***Citalopram Buddies... ;o)***

[ShinyHappyPurpleSeveredHeads]

Well.. jumping in on the act of the other "buddy threads", there seem to a shed load of us on citalopram.

How many of us are there exactly?

What dosage are you all on? Is it working?

I'm on 10mg for anxiety. It certainly takes the edge off the panic feelings and stops me waking up with that dreadful, crippling anxious feeling, as if my stomach's in a vice. But being as things are a bit crap at the moment, I do feel generally down even though I've never been technically considered depressed (just suffering from lifestyle induced anxiety!)

DH is on 20mg. Similar reasons, slightly different symptoms.

We have been on it since June.

I came off mine (sensibly) a month of so ago but the horrid panic came back and I just couldn't face all that again. It makes life "un-do-able" and I have a lot of stuff that I have to get done everyday/responsibilities etc. So not sure what the answer is but I certainly don't want to stay on anti depressants forever and GP originally mentioned a 6 month time slot.

What are other's experiences?

PS I hate the "no orgasm" side effect of citalopram!! It really really bothers me.. main reason I wanted to come off it.. but I hate the anxiety more! Anyone else on it suffer in that way?

Hi

Are any of the buddies around this morning.
Had a hellish day and night yesterday, with what I think must be mega side effects. I couldn't get to sleep last night and was burning up like I had a fever and panicking, wanted someone to get me to hospital and sort me out. DH was very good and I have phoned NHS Direct this morning to ask if I should carry on, has only been three days. The out of hours GP has just phoned and said carry on, I just feel so scared and so like a baby not being able to deal with it

how are you feeling now? I wouldn't give up if I were you - that was probably the worst of it.

ItSa

Thanks. I didn't take the tablet until 9.45 as DH was out taking the courtesy car back and collecting mine which had been in for repair. He has now gone out again.
I do feel a bit better so far, shaky and hot and weak, but lack of sleep doesn't help with that does it?

Anyway so far have washed dressed dried hair, unloaded dishwasher turned tumble drier on, eaten half a bagel and an orange and feel happy that I have managed it. I think the days will be better for me when DH and the kids are home, I can't dwell on things too much and have to try and keep fairly normal for them, poor little devils.

If yesterday was the worst then I can cope, I didn't like the burning sensation, it is probably hormonal, I'm sure the menopause has a lot to answer for. Thanks for you support.

Are you feeling any better, I saw your post above, are you on medication now?

Hi girls having one of them days when I cant be bothered to do anything. Just got showered and dressed!

Ive been off work for 4mths, and when my next line runs out am due back and that makes me anxious. I start work at 7am so am up from 5am and find it a real struggle getting through the day!! Think a walk might do me some good, the sun is actually out but got loads of housework to do!!!

kkgirl you seem a lot more motivated than me! I did feel bad for the first week, but have felt better in the last couple of days. Just a few more days and the pills should kick in!

Twigy, that sounds like my usual day to me when I am not working. Been off for nearly two weeks. I often think a walk will help but it's hard to find the motivation. My OH keeps me going - he kind of bullies me to go out, which is good because I always feel better then.

Itsa

I feel such a fake, I am hardly doing anything, after the good start, I took the tablet and have been on the sofa ever since. Suddenly now I feel a tiny tiny spurt of energy so have stripped DD's bed ready to make it.

I am hoping that I will be the same and start to feel a bit better after the first week, I am glad you are starting to feel better.

I am going to ask DH to just take me out along the lane (100 yards) feel safer staying in really, but I will feel a bit better if I try.

Hang on in there girls.

I have been on them about 10 days now and am feeling much better; all the side effects (spaced out, tired, sick) have gone and I am getting back into things - reading etc

I think it helped that I went swimming a couple of times at the beginning so the exercise built up my serotonin levels to add to the effect of the meds

Still have little motivation to do much else and plan to take a couple more weeks off work (had 2 weeks so far)

My boss is great, has told me not to rush back but make sure I am fully fit first!

I would say stick it out for a bit longer

Thanks Autumnmists, the million dollar question when did the side effects go. I'm on day 4 and it is a real struggle, always go to my mum and dads on a saturday, but as it is 20 miles have cried off, more chance of flying to the moon atm. I asked dd to walk along the lane with me, she thought I was mad as it is only about 25 yards, but small steps for me. I've just made her bed and am going to try eating, have so lost my appetite.

Well im still in the couldnt-be-bothered mood!! I didnt even make that walk, went upstairs and climbed into bed with the Big Man!!

All my energy has been sapped out of me.

I have been on Fluoxetine and I never got any side affects, I did feel spaced the 1st day I took them but after than nothing.

kkgirl, I felt very anxious for a few days in the first week and wondered if I was developing agoraphobia! But I think it was a side effect and I haven't felt too bad today. Stick with it because I feel much better now than I did a few days ago.

I was on fluoxetine a few years back. It got me through a hard time but I was unable to live normally on them - and there was no way I could do my job in them. That's one of the reasons the doc gave me citalopram this time.

Twigy, I know how you feel! If my other half wasn't here I would still be in bed now!

It was probably a week before all the side effects went - sickness lasted 3 days, spaced out another couple and tired (sleeping all day and most of the night )couple more but now all is going well

Looking back I do actually rememebr being slightly more anxious but it did not really register as I am not normally anxious anyway, just thoguht it was the depression but looking back it may have been the pills

Keep going, it should get better soon - my counsellor said they kick in on around day 9

Autumn, did your GP arrange the councelling (sp?)?

No - I got it through work, have been having counselling since late Oct, but in the normal way of things got worse before better so ended up at the docs at the beginning of Jan

counselling really worked for me tho, but you have to be prepared to be really honest.

my boss is going to organise something through occupational health, but she said it may take a while.
I go back to the docs in a week and a half and was going to ask if he could arrange something. I saw someone when I was a teenager and it helped, although I don't remember it very well.
What sort of thing could I expect?

I knoiw, Im a bit thick lol

But how do you pronounce Citalopram?

I will have to order a repeat prescrition soon and will end up sounding a right idiot

I have been pronouncing it as 'site' but it could well be 'sit'. Not sure and I don't think anyone will mind if you get it wrong. They'll probably think you ar eright and they were wrong!

I write it on some paper and give it to whoever. Then I say I spelt it out to make it easier for them!!! But I can get away with saying it wrong cause im irish!!!!

Just managed to get on here as all kids are out.

How are you guys doing today? I was thinking of having a new thread for anyone going through this to try and encourage and support a more positive side of the illness, anyone interested?

I'm not having a good day. Woke up in a bad mood with OH letting DS run around our room. OH has now gone to the supermarket to buy stuff for dinner because he has invited his brother over. This afternoon OH is going to an AA meeting - so I will be left with DS in the rain to collect 60 Avon books in on my own. Sorry for the rant.

Oh Itsa

Sorry to hear that you are not having a good day, bad start doesn't help. Being new to this illness, I guess it is very up and down, a few bad days, then some good bits, and its learning to cope with it.

God, I think if this rain cleared up we'd all feel better, it just doesn't break does it.

As you mentioned in your earlier post, I am now scared to go out, feel fairly ok in the house now, safe if you like.

DD took me for a 25 yds walk along the lane opposite our house yesterday, I felt such an idiot. DH said he was going to take me to The Mall, our large shopping centre for coffee, and I freaked, the thought terrified me, its like all confidence has gone.

Thinking of you. Hang on in there.

Thanks kk. I've cheered up a bit now. OH has said he'll come with me this afternoon and skip the meeting.
It's weird because I havent been out on my own for a while now and thought is terrifying. I think that by this time next week I should feel much better though because it'll be over two weeks by then.

Itsa

Glad to hear you feel a bit better. I feel the same, I was last week before starting on these tablets able to go out to collect and ferry kids about a bit, but since Friday, I couldn't face going out yesterday, DH was going to walk around the block with me, but now has to pick boys up but we can still go when he gets back.

I think that in time, when the medication fully kicks right in that we'll get back to dealing with all these things which are automatic when you feel on top of things, and which seem so mountainous at the moment. I'm trying not to be hard on myself about it and think well I have managed to do this, this and this.

Take Care

Hey girls
just been reading what you have been chatting about, I was ok going out, well i didnt have a choice. It was go out or stay in all day and not see anyone!!

I think you are both doing really well and are getting out even for a bit!!

Itsa I know you can do it. Would it help to meet me for a coffee somewhere near you on your own, tell hubby where you are of course.

yes that would be good, Twigy, thanks.