new to Citalopram

Hi, I think everyone reacts differently to medication and it's possible you may not have any side effects.I started on 20mg which was too much for me to begin with .The side efects I had were feeling sick and disturbed sleep and feeling exhausted.I decided to cut back to 10mg and felt much better.I felt calmer very soon after starting on Cit but it took about 6 weeks before I felt brighter in my mood.

If you need medication I would say don't be afraid to give it a go because if it works it will be worth having a short period of adjustment to get used to it.I would add that the side effects I had certainly weren't noticeable to anyone else.

Rose X

Thanks for the reply Rose. I'm still unsure what to do at the moment. Really don't need anything thats going to make me feel any worse.

Dear Magic

please let me know how you are now. I am feeling desperate. My story is EXACTLY the same as your story above including the paroxatine bit. I've been inbed now for two weeks with debilitating depression, anxiety and thoughts of death. I have the prescription in my had right now for the citalopram but too scared to take it. please please let me know how you got on. i so hope you are happy and healthy

Beth x

Hi, I must be convincing, just been to the doc today and said I felt depressed next thing I am on Citalopram 10mg to be increased to 20mg in 10 days - also bought a light box today as feel i may have a mild form of SAD (but have no evidence of this, except do not like grey skys). I have never taken any medication maybe the odd aspirin once year, I have just turned 50!! - I read with concern that this drug is for severe anxiety / depression and "people" move onto this drug. Is this common to put someone on this drug - happy to take if it makes me better but it reading some comments it seems to cause exactly what I want to go away ie tiredness, "feeling it alls a bit much at the moment" - I wanted a "pull your socks up" and feel better pill - beginning to think I should pass. I will try the lightbox for 6 weeks and see what happens. What tangible benefits do you get from from taking this pill - does it make you feel motivated and happy with life?

This sounds more a rant but a tad concerned that once on, never off - Kindest rgds Paul

Hi Beth,

Sorry for the late reply.

I really wasn't sure about taking them because of what I read. So I only took half of a tablet.It made me feel worse. ( really spaced out and this constance yawning )

I went back to the doctor and asked for something else. He gave me Trazodone 50mg whiched helped me sleep but it didn't really help with the anxiety. I have been feeling quite bad again recently so I saw the doctor yesterday and he gave me Cymbalta 30mg to try. Hope this works.

Not everyone will have bad side effects, you may find that you don't have any. If your not happy about taking them could you see your doctor and ask for something else?

Hope you start to feel better soon. Let me know how it goes.

Thanks for your reply. I've now been on the citalopram for 13 days. I feel absolutely awful. My depression has got worse, I just feel like i am at the end of the line. Hubby took me to see emergency doc today who suggests psychiatric help. I'm desperate now. can anyone tell me should i be waiting longer for the citalopram to work. I'm making my husband sick with worry. I'm so scared there is just no help out there. people say mental illness is just like having a broken leg, its not, a broken leg can be fixed. I've just got no fight left in me.

ps. the ringing in my ears is getting louder and louder

BETH how are you feeling now ? ive been put on citalopram , i cant get up and lay in bed just staring into space ... i have had a lot of emotions to go throu ,divorce ,suicide ,loss of house , useless so ,change of address , I COPED THROU ALL ...THEN ITS HIT ME IN A PANIC ,im sick ,anxious ,paranoid ,im self employed so have to work ,but feel like giving up ...normally im the life and soul of a party ! im on 20mg ...afterer a week still sick ,anxious ...no appetite , lost half a stone ..but i just want to live again ,not feel sick ,its an effort to talk to anyone ...plus im urinating more !! need to wear tenna ladies !!

I started on 20mg and lost 2 stone in a month. Which is good. IIRC the leaflet says if you have ringing in your ears you should see the gp. Anyway I'm on 40mg and much better.

smurfblows did you have nausea and more anxiety to start ? im on for a week and no improvement as yet : ((

oh dear its been such an awful year since feb. Citalapram did nothing for me, i went on to Seroxat 30mg still nothing so now they are going to try me on Ventlafaxine. I'm calm at the moment but the depression has just wiped me out. I'm seeing a psychiatrist who is great. you have had a hell of a year dendo this is going to take a while. your brain has litterally cracked in half but it will get better. as my psychiatrist says to me all the time this is NOT your fault but you WILL get better. it takes time

ps i read something about lower seretonin levels and increased urination. I'm also trying to find out about menapause as i'm 51 and feel this MUST have something to do with it

@ Dendo

I bounced off the walls for 2 weeks I was all over the place. Cold sweats and lack of appetite. Around 2 weeks it kicked in and I could feel the calm. Still have a lack of appetite.

Gosh Smurf you are so lucky that it has worked for you. did nothing for me and took it for 6 weeks. I'm just hoping the next lot works