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Mental health

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Original poster

Citalopram

22 replies

MrsDoolittle · 17/06/2006 22:48

I can honestly say that despite my initial reservations I been on this over two months now and I feel so much better than I have in a long long time.
However, it made me really really nauseous when I started on it. And it made me yawn (anyone else?).
I stupidly have just come back from a week away having forgotten the blinkin stuff and boy! do I feel sick again!! It's horrid, horrid, horrid.
Anyone else experience thsi?

OP posts:

PanicPants · 17/06/2006 22:50

Yes, I wsa terribly sick when I first started it, and again when I came off and re-started it. It will settle, and Yes they're working for me too.

Lemmingswife · 17/06/2006 22:51

I took citalopram after DS2's birth. I found it helped with my PND, but I did feel quite nauseous for the first month or so. It will get better though.
Yawning is another common side affect.

sparkler1 · 17/06/2006 22:52

ditto - Yep had the sickness too and the yawning. It worked well for me though. One tip though - don't rush yourself off it. It needs time to get into your system and to work. Yoru GP will wean you off gradually.

Original poster

MrsDoolittle · 17/06/2006 23:01

How long did you stay on it for?

OP posts:

bonkerz · 17/06/2006 23:03

i found citolopram worked really well for me for about 3 months and then i started to get very bad diarrheoa and was tired all the time. GP just moved me to prozac which i didnt take for 2 weeks but have just had to start taking them. Anyone have any experience of prozac?

Original poster

MrsDoolittle · 17/06/2006 23:07

I right there with you on that. I'm tired all the time but I think that might have something to do with ds still feeding 3 times a night.
Still, I'm beginning to get frightened about coming off them.

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Verso · 18/06/2006 08:07

Yes, I've had the nausea and the yawning. I've been on them for six weeks now and feel a lot better, moodwise, though. I get totally wiped-out mid-afternoon, really exhausted, but I think that may be the depression as much as the tablets. It's worth it anyway, to feel this much less stressed.

MrsDoolittle, I'm worried too about coming off them. Last time I saw the GP, she said we should think about me coming off after six months. On the one hand, that's great, because we (insanely?!) want to ttc #2 (definitely mad) and don't want to wait too long as I'm getting on a bit (!) but on the other hand, I'm scared of feeling that horrible again...

Original poster

MrsDoolittle · 18/06/2006 14:21

I'm going back to work in September, a really stressful environment at the moment with redundancies etc, the GP has said I should wait til after then until I try to come off them.

I have taken them this morning again, dh has been worried that I have become a little bit difficult like the horrible old days.

I guess that's the thing with this stuff, it works so quickly and wears off so quickly.

OP posts:

redbull · 18/06/2006 19:01

first time posting on feeling depressed, i was put on catilopram over a year ago came of it recently on my own accord and fri felt really bad having horrid thoughts so took one friday night and all friday night i was throwing up every where frightenened noew to take another one incase im sick again

Original poster

MrsDoolittle · 18/06/2006 20:21

redbull - you should come off it slowing and gradually.

OP posts:

Verso · 18/06/2006 20:34

Just wanted to add my sympathy for your work situation, Mrs Doolittle. When I went back to work after maternity leave, my company had been taken over and there have been various rounds of redundancies etc. It's hugely unsettling, so you have my sympathy.

Redbull - everything I've read or heard about AD's says you need to come off them slowly, like Mrs Doolittle says. It's more gentle and easier for your brain to adjust to the different levels of chemicals that way I think...

redbull · 18/06/2006 22:23

about 3 months ago i came of them very slowly cut down to 1/2 tablet evry night then after a month cut down to 1/2 every 2 nights withdrawn very slowley.

i have depression and panic attacks about death NOT wanting to hurt my self but the fear of it past couple of days started having the feelings and thought back so friday night took a tablet planning on going to doctors tomorrow but threw up everywhere a couple of hours after having it, just dont want to go back to that dark place again VERY scared of it

Kaloo20 · 19/06/2006 12:25

Please - never come off them or any other AD's without Dr's support.
oh - and to stop the nauseous feelings and yawning take them before you go to bed.

Verso · 19/06/2006 16:51

Anyone else here find that after a few weeks the Citalopram stopped working so well? I went back a week or so ago for review and the GP said to stick with it, but I had a LOT of anxiety at the weekend and tearfulness, which has got me worried I'm slipping back downhill again. This morning I woke at 4am with my mind just racing. Any advice?

overdraft · 19/06/2006 16:56

anyone else found they feel hungry all the time. If I put on wieght I think I will feel even more deppressed ?

sunchowder · 19/06/2006 17:06

I have been on this for almost 4 years now. I have gained 50 pounds and am tired a lot in the afternoons. Other than that, it has saved my life in many ways. The cortisol that stress and anxiety produce are far worse than these side effects. I am not often nauseous thankfully. I used to suffer from anxiety and just always low-level depression called dysthymia and obessive compulsive "tendancies" they call them. Very useful at work, but at home can be crazy-making. I wouldn't worry about getting off them anytime soon. I know you want to try for another baby, but....if it were me, I would want to make sure that I was really feeling fit and stable before attempting to concieve again. The interrupted sleep and deprevation altogether causes incredible stress on the system and it might be easier to slip back into full-blown depression. Something you want to talk with your GP about for sure as I am far from a GP, just mentioning my experience here for you. XO, and good luck with this MrsDoolittle--my thoughts are with you.

sunchowder · 19/06/2006 17:09

I forgot to mention that I have vivid dreams that I remember which are not always pleasant, but again, I feel that it is worth it to remain stable. I am only taking 20 MG a day, I was up to 40 and then came down again as I would love to take this weight off that I have gained. I also wanted to mention that it never feels the same as when you first start taking them in terms of relief--it only takes the edge off so that I can cope much better with life in general.

redbull · 19/06/2006 18:47

been back to doctors today and im back on them now starting on 20mg then up to 40mg (wich i was on before) looking forward to getting back to my old self AGAIN!!
since on them i have put loads of weight on constantley hungry if its food i will eat it

Original poster

MrsDoolittle · 19/06/2006 20:22

I didn't know it caused weight gain. Maybe that's what has happened to me. I am always hungry, I thought it was breast feeding. I am always tired and I assumed this was because ds is feeding so much at night.
I am also pretty sure that I am putting on weight.

OP posts:

Verso · 19/06/2006 20:49

I hope it doesn't make me put any on. I'm still HUGE post-DD :(. Erk. I don't think I could cope with that as well... hmm.

It doesn't make everyone put on weight though, does it? I'll be cross if so, because that in fact was one thing I specifically discussed with my GP before starting it, as I'd heard ADs can cause weight gain and I've had weight issues/size issues in the past!

Hmph.

redbull · 20/06/2006 10:57

they make me very hungry so i obviously eatmore.

On the side effects it says change in appetite and change in body weight

Bugsy2 · 20/06/2006 11:14

If you feel nauseous, take it last thing at night so you sleep through the worst of the nausea.
I've been on it, on & off (so to speak) for the last 3 years & I haven't gained any weight - if anything I've lost as I don't feel the need to comfort eat.
I have to come off very, very slowly - over a period of 6 weeks - otherwise I get agitated & dizzy.
Love the stuff though & regularly thank the powers that be that I live in the 21st century & such things exist!!!

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