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Mental health

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Original poster

How long have/were you on Citalopram for?

12 replies

FlyingLowattheMo · 07/04/2009 21:39

I was prescribed citalopram this morning and tonight, talking through it with dh, he is a bit uneasy with me taking them.

I can see where he is coming from (mind altering drugs) but I am feeling so bad that I feel it is my only option.

So, some questions we have discussed are, how long do people generally have to stay on ADs for and say if it was an original course of 6 months, have you had to go back on them for any reason (either immediately or years later?)

I hope I don't upset anyone with these q's, I just don't know an awful lot about treatment of depression/anxiety.

OP posts:

CompareTheMeerkat · 07/04/2009 21:46

I have been taking citalopram since September 2007. I am coming off it at the moment and am hoping I will have stopped taking it in a few months' time.

I have been taking ADs on and off for 4 years. The last time I came off them I did it too quickly and the next time things happened that my mind couldn't cope with, fell back into depression again. This time I have had a course of CBT and feel better prepared to deal with whatever comes in the future.

My DH used to feel similar to yours I think - he was worried about effects they might have on me, but has seen all the postive effects they have and how I am much more myself than the shell I have been in the midst of depression.

I now see them as a medication like DH's migraine preventative pills, or his asthma inhalers - I don't exactly like them but they help me a lot. I really don't see them as mind altering in some LSD type way - I see them as something which has helped get me out of the depths of depression to a level where I can function and then as something to help keep me ticking along.

HTH a bit and feel free to ask more questions - it doesn't bother me at all talking about my experiences of depression

HonkingAntelope · 07/04/2009 21:57

I was on citalopram from September 2005 to February 2006, so six months.

I have been back on Citalopram since January this year.

I have had several bouts of mild depression during the interim period, but have only taken medication when it gets to a 'severe' level due to a pregnancy and two years bf (not that you can't take AD's at this time, it was a personal preference).

I think that what you have to bear in mind is that depression is an illness. The citalopram is merely a treatment for that illness. Whether you have to go back onto the citalopram in the future will depend solely on whether you have a reccurance of illness.

There is a good factsheet about depression here. As it says, anti-depressants do not alter your personality.

Good luck

AutumnMists · 08/04/2009 12:53

I wnet on them last Janaury and tried several times to come off them. Suceeded in January this year but I reaaly should not have done as I was still not good so have ended up going back on them and at a higher dose.

If you need them then you need them and I would try not to worry about when to come off them - someone said to me it is like insulin for a diabetic - keeps you healthy and well!

Good luck

Original poster

FlyingLowattheMo · 09/04/2009 08:07

Thanks everyone for posting, I really appreciate it. I took my 1st tablet on Wednesday night

OP posts:

HonkingAntelope · 09/04/2009 11:19

...

OlaMamas · 09/04/2009 20:50

Hi again FlyingLow... seemed to have followed you to your post. Just been prescribed the same and have spent time since terrifying myself and DH with the symptoms and the thought of a horrendous first two weeks. Having read a few different posts about Citalopram people seem to differ as to the best time to take it. Just wondered when to start mine?

mahalo · 17/04/2009 19:29

Hiya, I am on 40mg of Citalopram for OCD and depression. They are certainly not ' mind altering' they can just help you to be more balanced. They just help with the serotonin in the brain (lots of other things work on serotonin too like exercise) so they are not weird drugs or anything! I have been on Anti Depressants for 9 years now and maybe I'll always have to take them who knows - lots of people have to take medication for all their lives. I do lots of other stuff too like meditation and counselling to help me too.
I find taking them at night is better because when I first started taking them it was in the morning and they made me feel a bit woosey. They do tend to have some side effects for a few weeks - sweatyness, loss of appetite but that soon fades.
take care x

tiggywoo · 30/04/2009 15:02

Hi i have been taking 20mg of citalopram on a morning for 2 years now. I'm taking them for panic attacks and anxiety. I'm feeling much better but still get anxious at certain points in my monthly cycle. I'm starting to wonder how long it is safe to take citalopram for. I hate putting chemicals in my body it took me over a year b4 my GP could persuade me to take them!

wotulookinat · 30/04/2009 15:15

I've been on Citalopram for 16 months and I am now on the max dose of 60mg.

babybarrister · 10/05/2009 22:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bluestorm · 11/05/2009 12:30

Hi Everyone

This is the first time I have ever done this so very very new to sharing my thoughts online.
My baby has just turned one. My GP gave me fluoxetine in December for post -natal depression but a new GP has changed my medication to Citalopram 40mg a day. Is it possible to be in denial about post-natal depression? Can you still be suffering 12 months after the birth? Sometimes I feel like I am making symptoms up and going crazy!!

Can anyone give me advice. Thank you

boardo · 11/08/2010 15:00

hiam new to citaloram i have a two year old and a 5 month old i used to be really out going and slowly since the children rapped myself with the house and kids it got worse after my second i thought this was normal with my first so never did anytink about it then after my second i was tearful not wanting to leave the kids doing every think myself keeping thimgs spotless and getting angry with my partner i had panic attacks and anxiety the doctor satated its a form of post natal and gave me fluoxetine after the 7th day i reacted bad shaking and stomach upset so bad i went to hospital and then it was changed to citalopram 10mg iv been taking them for 2 weeks now iv felt a little anxious and nauseas at times and tired but really not greatly different i used to love a few glasses of wine but when i had one the other day i went back to square one panic attacks and vomiting for two days now am left with the feeling of not wanting to go out with friends again because i might not be able to have a drink i really do love a few glasses does any understand this and will it get better for me to have a few glasses and will my sex life return my partner would love to no this one xx

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