Anyone taken citalopram?

[Confused123123]

Just been diagnosed (again) with moderate - severe depression.
It seems to rear it's head At difficult points in my life.

I've never taken ADs as always been too afraid so sort of muddled through with counselling and various other coping methods. Anyway - I've realised this is probably not sustainable and have been prescribed 20mg of citalopram daily. I've read a load of horror stories about Side effects on various US sites and just wondered if anyone had had any experience of this drug. I am going back to my GP today to talk about why he prescribed these ones but in the meantime wondered if anyone had any thoughts?

I've been on them for about 5 years. I started with 10mg but it just made me even more depressed. In desperation I contacted my doctor after two weeks as I was so close to attempting suicide, which was the reason I'd even asked to see the doc in the first place. She put up the dose to 20mg and then things evened out.

My side effects were anorgasmia and difficulty passing urine due to the loss of sensation, but that was all. You commonly get a dry mouth but I don't remember that. The loss of sensation disappeared after about 6 months and I've had no side effects that I know of ever since.

I've thought about trying to come off them, but there never seems to be a good time. I'm coming to the end of a relationship breakdown, I think, so now isn't the time.

this is the first time for me to go on a site and I have had great comfort reading others experience as withdrawing can be an isolating, crazy experience.Was on citalopran for nearly 4 years ( but been on and off AD's for years). stopped in July from 20 mg to 10 mg to nothing in space of a week. Would NOT recommend that to my worse enemy! First 2 weeks felt amazing ( I was on a fab 3 week hol in Australia when I stopped and those first 2 weeks of feeling great were prob the high from that.) Then wham, oh boy has it hit me. Have been off work for 2 weeks. All the symptoms above i have had. Reluctantly I went to my GP after 6 weeks of 'going it alone'. I felt so ill but i was deternined not to be persuaded to go on them so I told him and he listened and was supportive in my decision. A bit of advice though if you tell your GP that you don't want to go back on AD's have a plan and let your GP know. I told him I am now having reflexology / acupuncture weekly, have had a consultation at my Health store, and now taking BARLEY grass, vit c, vitamin d, saffron with marigold, have contacted my local MIND centre and booked a weekend retreat working on energy / healing ( drumming, walking, meditation,mindfullness etc), It is costing me a small fortune and aware that many are not a position to do that but my advice is go with your heart, be gentle with yourself, have a good support network,and seek out freebies such as support from MInd, walking, being in nature, read about managing stress and anxiety and practice the strategies such as yoga and meditation which costs nothing and can be done at home, Good luck everyone ps I am a grandmother of 5 and sympathise with all you mums with small children and managing relationships with husband/partners. Another Ps, I also asked my GP to refer me to our Enhanced Primary Mental Health Service for hopefully CBT ( Cognitive Behaviour Therapy).

Me again,yes I am hogging the space!Just want to add for those who are considering going on Ad's or have just started (and feeling as if they have failed cos they have given in) : I tried every alternative method before I went on ADs and the last 4 years of being on Citalopran have given me a time of clarity and wellness and so much more.
My decision to stop was impulsive and I dont regret it but DON'T DO what I did and just stop without decreasing and consulting your GP. I now realise it was silly but as I was well into the horrific side effects I made the decison not to go back but keep goring forward. However, I am keeping an open mind and if I am still feeling crap despite my recovery plan as above, in 2 months will consider going back on them. Watch this space!

Thanks hos55 iv ben learking on this thread as i have been given citalopram to take for health anxiety ...
im terrified of the side effects that in it sself is making me very anxious ...
im at a low at the moment lots going on , moving house in 2 days being one major stress !! so i will wait till that is over and reacess it i think ...to much happening to make a clear decision .

hope you continue to feel better and the CBT works for you x

Ball of worry that could have been my user name. I was like you but they have honestly worked wonders for me

thanks 123123 ..glad your getting on ok

I've been on them for 3 years. 2 years at 20 mg, then went down to 10 in the hope of coming off. I feel bad again now so have just gone back up to 20. Can anyone reassure me that I'll ever feel ok to come off these tablets?
20 mg did help though and side effects were minimal.

I want to come off them, but I don't know why? Things are very low in my life right now but I'm tired of having to pay for AD's plus omeprazole (sorry that's a side effect I didn't mention - I get acid reflux cuz of the citalopram) and trying to remember to take them. After 5 years I STILL forget to take my pills even tho I have them in a pillbox thingie by the side of my pc monitor.

I went three days without them once, and on the fourth day I got some unpleasant physical withdrawal symptoms - shaking, feeling sick, feeling anxious, tired, insecure, blergh it was all horrible but nothing I can really pin down.

I find if you forget a pill it can take up to 3 days to see the effect, even if you remember to take it the next day.

Hi - never been on one of these conversations before but really wanted to jump in after reading this thread. Been on citalopram for 5 yrs after PND and just coming off now. It really did the job for me but I have to say I have encountered the dizziness, the head zaps, weight gain and loss of libido. Now that I 'm coming off it I wanted to offer this advice - don't try and come off using the tablet form. You cannot reduce the dosage gradually enough by cutting up tablets. I've tried this twice and failed , the side effects were horrendous! I 'm using the liquid form which you measure out as drops and it's going great. I lower the dosage by one drop every 2 weeks and I 'm nearly off now with no side effects. It 's taken nearly 6 months but when I think of how awful it was trying to come off in a few weeks and cutting up tablets...

Boomerwang, I was on Omeprazole too but have managed to ditch those with the help of a really great pharmacist who gave me a dietary supplement called acidophilus - it took about a week ( of hell) to work but I've been reflux free ever since and I only need to take the supplement occasionally.