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Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention.

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Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention.

Mental health

Citalopram

75 replies

loupielou1 · 16/05/2022 18:39

Hi has anyone been or is on citalopram? Can you give me an insight on how they've worked or not worked for you? My doctor has prescribed me it but I'm anxious to take it

OP posts:

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Hiddenvoice · 16/05/2022 18:40

I was prescribed it previously. At first I didn’t like taking it. I felt a little shaky and agitated with it so came off of it. I was then prescribed it again and told to try stay on it a little longer. I managed to and feel like it did make a difference but I felt I needed to ween off of it when I felt that I wanted to stop taking it.

lookforthesun · 16/05/2022 18:43

A wonder drug. the first 2 weeks it doesn't do anything, if anything makes you a little worse but then it really is brilliant. Are you on it for anxiety or depression? And what dose? 20mg a day or higher?

loupielou1 · 16/05/2022 18:44

@lookforthesun for both depression and anxiety and 20mg at the moment

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Cliftontherocks · 16/05/2022 18:46

Two weeks nothing absolutely nothing. Slightly more anxious if anything. Three weeks took the edge off 4 weeks I felt normal - I will be on them another year or so and aim to come off them May 2023 - long term counselling during this time. I take 10 mg.

anotherminiadventure · 16/05/2022 19:02

I take 10mg. I felt a huge difference to my anxiety within 7-10 days. However, I did struggle with feeling nauseous for a couple of weeks. I took 10mg for a month then went up to 20mg. But, I felt so flat, completely detached and tuned out. It also gave me diarrhoea (apparently a known side effect).
After a month I went back to 10mg and it was like a fog lifting. I honestly feel so much better. I'll be on them for the foreseeable.

DrBrennerFan · 16/05/2022 19:06

Was on it for years but decided to come off as I’m coming all my meds except paracetamol, ibuprofen gel. It worked for me but realised especially last year and this just as depressed on it as without so came of them slowly. You’ll feel do-y for a few days at first depending what your doze it.

stargirl1701 · 16/05/2022 19:07

After 3 months, I still felt no improvement. Now on venaflaxine.

Amiable · 16/05/2022 19:20

I've been on Citalopram for around 8 years. I started on 10 for a couple of weeks, and had no problems/side effects, so went up to 20mg which is what I'm still on.

I honestly think it saved my life, and my family. I had previously had depressive episodes which saw me virtually bedbound. In the last 8 years that has not happened once. The citalopram doesn't wipe out all my emotions, but means I no longer have to deal with the extreme downs I had below.

It helps me be me again.

lemons44 · 16/05/2022 19:24

It has changed my life for the better.

MadsMikkelsensWaterBottle · 16/05/2022 19:30

It has helped me massively for anxiety and depression, also I'm in peri menopause and it's 95% cut the hot flashes.
I started on 10mg, upped to 20mg now I'm back on 10mg, I won't be coming off them anytime soon.

Gingercatlover · 16/05/2022 19:34

I used to take 20mg for anxiety but came down to 10mg last year and stayed at that.
Would recommend, they saved my sanity.

iklboo · 16/05/2022 19:36

A life saver for me too. I'm on 30mg. I was extremely low, anxious, suicidal thoughts, couldn't see a way out. I plucked up the courage to take to my GP. I started on 20mg then upped to 30. I was a bit shaky & skittish for the first couple of weeks but after that I started feeling much better.

Pieceofpurplesky · 16/05/2022 19:36

I have been on 30mg for years. For
Me it takes that edge off that I lived with for years. Every day used to be horrific with my anxiety and depression. I still get anxious but not life ending anxious

Stressofherregard · 16/05/2022 19:38

I've been taking it for years and it really helped. I am on 40g, hoping to taper down to 30g over the rest of this year.

motherofdragons33 · 16/05/2022 19:43

Positive ish experience with citalopram. I couldn't say it 'fixed' my anxiety but it made me clearer header and feeling stronger and more capable. Side effects included being a bit light headed and spaced out for the first week or so then again when I was coming off it. More annoyingly I totally lost the ability to climax during sex. Literally didn't happen once for me during the year I was on it...apparently this is a very common side effect.

loupielou1 · 16/05/2022 23:30

Do you feel it helped you feel more confident in yourself?

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sweetkitty · 16/05/2022 23:38

I’ve been on it for years too, am currently on 40mg, have been up and down over the year I have came off them and been ok for about 6 months then all the depression and anxiety creeps back. Like others have said they don’t block it all out but just enough to make you want to get out of bed every morning. I also have chronic pain so they help with that too.

Showit · 16/05/2022 23:42

Took 20mg a day for a while years ago to get through a patch of anxiety. Then went down to 10mg once I improved. Then GP took me off it. Helped take the edge. No side effects for me.

TakeMeToKernow · 16/05/2022 23:54

This came up in my household just today! Are there people who take it for their whole lives? A family member must have been taking this for a decade now and we wondered if they’ll always need to? They never talk about it (we just know.. the boxes are around…) so don’t want to ask them.

loupielou1 · 17/05/2022 19:20

I'd like to know that too

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ouch12345 · 17/05/2022 19:26

Hi, I've been on citalopram for around ten years for anxiety and mild depression and honestly they have been a complete life saver for me.

I am a much calmer and happier person whilst taking the tablets. I know some people would be against taking them for such a long period of time but for me they improve my life on a day to day basis so much I don't care.

I've tried to come off the tablets / reduced doses in both of my pregnancies and as a result has extremely bad anxiety ridden periods both times. As soon as I've upped my dose / restarted I just feel like a much happier me.

Taking it means I don't have days / weeks / months of utter despair where I am worrying about every last thing under the sun. I have the occasional hormone related blip even with the tablets but it is no comparison to what it would be like without them.

ouch12345 · 17/05/2022 19:28

I do feel like others are saying it does sometimes affect my ability to cry, I used to be a big crier and a very emotional person. I still cry but it doesn't come very easily.

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loupielou1 · 17/05/2022 22:37

@ouch12345 I'm a cryer and I really get embarrassed by it.

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Ethelfromnumber73 · 17/05/2022 22:40

It's changed my life, I now don't have anxiety. I started on 10 mg/day and upped to 20 after a few months. Experienced worsening of anxiety for a few days after starting and dose increase but then sweet, sweet relief. It's awesome stuff

Nanny67 · 17/05/2022 22:43

I've been on varying doses between 20 and 40mg for almost twenty years. A complete life changer for me.

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