Anyone NOT had any side effects on Citalopram?

I have been on 10 mg Citalopram for exactly 6 weeks and still feel depressed and extremely lethargic with no motiviation going to ask Dr if I can discontinue any information will be grateful

Carol, 10mg is a very low dose and you might need more? Have you seen your gp inbetween starting and now? The gp who started me on citalopram started me on 20mg right off but I was worried if it was the right thing so took 10mg for 2 days then thought "get a grip and get on with it".

I've been on it since before Christmas and it took me till quite recently to feel I was improving. My own gp says she wouldn't necessarily have put me on it because I had a very complicated viral illness that wrecked my body and gave me a cacophony of symptoms which meant I was bouncing in and out of hospital. It was terrifying and I was very anxious but my gp said that my anxiety was rational as I needed to see improvement and needed answers and once I had them I started to slowly improve physically. The cit made me feel terrible but I decided to stick with it once I was on it. My own gp has asked if I want to wean off but have decided to stick with them until I am fully well. She says we will never know if cit has helped me or whether it's just that I needed to find out that my overheating and palpitations are not dangerous so I can send manage them. I was a cardiac nurse and sometimes a bit of knowledge can be a bad thing.

I am getting back to work slowly and today managed to get out in the garden (poor thing has been neglected for last 6 months). I still need lots of rest but my energy is improving all the time. Everybody is on cit for different reasons and it affects us all differently but I am getting better no matter how.

There are lots of people who will support you Carol but it might not be right for you or you just might need more.

To everyone here, this forum was huge for me at the beginning (I still check in daily) , I was exhausted before I started taking the cit and I got worse before I got better and it's been (and still is) a long haul, but I said way back "embrace your inner tortoise". Slowly wins the race.

:-D

I stopped taking Cit after 12 days on only 5mg. My Dr said to stop taking it as i was having some weird symptoms. I am wondering even though the Dr said it was safe to just stop is it?

Also how long will it take to get out of my system?

I wish this would have worked.But i still think my nervousness is caused by the 1 mg xanax i take. So now it is time to wean off that and see.

Thank you all good luck on your journeys

Hi All

I have been reading all of your posts for 7 weeks now and its been a life saver for me!!

Thats how long ive been taking 10mg of cit for and its been a bumpy ride!! first 3 weeks were hell!! then had a few good days the a few bad. but this weekend onwards ive felt low again, do you think its time i up the dose?

ps thanks Anne for your breating advise it really works!!

Thanks everyone i wouldnt have stayed on cit without reading all your helpfull tips

Louise xx

Hi Louise,

Speak with your doctor but 10mg is minimum dose, usually used to get us started, and as you have been on 10mg for 7 weeks then I believe you wont have any problems increasing to 20mg as that is what I did, so glad the breathing is helping you, it is a like long tool for us. xxx let us know how you get on and what you decide to do.

Anne xx

Hi inthewoods

Sorry your feeling anxious today, i have felt like that the past few days and cant think why and im worried im going to go back to square one, but i think its just a blip? and im trying not to let it scare me xx hopefully it passes xx

Hi anne

Thanks for your reply xx feels great to have support as i live on my own and its been a scary journey

all your posts have kept me positive xx going back to docs next week so will have a chat about upping the dose

Thanks again

Louise xx

Hi everyone. Hope you're all doing OK today - reading through the latest posts it seems that there'e the usual mix of those of us doing better and those still struggling. I'm sending positive thoughts to all of you, and thanks to everyone who has been supporting me recently when things have been up & down like a yo-yo!

Had a catch-up with the GP today, and based on what I told him about how I've been feeling he has upped my dose to 30mg starting today and put me onto a repeat prescription now. So I guess that's me in for the long haul now, at least until I've done the CBT and see how that goes. I know I shouldn't worry about the increase, but there is part of me that's anxious now about whether I'm gonna start getting new or returning side effects again! Trying not to worry as obviously nothing's happened yet, but it's still lingering in the back of my mind which doesn't help.

Oh well, just have to see what happens I guess. Roll on Day 1 of 30mg tomorrow then!

Matilda/Rick - I'm gonna miss Masterchef tonight, but will record it so I can enjoy it later or tomorrow! No spoilers on here please you 2!!

Take care everyone, stay strong.

Doug. x

Hi Doug

Good on you for biting the bullet and increasing to 30mg. There are 3 possibilities with side effects when you increase - they could return as before, but many people find they are not as bad and do not last as long, or you may not get any. So fingers crossed for you. Either which way you are well on the road and good times are just round the corner.

Marley : 5mg is a really small dose and I'm surprised that it caused you so much trouble, although at 12 days you are at the peak side effects time. At that dose and with only 12 days in your system the worst of the side effects should be over within a few days. best of luck.

Louise : Anne is so right on this. Sounds like you need an increase, but that's for the doctor to say. Don't be afraid about increasing the dose - see my comments above to Doug. Good luck!

Inthewoods : good to hear from you again but so sorry you are struggling. I won't comment on the wisdom or otherwise of your CBT advise about not posting on here because I do not know enough about it. But there are others on this forum who have CBT. I think the same advice is relevant to you as to the others above : how about increasing the dose? I don't know what dose you are on, or your personal circumstances so it is not wise to offer advice except to encourage you to pester your GP. But remember, Cit has been helping you so you will get there. Stay strong and make sure you get answers from your doc. You do not have to suffer, it can and will be sorted out! Take care.

Have a good night's sleep and a better day tomorrow, everyone.

Chris

morning all

day 16 for me on 20mg

i havent been on for a few days as visiting family and also i didnt want to become fixed on other peoples side effects and what may or may not effect me and also talking myself into side effects i didnt actually have if that makes sense!

anyway i have to say after ten horrendous days of feeling awful i think im over the worse of the side effects. i still have a dodgy stomache when i wake up and im still not sleeping well but im not waking in the night sweating and panicing. no more panic attacks, sweating, being sick, tingly skin etc, i could go on!

i have lost a fair amount of weight however am eating more now than i was before i started on cit? anyone else found this?

my head is alot clearer and im not stressing and worrying like i was before.

and for the big acheivement im 32 years old and cant swim - i dont know why as when i was younger (tenish) i used to swim and i never had a bad experience i just cant swim anymore. yesterday we took the two children swimming and we all loved it my two year old had no fear whatsoever and it made me really happy being in the water with them enjoying the fun with them.

i know some may say16 days is still early however i feel i have really turned a corner and this time in the right direction.

hope u all have a good day x

Morning All

Thanks Chris for your reply will spk to doc next week about dose and will keep you posted xx

Hope everyones having a good morning!! x

Had a better afternoon yesterday not as anxious, last night went a bit low again but trying to stay positive.

Amy good to hear your doing well, and progressing xx

Doug - hope you increase helps you on your way to feeling 100% again soon.

Take care

Louise xx

HI Chris, and everyone,

Thanks for your advice. I have phoned my GP and he's calling me later. I don't understand what's happened, I was coping and even though I often felt a bit anxious I was doing well, but these last couple of days have been horrible. I feel panicking, scared that I'll never get better, detatched etc etc. I've been on Cit for 3 months now, started on 10, then went to 15 and have been on 20 since 15th Feb. I had PND three years ago and was on 40 by the end so I do think I need to up my dose. I think I've bascially had a big panic attack and now I'm struggling to see a way out again. xx

Morning all, hope you're doing well today.

Chris/Louise - thanks for the words of support regarding my dose increase.

Took my first lot of 30mg last night before bed (same time as I normally take them) and within half an hour I was fighting off what felt like a massive panic attack trying to hit me - somehow I managed to keep it under control, but it was quite an experience and wasn't expecting anything like that so soon after taking the tablets. I did manage to get off to sleep OK, but it was a very anxious and restless night so I don't feel like I've slept at all this morning. I don't actually feel to bad mood-wise this morning, although I am very tense and shaky again today which I'm assuming is just the return of the side effect I had last time I increased so it will settle in time. Fingers crossed I sleep better tonight as have my sister's wedding to go to tomorrow!

Amy - really great to hear that things are slowly improving for you, hang on in there and I'm sure it will get better and better.

Inthewoods - try not to be too hard on yourself (I know that's easier said than done), it's hopefully just a blip and you'll settle again and feel better again soon. Take care.

Have a good day all, sending positive thoughts to everyone.

Doug. x

Yesterday I forgot to take mine, that was a mistake as I soon found out that someone I thought was my best friend was just pretending to be my friend the whole time. But in fairness, no amount of antidepressants can prepare you for something like that. I cried. A lot. But I'm remembering my pill today and ready to get back on track.

Hi inthewoods

Thats exactly how i feel the last few days like iv taken 10 steps back, more anxious and scared its not going to go away, just trying to stay focused, dont want to go back to square one so trying to keep my mind active.

Hi heavyasareally

Thats awaful!! try and move on from it you dont need that sort of person in your life bringing you down!

stick with positive helpful friends xx

Hi Doug

keep us posted with the increase, i think i will increase next week so will be good to hear how it goes for you

Hi everyone else hope your all having a good day!! xxx