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Original poster

Citalopram day 11

211 replies

alicemac83 · 19/01/2014 17:15

Hi,
I've been on citalopram 10mg for 11 days. The first 5 we're hideous, I was so low I was almost suicidal- then the following 4 we're amazing- I felt like myself again. Only just as I started to relax I've had 2 days of feeling anxious, lacking motivation and being very irritable. I'm so disappointed as I really thought I had my life back. Over the weekend I had my dd on my own as dh was away so I think that made me tense. Should I increase my meds or hope this is just a blip? Xxx

OP posts:
EmpressOfTheWellOfLostPlots · 11/02/2014 17:04

Great to hear it's working for you, Bea.

I think I'm back in the brain time out stage - going through the motions, bothered that I should care but don't. It's massively helpful to have a context for it!

How's your chest, Alice?

Original poster
alicemac83 · 11/02/2014 18:54

Hi Empress, thanks so much for asking. It's fine thanks, I think it was anxiety all along but I was trying to pin it on something else. I've had two super anxious days but by Gp told me today that 5 weeks is still quite early... And even when it does kick in fully there will still be down days like everyone else. He's given me some beta blockers to help with the physical symptoms too- so hopefully that will help get rid of the constant butterflies!! Xx

OP posts:
alizeeod · 12/02/2014 21:26

Hi, I'm also taking Citalopram. I took it from March 2009 until August 2013 then thought I'd wean myself off. I stayed off it for exactly a year, but developed an eating disorder in that time, extreme anxiety and was ended up trying to end my life and stayed on a psychiatric ward for a few days :(
I have been back on it since my suicide attempt (6 months ago) and it saved my life. Sorry for rambling on...
I've experienced several side effects over the years but they are all worth it in my opinion since this drug is keeping me relatively sane (well alive at least!).
I've experienced increased appetite (I always put on a lot of weight on Citalopram), tiredness (I sleep a lot, can nap in the day and can't stay up past 10pm) and anorgasmia.
Don't let side effects put you off though and never stop taking it without supervision or medical advice!
The first few weeks can be intense, yawning, insomnia, mood swings (depressed then euphoric then depressed etc) but trust me it all passes and your mood should stabilise.
Anyway, you're not alone!
Good luck! x

Original poster
alicemac83 · 13/02/2014 11:08

Hi Alizeeod, thanks for your message- I'm glad citalopram has worked for you. Can you remember how many weeks it took for you to feel yourself again? X

OP posts:
alizeeod · 13/02/2014 11:14

It can take months. You need to be patient.
I'd say if in 6 months time you're still suffering, ask your doctor to review your meds and dosage, another antidepressant might be more suitable (trial and error etc).
Good luck!

Original poster
alicemac83 · 13/02/2014 11:34

Thanks, that's good to know. I think they are working, I'm nowhere near as depressed as I was at the start and I'm back at work full-time, I just feel very nervous most of the time and when I start thinking I might never be myself again I get very anxious. X

OP posts:
alizeeod · 13/02/2014 15:55

What do you mean by being yourself again? You'll always be you, but depression and mental health problems do change people. I'm not the same girl I was before my breakdown last summer, nor would I want to be. Obviously I wish it hasn't happened but it's changed my life for the best in many ways. I'm still extremely vulnerable though, and it's taking me ages to recover but it's all part of the process, I'm being patient and hope for a complete recovery but if I'm completely honest I've lost a part of me I don't think I'll ever get back.

alizeeod · 13/02/2014 15:59

As well as anti depressants, if you want to get well faster, I'd recommend a healthy diet, plenty of rest, stay away from caffeine and alcohol as much as possible, surround yourself with people you can trust and feel safe with, treat your body and soul with kindness ("nurture your inner child" as my therapist would say) and oh, get a good therapist!

Original poster
alicemac83 · 13/02/2014 16:07

Yes I agree! I saw my counsellor for the first time last night- but I wasn't sure about her... I felt like I just waffled at her and she didn't really say much. Maybe she was just getting a measure of me and it will get better...

OP posts:
alizeeod · 13/02/2014 18:53

It will. It's always pretty awkward at first!

Original poster
alicemac83 · 21/02/2014 22:40

How is everyone doing? X

OP posts:
sisyphusisalive · 24/02/2014 17:44

Hello everyone - been lurking as ds has been put on this drug for anxiety and paranoia and wanted to ask a couple of questions.

ds has been taking (20mg??) for 6 weeks now but he said the tablets were useless and that he wasn't going to cash in his next prescription. His current stock finishes in just less than a week. Should they have kicked in by now? What are the dangers of sudden withdrawal if he hasn't noticed any benefit? I have told him to go back to the doctor but he doesn't have much faith in her so i have suggested making an appointment at a time when I can go with him. Thanks

idlevice · 25/02/2014 13:25

I don't really know how I'm getting on. It seems to me that if I have to think about that question then it's not yet having an overall positive effect, otherwise it would just be a strong "yes! definitely feeling better!". But then I am only the 4th week & am fully expecting it to be a long game, at least 6-8wks then I will need to discuss it with my psych. I was useless at evaluating my own feelings before so at the moment I feel I need the external validation of a professional.

Original poster
alicemac83 · 25/02/2014 20:58

Hi,
Sisy, I think he needs to give the meds longer as they usually take 6-8 weeks or longer. Or maybe he just needs an increase. He definitely shouldn't just come off them as he might have some nasty side-effects.

Idlevice, again, stick with it. It sounds like there are definite improvements and that's good. It might take a bit longer to have more continuity. I'm 7 weeks in and still having ups and downs, but the downs are nothing like they were at the start. X

OP posts:
metoo22 · 26/02/2014 14:30

Hi everyone, can I join you? I'm on day 30, I'm on 20g after 2 weeks of 10g. I do mostly feel calmer than I was initially, so I think it is starting to work for me. I'm not crying all the time but get very stressed and anxious when I invariably wake up at 3 or 4 a.m. I was a bit shocked to start with as have never been on anti depressants before and knew very little about them. But a whole load of things came together and I realised I was not coping. My GP has been very supportive.

I'm off work but hope to get back part time soon. I had been seeing a therapist for a few months, and now that I have a more time to read and think, that is a bit more productive. Although there is also the danger I become obsessed with reading/listening to stuff about depression and therapy...

Thanks Thanks all of you, has been good to read this thread.

violator · 26/02/2014 17:17

sisyphusisalive tell your DS most definitely NOT to stop taking the medication cold turkey. It's dangerous to do that, and it can lead to all sorts of horrible withdrawals. It doesn't matter that he's been on the medication for only 6 weeks, despite what GPs say the very first pill will alter your brain chemistry.

He needs to work out a withdrawal plan with his doctor. Personally, having had experience going on and off SSRI drugs, I would take a minimum of 4 weeks to come off it.

Original poster
alicemac83 · 09/03/2014 18:43

Hi, how is everyone doing? Xx

OP posts:
Michelle9 · 23/01/2019 10:17

Im on day 10 of 10mg so far so good, felt dizzy, dry mouth & tired & always hungry but thats all. Everytime i feel anxious i put it down to the tablets messing with me and that helps as i know ive a few weeks before they actually work. I take mine at teatime. My doctor prescribed 20mg but said to drop to 10mg if too strong so i just started on 10mg to see what happens

Michelle9 · 23/01/2019 10:36

I did wonder to the people who it is working for. How do you actually feel? Do you feel different and happy or feel the same but just less stressed. The only thing ive noticed is that i havent cried

KarBB · 24/01/2019 07:48

Hi there - citalopram worked for me. At the start I felt weird - spaced out, tired, still distressed by symptoms &. Pretty horrid. Once things settled the main thing was that I finally felt like 'me' again, and soon realised that I hadn't felt like the real me for a while & so glad I was 'back'. That doesn't mean I never feel sad, angry, tearful, stressed etc, just that I can accept those feelings as totally normal, rather than feel controlled by them & any negative thoughts I get. I can now see that when I was unwell it was like there was a distorted filter on everything I did, and now it's been lifted.

Michelle9 · 24/01/2019 11:11

How much was you on? Im not sure if i did the right thing by taking half a tablet or to take the 20mg. i have to go back to doctors next week so will ask. i already feel better and its only been a few days

KarBB · 24/01/2019 11:33

I've always started at 10 and gradually gone up, with GP supervisions. Currently on 30. In the past I went higher but at present 30 is working well. First time went up very slowly. Second time much quicker (over about 6 weeks) as dr said if 30 was right dose before I should try and get there ASAP (esp as I was going to get every week for my sick note and begging for help).

KarBB · 24/01/2019 11:34

Glad you're feeling better already - that sounds like a good sign!

Michelle9 · 24/01/2019 11:49

im worried about the weight gain as im starving and constantly yawning lol.

Michelle9 · 31/01/2019 10:25

Anyone else keep getting nosebleeds? im now on 3rd week and have had 2 bleeds in 4 days