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Original poster

tell me about antidepressants,please...

33 replies

MaryAnnSingleton · 17/01/2008 13:42

I took fluvoxamine years ago to help anxiety (I have OCD but it isn't as active as it was) but gradually weaned myself off it.
I am anxious most of the time,to a greater or lesser degree-it is very up and down with me...I have tried hypnotherapy but find it hard to sustain ability to relax and calm myself.
I was wondering whether it might be worth trying a new ad to help ease me over the next few months when we are going to have major household reurbishments and I know I'll find this all extremely stressful. I am a bit rusty in my knowledge of these things and don't want to feel out of it/tired/not myself and I definitely don't want one that might put weight on - that might sound picky and vain, but that would really bugger my self esteem.
Has anyone any ideas ?

OP posts:
ConnorTraceptive · 17/01/2008 13:45

I took citalopram for anxiety after DS was born - Worked wonders for me. I used to take it at bedtime and never noticed any bad side effects. (felt a bit queesy for the first couple of weeks)

Original poster
MaryAnnSingleton · 17/01/2008 13:46

thanks connor - I was thinking of that as others on mn have talked about it... in what way did it help ?

OP posts:
Original poster
MaryAnnSingleton · 17/01/2008 14:12

anyone else ?

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Original poster
MaryAnnSingleton · 17/01/2008 14:43
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Original poster
MaryAnnSingleton · 17/01/2008 16:49

see if any teatime mners are about !

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Original poster
MaryAnnSingleton · 17/01/2008 17:52
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discoverlife · 17/01/2008 17:53

bump

ConnorTraceptive · 17/01/2008 18:43

Well for me I had huge anxiety about my health and used to have panic attacks and seriously believed I had alot of really awful illness's. I had ALOT of physical symptoms to (headaches, pins and needles, dizzy spells, stomach pain etc)

When I was on the AD's the worry and anxiety just seemed to go away and the physical symptoms gradually went too. By the time I'd been on them a couple of months I had stopped having any thoughts about my health.

NappiesGalore · 17/01/2008 18:46

am on citalopram. only jusdt strarted really and cant tell you much. but just wanted to post so you dont feel ignored!

Original poster
MaryAnnSingleton · 17/01/2008 22:12

thanks nappies, and connor - will go and see my doctor,I think

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lucyellensmum · 17/01/2008 23:03

Mary, can i just add my two pence worth. I have found citalopram works really well for my health anxiety, and general anxiety. I have generally had very few side effects and they have been minor. Like most, they seemed to go after the first few weeks.

It does work, apparently its non addictive, although i DARE anyone to take mine, but that is because i dont have my issues sorted!

As you are going to the doctors, ask them to refer you if possible for CBT, it is the "thing" apparently for OCD, i can be a bit OCD ish in my worrying. If you are lucky, you will get it on NHS, unfortunately they dont offer it around here, i had 6 weeks of counselling - waste of time!

expatinscotland · 17/01/2008 23:05

i'm on fluoxetine. started on 20mg and now on 40mg.

works for me!

LyraSilvertongue · 17/01/2008 23:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

LyraSilvertongue · 17/01/2008 23:10

expat, is fluoxetine the same as prozac?

lucyellensmum · 17/01/2008 23:27

fluoxetine is the generic name for prozac, so it is the same drug. Expat said that without moving her lips (fingers). Citalopram is in the same family as prozac and works on the same group of receptors in the brain. I am not sure why they have different SSRIs, but it seems that citalopram is favoured over prozac these days. Not sure why, i'm hazarding a guess at money, but someone may well be able to shed some light on that for me

BadKitten · 18/01/2008 09:31

Just as a question - has anyone had a bad reaction to citalopram? I had a very scary reaction after my first dose. Hallucinations and convinced someone had hijacked my body and it wasnt me in it anymore. Utterly terrifying - kept asking dh if he was sure I was me. needless to say I didnt take anymore! Settled very nicely on lofepramine.

Original poster
MaryAnnSingleton · 18/01/2008 10:03

thanks again all, and lucyellensmum - yes,I had CBT some yrs ago,which was fantastic (after years of ordinary therapy too)..I just want something to take the edge off the constant anxiety !

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crokky · 18/01/2008 10:10

MaryAnnSingleton - I have never taken ADs, but I do worry about things like major work being done in the house. I absolutely hate having people in to do stuff as it is very stressful and messy and your home is not private/as you like it. I think it is fairly normal not to like having this sort of stuff done, although I think most people cope with it rather better than I do - I do get in a major panicky stress about it. Is there anything else that you can do to ease your worries about it - perhaps someone else can let builders in/supervise them? I am having some work done next week (although not very major) and my mum is going to supervise it and I am going to stay at her house to avoid it. Sorry if not helpful, just a thought.

Blandmum · 18/01/2008 10:11

Do you want to know how they work?

Original poster
MaryAnnSingleton · 18/01/2008 10:14

crokky - absolutely feel the same as you there ! unfortunately none of my family live nearby,though I could escape to see a friend... I am anxious about things much of the time and the house thing just ups it a bit more.
Hope you manage yours next week !
MB - do you mean how do ads work ? I know about them having taken them before but am just needing more recent experiences to help me decide what to do

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amyjade · 18/01/2008 11:16

I had a terrible reaction to Citalipram. within an hour or so of taking my first tablet i had a massive panic attack which left me clinging to a pillow all night and vomiting. I was prescribed diazapam as i felt i hadn't come out of the panic attack, it was aweful. My Gp then prescribed me Dolsulepin which have a sedative effect and slowly i began to feel better and have never slept so well in my life.

Connortraceptive, My anxiety was just the same as yours, i was and still am to certain degree constantly worrying about my health and that i'm suffering from some terminal illness. The physical anxiety symptoms are aweful,dizzy spells, numbness in my arms and legs, pressure in my head, nausea, flashes of light in my vision, all very scarey. I am starting CBT in a few weeks so hopefully with the AD's i can start to think normally again.

GrinningSoul · 18/01/2008 11:22

I was given prozac for anxiety and it has worked wonders. I take 30mg a day (alternating 1 then 2 tablets each day), a dose v carefully arrived at by the psychiatrist i was seeing, over a few months. he started me on a liquid dose of 5mg a day, alternate days, and built up to a tablet day after a month or so. This way i had no reactions at all, which was good as i was terrified (of course!) of what they would be.

I love not being anxious all the time - just remembering how it used to haunt me and now doesn't makes me happy! good luck.

megancat · 18/01/2008 11:40

HI all
Just a note of caution and not wishing to worry anyone. Don't know about citalipram but do know about seroxat (prozac). The reason they are not keen to prescribe it is it can be VERY problematic from some people to cease - the withdrawal (despite it supposedly not being addictive) is not good (head swings, shakiness, racing heart, tiredness, extreme weepiness) etc. It is well documented, lots of people in USA have taken or trying to take a court case over it. Avoid in my opinion though I do know people who have come off it ok.

Blandmum · 18/01/2008 11:42

MAS, some people are wooried about them, because they don't know how they work.

I've never taken them, but I have studied how they work biologically. Knowing that can help sometimes.

BadKitten · 18/01/2008 12:02

amyjade - I actually feel reassured that I'm not the only one to have reacted to it so badly. I wonder what it is that makes it so helpful for some but an utter nightmare for others.