Citalopram + missed period

Posted , 7 users are following.

Hi, i have been taking citalopram for about 4 weeks now, the side effects are as good as gone. But i have missed a period. It was due around the end of christmas week/begining of new years week. I usually get tender breasts in the week before my period which is a good indication that it is due but i have not had it and there is no chance i can be pregnant because i was steralized 7 years ago, but i have heard stories about women getting pregnant years after being done so im really worried that i may be pregnant and am too scared to take a test.

Has citalopram messed about with anyone elses period? mine is usually regular, i have not missed since i was a teenager. It is usually as reliable as big bed so im a little worried. :?

I have an appointment to see the doctor next late next week so i can talk to the doc about it, but i dont want to be stuck worrying about it. I suppose in a way if this is a side effect of the drug then it will take some of my worry away.

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  • Posted

    Did you go to the Doctor's? Was it the Citalopram?

    I have had a similar experience - normally my periods are regular and long but after 6 weeks of being on Citalopram my last period was only 4 days long and very light. I asked my GP who said he had never heard of this being a side-effect (nor was it listed as one in his GP book!) but there is no way I am pregnant so I think it must be the Citalopram. The side effects listed on the leaflet with the pills includes 'painful periods' but no mention of shortened or missed periods. Has anyone else had this experience?

  • Posted

    Hello, I have been on citalopram for 2 months. the first month my period was 1 week late, and this time i was 1 week early and i have bled for longer.

    I would get yourself checked out by the doctor in you are really worried.

  • Posted

    :idea: I just wanted to say that maybe they are missing a side effect, because I have been on them for 6 months now and have missed 2 periods! :!:
  • Posted

    Hi all

    If you google citalopram + side effects, a lot of websites do include disruption in the menstrual cycle as a side effect!

    Some sites state this side effect as serious and suggest you discuss it with your GP as soon as possible. Not much use lol if your GP has never heard of this as a side effect :shock:

    It could also be down to the illness itself? Our mood can have an effect on our body in lots of different ways.

    If there is any chance at all that you may be pregnant, I'd recommend a pregnancy test, if positive, see your GP and ask about the safety element of taking this drug during pregnancy.

    Wishing you all a speedy recovery

    Melbi x

  • Posted

    I have been on Citalopram for nearly 4 weeks, I to have missed my period it is over a week late, I have never missed a period except when I concieved my two sons. It always comes on the exact day every month. I now im not pregnant and I have talked to my Doctor this morning and he said that this is not a side affect of the medication. I googled it and found several different web sites outlining this as a severe side affect and consultation with your health professional is urgently needed.

    I to think they have missed out a side affect or they should update their leaflets.

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  • Posted

    I have been taking citalopram for about a month and this is my first period. I have had very little period pain, whereas I am usually doubled over and my period seems very light! As you say, this doesn't seem to be an official side effect but I can't believe it is a coincidence. I am not complaining because it makes a nice change, but I wonder if it's healthy?? It really makes you think about the power inside this drug. Then again, it's really lifted my mood....
  • Posted

    hi. I'm semi comforted that I'm not the only one who has missed a period being on Citalopram. The first month I started this medication, I missed a period. It came 54 days after my last one. I'm waiting for my next period, which going on the 30 day usual is over due. I have been feeling anxious and sexually aroused, which are signs of my period coming. I have been ill and haven't eaten much in the past few days which I know will effect when it starts too. I did tell my gynocologist about the missed period a month ago. I have been having some pelvic discomfort which started before Citalopram and have had many test that have come back negative for various things. I know I'm not pregnant. Anyway, when I told her about the missed period she had me go get some blood work done, so I see the results when I see her in a few weeks.

    Having read everyones similar experiences, I am going to make an appointment with my therapist who perscribed the meds on Monday.

  • Posted

    I'm a week late and I started these pills just over a month ago. I've never ever missed a period and they're as regular as clockwork. i think it's fairly reasonable to assume that since these pills mess with your emotions, they're bound to effect the lurge.
  • Posted

    I have had the opposite to you. I have scarcely had a period in my life time but since starting citalopram they have come back. I think maybe the amount of stress i was suffering was causing me to lose my period, I always thought I had a hormonal problem but the doctor assures me I havnt.
  • Posted

    hey everyone. i've been taking citalopram for about 3 weeks now. i'm 17 years old. i got my period a week early this month, and it last for about 3 or 4 days, where as it usually lasts for a good 6 or 7, possibly 8. and i've been having mine since i was 11 years old. Well usually my periods are heavy, this time it was very very light. i really need to know if this is normal?
  • Posted

    Before I go into all the negative stuff, I should point out that citalopram has been a miracle for me and it has probably saved my life. It got me back to normal after a very bad time. I no longer feel anxious every day and I have stopped feeling depressed and suicidal.

    I don't want to put anyone off trying it because if I had the time over again I would definitely take the drug. It has brought me back to normal.

    I will say that I was diagnosed with 20mg but I split the pills in half and have never taken more than 10mg - which I found to be very strong.

    I've now cut down to three quarters of a tablet a day in an attempt to cut down and I feel fine so far (apart from bad taste in mouth and sudden reduced sex drive).

    I've been on Citalopram for more than three months and have only had one period since I've been on it. I'm normally pretty regular. I'm interested in why it makes your period stop. I've gained some weight on my stomach too, and I normally only gain weight around my hips and thighs so I was wondering if this is a side effect of Citalopram too.

    I've had lots of... well, menopausal symptoms since I started the drug and there were absolutely no sign of these before I took it.

    I am 45 but very young looking and was ovulating before too and I don't think I was anywhere near the menopause. Do menopausal symptoms come on so suddenly? Could it be the drug?

    It's very worrying.

    I am coming off the drug and I hope my periods will come back, I'll stop getting sudden hot sweats and my bloated, swollen stomach will go down! Most of all I want my sex drive back please! Anyone got any idea how log it takes for it to come back after stopping the drug?

  • Posted

    I too have started having much lighter periods for the past couple of months. I didn't connect this to the medication until i started reading some of the posts here. My period has ben like clockwork since I was a teenager, the only time this changed was when i was on the pill in my early 20s and it was much shorter in duration. But now, after 3 kids, the youngest of which is almost 3, and being switched to this med from lexapro, i have had progressively shorter periods, which is unusual because after my baby they got much longer and and much heavier. I'm not at all upset about this change, it's nice to have them shorten up, but I am worried about whether this is something else...any thoughts from anyone with similar experience?
  • Posted

    :roll:

    Hi all

    i have been on 10mg citalopram for about a year and half sometimes I take 2 .I thought I was in my change I have had lighter periods and they have finished early, I been to my g.p and had blood test, but all was o.k

    I have just been told by chemist that they can cause problems with your monthley circle. karen

  • Posted

    :?

    Hi all

    I would also like to say that i was in a really depressed state before I west on citalopram and anxious. I believe in having a strong mind yourself but id had the problem since i was a teenager, Citropram really help me so now Im confused in what to do I might have to come off the tablets. Karen

  • Posted

    I started off with 10mg, but was taking half, then went to 10, 15mg and now on 20mg. Have taken them a few months now. I have not had a period since December and its Feb now. This is really worrying me but I know I am not pregnant. It is good to know that I am not alone in this. The doctors should tell us however this side effect as they do not seem to think it could cause it

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