My Citalopram diary
Posted , 16 users are following.
Well following a admission to hospital 3 weeks ago for extreme fatigue, weight loss and pains in my abdomen and many test including a colonoscopy which all came back 'all clear' I've been persribed anti-depressants for stress and anxiety.
I have always had anxiety since my early teens but have NEVER been medicated for this I have always just 'dealt' with it. However with the pressures of work and imminate house move and young family I think my body/brain finally gave in!
So I'm trying medication in the hope I can lose the anxiety and get my life back on track, after reading many scare stories of the side effects (which nearly put me off) I finally gave in and took my first dose tonight - I was given sertraline 50mg last week as the first option but after what felt like a heart attack (I'm 30 btw) on the 3rd day I threw the towel in.
Having researched since I now know 50mg was quite a strong dose to start on!! So here I am round 2 and a new drug - this time Citalopram 10mg and I started my first dose tonight...well when I say first dose I took a quarter of a tablet effectively (2.5mg) I'm starting slow this time and building it up, I also have Gilberts Syndrome which makes some drugs reactive differently.
I'm going to keep this thread going to help explain any side effects and hopefully dispell and scare stories and hopefully share my own happy ending.
Stay tuned!
1 like, 71 replies
lorraine52317 davidblue85
Posted
Wonderful idea! This will be of real benefit to new users. Also we are all here for you too xxxx
Micky80 davidblue85
Posted
Citalopram has given me my life back ! Stick with it!!!
david43118 davidblue85
Posted
David
beth02382 david43118
Posted
Guest davidblue85
Posted
david43118 Guest
Posted
Doesn't feel like it is working
davidblue85
Posted
Hopefully it keeps my mind off any (at all side effects)!
Marf davidblue85
Posted
davidblue85 Marf
Posted
I realised myself that I can't deal with things on my own this time after the AD I was first given last week and the horrible side effects I had I tried to get myself back on track but it wasn't working and after a sobbing sessions yesterday I knew I had to give these a go. Good to hear things are getting easier for you it helps to have good support around you - I have a fantastic wife who herself had to take Citalopram some years ago so she understands how this all feels. Interestingly she started on 20mg, started taking them the day she left the doctors and never experienced ANY side effects!
Marf davidblue85
Posted
davidblue85
Posted
A few things to note from last night, firstly it seem to take longer than normal to get to sleep, I felt really tired but I just couldn't drop off. When I did fall asleep I kept waking and developed a cracking headache - I suffer with migraines so whilst this may be unpleasant to most my pain tolerance is quite high so I just tried to sleep through it.
Other than that I don't feel any worse than I've been feeling the last couple of weeks anyway. So I'm going to get some breakfast in me and just rest as much as possible today - luckily I'm signed off work so have time to get this drugs working.
I just want to get through the worst of the side effects so I can try getting back to normality then hopefully the 'light at the end of the tunnel' will eventually follow.
davidblue85
Posted
Other than that today has probably been the best day I've had for a while, been for a walk with the family then did some jobs around the house.
Feel a bit tired now though - so I'll try and get an early night after tea.
davidblue85
Posted
So I think I'll continue on 2.5mg until the end of the week then I'll increase to 5mg then hopefully my body/brain will continue to ease into them.
Compared to the side effects I experienced on Sertraline this is a breeze so far!
Marf davidblue85
Posted
davidblue85 Marf
Posted
I very rarely use any type of drug - I won't even use paracetamol most of the time. So was very fearful of taking these tablets but the alternative was far more scary!
The side effect I'm trying to avoid is loss of appetite - I'm 6'2 and already lost 1.5 stone over the past 4 weeks so I'm keen not to lose anymore. My appetite still hasn't returned but I'm making the effort to eat well and snack little and often.
Can I ask what side effects you are experiencing and how have they developed?
Thanks for your support X