Allergy to citalopram

[BruceTheMoose]

I suffer anxiety and depression and have done most of my adult life. I'm terrified of taking medication for anything because I'm scared of an allergic reaction. It's one of my biggest fears.

I started fluoxetine last year and stopped it after 6 days as I had a small, mild rash on my stomach and legs. I panicked and stopped them straight away.

I reluctantly started citalopram 20mg, 3 weeks ago. No major side effects other than tiredness and feeling spaced out for the first week. I started to feel so much better. My anxiety started to lessen and my mood started to lift and I felt normal for the first time in years. I no longer wanted to kill myself which is great.

About 11 days on it I started with a few random itchy lumps on my chest and scalp. They would come and go. Then they started to appear on my face and neck and started to sting and more were appearing as the days went on. I tried to stick it out but then got worried in case it was an allergic reaction.

I've not taken one today and no new lumps have appeared. I'm going back to the GP tomorrow to ask what else I can try.

I feel so disheartened as I felt like I was doing so well and now I'm back to square one. I am worried about starting again with a new tablet when they seemed to be working for me.

I'm convinced now (after googling it and reading horror stories) that I'm going to be one of the unlucky few who are allergic to all antidepressants and I won't be able to get better.

I don't know how I'm going to cope if I have to go back to feeling so low and living in constant panic

Hi Bruce,
Iv have suffered for over 20years of anxiety and panic, I seem to have my medication sorted iv taken fluoxtine in the past and even tried to ... take too many , I'm no on 30 mg of citalopram , but still it is an horrific thing to deal with.
I'm sorry that it seems you are allergic to most antidepressants, what you need to realise is there is more out there for you.
iv had BAD panic attacks starting back when I was 19yrs I'm now .......nearly ......40 (in June) 39 at the moment feeling 17yrs!!!
but the main thing is .....why...what...who...where...when.. iv been told that if u think deep about things and be honest, the truth and hurt will come out, I did a CBT class try that xx

I scratch like a dog with fleas when I take Citalopram. I was on them for years with no problems, had a break, went back on them & had horrific side effects, nausea, insomnia, nightmares when I did manage to sleep, suicidal thoughts & itching all over. I had to come off them after being laughed at by my GP for 6 months, I saw a locum who immediately took me off them & put me on Mirtazapine, I don't have any side effects with these.

Thanks for your replies. I've been to the GP and she's told me to not take any more tablets and wait a few weeks to see if it is the tablets causing the rash and then we will maybe try something else.

I'm feeling so down today and disappointed. I feel like I will never get better

I can't face going back to work so now I'm super worried about being in trouble for being on the sick for a few more weeks.

I can't cope