I did it..I have started taking Citalopram today!

[michaelad]

After what seems like a lifetime of struggling with depression etc. I have finally started taking ADs (citalopram 10mg) today..and I am now really nervous because I don't know what to expect! That, and part of me still feels as though I have now officially joined "the looney brigade"

hmmm yes I was a goth for many years too. Probaby would be still, but feel like I am just getting a bit old for it

michaelad it's good to hear you are feeling something positive! any improvement is helpful, and hopefully it will keep going.

michaelad - how are you doing? (I am antid - feeling less anxious about everything now so losing the name change!)

hi jeangenie (do we have a Bowie fan lurking there?)
Still doing alright, still alot calmer, have a bad case of the runs atm (probably tmi, sorry). Don't know whether that's a side effect, but then I probably just caught it off ds2 who's been down with something lately. Oh, and it seems to be a bit easier to get up in the morning.
Apart from that I haven't noticed any changes so far. I wonder whether my GP is going to increase the dosage when I see him since I keep hearing that the norm is to start with 20mg and I'm only on 10mg.

How are you doing?
And whereabouts (roughly) are you, if you don't mind me asking?

Hi
I'm ok - feeling a bit calmer too although lost it a bit with DH tonight, still, much better than normal...have even been able to concentrate a bit at work (minor miracle!)
went back to GP today and he has left me on 10mg - told me to come back when I have about a weeks worth of current months prescription left and we'll see how I am doing, so that'll be in two weeks
I told him I was feeling generally better, less despondent and less irritable and he thought that was good and to just stay as I am - so maybe your GP will say that too. I'm happy with that, maybe my issue is more one of deep rooted anxieties (who knows!) - I think 10mg is normally used for anxiety/panic attacks etc...
anyway, will see how we go
good to hear you are feeling calmer, when are you due back to GP?
I am in London, how about you?
take it easy

I am a paid up member of the looney brigade too, and nobody would know unless they looked in my handbag.

jeangenie, I'm due back to see my GP next week (not sure off the top of my head, calendar's downstairs). I'm kind of hoping that he's going to increase the dosage. I'm calmer (sometimes to the point of feeling very distant which isn't something I would want longterm really), it is easier to get out of bed but I'm sure there's more that these tablets can achieve. I would like my motivation, my zest for life back..to be able to really enjoy life and my kids - and it feels still a long way away

We used to live in London (Harrow Weald) before we moved to a village near Chelmsford in Essex. I still go into London every couple of months for gigs or to see friends as it's not that far by train from here.

Gp appointment's next Tuesday and I've just received a letter regarding a CBT assessment at the end of October. It's a start!

nobody would know EVEN if they looked in my handbag - I keep my pills at home. Although from the state of my bag at times they could probably hazard a decent guess at the perilous state of my mental wellbeing, even without the pills...
good news about the CBT assessment Michaelad, I don't think my GP has even put me down for it, I must check. I think he said waiting lists were so long I should just go private. I've ordered the feeling good handbook so will see how I get on with that...
Gp probably will increase you if you say you still not feeling great
mine told me I would need to be on them until the new year, I am already worrying about coming off them as I couldn't bear to go back to how I was a couple of weeks ago. But maybe with CBT exercises and a bit of mental TLC to myself I'll be ok
take it easy

God, if any ever looked into my handbag there'd be no denying anymore there's something wrong with me! LOL

See, that's another thing that I've been wondering about. If these AD's alter the chemical balance in my brain, then doesn't that mean I have to stay on them permanently or otherwise I'd plunge right back into the abyss?

oh, and what's the feeling good handbook?

Are you my DP? lol

He started yester day - same tab - same dose

and is also starting a CBT course

I hope you and him feel better soon xx

well, I started 9 days ago and am a woman but apart from that .. LOL

opps sorry - i saw that the OP was on a wednesday and assumed it was yesterday!

sorry

are you feeling any different after 9 days?

in some ways, yes! I am alot calmer and somewhat less despondent than I used to be. Less shouting and tears in my house atm. But today I've also noticed side effects like being really tired and nauseous but this supposedly stops after the first few weeks.

Dp took his first one yesterday and fell asleep about 4 times during the day!

feeling good handbook terrifyingly cheesy cover but I have heard a lot of good things about it

blimey, that cover is bad!!!! LOL

Michealad can i ask you a few things please?

My DP has had bad headaches after taking the citalopram - did you have this? Also he says for a few hours after he feels 'dumb' like he cant think straight or doo anything and feels stupid at work.

Im just trying to gauge if this is normal at first - hes only on day 3.

thanks xxx

Are youok today?

butting in a bit to reassure you about your dh - I had bad headaches for a few days after starting too, and felt very spacey (was useless at work). Things calmed down after short time, although am not managing much at work today either, just can't get motivated
I hope the pills help him

DP, sorry!

No, no headaches at all. I do feel spaced out and somewhat "zombified" and have felt very nauseous yesterday (and so far today too). Hope it doesn't persist and it's just side effects that will wear off over time as many on here have said, will mention it to GP on Tuesday though.

michaelad - have you noticed any increase in appetite at all? yesterday and today I got out of bed feeling like I needed to eat a couple of horses for breakfast...
(am now getting anxious about putting on weight)

i actually totally lost my appetite for a week (but prob due to the shock of my horrible situation) but could eat a horse now!
and i lost 8lbs too, i wanna stay size 8!

the feeling of being 'zombied out' seems to be a rather common feeling when starting out. I also had nightmares, and a nasty 'gritty' feeling in my mouth. I felt really tired for a couple of weeks to.

my appetite went down and badly - I lost a dress size. Most people would be happy about that, but as I was already thin to start with I find it annoying to have EVERYTHING in my wardrobe too big for me. It took about 5 weeks before the appetite went back to normal, and I am just starting to pick up again. Still need to put back a few KG's to get back into my stuff

Hang in there, any improvement is a good thing. I hope the CBT works out for you. I am also doing CBT, though at the mo we are really focussing on bio-feedback and meditation to try and stay calm and not let the body react to it's triggers.

hi everyone, its always good to see these threads, not that it is good that we all have ishooos but that we are going in the right direction to helpourselves, and our loved ones.

Kitsandbits, don't worry about DP the side effects will fade. You sound like you have lots going on just now, i saw your thread about your sister - you must be a very strong person. Thing is, how are YOU? Hope your DP starts to feel ok. I take heart when i see that men are benefiting from this, i wish my DP would at least give them a try, he has had so much to deal with what with me and the financial wolves at the door. Life's hard isnt it - but it has its good bits too