs tomorrow too. I was Wondering if I should say I want to try different tablets or push on with these ones.
I've been feeling rotten since I started them the anxiety and the sickness but if I take it at night (as I did today) I don't sleep. I don't know whether to persevere or try something else.
It's either can't stay awake or can't sleep Never a happy medium.

How long have you been on them now Geek?

I personally think it's always worth persevering til you get to about the 2 month mark. The symptoms almost always settle down after a month or so.

I REALLY need to stop being half asleep though. I have 8000 words to write in 5 weeks, plus I need to apply for jobs. I have done NOTHING since I started on these tablets.

I've only been on them 2 weeks. I'm on my own with 3 dc and if I take them in the day I'm struggling to function with a crippling headache, anxiety and nausea. If I take them at night I don't sleep. I am not sure I can do it for a couple of months like this.

Geek it's so hard, isn't it? I've no children and I'm at university at the moment and it's been hard enough for me to cope.

Your doctor might be able to give you something for the nausea, I used to take stuff when I was really queasy with anxiety. Maybe they'd give you sleeping tablets too? Mine used to be really generous with zopiclone which knock me out, but alas my new doctor won't prescribe them.

The dr has changed me to sertraline. It will supposedly help with the anxiety as well.
The pharmacist was very positive about these ones being much better re side effects.
Dr said I have the choice to continue on the citalopram and persevere or try these new ones.
I'm a bit torn really. I feel that despite the side effects I have been starting to feel a bit of benefit from them but can't continue the way I have been for past fortnight.

I definitely had bad side effects on the sertraline, Geek. As far as I remember, worse than citalopram (although it's been years since I tried that).

However, my sleep has been fine on it.

That just makes me more confused. I really don't know what to do.

I know, it is so confusing. I wish I had some advice for you.

Hi citalobrain, MT. Geeklover my OH has had Sertraline and had no side effects whatsoever. Plus they were very effective for his depression and anxiety. I'm glad the GP listened and offered you those, in my (limited experience) they do tend to start people off on something like cital/fluox and then switch to sertraline if its not entirely effective. My fluox side effects calmed right down after 12 days so its worth considering swapping if you're still really suffering on the cital. I do feel for you with the 3DC - that's really hard. I had a good chat with GP this morning, we talked through the last few days, and agreed that I would up the Fluox from 10mg to 20mg gradually over the next week. If that sorts the anxiety then fine, if not she'll switch me. She also said feel free to ring again which was nice. I've had my dad over to help with the DC today and it has actually been a nice day. Wobbly this morning but improving during the day. Am thinking (hoping) Sat morning was a bad blip in reaction to a stressful Sat, so am taking up all offers of help this week to try and stay as calm and unstressed as poss! take care everyone x

Glad you're feeling a bit better ColouringIn.

I am really really struggling to eat well. Luckily I am a student atm, so I can go for lunch in the cafeteria, but other than that it is crisps, chocolate, biscuits. The thought of preparing anything is daunting for some reason and I can never think of anything I even want to eat and my appetite is still gone.

Maybe I just need to buy some healthy snacks. My skin is really suffering and I'm sure all the junk is not helping my mental state.

Thanks MT sorry to hear about the eating thing. I know it can be really hard when you're unmotivated and appetite is down. It doesn't have to be complicated things though - things like bananas, yoghurts, toast to start with and maybe some baked beans, boiled egg or soup if you can manage warming something up? Even a hot choc made with lots of milk in microwave has goodness in that will help you and may be a bit more appealing (if yr a choc fan like me). Start off small - maybe one of these things tomorrow - and build up from there? take care x

Going to my parents tomorrow for a few days so they will be on hand to cook for me! Might make it a bit easier.

Oh that's good MT hope you have a good rest and enjoy being looked after.

Geek hope you're doing better now. I think you're at the worst point, time-wise, for settling into the new medication, and I'm sure it will get better if you can just hang in there. Keep talking here and to your doc x

Colouringin glad to hear you're having a good day, and yay for the supportive doctor and family, it makes such a difference :)

Mechanical a few nights of TLC and home-cooked food will be fantastic, enjoy! I totally sympathise with the teeth grinding too. I have to go to the dentist at some point to have all my grinding damage repaired :O (not specifically from citalopram, am a keen sleeping tooth grinder with or without the pills!!)

Was phoned on Tuesday by a vague/very distant family member (not even family actually) to ask to meet up today. I genuinely couldn't make it. I have so much on this week with work and a sick dog (self-employed so work +++hours at times) and nicely and apologetically said I couldn't make it but we should make plans to do it another time. She kept on at me and I kept having to say I couldn't. I was a mess by the end of the exchange! It kind of pulled the rug from under me and I spent the rest of the day / night feeling guilty and worried. She's not been well, but I just couldn't have met her today. I wonder if I should have made time and then worked later into the night?

This is what I hate! I question my judgement and decisions all the time, and spend insane amounts of time worrying that I've upset people, or that people think I'm weird / rude / socially inept.

Bugger! Sorry for this very self-indulgent post! I think I thought the ADs would miraculously make all these kind of anxieties disappear

Take care to everyone xx

Citalobrain sorry to hear you're feeling stressed about that call. It sounds like you made exactly the right decision but I know what you mean about questioning your judgement and worrying about other people's perceptions. After psyching myself to be open with 2 friends Fri I guess I had thought one of them would be in touch even if just a text, to say Hi, but nothing. I'm lucky I have one very good friend I have been completely open with - on top of you lovely MNers - and that's helped reassure me my judgement is OK. A bleurh day today and have got kids into bed very early for some quiet TV and chocolate for me... Hope the dogs feeling better soon! Take care everyone x

Chocolate is a very good idea! I have recently discovered frozen yoghurt, which I have convinced myself is so healthy I can eat a large tub in one go

Thanks for the reassurance :) It means a lot as I find it hard to see the wood for the trees so often. You're right, having MN and you lovely people to check in on too is a big help :)

Don't worry about your 2 friends, honestly. I bet they haven't even thought to text, rather than an intentional silence. (Very important I don't mean hadn't thought to text as in 'we don't care about colouringin', but as in 'shit, where has the week gone' sort of thing? - I know in my head what I'm trying to say but not at all sure it comes across how I mean it in words!).

My friend who 'gets it' is fab too. We can speak after weeks of not talking, and say whatever is on our mind - all the shocking thoughts and feelings you'd never tell anyone else, but laced with laughs, and with no judgement. It's brilliant and precious and I love her to bits!

Take care of yourself and everyone else too. Here's to a calm and content day for everyone tomorrow xx

I've also rediscovered chocolate, haven't had any for months and since getting on citalopram I have had the urge to eat lots of it
Bit of a downer today despite the meds, no idea why :(

Hello all! I'm glad I found this thread. I was prescribed citalapram 20mg yesterday and took the first dose last night. I had to change my bed clothes 3 times last night and then slept on a towel. I've spent the whole day feeling like I'm about to throw up and my hands have been shaking like I have the DT'S. I tried to go out to take my mind off it, this turned out to be a bit of a disaster as I saw to men shop lifting. I told the shop assistants and the guys heard me. They ended up screaming at me in the middle of the shop that I was a "mother-f**g ugly ct," that they "never forget a face" and "f*k you you bitch". Turns out they had dumped the stuff they were stealing and then ran out of the shop after taking a swing at me. The assistants were so worried they offered to escort me back to my car. I've got home, cried my eyes out and feel like I never want to go out of the house again.

After reading this tread it seems like there is hope, people seem to gradually be getting better. I really hope this happens to me because although today hasn't been the best to judge it by, the side effects after just 1 tablet are pretty horrid.xxx

Blimey Reenie that's quite a day for your first day on Citalopram.

The side effects get worse before they get better, it really is a case of getting over the worst bit to get to the good bit IYKWIM.

I find it better to take mine in the morning.

Hi Reenie wow what a day. Really hope you're feeling a bit calmer tonight and that you have a better night. Glad you found the thread too - its a great support to quite a few lovely people. Good luck tomorrow x

Other things to watch out for reenier are a clenchy jaw/ear thing, non stop yawning, feeling very warm in the mornings, constipation, and vivid dreams. Not nightmares, just like films. I have had some corkers.

the constipation may be just me though.

sparklingbrook Thanks - does it also give you an inability to spell ? ;) I seem to be suffering from that at the moment. I'm having to be very spell-checky. As for the constipation...hmmmm kind of the opposite, IYKWIM

Jeez what an awful day you've had Reenie, you poor thing!
Side effects as Sparkling said will be bad for a week or so but they will get better. ALthough you may well find it all quickly moves in a positive direction after your day 1!

Sympthies with the sweating, it's bad for me too. I also sleep wrapped in a towel but think it might be getting slightly better (I'm just over a month in now).

Hi Sparkling :) I've read your advice on other threads on here and really appreciate it, it's been really helpful x

Hope everyone's okay today. Been okay here but a bit, meh! I cleaned all my windows and mirrors a few days ago which has given me a real shock. I realise now I've been looking at my face in smoky / soft focus for ages and now am at what I've been subjecting the rest of the human race to when I'm out!

Nanabana, the thread founder, how's it going with you?

Big hugs to everyone xx

Hi citalobrain. I don't have the night sweating any more, sometimes i will feel a bit hot on waking.

reenie Spelling and everything else goes out of the window for a couple of days when you first start. i got a bit obsessed with checking how I was feeling all the time too.

Welcome Reenie, things like spelling were a problem for me too for the first week or so.

At my mum's - she fell down the stair and has knackered her back and is signed off for a month; the dog is 18 (!!!!!) and alternately wanders about the house in a daze or dozes at the radiator, has to be helped up the stair every night; I am sitting here grinding my teeth and trying to stay awake past 8PM.

What a disaster of a house atm!