Citalopram : About to start taking it - Experiences please?

[livingbythesea]

Hi. I'm 41 and have today been prescribed 10mg Citalpram. Haven't taken this anti-d before and would very much appreciate anyone's experiences. Have previously found it hard to go on and come off anti-d's due to heightened symptoms. Does it help to build up the dose gradually by halving the pills, or taking every other day?

oh dear, sounds like one of those days- poor you. sounds like a lot of it is down to you and the way you feel about yourself. you need to get back your zest for life don't you- love yourself a bit more then maybe the relationship would improve- do you still love him enough to want to make it better or are you feeling that you want out? actually we have been together 15 years this summer too.......think you just get into such a rut with someone that sometimes something major needs to happen to kick it up the backside. except that that major thing isn't always nice as i have discovered to my cost. dh staying away tonight so having wobbles, so just texted him and made him promise that i had nothing to worry about. he replied that he had hoped i would not have to ask that but he understood why i did and that he loves me. so i hope to god he means it as i cannot cope with being hurt again.

we really need these tablets don't we!!!

i feel more positive today but was surprised how much our bust up on monday threw me off kilter. But actually i didnt go through the whole thing of being on the phone to DP each day. I do love him desperately and definately want to make it work, i also recognise that my issues are my own and what is happening with us is fall out.

Yes, defo would be a bit lost without the tabs which is a bit of a worry after only taking them for two weeks, i guess i was more screwed up than i thought.

Oh well - onwards and upwards.

Hi, can I join this thread please. Saw GP last week and he prescribed Citalopram. Have taken it before about 3 years ago and was on it for about a year and think it helped. Took my first tablet yesterday morning and within an hour or so felt really light headed and queasy, I don't remember that from last time and I suppose it may not have been the citalopram. Then last night I felt really tired, that sort of horrible tiredness you feel when you are first pregnant, went to bed thinking I would sleep like a log, but tossed and turned all night and think I managed about an hour (which is really unusual for me). Has anyone else had these side effects, I know you have to take them for about 2 weeks before they kick in and also wondered when is the best time to take them, in the morning or at night?

How is everyone else doing today?

welcome stripey tiger, your symptoms sound exactly like lots of other mnetters here, they def take a couple of weeks before they work and my GP said you have to be prepared worse for a while before you start getting better.
hang in there x

lucyellens mum, my friend said exactly that to me last might about the ad's- 'onwards and upwards' so that should be our motto- at least we are dealing with our problems and taking action- even if difficult- that counts for a lot i think.

Thanks Moulimoo. I feel really crap today, probably lack of sleep. DC are with grandparents this week, so I should be cracking on with all those jobs I moan on about that I can't do when they are under my feet. I have a wardrobe to put together, clean washing to put away, hoovering, ironing, painting and decorating but I can't face anything and feel really guilty for just faffing about (and sat on the computer) Its a lovely sunny day, which usually boosts my spirts, but I just feel so totally empty, hopeless and lonely. I hate feeling like this and just hope I can feel "normal" again soon

Sweetboy - not sure about libido thing, don't really know to be honest. Hope mine doesn't go though because since leaving husband last year and getting divorced (and new boyfriend) mine has been brilliant

don't try to do too many jobs, rest while the dc are away, when you feeel stronger tackle the jobs, they don't sound too important- ironing etc is always going to be there! BUT if keeping gently busy works for keeping your mind off things then just potter about and do a little bit here and there- might make you feel brighter if the house is in order-
what I have learnt from my experiences recently is that you have to be selfish and just do what you want to make yourself feel better- whatever and whenever that may be- for now the important thing is getting better- for yourself and your family.

Hi

I know this thread is a bit old but was hoping some of you on citalpram could give me some advise or reassurance. I started on 20mg's 2 and a half weeks ago for depression and anxiety. Had the weird spaced out and slight sick feeling for about 10 days but after about a week I started to feel more 'up' and less anxious so thought 'great this is working already'. However, over the past couple of days (starting from the 3rd week of the pack) I have started to feel a bit lower and anxious again. Is this my head/body just readjusting as I know its still early days really. Went back to drs this mornig nad he says to stick with the 20 mg dose to give them a chance and i certainly cant argue that I do feel a bit better in general - just a bit panicky that i wont get any better than this iyswim? Is it an accumulative effect ie the longer i take them the better i will feel (to a point of course) and also I do get PMT so was wondering if have been feeling a bit lower and anxious this week due to that?

Any advice and experience greatly appreciated.

Hi Geek3
I took Citalopram a couple of years ago for about a year and it worked for me - had tried seroxat previously which sent me to MArs and had really horrid withdrawl symptoms when I stopped, even cutting down gradually - I'd def go with Citalopram again but everyone's different.

Is there anything else you find helps? I tried tai chi and chi gong when the ADs had kicked in and made me feel a bit braver about facing the outside world and found it great for helping me keep my cool, talking with a counseller helped too when you finally get through the waiting list. As did rest and shedding the load a bit (with practical things) but I know we mums aren't often allowed such pleasures

Hi ngb,its a few years since your post but I just comenced 10mgs on monday and yes I seem more anxious it comes in waves and the Doc gave me so 2mg valium for the panics ?will it get better soon its now Saturday?hope you can help me thanks

Hi hope you can help me that is me on 10mgs since Monday still feeling awful in the am and its a long morning its cold and very icy to get out for a walk my Gp has said to take the valium 2mgs every 6hrs night time seems to be the best time calm and when in bed ?see her tomorrow that will be a week hope I will feel better soon please help thanks so much in advance x sad

I took my first 20mg dose today and had the most terrible panic attack. I felt nauseas, detached and paranoid - i was terrified. I was prescribed them 6 months ago after my father died and have finally decided that i have got to take them as things are awful right now and my family have got quite a stressful time ahead. I have 3 young dc's am dreading the school run in jan and now realise that i must tackle this depression. Any encouraging experiences would be appreciated.

Hi Dorothydoda - it took me about 3 weeks to feel 'normal' (no obvious side effects). I started on half a tablet for three days though. Day 5 was probably the worst in terms of nausea and it took longer for sleeping patterns to settle.

In the beginning I felt so miserable at having to take medication for anxiety and depression but now (2 months on) I am feeling ok about it. I hope to be able to one day come off, but for now I appreciate the chance to move forward with my life, rather than feeling limited.

Don't give up! After a week or two you will start to feel better.

Please don't give up.

Hi all. Been on citalopram twice now. Both times what works for me is taking it in the evening. It's also important to take it everyday. Maybe I am particularly sensitive to it but I really know it when I have forgotten a dose and it takes a couple of days to even out again.the only long term side effect I have after the initial few weeks is diminished libido but on scale of things its nothing from what I was battling mentally. I hate the school run too Dorothy, getting all the kids out including myself and having to be chatty and sociable. I often remind myself that at any given moment they'll be a few other parents in the playground on anti d's which makes me feel much less abnormal. In all am v happy with citalopram. Was relatively easy to come off too.