Citalopram query?

[lulu41]

Have only been taking these for about 6 weeks now am on 20 mg a day and at first I felt great after the intial side effects wore off. I am now starting to feel a little down again - I have been drinking a little more recently what with christmas work dos etc and the ocassional glass whilst wrappoing presents at night. Does anyone think I need to up my dose or perhaps the alcohol is making me feel down again - anyone experiend this. Dont want to be unhappy again

wanted to bump for you, hope someone can offer some advise. x

Hi,
I did find on citalopram that even one glass of wine would make me feel down again the next day, as a result I don't drink alcohol at all now.

It is also worth going back to your GP to discuss things. You may be ready to start some counselling now. Christmas is stressful and the short cold days could also be affecting you. So could less sleep from all those Christmas do's. It is early days (and easier said than done) you still need to be taking it as easy as possible.

HTH.

Alcohol is a depressant and although I don't think it stops Citalopram from working, it could be reducing its efficacy.

I would reduce the alcohol rather than up the dosage to counteract it - if this doesn't work then you know it's not the alcohol.

I hope you feel better soon.

Alcohol is a depressant and if you are down anyway it will make things worse, regardless of any meds. I took Citalopram and am pretty sure you weren't supposed to drink with it (advice which I no doubt ignored ). I hope you manage to work something out with yoru GP.

Thank you for your replies everyone kinda guessed it was the booze its really hard this time of year not to indulge but think it has to be done for my mental health

You aren't meant to drink alcohol whilst taking Citalopram - partly because alcohol is a depressant, partly because it stops the Citalopram working properly. So either way you're on a hiding to nothing.

The odd glass every now and then won't necessarily hurt, but drinking regularly is not a good idea.

Upping the dose won't help; stopping drinking might, so that has to be worth a shot first.

That said, 20mg is a low dose and may not be enough for you. But you have to see how it feels without the booze before you up the dose - and don't do that yourself; the GP needs to do that for you.

It's hard to avoid this time of year. I am not teetotal but I know that if I am down (which I am right now for external events reasons) then booze will just push me further into the mire. When I'm Ok, drinking is OK. GL x