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Long Term Citalopram Update - Good News

Posted , 6 users are following.

babysteps
babysteps

HI. I have been meaning to post for ages. I have been on 20mg of citalopram for about a year now.

It has been a long journey but I am doing so well. I would definitely consider that I'm 'back to normal' but with some improvements. i think I'll always be sensitive to my emotional state but i see that as a blessing now. My sleep is 6-7 hours per night. I can manage a busy lifestyle, full time job, parenting, cooking, fitness etc

I socialise with friends and have a few drinks of prosecco at the weekends - although overindulging on alcohol does bring on anxiety so i limit that.

I continue to work on my personal development all the time and read or listen to podcasts etc which keep me grounded.

February 2018 i had my breakdown. Panic and anxiety were all i lived and breathed. I couldn't function or eat or sleep. The worst thing was the lack of sleep.

I struggled with the idea of medication - still not believing that it was 'me' in that state. I cried and cried and cried getting the prescription feeling terrified and ashamed. But i didnt need to be.

I had side effects to start but i started to be able to function. I got back to work, went on holiday, lived life again.

There have been hard days or even weeks but thats normal and ok.

It takes a long time and i still see myself on a journey.

I also had 6 sessions of CBT.

When i was really poorly i used this forum a lot to ask questions or research what others were doing or experiencing.

I just wanted to check in, be a sign that recovery takes a long time but can be done and that you can live a functioning life while still recovering.

I currently have no plan to stop the citalopram and am not ashamed that i take it. IT's been fantastic for me.

I hope someone finds this helpful.

X

4 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • Guest
    Guest babysteps

    Posted

    thank you for this positive post. its very encouraging to read about people up have come out on the other side. it heps me continue. I still have a long way to go as ive only been on 10 since the end of December. i have some good days and some bad days. the worst for me is the extreme fatigue. Im hoping it gets better soon.

  • sally_58368
    sally_58368 babysteps

    Posted

    lovely to read

    i was great on them for about 10 years and only told people i was on them once i was able to not be on them .

    This time i needed to go back on them after an ill ess that has been going on since FEB finally getting answers to that now and on 20 mg of citalopram now so hoping the increase helps

  • Chris00000
    Chris00000 babysteps

    Posted

    great story, well done to you, this will encourage people on hear to stick with it x

    • sally_58368
      sally_58368 Chris00000

      Posted

      thanks Chris

      its a tough time starting on them

      hope you are doing ok ?

    • Chris00000
      Chris00000 sally_58368

      Posted

      im great, thanks Sally, hope you're illness gets sorted, wow 10 year's on cit, thats how well they work ey sally, its been about 3 years on cit for me, took a while for them to work, now im living life like iv never lived before, keep going on them sally, it might be different this time but they will work again for you i have no doubt about that, you've got the experience, x

  • pauline94895
    pauline94895 babysteps

    Posted

    Lovely to hear a positive story. I have been on Citalopram on and off for quite a few years. I have had a good five years of positive mental health but out of the blue about 5 weeks ago I felt the slipping down the ladder added to worries of midlife. Sleeplessness nights feeds panic attacks and feeds depressive thinking. I really felt at the end. The doctor started me on 20mg and I must admit it has been a rocky few weeks. The anxiety is still coming in waves and last night I woke at 5.22-I felt awful & wanted to cry of work but I got out of bed and went to work-and it wasn't too bad. I know tomorrow might be different but I hope the tablets are starting to take effect Hope everyone has a good night to.

    • babysteps
      babysteps pauline94895

      Posted

      It is quite easy to go down that rabbit hole again. I what i know now is that those episodes pass like clouds and blue sky is there once again. I found the moment i started to just live with the anxiety and not have any thought of it being good or bad - then it loses its grip on me. I still have ups and downs but i see them as normal now,

    • sally_58368
      sally_58368 pauline94895

      Posted

      im just starting on 20 mg

      been a tough week

      great person i listen to on you tube dr kim d eramo x

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