***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 Squirdle pleased to meet you.

No Mascara im Twigy the new girl.

I have had a shite few days and am not looking forward to going to Ireland with the Lo tomorrow now.

Been crying alot for no real reason, think its because my little brother is moving back to ireland on friday for good!!

KK you sound so much more positive now. great.

Hi

I thought I had posted earlier, obviously didn't do it properly

Good luck Twigy for your trip, you are really doing well to go, and sorry to hear about your upset with your brother moving back, that is not good.

Come back on Mumsnet when you return, we will miss you.

Kay

Hi

I'm not officially a buddy any more as I am coming off and trying something else, due to the side effects I had.

Just wondered how everyone is doing today. I guess Twigy has gone off to Ireland.

Anyone else around?

KK please don't leave, it doesnt matter that you are not taking the citalopram anymore, you are always welcome. Actually, my doctor is talking about changing my medication as mine has stopped working and im slipping backwards so it will be interesting to see what you have instead.

Squirdle, you sound like a really brave person. 10mg is a very low dose actually, i started on 20mg, now on 40mg, thankfully when they upped the dosage there were no side effects, which was good.

can i just say one thing out loud here

FUCKING BLOODY BASTARD DEPRESSION - I WANT MY LIFE BACK

There, thats better

Thank god for Citalopram, i'm just starting to see the sun poking out from behind the black cloud thats been hanging over me for the last 6 months, back at work now after 2 months signed off by my GP, she wants me to keep taking 40mg for the next 3 months, ive been too depressed to even post on this thread, just went into my shell and didnt want to talk about it. My dark days are getting fewer and fewer, my only gripe now is the damn insomnia! but its not as bad as it was when i first starting taking my pills.

Anyway, just thought i would share with you all, there is light at the end of the tunnel

that's great news, lucky! I'm on 20mg but the doc did say he would probably up it later on. It's been 2 weeks now since I started so I am hoping to see/feel an improvement soon.

Thanks itsahardnotlife, i hope you start to feel better soon, i started on 20mg too, first couple of weeks were hell though, i had such bad side effects, stick with it though, it does get better.

I do actually feel quite postive today, in a weird way. I am actually showered and dressed before midday!

if anyone fancies being slightly cheered up and having a laugh at my expense.. see the thread in chat about a carp start to another day in the crap week (or something similar) I'm an eejit. lol

oh mascara I did that once! A friend had bought a new house and hadn't cleaned the loo. I thought this was gross, so texted another friend to tell her. Except I texted the dirty-loo woman. She sent me an (understandably) arsey reply and we haven't spoken since. That was three years ago. Whoops. She probably still hasn't cleaned her loo though...

Hi everyone,

Not feeling too bad today but do still feel very tired! I don't know if the tablets are working already (I know they aren't to their full effect yet) but I do feel calmer today. More chilled with the children. Mind you, it is school pick up time soon so I shall probably eat my words then.
10mg is a low dose isn't it, but from what some of you have said about side effects I am glad it is low for now. I can always increase it in a few weeks.

how is everyone today?

Hi Itsa

After having a few good days since calling the Ambulance, I'm not good this morning. I am wondering if it would have been better to persevere with the Citalopram now!!!! Anyway too late, I stopped it, really anxious, worrying about everything this morning, trying to do Breathing to keep calm.

How are you feeling?

I'm ok - I feel a bit cloudy in the head (if that makes sense). It might be the tablets in my system (been 2 weeks now) or maybe I am gatting a cold!!
Your anxiety might be the tablets wearing off maybe? Are you going to try something else instead?

Hi

I am feeling Ok this morning. Had a long, sunny, wind swept walk this morning and now feeling virtuously tired!

Would love a bath and a snooze but need to collect the dcs from school soon

Hello Everyone,
Do you mind if i join in even though i'm not an actually on Citalopram anymore. I was prescribed them but for some reason they didn't agree with me and my anxiety took a turn for the worse after just one 20mg tablet!!
I'm now on Dolsulepin which are great and are just beginning to settle down my anxiety and panic attacks.

The reason that i was prescribed anti d's was because of my constant worrying about my health and that i had a brain tumor or some other terminal illness. The worrying progressed into panic attacks which left me in a constant anxious state for a few weeks before christmas. I was so bad that i lost half a stone in weight and even made a few trips to A&E as i thought i was about to drop dead or go mad!
I have had a very difficult few years as i sadly lost my Dd to Meningitis in April 2005 and the experiance of watching her die has obviously left a scare.
I am due to start CBT in a few weeks so hopefully this will help along with the anti d's.

Take care all xx

I've been back to Docs, and am on Escitalopram is it? the close relative. She suggested Valium and then Beta Blockers (but I am slightly Asthmatic so we decided that it might give other problems) and finally I am going to try 5mg for a week and then increase it.

Has anyone had any esperience of these ones?

Anyway everyone seems to be doing ok, has anyone tried this breathing for panic attacks, I have been trying it all day.

I haven't heard of Escitalopram, I'm afraid. Do let us know how you get on.

Hi

Well, took the first tablet last night, and slept a lot better, almost all through the night, and no anxiety and burning feelings.
Now I'm worrying was that just me getting back to normal from stopping Citalopram because surely 1 new tablet wouldn't have helped?

God I wish I could just stop analysing everything and RELAX!!!!!!!!!

Hi. I've just found this thread. May I join you all? Good to see there are people around that can understand what I'm going through. Feels strange talking to people in RL who pretend to understand but, in fact, have no idea at all how I'm feeling.
I re-started Citalopram 20mg about six months ago (can't remember exactly - my brain is like mush ). I'd been on it before and got myself feeling great and feeling in control. Almost a year after stopping it I started feeling like everything was getting too much and ended up going back to the GP. I was so cross and so disappointed with myself not being able to cope without having to take ADs.
So, here I am. I have another two months supply but have to make an appointment with GP in the next two weeks. I think he wants to talk to me about reducing doseage. Not sure how I feel about that. Been doing quite well but for the past four days, for no reason at all, I've been feeling tired, moody and very tearful. Poor DH is walking round on eggshells, AGAIN!

Morning Buddies, very quiet on the board this morning, where is everyone????

HI there, I am around.
Well the tablets should have started working in the last few days but I have gone back to feeling how I was before I started them - to be honest I would rather have the side effects back and feel drunk again!
I go back to the doc on Thurs and my OH reckons he will up the dose. What do you think?

morningkkgirl. I thought it was quiet on here too. Hope everyone is ok.

Hi Itsa and Sparkler - I love that name it reminds me of Bonfire Night and I love Fireworks.

Itsa what do you feel today then? and what is the dose.

Take care
KK

20mg at the mo. I've started having panic attacks though, where it's hard to breathe and I tense up. COuld that be the tablets or the 'illness' itself?