Citalopram

[sunshinevalentine]

Has anybody taken Citalopram? What was your experiences and did you have any side effects? I've just been given it for PND

It'll probably make you nauseous and anxious at first. It never really worked for me and I am on venlafaxine long term now instead. However there are a lot of reports of good results for citalopram on MN discussions, have a look if you can find them. I hope you start to feel better soon. Good luck.

I got virtually all the side effects listed on the leaflet including suicidal ideation so was taken off them and am now on mirtazapine. Tricyclics didn't work for me either.

However how you react will be individual to you. Many people find citalopram very effective and get very few side effects.

You simply need to try it and see how you are. Keep in contact with your GP so you can react quickly if there are any side effects.

So I tried a few weeks of both citalopram and then a tricyclic before finding mirtazapine which worked for me. I then had to titrate up to 45mg before it fully helped my symptoms. So it was quite a process but was well worth it thinking about where I was at before I.started.

Citalopram worked really well for me. It wasn't the first AD I tried but I finally recovered on it. I had to up the dose several times. Side effect was loss of libido. It's very personal so don't be scared to go back the gp if it isn't working or you need a higher dose. I started on 2g which didn't work and ended up on 60m

It's worked really well for me. No real side effects apart from being a bit tearful and unable to concentrate well. Started at 10mg and worked up to 30mg. Best thing I've ever done.

It’s been life-changing for me. I’m on 40mg a day. Has given me my life back. I feel like I used to, before depression and fear took over. It doesn’t block my emotions, rather I am able to cope with and address things without being weighed down by constant low mood. Its hard to explain. I felt spaced out when I first started on it but it didn’t last very long - maybe just a few weeks. Certainly works for me. I hope it does for you too, or you find something that does the same job.

It's been great for me too. I'm only on 30mg, but it really helps. I've been on it for about 14yrs now. I've tried to come off it twice, but without success. I'd be happy to stay on it forever to be honest.
Try it. You can always change brand if necessary.

Citalopram has been great for me! I've been on it for 6 months now. The only side effect I had was that I was really tired for the first week or so because I was taking it in the morning, as soon as I started taking it at night there was no more issues

Was on it for a short time. It worked for me but did struggle for the first three weeks or so. Weird jaw clench thing , and lack of sex drive.

It seems to vary a lot between people. I have been on it for a long time and have now lowered my dose to the minimum. I’m fine on it with no issues. I am on it long term as I have a huge list of chronic conditions plus depression and am unable to get out of bed most days. Citalopram keeps me on an even keel.

Literally has saved my life.

I'm on 20 mg. Year 4 or 5 now? Overall it serves its purpose well.

Side effects: Less emotions / less personality to me. It's turned me into someone different. I used to be bubbly now I'm .. practical I guess. Def not fun anymore. And No dreams at night.
Generally much more tired than I should be for someone my age/doing what I do.

Pluses: I am able to concentrate much better, stress much less and multitask better.

The moment I stop it (I've tried several times), great vivid dreams at night return but the stress and migraines also follow.

It worked well for me. The side effects were annoying - loss of libido and night sweats - but I didn't have much interest in sex when
I was depressed, so the fact that I noticed made me think I must be feeling better. It wasn't a magic bullet but it lifted the fog enough for me to get through each day.

I've been on it for 7 weeks. First AD I've tried after many years of anxiety and PTSD.

Side effects were nausea the first couple of days (seems to help to take with a full meal), weird but not unpleasant tingly 'rushes' down arms and legs, yawning, teeth clenching, bladder pain (I'm prone to but made it worse). These lasted a few days then went away. When I ran out of the prescription for 6 days the nausea and digestion probs were awful and I had lots of detailed dreams.

Side effects which have remained - lack of sex drive sadly.

They have definitely helped my anxiety. I still feel worried/anxious or panic. Only way I can describe it is before it was like an engine going from 0-60 and with tablets the engine (anxiety) starts up but quickly 'stalls'.

I am much calmer with the DC. Feel I'm thinking more rationally about everything.

On 20mg from the start. Hoping they don't stop working.

I've been on Citalopram for a good while. There was some nausea to begin with during the first couple of weeks and I remember having an occasional light-headedness not dissimilar to the feeling when you stand up too quickly. It has, however, had an amazing result - the side effects were ultimately nothing compared to the difference the pills have made to my life. Give it time and take care of yourself as your body adjusts 💐

Thank you all for sharing your experiences. Took my first tablet this morning so will see how I go. Isn't it ironic feeling anxious about taking anxiety tablets 😂

Worked very well for me took a couple
of months to get to the perfect dose, however huge weight gain and loss of libido were side effects for me. I was on it for about a year but then spent another four to five months dropping dosage and weaning off of it with Dr advice.

Can I just ask, has anybody had any side effects from drinking caffeine whilst taking Citalopram? Thanks ☺️

@sunshinevalentine not that I remember although I do find that drinking 'proper' coffee is one of the triggers for my anxiety anyway so have switched to decaf. I still make a cafetière and get the taste but it was making me unbearable anxious. We are a decaf house now (words I never thought I would say)

I was given it for pnd. It worked wonders. I started feeling better the next day. I've had no side effects except a higher libido

I haven't noticed any issues with caffeine.

Hi everyone, did anybody get Heart palpitations on Citalopram? I've been getting them all day 🙁 my medication was up'd to 20mg about a month ago and this is the first its really happened. Not sure whether to be concerned all not 🤔