citalopram sleep and weight gain

[racingheart]

Hi

Been on Citalopram for just over a week. I could sleep all night and all day. And I remember now last time I put on a stone that i never shifted. Don't want to put on another. My GP told me very bossily that there was no weight gain on Anti-deps, just that we eat too much!

Does anyone know about these side effects? Are they connected? Weight gain because of inactivity due to sleepiness maybe?

Anyone know any antedotes for the tiredness? I remember it going on for months last time and that's why in the end I came off it, even though it cured the depression.

I love citalopram because it works but i just can't afford to be this sleepy. I work nights sometimes and at this rate I'll be falling asleep on shift.

hi racingheart citalopram is not usually associated with excess sleepiness or weight gain. But as you say, perhaps the weight gain is due to lower activity levels.

When I took citalopram it sent me over the edge in terms of over-activity. I was pacing up and down like a caged lion all night and all day. So it reacted very differently with me.

But we are all different and affected in different ways. What dose are you on?

Could you ask to try another, such as Prozac? You will find not all ADs "feel" the same.

I have been on 3 different ADs and they all seemed to work completely differently in terms of the side effects they brought.

Hi,
I have been on Citalopram for almost a year and in that year have put on 2 stone.....making me even more depressed than I was before I started the meds LOL-but this week my GP has agreed to swap me over to Prozac.
I had the excessive tiredness in the first few weeks but to be honest even now-I still struggle to get a decent sleep-drift in and out of sleep all night-but then during the day I just feel completely drained and tired all day.
I've been on Prozac many years ago and actually lost weight on them and never had this tiredness so am looking forward to getting off the Citalopram.
x

That's interesting. Citalopram does seem to affect everyone differently. Tried Prozac once but it made me a bit manic, and Seroxat just deadened everything. So far Citalopram is brilliant for moods - I feel human again on it, if only I could get rid of the exhaustion.

gosh i been given this AD for anxiety , im in 2 minds to take it or not .. am very anx about taking it and worried about side effects ....

will keep listening .

choclab please don't worry. It affects everyone differently. The vast majority of people don't have any side effects at all.

I would be mortified if I thought anything I'd said would prevent someone from taking the medicine they need

no dont worry please , its not what you said honest .its me iv heard very mixed reports both good and bad , plus im in a very anx state at moment so things seem worse ...

i should really bite the bullet and give them ago ...im just using any excuse not to ....to be honest , thinking i will be ok on my own ...

DH is on Citralopam and he has gained about a stone in weight and is also incredibly tired all the time, every time he sits down he falls asleep. In fact last week, he fell asleep behind the wheel whilst driving and had an accident, fortunately he's OK but I'm worried about the tiredness all the time. He won't mention it to his doctor though. Choclab he may be tired but he's a much happier person on the Citralopam, it definitely works for him.

I do understand how you feel. I am a very anxious person too by nature, and hate it when I get prescribed a new medicine.

I read the little leaflet over and over again I look at all the side effects and am convinced I will get them all.

Sometimes I even google it, which is usually a big mistake! You can find virtually anything on the internet if you look hard enough. There is probably someone out there who swears that citalopram turned them green

hope it helps you xxx

I have been on it off and on for 4 years and will be for the rest of my life. I have put 2 stone on and have had a nap for the last few afternoons. Getting me down. I spoke to my GP about not being able to lose weight and he said it wasn't the drugs. IIRC it is mentioned in the side effects.

Fab, it annoys me a bit that the docs just say 'it's not the drugs.' Well maybe it IS the drugs. Lots of people have had a similar experience on it. I remember being told seroxat had no side effects until they stopped prescribing it so widely because of the negative side effects on some people.

Worrying about WTD's DH falling asleep at the wheel! But can see how it happens. Last time I was on citalopram I fell asleep at my desk and was woken by phone ringing - it was school asking where I was, as I was 45 mins late to pick the kids up. But - it really helps with the moods and if the depression has become serious - really debilitating - which mine was just a fortnight ago - even this constant exhaustion is better than that. I just wish there was something to take to counteract it.

I just told DH and he said I can't blame it all on the ADs but it is so upsetting to realise they are part of it. When my youngest was 9 weeks old I weighed 11 stone 9lbs after going up to nearly 14 stone when pregnant. Now I am nearer 13 and hadn't even twigged. We don't eat a lot of crap, I don't drink so I guess it is more exercise. I do an hour most days, sometimes more on the Wii. Was considering swimming though I have been told that doesn't help you to lose weight .

Yeah, I feel worried that the weight will pile on again when I haven't really lost it from the last time. Maybe it's worth trying other ADs, but this works. It makes me feel happy and calm and like a nice person - the way we're supposed to be as mums, not that shrieking harridan.

I guess running or really hard aerobics is the way to lose weight. That and salads without dressing! I do crave carbs tho, on ADs. Normally i don't even like bread that much but I've been scoffing it recently.

Since I have been doing exercise I have not wanted to eat chocolate, crisps, other crap so much but have decided I do want a treat so have been buying biscuits but I buy the nicer ones as the packets are smaller. I will be running tomorrow.

That's true. Exercise seems to balance the appetite (I remember from my twenties) Not had any desire to exercise or get fit for about two years. But I should try. Now summer is here and the kids are bouncing around in the garden it would be nice to join in.