Citalopram causing poss mania?
Posted , 5 users are following.
My 19 year old daughter has been on citalopram (for anxiety and depression) for about 6 months now. initialy 10mg, then upped to 20mg, which seemed to be making a lot of difference to her. Then she became pretty low again so GP upped the dose again to 30mg, she was still very low for a few weeks, but this last week has felt great, making lots of plans fo the future, lots of energy, quite loud and exciteable, but she is also struggling to sleep, having vivid dreams, she says she doesnt feel 'normal'. feels like she is on a high, she also says she has an increased apetite for sex, which has concerned her as she had read that citalopram supresses this rathe then increase it.
She is worried it is some type pf mania (hypomania?), I wonder if maybe its just her body getting use to the new dose? she is talking about coming off them completely, which I dont think is a good idea. She says she feels that they may have never actaully made her feel better, when she was put on the inital low dose she just finished college (which she hated), and then when the dose was increased she just got a boyfriend, and she now feels maybe it wasnt the medication at all that helped her mood, but the leaving college & getting a BF. I am a little concerned. Our GP just seems to go with whatever she asks for, she asked for medication and was give it, then asked for it to be upped twice so they did.
any advice please
1 like, 8 replies
katecogs Wicked99
Posted
Hope that helps xxx
katecogs Wicked99
Posted
Vivid dreams are a side effect, and often these will ease in time, as well as this feeling high. Increase appetite for sex (oh I wish) ....... joking aside ;-) I've read this can happen, but yes it is usually a suppressed libido, but I believe the leaflet that comes with the meds says it can be increased.
If the medication has helped her, I'd stay on them a bit longer, but may find a lower dose is more acceptable ie the dreams. Though I seemed to feel good after a few months when initially starting on this medication, but this all disappeared the longer I was on them.
My normal dose is 20mg.
K xx
katecogs
Posted
felt good after a few months on the meds, and the side effects disappeared the longer I was on them.
Wicked99
Posted
My daugher has googled, and is now convinced that she has bi polar (type 2?) and that she shouldnt even be on citalopram, whereas I just think its the side effects of the citalopram. She has been on the increased dose for about 5 weeks now, I told her to give it a couple more weeks and see how she feels then x
katecogs Wicked99
Posted
This is a good medicine to be on, though it doesn't suit everyone. But you do have to give it lots of time to work. Personally I'd say at her young age and if she's felt ok-ish, then 20mg would be the dose ..... but of course I'm not a professional, just know how I've felt and see many others here take 20mg.
My 20 year old son sadly had a melt down in August so I'm in the same boat as you. I'd taken this medication in the past and had come off it as felt better, but I restarted it as was feeling unwell due to the stress of seeing what he was going through. Breaks my heart ...
Apparently Prozac is the 'medication' for younger people, but I've noticed my son isn't feeling any better on it so will recommend Citralopram instead when we see the doctor tomorrow (though am dreading the withdrawl and new side effects for him). He's been unable to work since he was ill, and though he's doing more and hear him laugh sometimes, he's not as he used to be. He met his first girlfriend this year, but splitting up was a dreadful low point for him. Another nice young lady seems to be on the cards now
I don't think your daughter is bi polar, just adjusting to the medication. Maybe keep a diary of her symptoms and moods. This medication takes a long time to settle, and of course everyone is different.
K xx
loxie Wicked99
Posted
Kay77558 Wicked99
Posted
tony87125 Kay77558
Posted
I note my wife is fearless and tireless but also somewhat incoherent. She has all kinds of new drive to do things but they all must be done today and of course nothing can land because she is moving so fast...
she is also rather unscrupulous - spending on things she thinks are important even though there is no money.
She is rather harsh with me and others - either tuned out or seizing upon any target to criticize.
I dont think she really likes me that much and our sex life has been gone since the incident - dont know whether the medication is pushing our reunion out or pulling it closer.
I am trying to get her to focus on our finances that are being ruined by the cost of the things she does for my daughter. She is basically saying that is my problem.
Is her cavalier attitude part of getting better?