I have been on citalopram for 3 weeks and not seeing a different.

Hi Decndor,

Thank you for your reply. What you say is really engouraging, and makes me feel like there is hope out of thi dark, lonely world. I will keep taking them, and im hoping it won't take too much longer. It amazes me how many people do suffer with it. I know life is for living and enjoying, but as you know your self, when you are feeling like this it a nightmare being awake.

Hey ANthony chin up brother hang i there 3 weeks is barely past side effects I'm 5 weeks or so and still have side effects (big brain and all) lol but seriously like my man david said its really gradual wont be overnight I'm afriad to say but!!! I've only heard 2 people say it did nothing which you have to question the intergity? the most of us on here are making progress even if some dont think so looking in from the outside its always clearer, i dont get any anxiety/depression now so think my dosage of 20mg is about right....I hope so hang in there keep yourself upbeat whichever way you can do the things you love and tell us how you get on there are some strong people on he that keep me in check so from one to another wlecome and take care buddy. 

Morning Stevo,

Thank you for your word of wisdom. Hearing them has made me want to cry, not becasue I'm low, but becasue people understand. Great news on the meds for you, I am made up for you. I never realised the percentage was so low on the amout of people they don't work on, That has reasured me. Can I ask, does anyone else have a problem with sweating a lot, especially when in bed, I wake up and the pillow and blanket are soaked. Im wondering if this can be a side affect? 

Hi Anthony, just hold on tight! I am on day 17 and feeling a bit rubbish while I try and concentrate on work. Middle of winter here, and I am still sleeping with summer pjs and feeling overheated, tired, can't sleep, and generally feeling sorry for myself. I do believe the sweating is a side effect, and am driving my husband mad with kicking the duvet off all night. What a lot of fun we are having, so like you I'm waiting for the good part. Keep going, we have to believe it will get better with time

Hi Lee,

Thank you for this. I need it.  was getting worried about the sweating as it really bad and the sheet are soked by the morning. My boyfried grabbed a pillow off me last night and he had a shock that it was so wet. That will teach him not to steal my pillow :-) Anyhow, i'm glad it Friday and I will b happy to see 5.30pm so I can get out of here. Where in the world are you, Lee? Australia?

 

Tell him hands off your pillow Anthony. Yay for Fridays...we are almost done with this week, which is hopefully one week closer to feeling brilliant again. Not Australia, right down at the bottom of Africa, so I am gatecrashing the UK site because the people are lovely and so helpful. Now lets spend the next few hours watching the clock and trying to act normal. I work in a hospital so my shift ends at 7pm and I will be set free for the weekend. Anyway, still early days, don't panic it will work in due course, we just have to be patient, and soon we will be burning the town down again. Have a good one

Yeah Anthony, I sweat although not that much I wish I did as imagine what that does for weight lose !! Yay! the one thing I really enjoy about Cita is the weight lose although not enough for me haha "if you dont laugh you cry" but seriously yes thats a side effect for sure ! I think I heard my doc say the Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors make some people work over time while brain is mending which is why some get insomnia and sweat plus the tremors so that makes good sense. Think about the good its doing not the side effects as they will pass once you become used to them  

Hey Anthony, that is depression to a tee brother it sucks real bad ! However the fact you know what is going on is very important even if it doesnt seem so!! depression is in my family too for years I believed this was normal so took drugs and alcohol to make me happy all that it did was ruin me.... stay in touch with your mum and the people that make you happy and who love you! make sure you do enjoyable things too make sure you live and that your not just surviving!! Citalopram is pain staking slow so patience will have to be something you take on a long haul! It will get better take care xx

Hi stevo, cheers for your word if wisdom. Like you i did the drink and drugs thing years ago. Ive given up the fags and cant remember the last time i had a drink.it doesnt interest me no more.not long got into bed.i live a rock n roll life.ha.but u feel this where i want to be at moment.work is very stressful so it like peace when i get home.that what i want peace of mind.like you said it a slow release ap which this evening im feeling hopefull.everyone is so nice on here and makes it seem normal and we are not weak.thanks again mate.peace

Oh dear! I feel so sad for you, and Yes I do relate to a degree. It's never easy I the beginning, and these early days can be challenging, both for us and those closest to us. Perhaps a weekend break is a good idea, no pressure on you. Do something you enjoy and take it easy...just keep going until the 6-8 week mark. I am hopeful that you will feel a change soon. Thinking of you. Lee.

Hi Lee,

Thank you for your reply. You are right, the days are challanging. I never realised how much depression effect every part of your life. Like veryone I jut want to be happy and have that fire in my belly again and dance and making a fool of my self. Do you think I should wait another 2 weeks before ringing my dr? I'm on 20mg. Im 30 on the last day of July and people are asking what have I got planned? I have nothing and no desire, so I'm hoping I will be better by then to at least socialise xx

Anthony, I think it is always a good idea to keep Your Dr in the loop particularly if you are battl

Oops! Battling. Even if your Dr does nothing other than reassure you that what you are feeling is normal at the beginning of treatment. I know most say stick with it for 6-8 weeks, but your Dr may want to give you some advice or encouragement. Make the call, I'm sure you will feel better for it.

Hi Lee,

I have just took your advise and rang the surgery, She will get a dr to ring me back. When I went inisiallt, I saw a lovely lady dr who put me at easy when I broke down, when I went back 2 weeks later I saw a different dr wo was not sympathetic, he was like ' do you want to cary on with them' not asked how I was feeling or side effects. I did ask the lasy I spoke to to get her to ring m back but shes not in and I said I don't want him to speak to me as he has not a compasion bone in his body. I think he saw me as weak. Is there anytghing I shoudl ask for to perhaps help take the edge off? I'm not sure if there is something they can prescribe? Life is unberable at the moment and it harder like most when you have to go to work long hors to earn a crust and pay your rent and bills. I feel like a failure. I'm hoping they will work and maybe he can give me a little something to take off the edge as these dark thoughts are breaking me. Thanks for listening xx

We are all in this together Anthony. I am glad you will be speaking to a Dr. It is a pity the one you connected with well is unavailable today. You are not a failure for asking for help at all, in fact I think getting help makes us pretty tough fighters. Why not make a list of things that are bothering you and how you feel before you speak to a Dr, and that will help you get to the point directly, and hopegfully enable the Dr to assist in the best possible way. Please keep us posted. Thinking of you, and stay strong. Lee.

Hello Lee,

The Dr rang and he was asking if something has casued this. I feel like im repeating my self. He was not nice, just came accross as cold and un interested. He want me to pick up a prescription for another 10 mg so it will be 30mg now. Let hope this will improve. Thanks for your kind words, Lee. It means a lot xx

Oh dear, such a shame when you fall into the clutches of an unsympathetic Dr who does not really get the full picture. Perhaps the dosage increase will make the difference, but it may take a little time...lets hope not too long. And since we are not doctors, and we understand those feelings, keep posting and know that you are not alone. Take care, and a ddep breath, everything will be ok

Thank Lee, I did ask him for something to hel take the edge off. He said there is no chnace hes prescribing anything. I will need to fight through it all, which i will do and I am, but I think he could have been a litle nicer, as I did tell him I'm on the edge, and very fragile. I've spoke to work and they are ok for me to leave early as I need to travel to the gp and chemist. I'm planning on tydying my flat at some point this weekend to keep busy. Rock n roll life, but it will be theuroputic, as he's away so I can take my time with a little music on. Seems sad, but I'm looking forward to give it a good clean xx

Anthony, wondering how today is going and just how much cleaning is going on? Hope it is a better day for you and that you are feeling a little happier. Keep us posted . Lee 

Hi Anthony, Lee I am surprised the doctor has upped the dosage in that space of time however they are more a judge than I! Hang in there Anthony it will get better I'm sure of that you do have to help by staying as positive as you can which I know is really hard but rest assure it will improve the meds take a considerable amount of time to start working I after 7 weeks still have some symptoms of depression so it won’t happen as quick as you'll like be patient if you are really dark feeling don’t believe everything your mind tells you anxiety can sometimes fool the nervous system and the mind has all sorts of racing thoughts! The best thing I found was to not trust every thought I had as we all analyse every thought when we should remain rational (hard to do but possible) You should try something Anthony which comes from cognitive behaviour therapy ‘look at yourself in the mirror and question the thoughts…. what happens following the worrying or dark thoughts’ I found after a while when I wasn’t thinking about the anxious thoughts nothing really changed so I would tell myself in the mirror that my mind is making me think these thoughts and to trust my instinct that with medication and self-belief I will be ok and now I don’t tend to really think or give any thoughts any credit as they are just chemical mixes in my brain. Stay strong Anthony you will make it out of this hole I know you will take care J

Lovely post Steve! Thank you. Yes we Have to stop giving too much credit to those random thoughts and learn to focus on the good stuff.

Good Morning Lee,

How are you? How was your weekend? Sorry to be so negative again, but weekend has been horrible, I did the cleaning, which weirdly enough I enjoyed. Took the extra 10mg which was prescribed on Friday. Well I've has 2 / 3 hours sleep. Loss of appetite, my anxiety is shot to shredds, my word. My partner came hom on Sunday and he walked on me staring into space crying. I want it all to end, the pain is awful. I slept on the sofa last night as I was sweating and culd not sleep so it not fair on the other half. Im at work now, shattered, just had out weekely meeting with the manager, and cant rememebr a word he said. I have a rush of adrenaline and my stomach want to it going round and round. I know it nor really there and it all in my head but I wish I could make it stop. How is all with you Lee? are you getting better? xx

Hi Steve, 

How are you. What lovely words. I need to be more posotive and get this horrible devil off my shoulder and send him to the ground. I think I'm suffering with low self esteem. I think I'm worthless and my parter will leave me becasue of it.  So each day this week, I'm going try and forget about this depression and fight throug it, I just so wish the the horriblr anxiety will just do one, It makes me really upset and makes it hard to breath. It actually wakes me up. Here to another week guys, lets be strong and keep each other going. Love to all xx

Hi Anthony, sorry it was a rough weekend, alth

Hang in there anthony xx start looking forward to when the meds start to work and you climb out of the hole remeber you are a wonderful person and I'm sure your partner agrees talk to him explain so he understands my wife never really understands but she tries too which is good enough anxiety is a terrible especially when your tired maybe you need to take some time off work to get the sleep you need by not having work that may decrease the anxiety and help... take care my friend!  

Hello Stevo,

Thank you for your sound advice. I have got this Friday off and he is also takign the time off. It hopefully going to be a nice day and we've not planned anyting yet, but he want to make a day of fun. I'm looking forward to that, especially if the sun is going to keep on shining. I've decided this is not going to beat me! I just need to try and keep my mind occupied with positive thought. I know im saying this and will find it hard, but I miust try. How are you, are you recovering? xx

Thats a great frame of mind dont let it beat you you are doing very well and pretty soon you will see the benefits! A day out is a great idea full yourself with happy things and enjoyment! I'm doing ok day by day still have tremors as a side effect however if thats the worse compared to where I was then I feel like I have already won take care xx