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Mental health

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Original poster

anyone had any experience of citalopram?

36 replies

sickandtired · 29/11/2006 08:54

Yesterday I went to the docs and burst in to tears, she said she thinks that I have had undiagnosed post natal depression (from 2 years ago!)and has rescribed 20mg daily of citalopram. I am shocked to be on these tablets but realise something had to give as I kept shouting so badly at my little ds's. She has also referred me for couselling. I feel such a fraud as today I don't feel that bad, and am not sure if I should take them or not. I have just been on a website (i googled citalopram and said I felt lucky if anyone ones to take a look) and it has scared the crap out of me.

I am wondering if there is perhaps something more suitable, as these tablets seem to be for people with extreme depression and no offence, I am just not sure I am there yet - thankfully.

Any advice would be appreciated.

OP posts:

Trinityrhino · 29/11/2006 09:00

please don't beleive everything that you read on ther web
I am taking citalopram and I am not severely depressed I was prescribed it for mild depression and anxiety

It has definitely helped and I think you should try it. Bear in mind that it will take 2 to 3 weeks to kick in so give it a chance

zippitippitoes · 29/11/2006 09:54

They are for depression and anxiety of all kinds.

Try them for a few weeks and see if they make a difference.

Alternatively, if you really feel ok but just a bit stressed and overwhelmed then try some lifestyle changes..such as no alcohol, no caffeiene, more fruit and veg, regular bed time and more fresh air and exercise. Also work out a way to wind down when you are agitated such as breathing exercises or a massage, bath etc

Original poster

sickandtired · 29/11/2006 09:57

Would it really be possible to be post natal depression tho? Thats what makes me wonder?

OP posts:

flimflam · 29/11/2006 13:35

hi sickandtired
I've been on citalopram for about 5 / 6 weeks now. They were prescribed for anxiety and panic with resulting depression (i would say i was only depressed for 2 or 3 weeks and mostly have a great smile on my face now!). My GP didn't diagnose PND but i do feel that there could be an element of that to it - DS is over 2 years old.
Don't take the pills if you don't really want to but when you are a usually head-together person and you start crying at the docs, there are usually some issues behind this (many, many of us have been there).
Go easy on yourself. Good luck x

MusicLover · 29/11/2006 14:18

Hi sickandtired,

Sorry to hear your feeling this way.
I feel that 'prozac' used to be the popular AD at one time, but Im hearing more & more of people being on citalopram just recently.
The thing is there are side effects to any medication, alot of them scarybut in a lot of cases it is just to cover themselves IYKWIM.
You can try the tablets for 2 weeks say, if you dont like how they make you feel, then you can stop taking them, but if they make your mood feel better, then carry on taking them for a few months & then see if you feel ready to come off them.
I recommend weaning off them rather than just stopping taking them though, your GP should be able to help through this.
Good Luck Love, keep us all posted on how your doing.

joselyne · 29/11/2006 17:10

I was prescribed Citalopram for post natal depression and they worked wonders for me. I came off them after less than a year, but at the time when I was having panic attacks, convincing myself I had alsorts of horrid things wrong with me, they were wonderful and made me feel like myself again.

Good luck

Original poster

sickandtired · 30/11/2006 09:23

I felt very weird and spaced out yesterday, and thought about only taking 1/2 of one today (making the dose 10mg) but decided to go with it in the end. Usually self medicate with a few glasses of wine in the evenings (my treat after the kids are down) but strangley didn't feel the need last night?
Petrified about putting on weight which I here is an issue with these tablets?
Already feel a lot calmer, for the first time in a long time there was no shouting from me this morning, although I was thinking in the shouwer they could give me a placebo and because I think its doing something I am being better behaved, as after 1 day theres no way its the meds!
Can you drink on these meds? I am due to go out saturday night and have read some horror stories about drinking on them! Don't fancy a night in the cells that much!

Thanks for replying. x

OP posts:

zippitippitoes · 30/11/2006 10:56

It's never wise to drink on ads both because alcohol is a depressant and because it will make the ad less effective and may interact with it causing eg unpredicatble behaviour, illness or memory blanks. Lots of people do drink though.

I would strongly advise against it or have a minimal amount.

Hope you are feeling ok.

zippitippitoes · 30/11/2006 10:57

I think it's weight neutral in tests.

amynnixmum · 30/11/2006 11:04

I personally didn't get on with citalopram but most people seem to do well on it. Like the others have said it does appear to be the GPs most popular AD at the moment but it is one that you shouldn't drink with. TBH you should avoid too much alcohol anyway if you are depressed because alcohol is a depressant and even though it might feel good at the time it will make things worse. I found when I was on citalopram that if I had a few drinks one day that a couple of days later I would have a really low day. I did sometimes still have a few drinks but only on occasions where it was worth having the bad day later. Good luck with it allx

zippitippitoes · 30/11/2006 11:06

It's popular because it's cheap and also doesn't have so many downsides for most people. It's also considered effective for anxiety and panic.
Escitalopram is 7 x the cost

MascaraOHaraIncredibleSheHulk · 30/11/2006 11:08

Hi there, not read the posts but based on OP..

I take Citalopram have been for around 6 months now.. I think it's normally prescribed for mild depression (which is what I have) and panic attacks/anxiety which is what some others on here are taking it for.. for me it works beautifully although it's not addictive so easy to forget to take it if you don't get into a routine.

For the first week I felt kind of spaced out but I think that was the whole someone telling me I was depressed as well as the tablets etc.

I was concerned about taking it at first, but I have to say it's worked really well for me.

Original poster

sickandtired · 30/11/2006 12:04

thanks. everything seems a bit fuzzy round the edges and I can't stop yawning.

Have not told dp I am on them, I know he would be very sympathetic right now but also know that it could be thrown up at me later.

May be I will tell him when I am feeling more steady.

How much are you on MascaraOHaraIncredibleSheHulk - man thats a mouth full!

OP posts:

zippitippitoes · 30/11/2006 14:22

yawning is one of the listed side effects

hopefully side effects don't last but maybe make notes or keep a diary (I'm rubbish at this but it is useful) don't try to look at every minute but a few impressions of the day and things you've done, how you've slept and your mood might be useful to you and the gp.

MascaraOHaraIncredibleSheHulk · 30/11/2006 14:39

20mg a day (1 tablet) you sound like you're experience almost the same side effects I did.. I felt great after a couple of weeks then felt low for about a week and have since been pretty level.

(Just call me moh.. the bit on the end was added for some reason or another.. can't remember why and I just haven't been bothered to change it back again as yet)

SaintGeorge · 30/11/2006 15:39

If the tiredness and yawning is causing you problems, try taking the tablets at bedtime instead of in the morning.

I switched to night over the space of a few days, took 1 in the morning, next day at lunch, next day at tea etc.

The dosage lasts for 24 hours so just time them so the side effects suit your lifestyle better.

Pinkchampagne · 30/11/2006 15:53

I was prescribed these tablets for mild PND. I was on 25mg, & like you, I was very worried about taking them.
I kept them in my cupboard for around 2 weeks before starting them because I was so worried about possible side effects, but was absolutley fine once I started them.
I felt a bit tired, but other than that I was fine & they really helped me through a difficult period.
I didn't stay on them for that long & had no trouble coming off them at all.
I definitely didn't experience any kind of weight gain & have never heard of that being a common side effect.

I would give them a go. You can always come off them if they don't agree with you.

Good luck & hope you feel better soon.

Pinkchampagne · 30/11/2006 15:55

Oh & I occasionally drank alcohol while on these tablets & was ok - but I am naughty & you shouldn't listen to me!

MascaraOHaraIncredibleSheHulk · 30/11/2006 16:04

re. alcohol.. I asked my GP and he said you can drink on them if it's just for a social night out. I have drank and have had no adverse effects.. they obviously recommend not drinking and excessive drinking would be a problem.

opinionsrus · 30/11/2006 16:24

These tablets me made me feel AWFUL. I felt constatly drunk, yawning all the time, I even drove when I really should not have done.

I could not even talk without slurring my speech so stopped them straightaway I could not have gone into work like that. For me prozac much better and not "addictive" really.

MusicLover · 30/11/2006 18:54

I think they affect individuals different, I was a bit of a guinea pig when I had PND, I was on prozac firstly, but struggled sleeping on them(although they were fine when I took them previous)With gettin up in hte night with a baby it drove me insane, so they then put me on citalopram (didnt want to mention earlier) but I had suicidal thoughts, so came off them & went on (& stayed on) 'lustral', they suited me better & kept me on an even keel, no ups & downs.

But I know lots of people who are on citalopram & they work fine for them, you just have to see what works best for you.

Tex111 · 30/11/2006 19:28

I've been taking 20mg for about three months. My doc started me on half a tablet for five days then increased to current amount. I felt quite tired and had some nausea for the first few weeks. Also seemed to be sweating more but these all cleared up within the first month.

I was suffering with anxiety and they've really helped. My doc said that you need to take them for at least four months to have lasting benefits. She said they can reset the serotonin in the body long term. She also said that I shouldn't just stop traking them as it could make me feel ill and bring on depression. I do find that if I forget and take my tablet later in the day I get that feeling of nausea again.

They've been a HUGE help to me. In my case, I think I've suffered with depression and anxiety for years but could manage it with diet, exercise and time for myself. After the birth of my second child just over a year ago I just didn't have the time and energy to manage it anymore. I'm down for cognitive behavioural therapy as well in the new year and will come off the tablets in about three months time.

If you're not sure about the tablets then do speak to your doc before stopping them. You could try to deal with it naturally. I recommend a book called Natural Prozac that helped me enormously a few years ago. If you do decide to take the tablets then do take it every day, with food and at the same time each day. That's supposed to help with any side effects.

Good luck. You're not alone!

Tex111 · 30/11/2006 19:30

Oh, and my doc prescribed these because she said I could still have a glass of wine with them "and we all need a glass of wine sometimes'. Love my doc!

RickmanAroundTheXmasTree · 05/12/2006 11:53

Hi. Can I join you?

I have just seen a locum doctor and he has prescribed me with these tablets. I feel a bit nervous about it now though, as although my counsellor suggested that I take something, the doctor hasn't exactly inspired confidence in me. He has given me a months supply, but hasn't said what I'm supposed to do after that. I'm also horrified that I might not be able to have a drink!

I also spoke to him about my ridiculously heavy periods and he said he couldn't treat them whilst I was taking the citalopram. He also said that I was asexual and could be approaching the menopause! I'm only 36!

Shall I ring and speak to another Doctor to put my mind at rest?

zippitippitoes · 05/12/2006 11:56

you cpuld try something like magnesium ok and evening primrose oil for heavy periods

it's one month because that is enough to test the water (has he asked to see you in 2 weeks?)

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