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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:

Report

TheFeistyFeminist · 19/05/2022 12:36

Prescribed it years back during a particularly anxious time. For two weeks, nothing. Then I felt hyper, like "do all the things" manic, for a day or two. Then it settled and it really took the edge of, without feeling like I was being damped down. Gave me the headroom I needed to be able to deal with the things I needed to deal with.

Came off it myself by tailing off but didn't experience any problems doing that.

I've heard it doesn't mix with with HRT, don't know if that's a thing. Apart from that, I'm fully in favour of it.

Nannylp · 19/05/2022 13:41

loupielou1 · 19/05/2022 12:17

@Shallysally would that mean I have to skip a day so I don't have 2 in one day?

I wouldn't skip a dose but you could try taking half a tablet tonight and then another half in the morning, from then on take your full dose in the evening. Hopefully you'll then sleep through the worst of it. Please do give your doctor a call if you're worried about the side effects, I'm sure they'll be able to reassure you and might have some tips about how to best manage them

Nannylp · 19/05/2022 13:44

Now I think about it I'm sure my doctor suggested starting with a half dose if you're finding the side effects too much.
Did your doctor refer you for some kind of talking therapy/CBT alongside the Citalopram?

wandawaves · 19/05/2022 13:49

My daughter was on citalopram. It worked brilliantly for anxiety, but nothing for her depression unfortunately. She went up to 60mg or maybe more, but still no change to the depression. Good luck.

loupielou1 · 19/05/2022 14:56

@Nannylp I have been referred for cbt. I was prescribed 20mg but im only taking 10 as I had some left from the previous year when I stopped taking them. All still in date. Im wondering wether to not bother with them. Surely having two days and just coming off would be ok?

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Shallysally · 19/05/2022 16:14

So your reason to stop them is because of the side effects? Is that right?

loupielou1 · 19/05/2022 17:25

@Shallysally yes

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Shallysally · 19/05/2022 17:37

How about you have a chat with a pharmacist about switching to taking them on a night and how you do that safely?
Then if after a few days you are still struggling then have a chat with your GP about maybe halving the dose.

How did you react last time you were prescribed them?

loupielou1 · 19/05/2022 17:51

@Shallysally I think it made me worse last time before settling down but then I did get tired quite a lot after a year on it so I took at night but then had vivid dreams and then I gradually stopped taking them. I think I'll talk to a gp or pharmacist tomorrow. I felt fine this morning until I took it then felt sick and wobbly then it subsided and I felt tired so I had a coffee then was ok. Now tired again

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loupielou1 · 19/05/2022 17:52

Oh and getting headaches around the evening time

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Dementedswan · 19/05/2022 17:56

I started it last year. Started on 10mg felt terrible for a couple of weeks, luckily dh was very understanding and I spent a lot of time sleeping. I'm now on 40mg and feeling better, wouldn't say perfect but much better and able to cope than I was. I was prescribed it for severe anxiety and depression.

loupielou1 · 19/05/2022 18:21

@Dementedswan when you up your dosage does it give horrible symptoms again like when you first took them?

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Seriously79 · 19/05/2022 18:23

I've been on it for just over a year. I take it first thing every morning.

It took a good month or so to work on me.

Its amazing! I feel so much better on it, mentally stronger and more balanced.

Nannylp · 19/05/2022 21:06

That's great that you've been referred for CBT as well, I found that the combination of the medication and therapy worked really well together.
I did get a few side effects when I went up a dose but nothing like the first week of starting from nothing. It was more just feeling a bit dozy rather the full blast of feeling heavy and weird.
Please talk to your doctor or a pharmacist before you make a decision about whether to continue the medication though, they see so many people going through the same situation and might have some wisdom to share. I remember doing a lot of googling about side effects when I first started citalopram as I felt so weird. You are not alone!

loupielou1 · 19/05/2022 22:14

@Nannylp thank you. I haven't felt as bad this evening. If anything I feel wide awake right now so maybe I should speak to gp about wether I should take at night instead

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Shallysally · 20/05/2022 11:16

How are you feeling today @loupielou1?

loupielou1 · 20/05/2022 16:02

@Shallysally I felt a little woozy this morning but I don't feel all the other symptoms now. I took it after a little something to eat as I was taking it on an empty stomach before so wondering if that's why. So my body must be getting used to it. I still feel down and anxious now and again so I think I'll stick to 10mg and then speak to my doctor about taking the 20mg like prescribed and hope I don't get too many symptoms again.

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stillherenow · 20/05/2022 16:39

Thanks for this thread. I found it as weirdly I've just put my dog on anxiety meds and was sitting next to her earlier today and she was looking so sleepy and chilled and suddenly had an epiphany that I should also allow myself to get help. Duly filled in online request with my reasoning and background and got a call back within an hour from the GP "definitely a good idea ". He's prescribed 20mg but I'm thinking I might cut the tablets in half for the first week?
Then told DD when she got home and her response was "thank god ".
Slightly offended by these responses !!

I would dearly love to have this horrible anxiety leave me.

loupielou1 · 22/05/2022 10:24

I'm thinking of starting the 20mg but wondering how long should I stay on the lower dose first? I'm on day 5. Can't get a gp appointment for another week to ask. How long did others take the lower dose before upping their dose? I still feel low but have got a little motivation back

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Nikky1331 · 23/05/2022 20:02

loupielou1 · 22/05/2022 10:24

I'm thinking of starting the 20mg but wondering how long should I stay on the lower dose first? I'm on day 5. Can't get a gp appointment for another week to ask. How long did others take the lower dose before upping their dose? I still feel low but have got a little motivation back

3 and half weeks on 10mg, then 20mg. No effects when I changed the dose. It helped a lot, but makes me feel sleepy. Will see my go to discuss the dose.

Nikky1331 · 23/05/2022 20:05

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.

Same as you, I was on 10mg almost 4 weeks then 20mg. I started feeling sleepy though, hard to wake up in the morning. Not sure if I should switch to 10 again.

Dementedswan · 23/05/2022 20:09

I stayed in 10mg for 4 weeks, upped to 20 for a few months then gp upped me to 40mg. I extremely tired however also have a b12 deficiency which I've had a course of injections for. Was fine for a while but top up b12 isn't due until July and I feel sluggish again. For me the citralopam just takes the edge off x

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knittedwithme · 01/06/2022 18:27

Hi
Sorry to hijack the thread but wondered if anyone might have any shared experience.

I've been on Citalopram for 3 weeks now. The intense exhaustion has now passed (hallelujah!!) but I have noticed I am having continuously sore boobs, my period arrived a week early (uncommon for me) and is a lot longer than usual. My arms are also covered in lots of little spots.

Has anyone had similar? Does it pass or should I speak to GP?
Thanks

Nikky1331 · 01/06/2022 20:45

knittedwithme · 01/06/2022 18:27

Hi
Sorry to hijack the thread but wondered if anyone might have any shared experience.

I've been on Citalopram for 3 weeks now. The intense exhaustion has now passed (hallelujah!!) but I have noticed I am having continuously sore boobs, my period arrived a week early (uncommon for me) and is a lot longer than usual. My arms are also covered in lots of little spots.

Has anyone had similar? Does it pass or should I speak to GP?
Thanks

Maybe check with your GP regarding the spots in your arms, just in case it can develop into a slight allergy. I take it, it makes me feel sleep, even after 3-4 months (10mg).

starNT · 27/08/2022 10:40

What dose did you take and how long did you take it during the first stint before stopping because of the side effects?

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