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Original poster

Help I need some advice

16 replies

emujay · 27/09/2004 21:27

Hi,
I had bad post natal depression with my last child, and having just had another baby am having some similar problems. The doctor has prescribed me Citalopram - I am not sure if I should take them as I dont know if I have just got the baby blues. Please can anyone help ?

OP posts:
WideWebWitch · 27/09/2004 21:31

Hi emujay, does your gp think you're depressed? If so, I'd take them I think. But I do know that anxiety about taking something (which is sometimes part of the depression iykwim) can make it hard. Hope someone with more experience is along soon.

Original poster
emujay · 27/09/2004 21:34

Hi,
My GP thinks I have anxiety, so I guess I should take them. I would just like to know if I can do it on my own, but i think it is probably unfair to put my family through that. I am just really unsure what to do as I was put on seroxat last tine and had a really hard time comeing off them.

OP posts:
MTS · 27/09/2004 21:34

Hi emujay. Sorry that you have been feeling low. How long have you been feeling this way? IMHO the baby blues would only last a short while; of course the stress of looking after a new born on top of the physical weakness of labour, combined with sleep deprivation can make you feel pretty damned rough. I would imagine tho that if your GP has prescribed ADs he considers it is something more than the baby blues. Of course it is up to you whether or not you take the medication; things other than medication that help PND are counselling (and also simple things like eating/sleeping as well as you can, getting some exercise and a break from the baby). If you are still in doubt as to whether it is PND you could also talk to your HV - they are meant to do a PND questionnaire with you. My personal view is that it is well worth you trying the ADs - if they work for you you should be able to feel some improvement within a month, and significant improvement within a few months.

take care

bobs · 27/09/2004 21:34

Can't really help as haven't been through it myself, but have heard that if you have suffered pnd with one, you may well do with the next.
I have had a friend in your situation, and she, like you, was given something 2nd time round - it takes a while to kick in, but it certainly helped her.
Good luck - it would be a shame to spoil the first weeks of enjoying your new baby feeling so aweful.

MTS · 27/09/2004 21:35

Seroxat is by far the worst of the SSRIs to come off as it has a short half life - i.e. goes out of your system very quickly, so makes withdrawal hard. None of the other SSRIs have as short a half life as Seroxat. Coming off Citalopram should be MUCH easier for you.

Original poster
emujay · 27/09/2004 21:36

I agree with all of you and know I should take them, even if it is not going to get bad - I guess i wouldnt suffer a cold if I knew I could stop it before it started. It just leaves me feeling a bit like a failure for not being able to get through this without the help of medication.

OP posts:
essbee · 27/09/2004 21:37

Message withdrawn

Original poster
emujay · 27/09/2004 21:38

Does anybody know anything about citalopram. I think it makes it worse that I had such a hard time with the seroxat, and dont really know anything about this AD

OP posts:
essbee · 27/09/2004 21:38

Message withdrawn

WideWebWitch · 27/09/2004 21:38

You're NOT a failure for needing some help. Definitely not.

MTS · 27/09/2004 21:40

citalopram is in the same group of drugs as prozac and seroxat - SSRIs, so will work in a similar way. It is quite a modern drug so should theoretically not have as many side effects as prozac (the oldest one). I took if for a week before I found out I was PG and had no side effects on starting or stopping them cold turkey. It should be significantly easier for you to tolerate than Seroxat. IMHO Seroxat is the baddy of the bunch due to the short half life - very effective but not the nicest to come off.

Original poster
emujay · 27/09/2004 21:41

My partner thins that I should be proud of myself for asking for help as I was really poorly last time. I just dont know wether I should take them just in case I get OND or wether to leave it and see how I go.

OP posts:
essbee · 27/09/2004 21:42

Message withdrawn

Original poster
emujay · 27/09/2004 21:45

I am going to go and get some sleep.
Thanks for the help. I think I should probably take them just in case. At least that way we are not waiting for something to go wrong.

OP posts:
bobs · 27/09/2004 21:48

I just put Citalopram into ask jeeves, and came to a discussion forum on depression - I think its worth a look but take it all with a pinch of salt - I think there are some very poorly people on there.
It did say that citalopram (celexa) has no withdrawal syndrome as long as you don't come off it cold turkey - ie gradually

TraceyP · 28/09/2004 11:03

Emujay - my doctor prefers Citalopram to any of the other SSRIs as he says it is easier for the body to tolerate, has fewer side effects which last for a shorter period of time, and is easier to come off than many of the others. He also feels it is a good one for anxiety as well as full blown depression.

I have only been taking it for a few weeks and have just had the dose upped so I can't tell you anything about its efficiency, although dh swears that I'm calmer and less anxious than I was. You may get a few side effects which make you feel a little under the weather but they only last for a few days.

Please take your GPs advice.

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