Posted , 12 users are following.
Any advice please would be useful I was prescribed 20mg Cit per day, 5 days ago and I am taking them............I have struggled with worries etc for approx 2- 3 years and finally accepted I probably need medication to help me after trying to resolve my issues alone (I know some may say how silly of me but I tried).
Please may I ask the following
How long does it take to start to work ?
I have had no side effects other than I wake up during the night several times well about 5 times is that to be expected ?
Whens the best time to take it. I do so when I get up?
Should you take it with or without food?
The advice sheet on the tablets states avoid alcohol which I have, but with the festive season nearly here can you actually have a little or should it be totally avoided. To be honest I just dont want to be a party pooper but I wouldn't want a drink to cause an issue either ?
I have to admit I do feel somewhat of a let down at the moment to those that I love. Even hypothetical worries bother me (you know the what if's) and I just can't seem to let go of them at all.
I suppose I am just like everyone else and I just want a bit of contentment in my life and not be seen by those that I care for as carrying the world on my shoulders all the time.
I fully appreciate lots of you will have seen information on the forum and be asking why I haven't done so myself...to be honest some of it scares me a little so I stopped, also I'm sick of discussing my issues with my family since thats all they hear from me and that's simply unfair on them.
Therefore since this is my 1st ever post I do hope some kind person may pass on any info they feel may assist me thanks in anticipation
1 like, 32 replies
sally67691 eggmond
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Tazchurch eggmond
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If you are having problems with wakefulness then the advice is to take it in the morning, so you are doing it correctly. Some people find it makes them sleepy so the advice for them is to take it in the evening.
Most medication is best taken with food even just a biscuit. As to alcohol 'fraid I can't help as I don't drink anyway
Emz3279 eggmond
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I do hope your recovery is around the corner and you feel better soon!
Emz x
mark16290 eggmond
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It's great you are not having any side effects besides waking. For most of us it is much worse. All SSRI's change your sleep patters so you stay in deep sleep longer. This greatly helps you recover from anxiety and depression. Right now you brain is adjusting to this and maybe waking you to avoid dream sleep, which although is part of our natural sleep cycle, to the brain you are in a state of arousal while dreaming.
If you started taking it in the morning I would stick with that. It can be taken with or without food. It has no bearing on how the drug works.
For those of us who drink, experimenting with alcohol on Citalopram is a rite of passage. My advice is to take it slow. Don't make the mistake I did. I stopped alcohol for 2 weeks when I started, was just starting to feel better and then tried to party like I used to. I was at a bar for 4 hours and don't have a single memory from the experience. Had the worst hangover ever which put me back in a depressed state. The memory loss seems to be a constant for people on Cit. I have drank since, up to 7 this weekend with no problems. My friend told me that once you adjust to the medication this all goes away so like I said just take it easy for awhile and even with a small amount of alcohol expect to feel somewhat down the next day, but like all things it will pass.
Hope you feel better soon.
katecogs eggmond
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Its not silly at all trying to sort your problem out before trying medicine ..... I'd say most people try doing that. Glad to hear you've accepted it now, and hopefully this medicine will get you back on top again.
I started on 20mg, and continued to take them for 15 years which helped me to recover from anxiety and depression. I can honestly swear by this medication :-)
You've had a short time on them so far and luckily haven't had any side effects as yet. I won't hide the fact that the side effects might hit you soon and they can be truly dreadful, but please don't worry or be scared ....... it you aren't prepared, that's when it can scare you. Most people go through a few weeks of side effects and then from there move on and start to feel the beginnings of feel good. The medicine works slowly and you have to be patient. Many people stop before pushing on through, and I can assure you the benefits are worth waiting for. People here on this site will support you through this.
Sleep problems are a side effect, but it'll pass in time just as any other side effects that might occur.
So I'd say that 1-2 months can be a bit shaky, and then 2-3 months you'll start to feel better. Everyone has different timescales on this mind, and everyone can have slightly different side effects. Remember that it takes time to heal a broken leg, and it takes time for all this to start working too.
I was told to take it in the morning as it might keep you awake at night, but some take it at night. I think see what works for you. Yes best to take after eating a little something.
Yes it says to avoid alcohol, and I will admit I do have a glass of wine when I want or join in festivities and had no adverse effect. Again we're all different, so as much as I'd say avoid it, you could try a sip or 2 and base it on that etc.
Dont feel you're a let down to your family. I know lots of us feel that way too and often feel we've a weakness. Remember this is an illness just as epilepsy, diabetes etc and you can't help how your body feels.
It is difficult talking to family about your issues, probably because they haven't experienced how you feel. We've all been there too xx By all means talk away on this site, there's many here who can help you through all this and answer questions.
Just remember to expect side effects, remember to give the medicine lots and lots of time, and tell yourself you are working towards recovery. Lastly remember patience. You'll get through it.
Lastly, try not to worry about the scaremongering stories. It'll be fine.
K xx
Emz3279 katecogs
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katecogs Emz3279
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eggmond katecogs
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Just wanted to say thank you for such a nice and supportive reply... I must admit I felt somewhat of a let down and I know that I do go over and over my worries with my family. I have read that when commencing with cit sometimes the worries get worse before they get better. Can't say I'm looking forward to that but hey ho, if its the case that you have to get through the storm to get to the good weather, then thats something I'm prepared to face.
The sleep bit bothers me a bit and as for the dreams, well some of the ones I've had have been strange to say the least. I have thought of taking some sort of herbal sleeping tablet to see if that helps but I dont want to mess with the cit.
To be fair it's only been just over a week since I started them and I shouldn't expect miracles. I'm not special so why should I expect it would be a quick solution. I must confess when I started I did think "a month of these and I be sorted" How silly of me......If honest a bit of me still thinks that's the case. Still it is the season of good will. So if I've been good you never know....Seriously thank you very much indeed for such a lovely reply
Eggmond
taygun_1977 katecogs
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Not sure if your still on the site but reading your posts are very incite full. Was wondering about any more details on side effects
katecogs taygun_1977
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Hi Taygun
Yes I'm still here
Side effects on Citalopram. Everyone is different so we all have different reactions on these meds, but generally in the first few weeks most people feel heightened anxiety, nausea, internal shake, insomnia, headaches, agitation, decreased / increased appetite, sexual dysfunction, depression, lack of concentration ....... and a whole host of others. The full list is on the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with the medication.
Most side effects wear off after a few weeks, some linger. Again everyone is different.
Some people feel the side effects more intensely than others.
K x
eggmond
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Eggmond
katecogs eggmond
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Let us know how you get on xx
jen31560 eggmond
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katecogs jen31560
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Yes I think you might get some side effects from a dose increase, but all should ease in a few weeks. Sorry to hear you had a massive relapse - was that whilst on the medication? I know when recovering you can get blips along the way, which over time get less and less, eventually petering out, and know you can get an odd one right out of the blue, years from now. I always say, just accept it as part of the illness and recovery, it will ease and pass.
I restarted my meds 4 months ago after a year off them (actually found my illness didn't return when I was med free)! :-D I only restarted them due to family illness and I wanted to stop the depression returning before it decided to try to. This time around I had side effects (which still shocked me) but don't think I had them for as long as the first time around. I've got better quicker this time too. I think it's because my body was used to the drug before.
K xx
jen31560 katecogs
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How long did your side effects last this time around?
katecogs jen31560
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This is time round I think the side effects lasted a week at their very worst, then a couple of weeks just feeling blurgh. I think I started feeling back on top again after about 8 weeks this time.
xx :-)
katecogs
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jen31560 katecogs
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I hate this anxious feeling. Just will not go away
katecogs jen31560
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How long have you felt bad again? It could be just a blip, but because you haven't had one for a while, it's shocked you and so made it linger around. We can get these occasional blips even years after being well.
I'm sure the medication wouldn't just stop working ..... Yes I'd feel the same as you are now. Maybe a change to a different type of SSRI would work.
I do feel for you, but am sure when your meds are sorted you'll be bouncing back real soon.
K xx
jen31560 katecogs
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katecogs jen31560
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I personally reckon you've just had a blip for some reason or another. It seems about the right length it's lasting. It can happen years later. It feels real bad probably because you've just forgotten how it feels to be like that again, but I bet it's no different to how you felt once before. I suspect it'll pass in time as you just accept it's there. Move on forward, don't look for a reason why it's there, and you'll find it'll go in it's own time.
Such a strange illness isn't it ... but it does seem to follow the same pattern for everyone.
xx
jen31560 katecogs
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jen31560 katecogs
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katecogs jen31560
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No you're definitely not going crazy ....... if that were the case I'd have gone crazy years ago too (mind you my friends tell me I'm crazy)
Babette jen31560
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