Citalopram

Hi everyone

I've had a horrendous couple of weeks, my anxiety has just been getting worse and worse to the point where I think I'm having a break down...it's now lead to me feeling very depressed. I felt so bad over the weekend that I went to the doctor's yesterday and was prescribed Citalopram which I have started taking this morning.

Does anyone else take this and do you find it effective?

SB x

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Hi Squat betty, I don't take any medication, but I can definatly relate to feeling like I am going to have a nervous breakdown. It is a most horrible freightning feeling. My doctor has assured me that I will not have a breakdown, it's just nerves again. So I am sure you will not have one either. Just keep telling yourself that they are just feelings. Take Care Ann x

Hi Chrissy, thanks for the reply x

I think it's a combination of lots of things causing my anxiety. I'm now in my early 30s and can hardly remember a time when my life wasn't plagued by it. Most of the time I can cope, it's very difficult, but I somehow "get through". I had a bad bout of depression about 7 years ago but now it seems to be back and I'm struggling to cope.

Trying to stay positive, but it's very hard x

Hi Squatbetty

A lot of people do find citalopram effective but it does take 5 or 6 weeks to start working and in this time you may find that your anxiety gets worse.

The common side-effects of taking citalopram are usually dry-mouth, nausea, shaking and a running nose.

Chris

Thanks Chris x

When I read the blurb with the tablets I seem to have most of the side-effects to start with so I doubt I'll notice any difference ;) I know when I took Prozac a few years ago it seemed to take a while to kick in and I did feel worse for a while. I guess I'll just have to be patient...

I started taking 20mg yesterday morning and by the afternoon I was feeling very nauseous and had a dry mouth...I imagine most of that was the anxiety talking as I'm not sure I could have side effects to the medication so quickly.

Hi Squatbetty

Can I first apologise for the abruptness of my last post. I was on my way out to the pub (proof that citalopram works because this time last year I wouldn't leave my bedroom).

Unfortunately, the side-effects do come on as soon as you start to take the tablets but they normally start to go away after about 5-10 days.

I'm quite surprised the doctor started you on 20mg because they very often start you on 10mg for a week to dampen the side-effects.

A lot of people are put off by the side-effects and stop taking the pills but if the side-effects get too much there is another option. There is a drug called escitalopram, which is the same class of drug but it is manufactured as an oxalate salt, which is absorbed into your body more readily. Therefore the doses are smaller (5 or 10mg) and this results in fewer side effects.

Hope this helps

Chris x

Thanks Chris & no need to apologise, especially when a pub beckons :) Hope you had a nice evening x

To be honest I'm relieved it is the tablets making me nauseous as I don't usually feel as bad as I did yesterday when I'm just at home...I usually only feel like that when I'm out of the house. I'm off work this week so have a few more days for the tablets to start settling in a bit & hopefully the nausea will have eased off slightly. I hope so because I'm finding it very difficult to eat anything at the moment.

Do you mind me asking - are you still taking citalopram now? Does drinking in moderation have any bad effects? I only ask because I really enjoy a drink and the thought of no cider/wine for maybe months is not a happy one :(

I'm definitely not going to drink anything for the time being but I'd like to think it won't have to be like this long term.

Hi Squatbetty

I actually take the other drug I mentioned - escitalopram - and I have been for a year now.

Don't take this as gospel because I'm not a doctor and I would always reinforce the official advice that it is better not to drink any alcohol at all but it's not always that easy is it?

I drink quite a lot and as far as I know there are two issues with this. The first is that alcohol simply stops the drug from working (or at least reduces its efficacy). The second is that alcohol will amplify any sedative effect of the drug.

Like I said, I'm not an expert, and the above is only based on my own experiences with the drugs.

Chris x

Thanks again Chris.

I've just called NHS Direct because I feel so dreadful. The nausea has stopped me eating (haven't eaten properly since Monday) and now I have a splitting headache. They suggested that I go back to my doc's and see what they think I should do.

I actually feel like I have a bad hang-over but without having the fun part that leads to it ;)

Hi

I'm pretty sure it will just be your body getting used to the drugs and nothing to worry about but see what your doc says. You might want to mention the other drug to him (escitalopram) and see if he'll try you on that.

Chris x

Thanks Chris and Chrissy x

I'm actually starting to feel much better today. I'm hoping the side-effects might have peaked yesterday. The nausea has eased off a lot & the headache has gone. I've managed to eat a light breakfast and lunch and so don't feel as weak. I just feel immensely tired now and am yawning all the time...I can live with that though :)

Hi Squatbetty

My advice (as a layman) would be to try and stick with it for a couple of months. By then you should know whether the drug is doing you any good or not. I know the side-ettects are unpleasant but they won't do you any harm.

Chris x

Thanks Chris

I'll be going to speak to my doctor tomorrow so will discuss the side-effects and see what they think...I'm pretty sure they will say the same as you though. I *was* intending on going back to work in the morning but really don't think I'm ready so am going to get a sick note for another week. Feel guilty about letting people down but I need to start putting myself and my health first a bit :rolleyes:

Enjoy the rest of the weekend :)

Hi Squatbetty

Try not to feel bad about being away from work, your recovery has to be your priority. It will be much better for everyone in your life - your employer and colleagues included - if you can get this sorted out.

I made the mistake before of going back to work too early because I felt duty-bound and it just made me worse.

Chris x

[QUOTE=Squatbetty]Hi everyone

I've had a horrendous couple of weeks, my anxiety has just been getting worse and worse to the point where I think I'm having a break down...it's now lead to me feeling very depressed. I felt so bad over the weekend that I went to the doctor's yesterday and was prescribed Citalopram which I have started taking this morning.

Does anyone else take this and do you find it effective?

Hi Sqatbetty

My name is Kate I am 28 I suffer from agoraphobia and severe anxiety.. I have been getting a bit more confidence latley so I guess I feel in the right frame of mine to give you some advice... For a start writing that you you think that your having a breakdown would make you feel rather depressed and thinking about side affects of your new tablets wont make your mind at peace either!!

Just think to your self you r just having a bad time and that you should be thinking about the days which you felt good about yourself.. if you wake up in the morning you r going to have another bad day and you still feel the fear of the anxiety you felt the day before you will just start bringing on anxiety.. Anixiety is only in our heads cos we feed it!! If we didnt let the bad thoughts in to our head we wouldnt have this monster in our heads.

The trouble is it's all about habit. we have been telling our selfs negative thoughts all the time!! wot do u think would happen if we thought positive thoughts all the time??

It's like doing up our shoe laces we dont really have to think about it really cos we have done it so many times its autamatic...

Haven't got a clue why we all do this to our selfs we tell our selfs all the bad things which our going to happen when very well we know there not and we still listen... what is wrong with us?? lol

The more we think positive the negative side wont work so much we need to start thinking with the other side of our minds my positive side is my right sde of my head.. my left side starts saying somthing bad is gonna happen well if my right side was strong enough to zap that thought away or if I didnt think of it at the start Id probualy would be having a great day.. woulden't I?


So start doing somthing what you like and the more you do somthing which helps you not think negative thoughts the quicker you will come out of your rutt..



I hope I have helped a tiny bit xx:)

Hi Chris

I know you're right...I find it so hard to take a step back though which is probably why I suffer from anxiety like I do. I annoy myself sometimes! :rolleyes:

The doctor didn't seem concerned about the side-effects and I have a sick note. She was going to give me one for 4 weeks at first - I must have looked a nervous wreck!

She also suggested a couple of books which she thought might help so I'm going to have a look in the library for them.

Going to try and relax now and let the drugs do their stuff :)