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Original poster

Docters put me on - CITALOPRAM

121 replies

thewiltedrose · 03/06/2008 01:26

Anybody had experience with citalopram?
Ive been pescribed it today.

OP posts:
ready4anothercoffee · 03/06/2008 01:33

Well done you for going. the first step is the hardest. I've only ever had fluoxetine, it is what I am on now, but citalopram saved my friends sanity when she had ante-natal depression. A word of warning, the first 2-3 weeks can be quite rough before they kick in properly, please don't let it put you off, huddle in a duvet and mn madly to get through it, but they will make such a difference, I'm sure.

I will be around off and on if you want to talk, am trying to finish an assignment before I miss the deadline [no pressure there]

TheodoresMummy · 03/06/2008 08:01

Yes TWR, I have just started taking them (on week 4 now)

Felt very rough for 12 days with side effects. I was nauseous (not all the time), exhausted, snappy, low. But then they all stopped and I feel ok again now.

I took them before when I had PND and they did definitely help.

Think I should have stayed on them tho...

Original poster
thewiltedrose · 03/06/2008 09:54

Im nervouse about taking them now with the side effects, whats the point in taking them if im going to get even worse?
Im scared that once im on them i cant stop them when i want to i have to weaned off like some addict [sad

OP posts:
Original poster
thewiltedrose · 03/06/2008 10:05

maybe i should just not take them

OP posts:
Flamesparrow · 03/06/2008 10:07

How is not taking them going to help?

A fortnight of side effects vs unknown time of feeling crap...

allgonebellyup · 03/06/2008 10:09

i have been on them since Sept, i am now on 60mg although did stop taking them recently and i felt suicidal.

They did take a long time to work with me, about 8wks til i felt better.

They are worth taking, please try it.
Initially i had awful side effects; no appetite and couldnt sleep for 2months, lost a stone and looked like a skeleton! but doc told me my reactions were quite severe, you should be fine!

i am on a v high dose now, and they are deff helping me to see light at the end of the tunnel. (though pmt is a different matter entirely on these tablets!!)

Squirdle · 03/06/2008 10:16

I have been on them since January and they definately help. They are NOT addictive, don't worry. When you do want to come off them, you will do so slowly. They do take a few weeks to kick in, but they will and you will feel better. Take them

bundle · 03/06/2008 10:22

citalopram has a low side effect profile (once the intial settling in period subsides) and are usually well-tolerated. You won't become addicted but if you have any concerns, ring your dr for a chat, x

MissChief · 03/06/2008 10:22

Take them, pls. I was v sceptical and resisted taking ADs for yrs but they work for me.

Only had a couple of really bad days, then nauseous for 1st week, occasional headache but that's it now (apart from decreased appetite so lost weight, can't complain really!)Bit like childbirth/early baby weeks - pace yourself and see it step by step, v hard at v beginning, not great 1st week, much better after that and really kicks in with good stuff after 4-8 weeks.
Good luck

Original poster
thewiltedrose · 03/06/2008 10:23

allgonebellyup has just petrafied me
i feel sick just looking at them now

OP posts:
deanychip · 03/06/2008 10:23

these helped me through a very dark PND period of bout 2 years. Been of them for about 12 months now and feel back to normal now.

they can be taken in the short term.

the one thing i will say is that IF they suit you (they dont suit every one BUT there are loads like them out there to go on till you find the one that suits you)
then after a few weeks you will think to your self why did i resist these for so long.
the feeling of bieng able to see clearly with sunshine and a smile, is immeasurable when you look abck at trying to get on with life from the bottom of a deep dark hole that is depression.

honestly, this is a HUGE positive step forward for you.

bundle · 03/06/2008 10:25

wiltedrose, those reactions are very unusual, please don't worry

i had (slightly) increased anxiety and slight giddiness for about 10 days, then the "fog" started to lift

what dosage are you on?

deanychip · 03/06/2008 10:26

btw, took me about a month to come off them, just took my time and litterally dipped my toe in the water, such was my fear of the depression coming back...it didnt and has not since..

This will be ok, honestly, it will be ok.

Original poster
thewiltedrose · 03/06/2008 10:26

20mg

OP posts:
bundle · 03/06/2008 10:27

that's what i was on, it's pretty low

just be kind to yourself, don't try and do too much

watch crap tv, and try to nap when you can

Original poster
thewiltedrose · 03/06/2008 10:29

No such thign as sleep in my house with my two

Im scared of feeling so bad i cant see to the kids one day.

OP posts:
Squirdle · 03/06/2008 10:35

20 mg is a low dose, allgonebellyup is on a pretty high dose, hence the more severe side effects.

I too resisted ADs for a very long time and felt quite embarrassed about taking them...like I was a failure or something...but it isn't like that - really it isn't. You'd be amazed at the amount of people who are on them and you wouldn't know! I am not on them for depression or anxiety, it is to get me through dealing with something that happened to me as a child, something I am trying to address atm, but finding bloody hard. People take ADs for many different reasons.

I actually felt better as soon as I started taking them. I think it was knowing that things were going to get better that made me feel that way...that I was doing something to improve things. It felt positive.

I am on 20mg and the only real side effects I had were that I felt quite tired and yawned a lot

You sound like you need to do something to help yourself and your boys and this will..honestly. I decided to take them so that I could be a happier person for my family...and I am now.

It doesn't take it all away, but it does help you cope and move forward.

Take them WR, I want to see you feeling better

Squirdle · 03/06/2008 10:40

You won't feel so bad that you won't be able to see to the children. They are obviously your priority always, so you'd never get like that. You have to just be gentle with yourself for a couple of weeks, don't run around like a headless chicken and you will feel better.

It is an incredibly positive step and like deany says, there are many different kinds of ADs around and if it doesn't suit you, then you can try another.

These will help you get through this and you will come out the other side feeling so much happier and level.

WigWamBam · 03/06/2008 10:45

Not taking them is not going to help at all. Taking them may help - and if they don't, there are dozens of different types of anti-depressant which you can try instead.

20mg is a very low dose, which is easily increased if it's not enough, and Citalopram is one of the most easily tolerated anti-depressants there is.

Surely it's worth a try? What do you have to lose? If they don't help, you go back and try something else. But they could be exactly right for you ... and if you don't try them, you will never know.

Come on, this is a very positive thing you have done today. Try and keep seeing it in a positive light.

grouchyoscar · 03/06/2008 10:47

I've been on 10mg a day for a year.It helps with my anxiety which fuels my symptoms It does work very well for me.

It's normal to be apprehensive about taking ADs My GP keeps an eye on how I feel etc etc

Best of luck with it all

grouchyoscar · 03/06/2008 10:48

I've been on 10mg a day for a year.It helps with my anxiety which fuels my symptoms It does work very well for me.

It's normal to be apprehensive about taking ADs My GP keeps an eye on how I feel etc etc

Best of luck with it all

Original poster
thewiltedrose · 03/06/2008 10:49

Took it.

Just dont want to be feeling like shit on my birthday its bad enough already

OP posts:
allgonebellyup · 03/06/2008 10:51

PLEASE dont be put off by what i said!!!!
the doc DID say that my reactions were rare!!!

they WILL help you out a lot, i started off on 20mg, once they were working, they were great!!

Original poster
thewiltedrose · 03/06/2008 10:52

Does me getting blind drunk yesterday have any effect on them?

OP posts:
allgonebellyup · 03/06/2008 10:52

yay, well done