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Original poster

Citalopram - wonderful outcome

59 replies

LifeInTheDogRun · 13/12/2022 09:27

Just making this post in case anyone is starting/thinking of starting Citalopram.

Have now been on it for 1 month and my life is 100% different; I'm enjoying life again, going out with friends and family and no longer feel 'unsafe' all the time (as though I need constant help).

I really was at an all time low before taking it, not going out by myself, no longer enjoying things I used to love and bursting into tears constantly. My anxiety was ruining my life.

First few days of taking them were hard going, was tired all the time and had terrible dry mouth, however my life is now happy again - if you're considering them and unsure, please take the leap, it's worth it in the end.

OP posts:
Peacon · 13/12/2022 15:50

Thank you for this, I’m on day 4 and feel really ill. When did you start to feel better. I’m happy that they have worked for you.

Original poster
LifeInTheDogRun · 13/12/2022 17:51

@Peacon I'd say the side effects were gone by the end of week 2. It's crappy at first but well worth sticking with it. Hope you feel better soon.

OP posts:
AutumnLeaves0 · 13/12/2022 17:54

It worked brilliantly for me too - completely changed my life. Haven't been on it for several years now, but I cannot imagine having got through to the other side without it.

Nanny67 · 13/12/2022 17:56

I've been on 20mg citalopram for 6 years and it's literally saved my life too.

hotchocolate6 · 13/12/2022 17:59

That's great news. Citalopram was a godsend for me too, I took it for 7 years. It unfortunately stopped working eventually and now I'm back at the beginning trying Sertraline instead. Hoping this works too!!

sunshinesupermum · 13/12/2022 18:05

hotchocolate6 I've also been on Citalopram for years and found it hasn't been effective for quite some time so I recently got prescribed 15 mg Mirtazapine. My anxiety completely disappeared and I no longer feel depressed. I was told to take them both and am glad I did. The only strange thing that has happened is that I now suffer from nightmares (at least my DP tells me I do as I shout in my sleep and scare the cat silly) but I've only woken up when I had the first one. I have never suffered from nightmares before now.

Jaffacake007 · 13/12/2022 18:07

Citalopram has also changed my life. I put off starting it for sooo long (had severe health anxiety) and I had side effects for 2 weeks. After that, I've felt really good! Been on it for nearly 2 years now.

Original poster
LifeInTheDogRun · 13/12/2022 18:45

I'm so glad to hear so many others have got their lives back!

I think we often hear so much about bad experiences with medication so also good to get the message out that they can be godsends too.

OP posts:
Badouchka1 · 02/01/2023 20:40

I came off Citalopram in May ‘22 after being on it for a couple of years (for a second time, first time was around ten years ago) I was only on 10mg every other day and wish I’d stayed on them. My grandfather died in August and the day before his death I had a big health scare. Both events have triggered horrendous health anxiety and I feel like I’m barely functioning/just about existing, rather than actually living my life. I miss the fun loving, optimistic person I was 😞

Arseulaundress · 02/01/2023 20:41

Citalopram is excellent for anxiety. It's a nightmare to come off, though, so be very careful about that and do it with full guidance from your Doctor.

Xrays · 02/01/2023 20:44

This is wonderful ❤️

My dh takes it, 40mg, and has been on it for 4 years now. It’s literally changed and saved his life. He wants to stay on it forever. Before he was taking it he was having breakdowns so often he couldn’t work and was suicidal. It’s been amazing for him.

walkinthewoodstoday · 02/01/2023 22:36

Arseulaundress · 02/01/2023 20:41

Citalopram is excellent for anxiety. It's a nightmare to come off, though, so be very careful about that and do it with full guidance from your Doctor.

Can you give more info about this? I've got really low and I think I need to try it. Have two young children and I can't function. Was suicidal. Wanted to make drastic life choices etc and have an appointment in a few days and I'm hoping for this. As is my family. I need to try something

walkinthewoodstoday · 02/01/2023 22:37

Also how does citalopram work as a woman when hormones are fluctuating throughout the cycle?

EmmaEmerald · 02/01/2023 22:42

walkinthewoodstoday · 02/01/2023 22:37

Also how does citalopram work as a woman when hormones are fluctuating throughout the cycle?

Didn't make any difference to me

I started on citalopram decades ago, on fluoxetine now. Citalopram was better for me at the start because of crippling anxiety. These meds are lifesavers and career savers.

Citalopram - come off very slowly, I came off a few times as I found it hard to accept lifelong meds at first. So I took about 6 weeks to reduce to nothing.

the next time, I was switching to fluoxetine and doc said to leave a gap of three days. I did have brain zaps at work, it was weird!

so glad for you OP. I'd have no life without these meds, they're amazing.

Xrays · 02/01/2023 22:48

walkinthewoodstoday · 02/01/2023 22:37

Also how does citalopram work as a woman when hormones are fluctuating throughout the cycle?

It makes no difference.

I’ve been on it for severe pnd after the birth of my first child. I was on 60mg per day which I don’t even think they prescribe anymore (that high a dose). I was on it for 2 years and found it really helped me and eventually I just weaned down and stopped taking it. This was 15 years ago but I don’t remember any particularly awful effects. Haven’t needed to go back on them or anything else since.

Runnerduck34 · 02/01/2023 22:57

That's wonderful OP!
I was on it for several months and it definitely helped enormously. I felt happy and carefree for first time in years and remember thinking do some people feel like this all the time?!
Sometimes I wish I was still taking it as my mood at best is usually flat so have considered going back to GP but when I took it before for the first week or so I had this awful uncontrollable mechanical yawn so don't know how I would manage that whilst at work.

SLS500 · 02/01/2023 23:47

Good for you OP!

There can be a bit of a taboo around taking antidepressants, but many people do take them.

I've been on citalopram for many years. A few years ago I thought I could do without them - that was a mistake!

Wishing1988 · 03/01/2023 08:23

This is very timely. I'm on day 5 and definitely feeling more anxious than I did before. I also read an article in the Economist today that says SSRIs don't work for most people and I'm panicking now. Hoping that I level out after a week or so.
Morning are worst where I feel like I can't take any more of feeling like this.

hotdiggetydog · 03/01/2023 08:42

Wishing1988 · 03/01/2023 08:23

This is very timely. I'm on day 5 and definitely feeling more anxious than I did before. I also read an article in the Economist today that says SSRIs don't work for most people and I'm panicking now. Hoping that I level out after a week or so.
Morning are worst where I feel like I can't take any more of feeling like this.

I was on it for 4 years.

First week I got a massive boost then I was awful for 2 weeks. Levelled off and it really helped.

Massively increased appetite tho and I gained 2 stone

Wishing1988 · 03/01/2023 08:48

These threads and reading other positive stories of it helping after a few weeks is what keeps me going.
I almost had a panic attack just now and I'm feeling extremely shaky and panicked.
No appetite at all and I've lost too much weight so some gain would be welcome if it starts working soon.

Original poster
LifeInTheDogRun · 03/01/2023 11:57

@Wishing1988 Please hang on in there!

My world is a different place now, I can't believe how light and free I feel.

It does take a while to get going and things may feel horrid at first but there is hope and light at the end of the tunnel. ❤️

OP posts:
walkinthewoodstoday · 03/01/2023 12:11

I really really hope no one minds but I'm posting on here because I need replies I am desperate. I have a GP appointment Thursday and I need to make sure it goes well and j get the help I need. My mum thinks I am suffering from anxiety and need citalopram. This is what's been happening. Since about Spetember I've been getting worried and less able to go out. I have a baby and I stopped going to baby classes, started staying in all day and sleeping when he was napping. A few months later I started getting agitated and stopped eating. I simply lost my appetite. I started feeling weak and sick too and also dizzy. Then I started getting tightness of chest and breathing issues. I have to think about each breath it doesn't feel relaxed. Now I'm at the stage where I can't sleep any more and am tired because of this. I also had some suicidal moments when k was pacing the streets and thought I would have to knock on the neighbours door to ask for help. Im now getting a really dry mouth too. Should I just tell the GP all this? Please tell me I will be prescribed something as there is no way im going to get better alone.

StarsSand · 03/01/2023 12:28

Good for you OP!

My experience has been similar. I didn't realise how bad it was until it stopped.

This is my third time taking medication for anxiety. I did it for a couple of years in my mid 20s, stopped for years, ended up taking it again in 2020, stopped in 2021.

It's not for life. I just take it when I need it and it helps pull me out of a difficult patch.

StarsSand · 03/01/2023 12:30

Sorry, when I say 'it's not for life' I meant it's not necessarily for life. I think that's a common fear that stops people getting help, the idea that they'll be stuck on meds forever.

Some people only need them for a while, other people benefit longer term.

No diabetic is made to feel bad for needing insulin long term. Some people need MH drugs forever and that's fine!

blobby10 · 03/01/2023 12:44

I'm another who Citalopram has helped long term. I've weaned myself off it a few times (only ever been on 20mg daily) and at the start of 2020 was down to 10mg every other day but then Covid hit and life took a nose dive. It's not got any better culminating in my partner dying in November. Have been back on 20mg a day for a several months through fear of not being able to cope with life in general. Also going through peri-menopause which isn't helping! I haven't seen a doctor face to face about it since 2015 - any reviews have been over the phone and the last one was with the pharmacist.