Not taking Citralopram and wish I had kept on it

Posted , 3 users are following.

I was taking Cit. and was feeling fine, over the last few weeks I was taking the dose sporatic.  I have now had a break up and I feel the anxiety and wish I hadn't stopped. Can someone tell me how long it takes to get back in the system. 

 

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  • Posted

    a few weeks to get in the system properly. Just keep taking it regular, easiest at night. The side effects, if you get them, reduce over time. I dont really get any side effects now. 

    When I first started I was feeling different within a few days, weird dreams, but took a while to kick in proper ( 2 weeks+ for me doc said 6 weeks)

    • Posted

      Thanks Dean,

      I'm on about day 14 and yes there have been some side effects, I called a nurse and she said it takes about 4 weeks to get fully in the system. Have a few dreams myself....lol dreamed i was milking 2 cows., have to find the humour in it.  Anxiety can swell up during the day so I'm trying to practice staying calm.  Hope you are doing ok. Stay in touch.

      johmac

    • Posted

      I hsf s few beers the other week and thought id head off the horrible downers i get the week or so after, so increased to 20mg for few days and back to 20mg. Anyway hot side effects - Had a dream i won lottery, had won 5mill and took out 2 from cash machine! It was on pink notes and had lost it lol Planned to get ford focus rs for a runaround. Then woke up, still beleived it for a bit. Bit gutting really :-)
    • Posted

      "20 to 10" i mean and "Anyway some side effects" 

      cant seem to edit posts with this Boards software sad

       

    • Posted

      Hi Dean,

      I hear you should not drink. I'm not a drinker anyway but I have heard that it was wreak havoc on the system.  Try something tamer even thought it's hard. Don't mess with these meds. Good luck smile

    • Posted

      thanks johmac, havoc on the system is about right

      Yeh it does mess things up for about 2 weeks after (get angry and down), one occasion I was walking about for a few hours confused (think id drank a lot). Mixed opinions around the Internet about alcohol and Cit but how it affects you is all that matters. Just find it hard to give up completely, dont see hardly anyone I used to when hitting the town, have tried 'cokes' but not the same id rather do other things. Its my birthday in 2 weeks too so few people expecting me to go out for beers lol

       

  • Posted

    If you don't mind me asking, how long were you taking citalopram and what dose were you taking?

    • Posted

      Hi Laura,

      I started on 20 and increased to 30 after about six months (last Aug?). 30 seemed to have worked well until I foolishly stopped taking every day. I have more stress just now so I see the doc soon and may be going up to 40. Good luck

    • Posted

      Thanks John.   I had to restart citalopram after slowly coming off of it.  8 weeks off and anxiety

      hit me.  Started back on 10 for 3 weeks, then 20 for 3 weeks now.  It's been up and down.  

      I'll feel it working, then nothing, then working again, etc.  And when it's working it feels strong.

      At 3 weeks now, it is maybe starting to feel more consistent.  

    • Posted

      When i first ever took it they put me straight on 20mg, maybe eases in side effects your way. Just saying as I dont think there is any prob starting higher.

      Maybe the doc is evaluating at each dose? 

      Trouble is when you are feeling ok you dont think you need it anymore

  • Posted

    Dean, its not worth it to drink. You have to try and focus on getting better and you will have other birthdays. I don't know how old you are but I'm sure you have a lot of life ahead of you so try and tee total, it' not forever, just for now.  

    Laura, I did a stupid thing and started taking it only 2-3 times a week and then I got a bad cold and a couple of life events so I took another tumble. I'm at 26 days on 30 mg but don't feel close to being myself yet.  It's a long and winding road.

    Best (just to let you know my name is not John - it's Jo (female) not your fault, happens a lot with my user name.  xx

    johmac

    • Posted

      lol good to know!  I  made the same mistake.
    • Posted

      I agree, could be on Cit for a long time to be honest with myself. When ive got my head back I slowly think about another beer again, but anyway.. 
  • Posted

    Laura, did you stop completely for 8 weeks. I think we learn very hard lessons from this. I have decided that if it makes me better I don't care if I'm on it the rest of my life. x

    • Posted

      Yes I did stop completely for 8 weeks.  It took 8 weeks to go from 20 to 10.  Spent 5 weeks on 10.

      Then off for 8 weeks.  I kinda think it was easier going off cit than going back on.  ugh

      Told my husband I may be a lifer on this medication.   I surely am not going through this again.

      I told my doctor that I was cutting my dose from 20 to alleviate some side effects.  Then when I got to

      10, she advised me to just stop it.  I was going to stay on 10 for awhile longer, just in case.  But decided

      to go off, thinking it would be ok.

    • Posted

      They dont understand. Try 10 for a few months first (if not longer) I am on 10mg now after complaining about non existent drive and he said try goto 10mg.

    • Posted

      Dean, how long have you been on 10mg?

      When I restarted 7 weeks ago, I did start on 10 and did that for 3 weeks.  The 10 seemed to

      do nothing for me, so went to 20 which has been more effective.

    • Posted

      I replied to Jo again, my god this forum is hardwork on a phone :-)

      On 20 for 3 years odd, then went to 10mg. Things had improved in those 3 years I felt but having history of depression/anxiety problems so im not sure for how long. 

      It was start of summer about April I went to 10mg and seemed to be ok. Def not as effective but was doing something I felt. My partner says I am short fused again on 10mg but it was a 50/50 thing to me. Anyway I had a few beers 2 weeks ago today (self inflicted my fault) and ended up going back up to 20mg for 5 days and went back to 10mg again for around 7 days now.

      Things have gradually improved over this week (I found my elderly mother proper hardwork, she is anyway, but couldnt tolerate on monday) ,

      I find I am ok in the morning and afternoon the effects wear off (quite a few family arguments too, where i would of handled better usually). I find the wear off period later in the day as week has gone on. Today I am bit anxious but have just done a load of gardening for my mum and the physical work helps me. Its not a definite stay on 10mg will see how I goes :-)

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