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Original poster

Advice with Citalopram. Are there any Doctors on here?

26 replies

Nbg · 11/03/2007 16:10

I was prescribed 20mg of Citalopram to help with anxiety, back at the end of November. After about 4 weeks I started to feel sick and have developed travel sickness which I have never ever had before.
Anyway, I carried on taking them but I ran out on Monday and didnt get a new packet till Friday last week. I havent taken any tablets since last Monday.
Yesterday I started to feel a bit dizzy, like I cant focus on anything. I spoke to my mum who has had experience with AD's and said it seems like its a withdrawl effect.

Now I'm a bit confused as what to do next. I'm not sure whether to go back to my gp and try something else or not bother at all but I am petrified of being as anxious as I was before.

OP posts:
DimpledThighs · 11/03/2007 16:12

am not a doctor but sounds like ad withdrawal to me (have been there) I don't think you should go straight off them like that - with mine I did a two week cut down programme before stopping and that was considered quick.

zippitippitoes · 11/03/2007 16:16

so are you unsure whether you wnt to take them or not?

if you felt sick when you were taking them then your gp can try you with something else

or you could try a different type of treatment altogether

best to go back to the gp

Original poster
Nbg · 11/03/2007 16:19

I thought of taking them again but having them every other day. I just dont want to feel sick. Its awful.

I was having CBT too but it was doing nothing for me at all.

DT, were you ok after the 2 weeks? What were you taking?

OP posts:
DimpledThighs · 11/03/2007 16:21

prozac

I had a very good gp who made suer I stayed on for a few months even though I felt better (very common problem coming off too early) and then I missed one in three doses one week and one in two doses the next and then came off.

I was fine but you do have to trust your docotr and do it like they say.

Original poster
Nbg · 11/03/2007 16:28

I'm lucky to have a good Doctors surgery so regardless of who I see, I trust them.

I wish it was just as easy as stopping, lol

OP posts:
NAB3 · 11/03/2007 16:34

You shouldn't just stop taking tablets without the doctor advising you. I would suggest you get a doctors appointment tomorrow. You are meant to come off them slowly, not go cold turkey.

Original poster
Nbg · 11/03/2007 16:49

I know that NAB but the sickness was just so horrid.
It had got to the point where I couldnt do anything and would have to sit outside with a glass of water until it passed.

OP posts:
NAB3 · 11/03/2007 16:52

It depends how you were to need the drugs in the first place I guess. A bit of sickness for a short time compared to ????

Original poster
Nbg · 11/03/2007 16:59

Wll yes, that is a very valid point NAB but its so easy to forget how bad things really were.
It was bad. I couldnt cope on my own, had to have people with me and constantly having panic attacks.

OP posts:
Dior · 11/03/2007 17:02

Message withdrawn

NAB3 · 11/03/2007 17:10

Nbg: am a little confused. Could you not be on your own when taking the tablets, or when not?

Original poster
Nbg · 11/03/2007 21:16

Sorry, I didnt make that very clear did I.
That was before I took the tablets.

My dh did the occasional night at work and I couldnt be on my own at all. I was so scared. I started the Citalopram and things got alot better but then I started with the sickness, which would then make me anxious. So it was one vicious circle.

The dizzyness has got worse this evening. I dont know whether thats because I'm tired but it isnt nice.
I'm definatley making an appt tomorrow.

Dior, was the electric shock feelings when you were coming off the tablets? Did you have side effects whilst taking them?

OP posts:
Nikki76 · 11/03/2007 21:23

Hiya

I'm on 20mg Citalopram too - when I first started taking them, they actually amplified my symptoms - felt more panicky, dry throat, tight chest etc but apparently, thats a normal side effect of them when you first start taking them and I persevered with it and it did pass....now I only get like that when I have panic attacks, which are decreasing week by week (thank god!)

vvvvvvv · 11/03/2007 21:25

my doctor gave me the same thing i started taking them but made me feel sick after the first week so i stoped.im now taking a herbal remedy called karms there are very good.i suffor with panic attacks and dont really help with them but the happy side of life they really work good they lift you up and make you alot karmer on things. do you get panic attacks?

Jackaroo · 11/03/2007 21:25

So does this mean you have some pills at home? I would call the doctor and at least talk to them on the phone 1st thing tomorrow (if you're sleeping OK), even if you can't get an appt.

I took Cipralex too, but had no problem coming off them -but then I was pg. and perhaps couldn't tell which was which!

There are so many different ADs out there, it might even be worth trying Cipralex as you only need 10mg, and it is supposed to have far less side effects (I had none at all after hte first 2 days).... having said that I've been prescribed Effexor since having DS as the perinatal psychiatrist felt that it was particularly good for anxiety - it save our lives.

Good luck.

Original poster
Nbg · 11/03/2007 21:29

Yes I have a full box of Citalopam atm. I could have taken them from Friday but havent.

VVV, is kalms any good then?
I'm not opposed to taking Ad's if they help but I dont want the crappy side effects.

OP posts:
vvvvvvv · 11/03/2007 21:30

nikki,can i ask a question? when do u get panic attacks and how long you had them? i hhave been getting them since jan coz been thru lots of stress will they go away? and how do you deal with yours?

Jackaroo · 11/03/2007 21:36

I was just interested; if you started to feel really unwell then the doctor might suggest taking one... until you get to see them...

Oh, and definitely sounds like withdrawal.

One more thing, I think CBT is highly overrated, or at least thought of as a sticking plaster for every damn mental health issue. It's not. Certainly worth asking if you can access some other form of counselling/therapy though, as IME it's the best way through.

How are you feeling now?

Nikki76 · 11/03/2007 21:43

I've been getting them since I had DS - had 3 day labour and emerg c section and then had PND so the panic attacks started with that - he was born in May 06.. was terrifed of being on own and used to panic about it - it was like a phobia really - that's the only way to explain it. The worst times for me were first thing in the morning as I used to think oh God, I've got a whole day ahead of me of being a mum and it was too much - then used to get tight chest etc - at one point I was urging in the sink at 3am in the morning.

Thankfully the panic attacks are a lot better now I'm on the medication...I still get panicky at times when DH leaves goes to work as the day ahead of me on my own (ok, have DS but you know what I mean) seems so long (I don't have any family where I live) but I've started to conquer that by making sure I do at least one thing a day - going out for a walk, meet up with other mums etc and when I'm actually having a panic attack, I find deep breathing helps me get through it and knowing that I'm going to go to the shops or something gives me something to focus on and keeps me busy getting myself and DS ready....hope that's helped a bit?

Now I'm through the worst of it (I hope!), I found the fear of being on my own all day, was far worse than the actual reality of it....

Jackaroo · 11/03/2007 21:50

Hi Nikki - you seem to have had such a similar experience to mine - and I have to say I think you sometimes have to be taking the med.s to get to a point where you can be rational and realise that you can cope iyswim. Anyway, Nbg, I hope you are OK, and that the GP can help you tomorrow.

Sleep well,

J

vvvvvvv · 11/03/2007 22:02

thakns for that nikki.yes thats how i feel im flying soon and im shiting myself as im on my own on the planethe fear of not being able to breath frecks the shit out of me im also crstaphobic [how ever ya spell it]like being in a shopping center makes me have the attacks.i dont get them every day but its on my mind from the min i wake up and my breathing is very uncomftbal if you understand that?

Original poster
Nbg · 11/03/2007 22:12

Nikki, i am the same as you.
Mine started when I was pg, then we moved in the summer, away from family and friends.
I had ds in august and it just got worse. I dreaded the thought of dh going to work and mornings were sheer hell. They still are quite bad now.

I'm ok atm cos I have my laptop in bed

OP posts:
Nikki76 · 12/03/2007 10:12

Yes I understand that - feels like you have something squeezing your windpipe so you have to take mega big breaths just to get a normal intake of air IYSWIM.....

Really really relieved to hear am not only one though! Really thought I was a total freak and didn't feel like a proper mum cos I got in such a panic about DH going to work - hated myself for it!!! Mornings are still my worst time but I've got into a routine of going on MNet when DS has gone for his morning nap which helps loads as takes my mind off things....it is getting easier but I would love to just have a morning where I don't feel stressed and end up dashing to the loo!!! Mind you, could see going to loo as weight loss and therefore positive??!! lol

vvvvvvv · 12/03/2007 10:44

same hear i used to freak out when dh left the house but im over that fear i just get it when ever i think about it or in shopping centres

Dior · 12/03/2007 20:29

Message withdrawn

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