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Mental health

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Original poster

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

73 replies

michaelad · 12/09/2007 21:32

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"

OP posts:

lucyellensmum · 22/09/2007 09:37

re the weight loss, that was one side effect i was hoping for!

vizbizz · 23/09/2007 21:31

isn't it always the way - you get the side effects you DIDN'T want!

Original poster

michaelad · 24/09/2007 17:13

had a complete relapse for the last two days..the anger, the nightmares, the tears..as if the last week and a half of taking the tablets had never happened

will talk to my GP tomorrow...

OP posts:

jeangenie · 24/09/2007 20:37

so sorry to hear it. talk to GP, you are going tomorrow aren't you?
did anything in particular precipitate this relapse?
look after yourself

lucyellensmum · 24/09/2007 21:21

oh, sorry to hear that michealad. Hopefully the doc will sort your meds out for you tomorrow. We are here if you need to rant

allgonebellyup · 25/09/2007 10:46

michealad, im in the same position, and youve only been on the tablets for a week and a half! ive been told it can take up to 8 weeks to really feel the effects so dont give up!
i am patiently (not) waiting too...

HumphreysCorner · 25/09/2007 10:54

Hugs michaelad ((xx))

I too am on 10 mg Citalopram and have been for 5 months and am feeling so human again. I remember the Zombie feeling which lasted a few weeks and even now I wake up chilled so my 4 yr old DD doesn't get shouted at so much. I knew something was wrong as my temper was horrendous. The first month on the AD's was v. difficult as I actually felt much worse but had regular talking sessions with my HV which got me through it. Do keep going back to the Dr though. Thinking of you today.

HC
x

Original poster

michaelad · 25/09/2007 11:27

first of all, thanks everyone for the lovely posts and hugs!!
Right, went to my GP today and he has upped my dose to 20mg and told me to come back in 4 wks (or earlier if I get any adverse reactions). By then I will have had my CBT assessment aswell and can discuss the outcome with him too.

How's everybody else feeling today?
Jeanie, you ok?
Kits, how's your dp doing?
agbu, fingers crossed that something changes soon for you!!

OP posts:

jeangenie · 26/09/2007 10:00

hi michaelad - glad to hear you sounding bit better - how you doing today?
I am ok. Still feeling far less despondent and less irritable all round. Still can't concentrate at work (but that may be just because I find it deathly boring of course). Realised yesterday that I am still quite anxious - I leave home in the morning and have random thoughts about having lost my entire family by the time I get home, that sort of thing. Presumably that's not completely normal? or is it?
on the whole, MUCH better though
DH is now depressed I think (maybe I can just see it a bit more clearly as I am not in the fug of gloom myself) so I am trying to persaude him to go to GP. He is typical man though, doesn't want to talk to anyone else about it. I think he is impressed by how much better I seem to be now though so may be having a rethink...
it's hard to know how much of this stuff comes from just trying to juggle too much - career, kids, relationship, mortgage, friends etc etc etc - it all seems so hard sometimes. ..my GP before said I was just trying to do too much - I asked him what I should do : give the kids away or stop working and lose the house. He didn't really have an answer. I think life in the 21st century is just a very stressful place to be

dellgirl13 · 26/09/2007 10:50

i have had bouts of depression for 17 years since the birth of my first child.it was initially post natal but took 6 months to be diagnosed. at that time i was anti drugs so i just carried on then after i became pregnan with my 3rd i suffered awfull pre natel depression and was put on citalopram when he was 1 day old i have been on them for 4 and a half years they have been a god sent. have took myself off them a couple of times but decided now i will take them for the rest of my life (if allowed) its like i am a new person and there are no side effects

jeangenie · 26/09/2007 11:10

dellgirl - I was just saying to DH last night that after resisting the whole idea of ADs for years even when feeling really down I now plan to stay on them forever if I can at all - it's so nice to feel even halfway normal after years and years of feeling miserable all the time...
my GP may have a different plan though...

dellgirl13 · 26/09/2007 15:33

jeangenie-i think you can actually buy them off the internet if they take them away from us!!

MerryMarigold · 26/09/2007 15:37

Hi michaelad. Just seen this, your original post. I am on 20mg citalopram too. I feel a lot better for it. Had a few side effects to start, the main one being less appetite, which was great - loved not feeling hungry all day and even lost a bit of weight! Unfortunately didn't last past 4-6 weeks! I think it was a very good decision taking it, and have felt soooooo much better. Hope all goes well for you...

lucyellensmum · 26/09/2007 17:13

dellgirl, i would have thought that illeagal, just a caveat - i heard on the radio the other day that many of the drugs sold on the internet are sub standard, often having incorrect doses, with what we are taking, that is a big worry.

I don't plan on giving mine back anytime soon either

Original poster

michaelad · 27/09/2007 19:46

Hi everyone, nothing much to report (and I guess no news is good news). Am on day2 of taking 20mg and have not noticed anything so far..but I didn't really expect it to have an effect straight away. Hopefully the blissful calm will set in soon...mind you, having broken 2 of my toes by walking into the corner of an archway in our house doesn't help. Giving birth to two children was a walk in the park compared to that pain! So, am stuffed full of codeine tablets and doing my "school hobble" every day
And yes, Jean, I can absolutely relate to life in the 21st century being quite hard. My mum keeps saying that when she (or my nan) had children, people didn't worry about stuff half as much as they do now. Curse all those parenting manuals and blardy "successful yummy mummy" columns!!

OP posts:

allgonebellyup · 27/09/2007 19:49

can i just say today is my 16th day on citalopram and i feel amazing for the first time, if a little spacey!
cant stop cuddling the kids and i feel amazingly calm..

am scared this feeling wont last, but just to say to everyone keep on taking them

Original poster

michaelad · 27/09/2007 19:51

Agbu!! That's great news! Long may it last!!!

OP posts:

allgonebellyup · 27/09/2007 19:54

yes long may it last!
its only been the past few hours its really come on, i hope it stays forever.

lucyellensmum · 27/09/2007 21:39

micheal, i do actually think that all the alpha mummy and development charts, and on and on, have a lot to answer for. Right from the start we are under pressure to have a perfectly fed, perfectly behaved child who can count to ten in french before they reach one!! My tablets do work, i can't say i notice the calm as blissful, but i am certainly able to cope more and am not terrified anymore.

ABGU, that is really good to hear, be prepared to have bad days, but this is good day number one, the first of many. Cuddle your children, they are lucky to have you, enjoy them.

Original poster

michaelad · 02/10/2007 20:10

Day 6 on the increased dose of 20 mg now and I am just dog tired and seem to have lost all interest in sex (sorry if tmi). Nothing much positive to report really
Have broken my little toe doesn't help ...

OP posts:

jeangenie · 02/10/2007 22:18

awwwh your poor toe - how did you do that?

hang in there, surely it will improve - if not maybe you just have to try something else I guess

hoping things get better for you

pneumalifenewname · 02/10/2007 22:21

well done michaelad - me too!

Are you getting really HOT and kind of 'glowing'? I have driven through a red light, fallen over and fallen down the stairs this week, otherwise all good on the citalopram!

Original poster

michaelad · 04/10/2007 10:32

No, no glowing here... However, I seem to sweat a lot more these days. Has anyone experienced that? It is on the list of side effects so no real worry there. It's just odd.

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