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Mental health

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Original poster

Citalopram for PMS/PMDD - anyone?

21 replies

Songbird · 14/05/2010 10:34

Hi, I've just been diagnosed with PMDD, and have been prescribed 10mg Citalopram/day for the week before my period.

Has anyone else had this diagnosis/prescription? When can I expect it to start working? What side-effects are likely?

I know there are lots of threads about Citalopram, but they generally relate to longer-term depression, panic attacks etc, and most people are on a higher dosage. I'm looking for others with this low dosage for one week a month really.

Thanks

OP posts:

PiggyMad · 14/05/2010 11:11

Hi Songbird,
I haven't experienced the same thing, but wanted to ask about Starflower oil (sorry for hijacking the thread ). I suffer from anxiety and get terrible pmt for about 10 days before my period which worsens the anxiety, makes me into a blubbering, angry, aggressive wreck. I take a high dose of evening primrose oil but noticed you said in the other thread that you take starflower oil. What does this do? Is it the same thing?

I have heard of people taking ADs for pmt, but I would have assumed it would be continuous, as people often get side effects when they start taking them, so to take them and come off them regularly is not something I've heard of.

Original poster

Songbird · 14/05/2010 12:10

I had read before going to the doctor that it?s quite common to only have them for the week preceding the period. I had printed a bunch of stuff out for the doctor (would never normally have the guts to do that but I was absolutely sure that was my problem and lots of websites said GPs often don?t know much about this serious side of PMS), but luckily she didn?t need prompting! I wasn?t surprised to get this prescription. But yes, the 1 week on 3 weeks off thing is worrying me a bit which is why I started this thread. TBH I?m on such a low dose (10mg a day) that I doubt it will be an issue.

The difference between PMS and this PMDD seems to be whether your behaviour affects your life. My work was suffering and I was being so horrible to DH and DD that I definitely ticked that box. Also, feeling out of control is a bit of a defining factor. It does sound as though you may be tending towards that.

I think that the evening primrose and starflower (which is just borage, the herb btw) oils are particularly good for the more physical sides of PMS, so my sore boobs and bad skin have improved markedly. It?s all about GLA, which is a type of acid. If you go into Boots or H&B or wherever, each bottle will have mg of GLA per capsule marked on it, and you want to get the highest you can. I got a combined EPO and starflower oil one from H&B once as it was on offer. The last time (couple of weeks ago) I bought some was in Boots, and Floresse (I think!) was the highest mg, and as it?s usually 3 for 2 on vitamins etc in Boots I went for that. It is usually more expensive than EPO, but worth it IME.

OP posts:

PiggyMad · 14/05/2010 12:27

Thanks Songbird,
I have noticed that with the evening primrose oil (1000mg) I don't get the migraines or sore boobs I used to before I'm due - having missed a couple in a row before I was due last month I can definitely say that it isn't just placebo either!
I'll get the combined starflower and evening prim next time I get some.
I think I can just about deal with the symptoms when I'm feeling good, but when I'm going through a bad period of anxiety then the pmt added on to that just makes things horrendous.

I hope the citalopram works - I don't think 10mg is too low, but hopefully low enough so you don't notice any effects from starting and stopping. Let us know how you get on after a couple of months!

Original poster

Songbird · 14/05/2010 12:37

Thanks I will.

Don't forget, it's the mg (or %, can't remember now I think) of GLA that's the important bit, 1000mg evening primrose oil has less GLA than 1000mg starflower, if you see what I mean.

Just realised that's sounds patronising, sorry

OP posts:

PiggyMad · 14/05/2010 12:56

No not patronising - I hadn't actually realized that . I'll do some market research in Holland and Barrett this weekend!

Original poster

Songbird · 14/05/2010 13:32

Phew!

OP posts:

Original poster

Songbird · 17/05/2010 09:37

Bumping as still looking for someone taking Citalopram just for the 7 days before period. Have been taking 10mg since last Tuesday (due on tomorrow). It might be a coincidence, but I've been fairly 'normal' this weekend.

OP posts:

Original poster

Songbird · 20/05/2010 11:16

still hoping ...

OP posts:

PiggyMad · 20/05/2010 11:40

www.pms.org.uk/Forum/
you might find something on this pms forum. Hope the treatment is going well!

Original poster

Songbird · 20/05/2010 14:10

Bless you piggy, you're my only friend!

OP posts:

Original poster

Songbird · 20/05/2010 14:13

Thanks for that piggy, do you have to pay the £25 just to talk on the forum?

OP posts:

PiggyMad · 20/05/2010 14:33

Oh god I didn't see that, sorry - do you have to pay?! I was just googling (how sad am I!? Any distraction from work...).

Original poster

Songbird · 21/05/2010 09:33

It looks like it, I'll look into further over the weekend. Thanks though

OP posts:

PiggyMad · 26/05/2010 20:26

BUMP for mij!

Mij · 26/05/2010 20:44

Hi Songbird

I haven't googled PMDD yet so not sure what the difference is between this and PMT/S symptoms, but I have just been to the GP because my severe PMS is returning (see my new thread, sorry didn't see yours before) and I'm being vile to my small DDs for about 50% of my time (I ovulate early so get a long PMS phase) and really need to deal with it before I do some emotional damage.

However, my GP didn't mention taking either suggested AD (he wrote down Citalopram and Fluoxetine for me to research - I don't have a script for either yet) for just a week at a time. So I'm sorry I can't be your AD buddy, but I'm very interested to find out how you find it. I asked him about side effects, and he said that some people find that for the first 1-2 weeks those drugs can make you feel depressed/anxious but that they settle down. He very definitely was talking about it as a long term management plan. And actually that is my concerned - not sure I want long term medication and I know withdrawal can be an issue. How are things at the moment..?

Mij · 29/05/2010 08:51

Just adding another one to see if Songbird is still around?

evie3311w · 11/06/2010 15:34

Hi,

Just seen this thread, Ive been prescribed this drug today after going to the doctors in floods of tears from pmdd. It was either this or i leave home! lol Ive on the lowest dose 10mg although he told me to take 20mg for the 1st week. Probably due to the state i was in!
I have read about all the side effects and to be honest am a little nervous about taking them. How is everyone else getting on?

Ledodgy · 11/06/2010 15:40

I have also been prescribed this for the same reason although I can't start mine for a couple of weeks because I need to see how I react to some new medication for something else first before I start anythng else new iyswim. My dr did say that some drs just tell people to take them for a week at a time etc but he said he thinks they work better if you take them everyday as then your body isn't doing the constant getting used to them then/ withdrawing thing.

Gombey · 13/11/2012 16:18

Years since this thread opened but just want to say that taking 20mg of Fluoxetine for 10 days before my period has really helped me with my PMS symptons and that has made me very very happy!

ellalou6 · 13/08/2013 21:43

hi Gal's I have suffered PMDD since I can remember, very motivated active child and very up and down young adult resulting in post natal after my second child at 33. I have been on citalopram for the past 4 years and it has saved my relationship and I believe has most certainly preserved my childrens welfare, pre citalopram I would sometimes put my 2 year old son to bed at 5 and shut out the newborn cry's in my garden with glass of wine and ciggerete in hand! I was worried for their future how could I cope with these emotions??? My doctor saved me, citalopram has it's side effects for some people, especially at first, you feel flat and anxious the most 2 weeks ( for me a week ) and then you can cope, I have recently after four years on 10mg begun to feel more stressed ( not half as bad as before, nowhere near ) so I have decided to not take it everyday and am experimenting on the days I feel bad, so probably about 14 days into cycle, it's coming up! yes I will be tidying non stop and worrying about finance, however I am no way as bed as before, I do not drink as much as I was, I enjoy my children I have patience now, as any normal woman, the usual levels lol, not my old angry shouty hormonal self. hope this helps will keep you posted, if you are afraid half the pill with a knife for a few days, and then increase that's what I did : )

Tinarose · 29/12/2017 17:55

I've just been prescribed 10mgs a day for depression before my period but the doctor said to take it every day not just before my period. To be honest my periods have always been irregular so its easier to judge this way but I'm normally pretty fine most of the time I just suffer from crushing hopelessness for about 3 days every 3 weeks. I'm worried taking it all the time might be too much. She called it a baby dose but it seems like quite a standard dose from some of the comments. Any ideas? I've never taken any antidepressants before

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