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Mental health

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Original poster

citalopram - how long for?

15 replies

iamnotstressed · 08/05/2007 20:24

Started taking it a few weeks ago for overwhelming anxiety and panick attacks, feeling a lot better now on 20 mg. One gp said i would be on it for 4/6 months, 2nd gp said that for anxiety rather than depression I may have to take it for a year. Very down about it because I am getting old and wanted to try for 2nd child....

OP posts:

MrsDiorKeanuReeves · 08/05/2007 20:29

Not much point trying for another child of you are suffering from anxiety though

Get well and worry about coming off when you feel better. I know how you feel as I have been there. How old are you then?

Original poster

iamnotstressed · 08/05/2007 20:33

OP posts:

friendlyedjit · 08/05/2007 20:37

i think the main reason for staying on it for 4-6 months is because research has shown that those who discontinue earlier are more likely to have return of their symptoms-
have you been referred for any counselling or CBT as often a two pronged attack makes sense?
You're only a young thing really, so hopefully 6 months down the line you'll be off and feeling great and can go ahead with baby plans feeling confident in your ability to cope and not be overwhelmed with anxiety or at worst having had some therapy more able to cope with it

Good luck

MrsDiorKeanuReeves · 08/05/2007 20:38

Well, that gives you a few years really. Try to concentrate on getting well. You need to give the pills some time to work. Hope you feel 100% soon.

Original poster

iamnotstressed · 08/05/2007 20:44

I know, I shouldn't moan, have a wonderful life. If only it wasn't for my mind.....

OP posts:

MrsDiorKeanuReeves · 08/05/2007 20:45

You are not moaning! Tell me about the mind. I'm on the first day of Prozac after cutting down on my old AD and am feeling crap. Good job I don't want any more children because I'm on ADs for the rest of my life

CaptainCaveman · 08/05/2007 20:47

There are some useful sites which might help...

www.nice.org.uk (clinical guidelines which health professionals should use as a guide)

www.rcpsych.org.uk (have a section for professionals but also do info for patients and carers).

I've recently come off citalopram after 18 months (stayed on it longer as it was the 2nd time I've had ads). Also had a year of counselling. Am now

Could you talk to your gp about wanting to try for another? I know I will when we hope to start ttc next year as I'm worried about my mental health and pg!

Original poster

iamnotstressed · 08/05/2007 21:34

Thank you for the websites. will start proper counselling next week. my gp says that citalopram and pregnancy don't go together, risk to the baby and all that. I am sure everything will be fine. Keanureeves are you sure you have to take them forever? Have another friend who also has to take them forever, has never attempted counselling which I thought might help her. Very difficult. I do have a beautiful ds though, so I am lucky, lucky.

OP posts:

MrsDiorKeanuReeves · 08/05/2007 21:41

I have had three bouts of counselling! I have come off my ADs several times, had a few good months and then had to go back on them. I am a loony though, so don't compare your situation to mine

Original poster

iamnotstressed · 09/05/2007 09:43

loonies are often very interesting & fun people to be friends with....

OP posts:

MrsDiorKeanuReeves · 09/05/2007 09:54

I'm a riot me

pinglepops · 09/05/2007 10:33

Haven't read all this thread but Citalopram worked for me (have been on and off ads for most of my adult life.. don't ask) and I took it for about 2 years, gradually weaning myself off over a year, dropping 10mg at a time. Came off it when the side effects (weight gain, no sex drive, insomnia) became untenable. At the start, I had been so depressed that side effects were the least of my worries. Now I am on an 8 week CBT course through my GP called 'beating the blues'. It's a computer course you do at the surgery, in a room on your own. Sounds weird but it's doing ok for me so far. better in fact than the years of talking therapy, face to face CBT etc I have had. Two months after coming off Citalopram, events in my life caused a terrifying, sudden return to depression; like falling down a crevasse. I was offered different meds but I reall want to do this by changing my behaviours and thinking patterns, as I do find that all ads do have side effects. I have 30 years experience of 'em ! I would, having said that, have NO hesitation in getting back on 'em pronto if my 'functioning' skills deserted me again. Good luck. Take 'em if you need 'em.They can work very well, and left me with enough imaginatin etc intact to continue my job as a published author (non fiction) and journalist; which was vital to me. Prozac knocked out my vocabulary, which was vile, although I coped with it when that was all that was on offer.

CaptainCaveman · 09/05/2007 19:45

Agree with you re. reactions to Prozac pinglepops - it sent me insane! I couldn't look anyone in the eye, and could barely string 2 words together. (shudder) Dark times indeed.
Horses for courses though and all that - I would have no hesitation in going back on ads (that was my 2nd 'course') to retain so semblance of sanity if anxiety/depression returned.

Nikki76 · 09/05/2007 19:48

Pinglepops - I'm on Citalopram too and having trouble with weight, which I take as a given with AD's but I wake up frequently in the night too - hadn't thought it could be the tablets!

PuppyDogsTails · 09/05/2007 20:09

Glad you're feeling better, I am on citalopram (40mg) and have been for a couple of years, for depression not anxiety though. I am not likely to come off it any time soon, as I get down again if I try to cut down. What I wanted to say was that you can ttc and be pregnant on Citalopram, I have discussed this at length with a number of GP's and my midwife (I am now pg) and my mw says they will even start prescibing it to people who are pg.
The argument seems to go that if you are getting benefit from it, then any bad effects on the fetus are outweighed by the bad effects that you being depressed (or anxious or panicy) would have if you were not on medication.
So if I were you, I would aim to start cutting down in 4-6months as your GP advised and not beat yourself up if you need to stay on a bit longer, or a lot longer. Either way, discuss it with your GP next time you're there and dont worry in the meantime.

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