Citalopram

[loopylou6]

Have been put on these today, am a bit wary after reading the leaflet anyone on them? and how long do they take to work? are the side effects awful and do they last long? Thanks.

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Brill, thanks KOMH

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I've been on them about 3 months now and they have helped tremendously. I have them for pnd and they have made such a difference and totally changed my relationship with my baby.

I started off on 20mg which wasn't really enough so am now on 40mg and it's great. As far as side effects go I got a few headaches and a few muscle cramps in my jaw which kind of felt like I wanted to grind my teeth but it passed very quickly. Worst side effect is very strange lucid dreams. They are bearable but one of the reasons I didn't go up to 60mg when suggested. Not everyone gets those

Took about a month to really kick in but they have worked miracles on me.

Thanks EBITS, thats really reasurring Am glad you feel better.

I've been on them for about 8 months at 20mg for anxiety and didn't really have many side effects that I could pin down, but then I'm on about 4 or 5 other tablets too so it would be difficult to tell. I'd been on them previously a few years ago and found once I got over the initial shock/stigma of being prescribed antidepressants they really helped.

I have just gone up to 40mg as I'm a bit low at the moment due to stuff going on at home, work and health wise, and doctor says that it takes about 2 weeks to have full effect.

I feel better already - whether that's because my doctor listened to me and got some stuff off my chest, or whether it's psychological thing that i think they're working already or whether they are actually already I don't know. But then who cares?

I would take them and see what happens - as long as you feel better in terms of whatever you've been prescribed them for that's what's important. You can always take asprin for a headache.

Thanks for sharing AM, am on 10mg for anxiety, but doc reckons i might be put up to a higher dose if they dont help at the low dosage

You read the leaflet - always a bad move!

10mg is a low dose but worked for me quite nicely. I had to go upwards though when things took a bad turn. Side effects weren't all that bad and well worth going through for the beneficial effects they had for me.
Starting on 10mg and going up is a good way to get on them without any side effects whatsoever!

Good luck with your anxiety. Hope you are having some other help as well as ADs - CBT is very good for anxiety.

Thanks BBM, the medication is the only treatment i have, i did have CBT a few years ago and was doing very well and handling the anxiety, but this past couple of weeks its returned with avengance and i just couldnt cope

Have you got any notes from your CBT treatment? If not I would recommend you get a CBT based book on anxiety for a refresher.
I have had a relapse before and just sat down to refresh my coping techniques.

If it carries on there is no reason why you cannot be referred back for a top-up of CBT - it's not uncommon to need that after a few years and I'm sure your therapist would prefer you see them again if you need to rather than suffer after doing so well.

HI LL
I was on Citalopram after PND with my second child. Leaftlet V scarey! The intial side effects were horrible - I started with dreadful shakes the day after I started them, which eased after about a week. It was a tough week and I lost a lot of weight but it got better slowly after that week. Reckon I felt benefits after about 4 weeks. Don't give up if you get going on them - it's not worth going through side effects twice and they worked well for me in the end. Good luck and make sure you cut yourself some slack.
X

BBM - i reckon the pharmacists should remove the data sheets when handing out the prescription for the first time .

I LOVE the dreams though, they can be scary but they are so real man!!!

MY DH is on them and has had NO side effects. He has anxiety-related depression and they have helped a LOT.

Thanks everyone, only just seen this. Well im on day 4 of the tablets and tbh i dont think ive suffered any side effects, maybe i will be lucky and escape them
MrsM, what dosage was your DH on? I have anxiety based depression aswell and the doc has started me off on 10mg but i have to go back in 4 weeks to up the dose if they arnt helping. Sometimes i think they are already working coz i have stages of feeling really calm and nice, but i know they couldnt possibly work immediatley. When they do start to work though, do you just wake up one morning and suddenly feel great?

Mine worked really quickly

Just hoping the doc doesnt take me off them lol

Have been on them about 5 months, I just ahd headaches for 5 days but that was it

I was so worried taking them once I had the read the side effects! But Im so glad I did

Hope that helps

It is different for everyone - some people find they work very soon after starting them.

For me I suddenly realised (after 2-3 weeks of taking them) that I had been a lot calmer than previously - it was a very subtle effect but they definitely worked.

Starting them at 10mg will reduce your likelihood of having bad side effects. Whatever happens, like hubbubson said - stick with them - it is worth it!

Thanks girls, will deffo stay on them