has anyone taken citalopram

[tinahiggins]

i finally got to see my doctor yesterday i didnt get mucj time to talk to her but she gave me some citalopram im hopeing that it will help me. im quite worried about the side effects as it says that you will feel worse rather than better for at least a week. i cant imagine how i could get any worse every day seems to get harder and harder.
is there anyone whos taken this medication before and if so did it help

[Vikki]

Hi Tina

My Gp gave me citolopram, I had tried fluoxetine and veneflaxine first, but neither had worked.

I can't say the citlopram helped me either, as I suffer from bad nightmares and horrible thoughts in the daytime. The meds did make this this worse, and I have had to try something. But try them, if you don't get on with them, then your gp may try you something else.

Different things work for different women, so they may be right for you.

If you are worried about the side effects, speak to your doctor, especially as I remember one of the side effects is feeling suicidal.

I didn't get that, as it is a very rare side effect.

The meds do take at least 2 weeks to start working, so even if you don't feel an improvment, persevere with them, they may work once the initail shock is over.

Best of luck, I am sure that you will be feeling better in no time.

Lots of love

Vikki

[cinders]

Hiya Tina,

Just wanted to drop you a few lines to let you know that I take Citalopram and it has really worked for me, but like Vikki said different things work for different women.

I was very scared in the beginning at the side effects, but I was feeling so awful anyway I wanted to try something and it did take a while.

I was started on 20mg, which did take a while to kick in. I did go back to the Drs after the 2/3 weeks they say that it takes to start working, as I was still having a lot of bad days so they upped the medication to 40mg and that seemed to do the trick.

I stayed on the 40mg for about a month or so and then reduced it down to 20mg again as I was feeling completely out of it!!!!

I'm feeling a lot better now and I'm able to get out there and face the world again. I've got to see the Doc again next month for a review so we'll see how that goes.

I have been where you are and believe me things do get better with time. Take things easy, dont rush in your recovery and take all of the help that you can.

I hope the meds work ok for you and that you're feeling better soon. Thinking of you....Cinders xx

[Kaz]

Hi Tina,

I am on Citalopram and feel fine, although it did take some time to begin to feel this way. It is important to remember when you go on start on the drugs that it is often the tablets making you feel bad not you and things will get better, and the side effects do go away (I was sick every morning for a month), but it is worth it!

Some people I know have found it didn't help them much and the first anti-depressant I was on made me feel worse. If you are worried keep going back or call them on the phone. I was the biggest pain going but it was the only way to get anywhere.

Love Kaz

[Calmer]

Hi Tina, Ive taken citalopram for nearly a year now - and I dont even notice it now - its been great for me!

The first week it made me feel a little dizzy and sick with a permanant dull headache, and the first day was particularly bad - to the point that I wondered if I would take another but i started to feel better in every way after the first week.

Its worth giving it a try - if it doesnt work for you there are others to try, but you do need to give it a chance for a few weeks.

Good luck
C x

[Catherine]

Hi Tina,
I too took Citalopram, it was the cure for me. I was on 60mg and reduced to 20mg then 10mg then came off. The first 2 weeks were worrying because I was concerned about the side effects, but I kept a journal of how I felt and after those first 2 weeks things improved gradually. After 6 months I was well and I continued for a further 6 months as recommended. I have been off them for 6 months and feel fully recovered.
Best wishes
Catherine

[andrea]

i took it for a few days . it made me feel extremely agitated, went back to my gp she changed me to lexapro which is the same but has a molecule in it changed and it side affects were much less , lexapro is the brand name in australia, i have only recently been diagnosed and my son is 2 andrea

[Cokey]

Hi

I can tell you of my two experiences of citalopram. I first took it three years ago when I had depression (not PND) and within 5 days I felt human again and I cannot tell you enough that it did the trick.

This time, I felt sick and shivery for about 5 days but that passed. I also had a lot of skipped heartbeats. However, the mental side effects (suicidal thoughts and harmful thoughts ) got a hundred times worse for me and by about two and half weeks, I had to see an emergency GP. They took me off it, as I clearly didn't suit it THIS TIME.

I want to stress that it DOES WORK and that you may have side effects but give it at least two weeks to kick in. If then you aren't happy with it after then, tell your GP but don't stop taking it. Truly, you will know if the side effects are unbearable yourself. Be strong and give it chance because if it does work, it will chnage your life for the better. Good luck.

All my love,

Cokey xxx

[Kate]

Hi

I too have been on Citalopram for over a year - I experienced terrible suicidal/harmful thoughts for the first 2 or 3 weeks but then things started calming down. I started on 20mg for a few months, then felt bad in January so upped to 30mg and I have been on them ever since and have felt a lot better for it.
My problem is that anytime I try to reduce I feel like I am relapsing again, have recently tried to go from 30 to 20mg but have been having strange thoughts/hot flushes/anxieties the past few days so I am know giving up and going back to 30mg, maybe I wasn't ready to reduce, maybe I will be on them forever!

All the best, it's so different for each individual.

Kate x

[Carmen]

Hi
Like Andrea I was first prescribed Lexapro which is escitalopram and basically the same as citalopram but it made me really tired and I felt like everything was really cloudy, (more than usual) like a zombie as they say. I'm now on paroxetine which is a non drowsy one and so far so good. But different ones work for different people and if you find the side effects too much just ask for a different one.
Take Care Love Carmen
PS Well done for going to the doctor!

[Pat]

Hang in there - it will get better!

I took Citalopram and it did feel worse for a week or so. I had panic attacks but once the tablets kicked in I felt much better. My only advice would be to not come off them too soon, I did and ended up back where I started. I have now had my dose upped and hope to feel like a human being again soon.

Good luck.