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Citalopram and depression?

Posted , 9 users are following.

sarah54249
sarah54249

Hey everyone. 

I wanted some feedback on how Cit helps with depression,  my doc prescribed it for my anxiety and depression.  Ibhave read a lot about ppl taking it for anxiety but nothing really abiut depression. 

So I was wondering does it help with depression?  And how has it helped some of you, or not helped if thats the case. 

Thanks for the help its so much appreciated and really does help settle my mind to hear other ppl experience's. 

Sarah x

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • paul_91782
    paul_91782 sarah54249

    Posted

    Hi Sarah,

        Three years ago I got a ringing ear (Tinnitus) and I got so depressed that I could not do anything. I was put on Cellexa and after a few months I was back to myself and never felt better. After I got used to the ringing ear I stopped taking the pills and not tell about a week ago or so did I have to get back on them. This time it was because my Anxiety was just going crazy. My wife is 8 months pregnet and pretty sure that is what triggered my anxiety. The last week or so I have been up and down but I am on day 9 and strting to feel so much better. Hang in there bacause these meds do seem to work but they take time. 4-6 weeks is what I have heard but I am feeling allot better going iinto week two. Good luck and stay strong, additude is everything

    • sarah54249
      sarah54249 paul_91782

      Posted

      Thanks Paul and congrats on the baby, so glad to hear they are working for you and so quickly,  that gives me hope, as you said attitude is everything and I am trying to stay up beat and positive, not easy but I think these tablets are helping, I can't tell lol I've never really had anything like this and its hard to understand why I feel more positive,  is it the tablets? It's kinda strange. 
  • kat80448
    kat80448 sarah54249

    Posted

    Hi sarah

    I started taking it for panic attacks originally, and it worked well until i had a very big attack which caused me to have a nervous breakdown and depression.Docs put my tabs up to 40mg as i was suicidal and i have to say, they have saved my life! My depresssion was so bad i couldnt leve my bedroom or be left alone, it took 3 weeks and then suddenly i woke up and felt a bit of happiness, and this is where my life chaned for the better x

    • sarah54249
      sarah54249 kat80448

      Posted

      First of all I'm so glad that they have worked for you and your life has turned around, I had a breakdown nearly 3 years ago now and a suicide attempt, since then I have pretty much pulled myself out of it as much as I could, but I did  start binge drinking a couple times a week which made ny anxiety insane! So I got a new doc and she put me on Cit, I'm s glad she did because I think I already feel a difference, its just weird to be feeling a little different,  more positive,  and so soon, not hugely but  keep thinking its all in my head and won't last lol. I really hope my life turns around like yours x.
    • loxie
      loxie sarah54249

      Posted

      A little story about my own experience which may help you with your own recovery.  I hadnt realised just how badly wrapped up in myself I had become due to depression and anxiety.  I was totally inwardly focused and couldn't grasp why nobody seemed to understand what I was going through.  I must have bored the pants off everyone who knew me as every discussion about every subject on earth I turned around to the 'poor me' whine.  I was fragile and insecure and above all 'needy.  Not sure looking back if being depressed caused me anxiety issues or being anxious and unable to coped caused me to get depressed - chicken and egg I guess.  Through all of this feeling bad and not coping however, there was a kind of security in being depressed - it excused all sorts of behaviour and not doing things I either didnt want to do or couldnt face doing.  I got leeway from others on the basis I was allowed to be selfish and inwardly focused [u]because[/u] I was depressed they let me get away with it and I used it to its fullest extent.  My security blanket if you like.  Being 'normal' is bloody hard work, one has to get off one's backside and live in the real world which, let's be honest, is a tough place to be.  Years later and now relatively able to cope with most things, I look back at that time and realise what a snivelling, clinging, whining awful person I must have been.  I couldnt see it at the time, all I could see was that life wasn't being 'fair' and was putting too much pressure on me.  It wasn't - what was happening was that life's everyday pressures were being magnified out of all proportion by my mental incapacity to cope.  Medication helped - however it isn't a 'cure' it's a support mechanism to help one use one's own resources to deal with that one word - LIFE.  Living into today's world is difficult and stressful and cit will help you brain deal with it in an appropriate manner, it won't however take away the stress completely and to be honest I'm glad it didnt as the ups and downs in life are what make it interesting and worth living.  Previously those ups and downs were insurmountable mountains blocking my way and I felt victimised by them, now I see them as hurdles to be climbed over but know that if I put a little effort in, I can and will climb over them.  Hope this makes sense.  Hang on in there, if you feel at least one tiny little speck of difference taking these meds, be assured it will get better and you'll see the mountains reduce in size to just hills. xxx
    • sarah54249
      sarah54249 loxie

      Posted

      I'm glad you've come so far, its good  see that ppl can get mentally stronger.
  • Guest
    Guest sarah54249

    Posted

    Hi Sarah I really think cit works. I have tried sertraline for 8 weeks and dropt it like a ton of bricks .made me so I'll .I tried cit as I felt a little down and sad . I still had a few anxiaty issues. After 12 weeks I feel a big difference .I still think you have to work hard with what ever you are going through. Its not all about taking pills and a bit of magic dust, you need help from friends family and if you can afford it hypnosis. Got me through some hard times 
  • mark2701
    mark2701 sarah54249

    Posted

    Hi Sarah I suffered from bad depression last year and had to leave where I was living in Australia to go back and be with my family. I wouldnt get up, see friends couldnt stop crying and had to bottle things up. I just couldnt understand why i was feeling this way and how everyone was just happy in there own lives and how they could cope so easily. I tried prisitq which made me feel a lot worse, but when i got back to the UK i was put on to citaplam with only 10mg really helped me put myself back together. I got confidence to go out more and hold a job down for 9 months. I came off them but relapsed recently and have gone back on them as they have helped me control my anxiety and depression.
  • silvia52562
    silvia52562 sarah54249

    Posted

    Hi Sarah!

    I always suffered with mild anxiety and low esteem, but it all escalated to depression about 2 and a half years ago. For a year and a half I didn't do anything, but I was getting nowhere. Finally I decided to see my GP and she decided to start me on citalopram. I've been on 20mg Citalpram for nearly a year now. I was very reluctant at the beginning beause of all the false myths that surround depression and medication (you get dependent, you're not yourself while on meds, etc). I feel it has helped me a lot, together with councelling. I would definitely reccomend councelling if you want/can, it takes months before getting an appointment, but it's worth. I've finished my sessions now and I feel a total different person, I've resolved most of my issues and learnt how to deal with this horrible disease. I still have up and downs because life is not always kind to us, but the down phase doesn't knock me ot completely as it used to do, I feel much stronger. It may seem difficult at times, but you really have to work on yourself. The medication helps with your neurotransmittors levels but won't resolve the cause of depression, that's why I think councelling is very important. I didn't think I would have made it, but I'm so much happier now. I'm currently waiting to start weaning off the medication, but I've recently changed job and the doctor advised me to keep taking it while I'm settling in. The only side effect I've experienced is the inability to get an orgasm, but it's all for a good cause and luckly my partner is very supportive.

    Wishing you all the best with your therapy

  • michael97837
    michael97837 sarah54249

    Posted

    Hi Sarah,

                   I started taking Citalopram a week ago for depression and anxiety, i havn't had any possitive effects yet but still early days. I have been suffering some side effects however and thought i would give you a heads up. Headaches and the feeling of nausea after i drink or eat anything. I am going to stick with it as i want it to work. I hope you do to and wish you alll the best.

    • sara91601
      sara91601 michael97837

      Posted

      In reply to both Michael and Sarah!

      I've just come off 20mg citalopram after 6 months of being on it for depression.

      Like Michael I suffered from several side effects during the first couple of weeks- nausea, loss of appetite, tiredness but unable to sleep, dizziness. I just wanted to say that it does get better and most of my side effects only lasted about a week- the only one that I had the full time was dizziness (mainly in gym classes and if I was stood up somewhere hot and stuffy for too long).

      My doctor told me that i would start to feel the positive effects after 5 ot 6 weeks and I certainly did start to feel better! After a few weeks on them I was able to focus and motivate myself to do things again and even though a lot of the time I didn't feel 100% I did feel a lot happier and more positive than I did before I went on them smile

      Best wishes to both of you!

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