Citalopram 10mg. Be brutally honest.

[Tea1Sugar]

I've been putting it off for months but anxiety is controlling my life. The thought of the drugs itself petrify me and the list of side effects make me feel ill. Be honest, how is it?

I think as can be seen from this thread (and many others) that the biggest problem with ADs is that what suits one person (and is life changing) doesn't suit someone else, and sometimes there are distressing side effects. It's all a very hit and miss business and what helps in a first episode, might not be beneficial in subsequent episodes.

I'm not sure now who it was but someone was really knocking the whole notion of taking ADs and I don't think that's helpful. There's nothing wrong in giving an account of how it was for you, but there shouldn't be an assumption that they won't help others. Also this issue of a root cause that was mentioned. Very often loss of some kind (not necessarily bereavement) is often the root cause of depression, but it can arise without any trigger - it's an old fashioned term (endogenous depression) but it used to be used as opposed to reactive depression which I think is self explanatory.

The thing is we only know what suits us (or doesn't) by trying them and GPs and Psychiatrists know this too. It's very confusing but I think the same may be true for meds for some physical illnesses.

I am on 2 different ADs but have fluctuations which make life difficult but I certainly would not contemplate not taking ADs......much more scary than taking them! I think it's so sad that there is still so much stigma attached to mental health issues and even to the taking of ADs. 1 in 4 people will suffer from a MH issue at some point in their lives, and approx. one third of GP consultations on average are MH related.

Couldn't agree more nana

Some people prefer to go down the counselling route. I tried it and it just wasn't for me, but AD's are. But it took a while to find the right one.

I don't think anyone should tell others that something doesn't work, when it quite clearly does for a lot of people.

The root thing, when we do evaluations if someone is feeling depressed whilst in our care we ask certain questions like for how long, has there been a recent bereavement etc. Because say someone has died recently, they're obviously going to feel 'depressed', they're grieving. But there's a difference between that natural process (although the feelings and emotions are the same) and having depressive disorder.

I so agree, nana. The whole "stigma" thing prevented me starting on medication through fear which has been life changing. Of course no one should take ads if they don't need them. They shouldn't be seen as a magic cure, but honestly, I wish there was less fuss about them.

citalopram made me v.yawny and gave me amazing dreams, otherwise nothing, it didn't interfere with my life at all

Oh, yes, the dreams! I love the dreams! I've had some corkers. A couple of weeks ago, I dreamt my friend (who was in the process of an induction so fairly topical) had had her baby and it had a beard and seven teeth! Mostly they're not falsely prophetic, just funny. I've never had a nasty one but they are often very detailed!

I have noticed I properly laugh now. Out loud. I didn't laugh properly before. I was so tense. I could understand in my head that things were funny but it never came out as a laugh. That's not a side effect-just shows that citalopram has dealt with my anxiety and depression.

I would say give it a try. The side effects put me off taking it for 18 months but as I was getting worse and worse I finally decided I had to take it. (I was on 20mgs) I won't lie the first few days I did feel "weird". I felt distanced and a bit dreamy. However after a few weeks they really made a huge difference to my anxiety.

I would say give them a try, as others have said they will suit some people and not others, but you won't know if you don't try. They could make. A huge difference in just a couple of weeks.

I very much regret not taking them sooner.

Same here BigBirthday. I can remember laughing then thinking "gosh I've just found soth at really funny". It was lovley.

I'm actually hoping to come off mine this spring as I feel so well. I'll have been on them for 18months but am worried about going back to how I was.

headinhands thankfully not everyone gets the negative side effect you mentioned

I'm on 40mg a day and thankfully it's had no negative effects on my sex life

graysanalagy don't be ridiculous, of course it's not misinformed. It's my experience & the OP wanted people to be brutally honest.

I think maybe ADs are ok for a short period, if they work for you. The only way you get better is therapy. How does one have brilliant life & be depressed ? It's because it's not a brilliant life for & one needs to ask themselves why & what can be done to make it better.AD's medicate you like all drugs. The problems don't go away. You don't come off them & suddenly life is fantastic.

Therapy is painful, cathartic & life changing. Ad's may be a quick fix for some, but not without side effects. 5HTP brightened my life & allowed me to dig really deep & get to the root of my problems. Ad's clouded my brain & looking back, turned me somewhat insane.

Oh behave.

I've been on Citalopram since I was in my teens.

There is no underlying issue. No abuse, no bad history. My life is one that most people would be jealous of.

Simple fact is my brain doesn't work properly.

Therapy and counselling (of which I've tried both) was utterly pointless as there was nothing to discuss!

monkey face it's good to see you say that. my doctor suggested counselling to me but it didn't work. I was sick of being asked what was at the root of my problem.

I've no idea. My parents were happily married I had an amazing childhood I have a job I love. I've never been abused or had any hugely traumatic thing happen to me. There's no underlying reason for my depression /anxiety but it's there

Same

A doctor once even said to me something along the lines of 'you think too much. 20 years ago people didn't have the Internet and were too busy to consider being depressed'

How I didn't smack him I don't know.

But, when all is said and done, without my medication I am manically depressed. I can't get dressed, cry, want to drive into a brick wall.

Just taking a little tablet once a day stops that. I am a normal, functioning, happy member of society.

I'm not ashamed.

willowisp you are still talking about what works for you but we are all different (in case you hadn't noticed) You cannot be definitive about any treatment especially in relation to MH as what works for one doesn't work for another.

In fact I wonder how much therapy has actually been of benefit to you because you are intent on telling people what they should and shouldn't do and I would have thought you would have learned from your therapy that this is never a good idea.

Willow yes you are misinformed. You perhaps would like to do some research before you base everyone else on yourself. It's extremely patronising to also ask me how I can have a brilliantly life and be depressed. That's the way it works sometimes - something you wouldn't know about as like I said, you're only going off your own experiences.

Go read some peer reviewed studies and articles (like I have and studied) then we can discuss this in a reasonable manner.

Awful.

Insomnia, sweating, burning skin sensations, shaking, heightened anxiety - felt like I was going crazy.

Endured it for 7 weeks before Dr switched me to Sertraline and it's not been anywhere near as bad.

Good luck!

I was on citalopram for about a year.

Yes the first week to 10 days were horrible. The nausea, vivid dreams and wooly headedness were unbearable to start with but I was put on anti-emetics to help with the sickness and started taking them at lunchtime rather than before bed.

I didn't notice much difference on the 10mg but once my dose was increased to 20mg, I felt much better.

It was easier to come off than I thought too. Withdrawal symptoms for me were similar to starting them, but a lot was hidden by my pregnancy symptoms.

I didn't get on with it at all but know plenty that do. I changed to sertraline which suited me much more.

I've been on citalopram for a few years now and I find it very good! I get the weird dreams but my bf finds it funny when I tell him about them the next day! >_< other than that all I can say is try it and see if it works for you... I started on 10mg but worked my way up to 40mg before I would say I was 'normal' again. Back down to 20mg now and ok but can't go lower

Op here. It was hell on earth. GP made me stop after 2 days.

Hey, do you mind telling me your experience? I've had nearly a week of constant tiredness, jaw clenching, tight neck muscles, slight nausea, coughing, yawning and now some of my toes have swollen up. All mentioned side effects on the leaflet. In two minds about what to do. I'd appreciate hearing about your experience to see if I'm just being a wuss or not.

The side effects should wear off pretty quickly noreplacements, if you're worried speak to your dr but I'm sure if you persevere for a few more days you will start to feel the benefits.

I was spaced out, my pupils dilated, sweating, insomnia. GP said some people persevere and can be fine but others it doesn't go. He said I was clearly very sensitive and so it was having an adverse reaction and to stop. I lasted two pills. But my god I feel a new woman now!!

Okay, I wasn't feeling like that. Did forget to put the hand break on the car yesterday mind you.

Muscles have relaxed a bit. Think I'll give my toes a few more hours before I start worrying.

It's difficult though isn't it, when you're so anxious it's hard to know whether you're being reasonable about your side effects. I'll be glad when it starts working!

Sorry to hear you suffered, too, tea.

Did the GP prescribe anything else?