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Anyone NOT had any side effects on Citalopram?

Posted , 526 users are following.

M68
M68

Hi there,

After much deliberation, talking to just about anyone I could find and generally scouring the internet for information, I have decided to go with the Docs advice and take Citalopram, starting today. And then I found this site....

Has anyone NOT had any side effects on this? It is making me feel very worried about taking it. Am I just going to have to sit tight and presume the worst? Are there people who take it and dont feel nauseous and tired or even worse to begin with?

I would really appreciate any comments.

Thanks

M

38 likes, 5315 replies

5315 Replies

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  • louise26018
    louise26018 M68

    Posted

    Hi everyone xx

    So many people posting lately xx glad too see we can all offer help ans advise biggrin Pleased to read that some of us are starting to see light at the end of the long tunnel x

    Dougie, inthewoods you seem more settled now really pleased for you, i think im like you i feel like im getting there xx

    Anne & loulyn always good to read your posts always helpfull and supportive xx

    For all the newbies, iv been on 10mg of Cit since last week of Feb and first two weeks were hell!! had ups and downs since but now more good days than bad im pleased to say xx still have bad thoughts and anxiety from time to time but seem to pass quicker than before xx i have also had periods of feeling like i was loosing it!! so scary!! but it does gradually seem to get less and less xx

    Im still not 100% but im managing alot better than before Cit looking back i was a complete mess xx Cit has just helped me on my way to think clearer xx

    This forum has been a life saver especially at the beggining when i felt completely scared and along xx i went back to the beggining and read all the posts!!! and Anne,Chris and many other posts help me feel like i wasnt going mad!! so thanks again xx

    Hi mike just reading your below post x i had a few weeks off work at the start due to the side effects and just feeling so anxious and depressed to be at work x but i went back and it was the right thing for me to do, now i try and keep busy at work and at home and i find its helped me xx

    Hi Charlotte

    I felt exactly the same as your below post its taken 8 weeks for me to feel 75% better xx give it a bit longer then go speak to your doc xx

    PS All keep doing Annes deep breathing exercise!!! it helps when i wake in the night and feel anxious!! xx

    Good Luck everyone!!

    Love Louise xx

     

  • Rickcous2
    Rickcous2 M68

    Posted

    Hi

    I have been taking Citalopram for over six years, various doses starting at 40 a day, now down to 10 in the evening with an occasional extra tablet some mornings. I. Do not believe I have any side effects, apart from perhaps loss of sex drive, but then again that could be because of other drugs I take, Warfarin ad Ramapril. Although I am on quite a low dose now, I don't see how I could do without it

    • nicole2314
      nicole2314 Rickcous2

      Posted

      Hi Rick...you do find the loss of sex drive to be a devistating side effect?  I'm only coming up in my 3rd week on 20 mg n at my dr visit I'm already planning on asking to be switched to something else because I can't get to my "happy place" and that's making me and my partner very frustrated 
    • Rickcous2
      Rickcous2 nicole2314

      Posted

      Hi Nicole

      As I said I have been on citalopram for about six years now, and they saved my life in lots of ways. Before taking them I was plagued with anxiety and feelings of sadness, but I have lost 95 per cent of the anxiety, and my moods are quite good. I have recently changed my dose slightly, and if I take about 100mgs per week it's about right. The sex drive is somewhat of a pain, but as I am 62, I guess you could say it's not that critical. my wife sort of agrees, and most certainly when you get to my age your health is much more important. if this tablet suits your moods I would stick with it. best of luck. Rick

  • amy_06092
    amy_06092 M68

    Posted

    Morning All,

    I have been reading all the posts on my phone but not been able to post as my mums computer has died so i have had to lend her my laptop.

    Im having a blip and really  not liking it, have had two great weeks up until two days ago. I Have got dentist appointment on monday and its starting to really stress me out, its only to discuss what work needs to be done and when they do start the work i will be sedated anyway, i thought i was fine with it all as i was two weeks ago when i had to go as i had an abcess. hardly slept last and i know it was because i am starting to worry about it. Tried speaking to hubby this morning and his answer was dont go through with it, i know he was trying to help but this is something i have wanted to do for a long time and never had the courage to do as dentists petrify me. my teeth need alot of work, unfortunately inheritated from my dad who had the same problem and my sister does as well (shes alot braver than me though).

    So today i have come round to see my mum for a mummy cuddle and a mummy pep talk (she doesnt mess about with words and says it how it is which is what i need sometimes)

    Anyway now half way through week six and had been doing really well, all side effects gone and able to just get on and enjoy each day with out worrying about stuff.

    So am hoping the last couple of days are just a blip and i can get back on track.

    Hope your all doing well and welcome all the newcomers, dont let this post put you off if your still suffering with the dreaded side effects as i had been doing really well up until now and i guess it just comes down to having to deal with something which up until now i had been avoiding.

    Anne, hope things are still going well for you, i have been reading back on your posts as all the encouragement you give people helps me to think it is just a blip im having.

    Loulyn, hope your doing good too - i got a couple of books out of the library however havent read them yet as i didnt know if my mind was in the right place and i was ready to fill my head up with all the knowledge of what anxiety actually is/does, if that makes sence.

    Spence -  not sure if you will read this but good luck with everything and i hope you find a way that works for you.

    Doug - how are you doing? dont see you on here much now so hoping thats a good sign and your are good.

    Everyone else -  keep positive and if you are having moments when you really struggling -  try annes deep breathing suggestion - it really does work :-)

    Have a good weekend everyone

    Amy

  • amy_06092
    amy_06092 M68

    Posted

    just a quick follow on from my post -  am wondering if i might be trying to push myself a bit too hard - 6 weeks in is still quite early do i put off the dentist until im a bit more stabalised on CIT or am i still going to have the same worry when the time comes???
    • matt53972
      matt53972 amy_06092

      Posted

      Hi Amy H i All

      I havent been here for a while, like any i started to feel ok and ive been taking cit for about 6 weeks now, only 10 mg every other day, felt horrific first 3 weeks then normalish and thought i was on the way, but , like you Amy i have gone backwards a bit, i feel tense all day till eves and a bit sick, hard to eat properly, i think this was brought on by work stresses, Amy at the end of the day its good to do things that scare you but if going to the dentist is really messing with your head, it might be an idea to put it off until you feel stronger, if you think you can handle it ok great, but if its not helping you with your recovery maybe take a step back from it.

      Matt

  • elizabeth38292
    elizabeth38292 M68

    Posted

    Hi, I'm new to this and just need some reassurance. I started on 10mg of citalopram two weeks ago (for depression) and my gp upped it to 20mg this week. The only side effects I've had are extreme tiredness, but that seems to be passing now. Yesterday I had a terrible day, sat in bed crying no motivation, just not myself at all. How long until these tablets kick in and start to have an effect? As I'm really struggling at the moment! Any advise would be greatly appreciated smile
    • carman
      carman elizabeth38292

      Posted

      Hey there Elizabeth, it usually takes 3-5 weeks for Cital to start effecting you. But, everyone is different. Some people see the effects after one week some 8 weeks. Just hang in there. But keep in mind this drug is not a cure all and try to work on making yourself happy naturally while waiting for this drug to do its thing. Force yourself to exercise during your down times... its hard to do but its well worth it.
    • Paul4823
      Paul4823 carman

      Posted

      Hi all. Just posted but can't find it ! Try again 

      a question for Anne and anyone on cit for more than a few months. Do you keep slowly improving or level off?

      ive been on 5 weeks 20 and 5 weeks 30. After week 8 altogether it felt like a switch was turned on in my brain. For 9 days I felt great apart from nausea on and off. I wasn't my normal self but not far off and was looking to the future for the first time since I can remember. 

      However the last week has been different. Anxious and uptight a lot of the time. A lot of leg shaking when my legs are crossed but my low moods were not as low as before in the main and occasionally if they were I'd quickly recover. 

      It definitely feels like progress but a long way from my normal self. 

      Will I continue to improve ? Here's hoping :0)

      its good to read about so many getting better and to those having it totough stick in there you will make it. 

      Take care all

      mike 

    • anne2953
      anne2953 Paul4823

      Posted

      Hey Mike, yes you do continue to improve because remember your body is still adjusting and that takes time, eventually it will level off and you will be back to what you remember as normal. However remember you do have to work at life itself, making things better for yourself, maybe do CBT or lifestyle management courses, so you can manage in future and to be happy, some people think Cit makes you happy it makes you normal, but wont take away pain or sadness we have to work that out ourselves just like normal, just adding this for some other folk that have posted xx

      The shaky legs will soon go, please make sure you are doing the deep breathing regurlarly as that helps your body adjust when its got lots of oxygen xxx let me know how you go

      Anne smile

    • Paul4823
      Paul4823 anne2953

      Posted

      Hi Anne 

      thanks your encouragement as ever :0)

      i realise I can't just rely on cit. I've been dabbling with mindfulness and 

      meditation recently but it feels like the right time to get stuck into it. 

      Ive also been referred for an assessment which might lead to cbt I guess. 

      Thanks again for your support. 

      Mike

    • anne2953
      anne2953 Paul4823

      Posted

      Hi Mike,

      Your very welcome, I remember when just starting on CIT I was so desperate to be well again I signed up for everything lol but am glad I did as it takes a while to get these appointments but they do help in the long run, mindfulness is great, and positive thinking, deep breathing is a great calmer at a bad time, deep belly breathing, also helps with sleep, which is a big factor for us, as lack of sleep is so bad for us, I gave up caffeine last October, and that was a tough one, ha ha, but still off it now, and sleeping so well, also for the shaky legs now we have brighter evenings go for a walk it really helps too, so stay strong and keep in touch smile 

      Anne x  

    • hayley55901
      hayley55901 Paul4823

      Posted

      Hiya Mike,

      Have you tried relaxation c.d's? When I am feeling overly anxious or can't sleep I pop my earphones in, tell the kids to watch t.v for 20 mins or so and not disturb me, and I just zone out, soooooo relaxing! You can order them online although my CFCs doctor lent me hers and she says mindfulness is a wonderful thing to do too. I tried CBT, that was very helpful too, I find 30 mg cit brilliant, very happy on this dose but had to keep asking dr in the early days to up it. 

      Take care

      Hayley 😃

    • Mike_O
      Mike_O hayley55901

      Posted

      Hi Hayley,

      my my doc doesn't want me to up my dosage just yet, they recommend a couple more weeks on 20mgs & if no improvement then onto 40mgs for a week or so but they also said an option was to change meds to Fluoxetine!...

      i havent tried cbt but nothing to loose,

    • Paul4823
      Paul4823 anne2953

      Posted

      Hi Anne

      I gave up coffee 5 years ago and felt the benefit straight away :0)

    • laura85157
      laura85157 anne2953

      Posted

      Hi Anne / everyone

      Hope everyone's doing well. I've had a very rough 7 weeks with only a couple of reasonable days. Went back to my gp who's prescribed me trazodone now to be taken at night. It is not an SSRI which I believe I am sensitive to. As I've had barely any sleep for 7 weeks. Has anyone else tried these / have experience of these. I will still keep in touch with everyone and wish u all the very best in your recoveries.

      Take care

      Laura xx

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