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Original poster

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

1000 replies

ShinyHappyPurpleSeveredHeads · 25/10/2007 12:18

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?

OP posts:
cremolafoamingatthemouth · 25/10/2007 15:02

sometimes take phenergan, but only if i don't have to get up before 8am and i am feeling panicky.it is an antihistamine
also sleep with a lavender bag under my pillow which helps a bit
alos have an agreement with dh thathe comes to bed at the same time as me so he doesn't disturb me if i have managed to fall asleep.

OozingSlashesFromTigerFeet · 25/10/2007 15:06

I don't MO'H, for the very reasons you state

However I do like a drink, nothing excessive, just a couple of glasses of wine or V&C's two or three nights a week. Always, always makes me feel like shite the next day though, much worse than if I had a drink before I started taking the medication. I know you aren't supposed to drink at all but hey ho

MascaraOHara · 25/10/2007 15:37

My GP says it's OK to drink on Citalopram as long as it's not to excess (as it conter acts the effects) he also said that they only ever realle say no alcohol for the problem drinkers.

spookybatoscar · 25/10/2007 15:44

My insomnia was cured by reducing caffiene in my diet. I sleep quite well now

If you don't want to cut it out totally just stick to a morning cuupa before 11 am

IdrisTheDragon · 25/10/2007 15:47

Hello . Have found a thread I can join in .

Have been taking citalopram for nearly 4 weeks now, after a reoccurance of depression. I am on 20mg (I think). It is definitely helping me.

Had horrible nausea to start with, but was expecting that. Also had about half a glass of wine, which made me feel really yuck. Do not feel like alcohol at all at the moment, which is probably good.

Will read all the thread now.

IdrisTheDragon · 25/10/2007 15:51

I find takign them before bed seems to work. Am mainly OK with sleeping (as much as an ever wakeful 2 year old DD means I can be), although had a waking up at 3am and not able to go to sleep again about a week ago.

I am much less irritable which is very good.

I was taking sertraline from March 05 until this April and came off it (sensibly). Thought I was all right, but I wasn't . Am coming to accept that being on ADs is all right, really, but still feel my own stigma IYKWIM.

I haven't really felt like sex for ages anyway so have no idea whether the ADs affect me in that way.

OozingSlashesFromTigerFeet · 25/10/2007 16:10

Hi Idris

I used to feel my own stigma but don't any more. I look at it as a chemical imbalance in my brain which needs to be fixed. DH is diabetic and takes insulin, and although I know it isn't quite the same it is an illness that needs a treatment.

lucyellensmum · 25/10/2007 16:41

Can i join?

I am on 40mg citalopram for anxiety disorder and depression. I wont go into the history as it pretty much mirrors what alot of you guys have said already.

One thing though, and i hope im not asked to leave - ever since ive been on the tablets, my orgasms, whilst being a little harder to achieve are out of this world, i honestly nearly lose control - so i guess i'll be looking to keep on them for a while yet.

I was told six months, have been on them two now - dont really want to not be taking them. I have my first counselling session on monday, im quite scared as i dont want to rock the boat.

IdrisTheDragon · 25/10/2007 16:46

I try and think of it being like DH having an inhaler for asthma.

lucyellensmum · 25/10/2007 16:47

MAscara, interesting about the alcohol, i do miss the odd glass when im out

truffaut · 25/10/2007 17:10

Been on it for longer than months, also just started therapy. Want to get pregnant but don't want to come off the drugs!

Original poster
ShinyHappyPurpleSeveredHeads · 25/10/2007 17:14

LEM wow lucky you. Before I stopped taking them I seemed to have worked out a way to get there.. and was quite pleased with myself.. but still, the thought in my mind that I probably wouldn't, obviously had a psychological impact. Then, when I was off them for a couple of weeks, I remembered what an orgasm was supposed to feel like.. and the half baked ones didn't seem as impressive!!

Since going back on the tablets, I can't "get there" at all.. it's as if.. and sorry if this is TMI, ones clit has dropped orf! Bit depressing in itself actually!!

Don't get me wrong, we aren't at it like rabbits or anything.. we are too bloody knackered.. but it is important to both of us

OP posts:
MascaraOHara · 25/10/2007 17:15

Hi guys,

LEM - Check with your GP, I rang mine the first time I was on them.. and he said yep absolutely fine as long as it's not to excess regularly

Original poster
ShinyHappyPurpleSeveredHeads · 25/10/2007 17:15

Our GP said we could drink. We don't do so to excess, we just like a few at the weekend. Not noticed any difference in the effect since being on citalopram.

OP posts:
Original poster
ShinyHappyPurpleSeveredHeads · 25/10/2007 17:17

Bloody hell.. how many of your lot are going to the Christmas meet up??! You'll be wondering about the wellbeing of my clit!! Please don't ask me.. I'll run away screaming!!!

OP posts:
SueBarooeeooeeooooo · 25/10/2007 18:10

Please someone send some positive vibes my way, I'm starting to really feel VERY jittery as I'm coming off my previous medication. Haven't even started the bloody Citalopram yet!!

Original poster
ShinyHappyPurpleSeveredHeads · 25/10/2007 18:16
OP posts:
truffaut · 25/10/2007 19:21

Don;t worry, you will feel better soon, citalopram rocks!

MascaraOHara · 25/10/2007 20:47

You'll be alright Sue! Just keep going and give the Citalopram a good couple of weeks before you expect any results

Moomalicious · 26/10/2007 09:39

Agh, I'm in bits today. My ds had a whopping temperature last night (39.6 until I got some calpol and brufen in him) and was up in the night. I don't think i've ever felt this tired. I keep falling asleep on the sofa. Thankfully ds is being really good and is just sitting with me and not wrecking the house, though he's just told me he's fed the cats , don't think I can bear to go and look to see what he's done.

lucyellensmum · 26/10/2007 10:15

Sleep deprivation should be illeagal, i think that when we have babies, we should draw up little contracts with them, written in alphabet spaghetti if necessary - No, keeping mummy awake, no "helping" until you can actually make a significant contribution, no getting dirty, put your toys away, at 7.30 we expect you to say, nite nite mummy, i want to go to bed now, see you in the morning!!!
In return you can have all the love in the world (well they can have that anyway, just don't let on

MascaraOHara · 26/10/2007 10:23

Oh poor you mooma! Sounds difficult. you're right though, at least he is just sitting with you.. could you both snuggle down on the sofa and fall asleep in front of the tv for a bit?

Moomalicious · 26/10/2007 10:32

I'm tyring to get going now. Got loads to do as usual and I've promised I'll sew some bat wings on ds's skeleton costume as for some unknown reason he wants to be a skeleton bat for halloween. Need to get to the shop for material today as it's only open wed's to sat and I'll never get there tomorrow, so it's last chance today.

LEM, your post is the first thing to make me smile this morning so thank you!! I love the idea of making the contract from alphabetti spaghetti.

OozingSlashesFromTigerFeet · 26/10/2007 13:32

It can be really tough can't it, knowing that you should be doing something but can't find the energy or motivation

I told myself I would make dd a dress for her halloween costume this weekend - she wants to be a witch, we have a hat, a broom etc and I suppose I could buy her a dress but I really wanted to make her one. Dh is at work all weekend and I really don't fancy doing it now.

But I will do it, I will feel better about myself for having made the effort.

I love your contract too LEM - dd is learning to write her name so I could get her to sign it for practice

spookybatoscar · 26/10/2007 14:14

I find that I'm having periods of feeling down and the world is caving in and I don't do enough and I'm on citalopram...FGS this isn't supposed to happen is it?

I'd like to consider coming off the med in 6 mths but...why is this happening?

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