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[MIS71MUM]

Hi Sparkle

Can you remember what side effects you went through with Citalopram?

M xxx

[Sarai]

Hi, to be honest 5 days is not enough to see the benefit. These things can take weeks to show their good effects. But also very quickly show the bad effects. I have just upped my dose only a tiny bit but after 2 weeks I am still more anxious, sleeping has altered for the worst. I remember when I started them I was much more anxious but the logic is if they make you worse to start with they know they will ultimately work. Swapping now would be counter productive. I think you need a month to 6 weeks to really feel better.

[CLKD]

The side-effects are pretty similar in all brands of ADs. Try to stick with them for at least 3-4 months, the not sleeping may be because your brain is worrying about if you will benefit/not from the medication. For me the nausea was instant and after 3 days I had to stop ………… but we persevered and hey ho! eventually 

[MIS71MUM]

Sparkle - I know exactly what you mean about the side effects.  The one where you are almost watching yourself is the one that scares me the most.  I missed my dose last night on purpose and took a diazepam and it's been nice not to feel scared for a change.

However I still feel like I have drank 1000 coffees!

CKLD - what do you mean about stopping after 3 days....do you try another AD or persist with the original one?

Back at the GP at 11 for a review, so will update you later. xxx

[CLKD]

I had to stop taking the ADs because of the nausea.  My GP tried several different types until we found something that I could tolerate.  Prozac made me feel like I was walking on 7" heels [remember Elton John's footwear?] and I knew after 3 days that if I had taken another tablet I wouldn't have got out of bed 

Escitalopram 5mg b.d. suits me as far as depression is concerned.  Not a cure but it enables me.

[MIS71MUM]

My GP appointment has left me a little confused!

Basically he thinks I could continue with the Citalopram and may increase it to 10 mg but couldn't guarantee that I wouldn't get bad thoughts etc.  He also prescribed me Mirtazapine in case I felt like I need to switch!

Hmmmm now what do I do?  Will have to think about that one?

I am going to read my Mindfulness book to try and clear my head.  Also got my first physcotherapy appointment tomorrow so may discuss it with him.

[Milamam]

Hi Miss71 Mum,
I've been reading your posts with interest as I too started with citalopram 2.5 years ago for symptoms of anxiety, now knowing that they were related to hormonal changes. I started with 10 mg and increased to 20 mg within two- three weeks as the 10 mg did not have any effect on the symptoms. I don't recollect any significant side effects different from the bad symptoms of perimeno that I was experiencing. It was really a year after when I also added HRT that I did begin to feel significantly better. Everyone is different though. I have now gone back to 10 mg. and continue with HRT. I don't plan to change this regime any further as it works for me well. Sometimes the AD helps the effect of the HRT, as in my case, I doubt I would have managed to improve on the AD only.

Milamam

[MIS71MUM]

Hi Milamam   

I'm really glad that you have a regime that works for you....it gives me hope. 

The problem with my anxiety, is it is turning me into my own worst enemy!  My GP will prescribe me whatever I want by the sound of it, but i'm just too afraid to take it, or to see it through.  I had good results 12 years ago with venlafaxine but am kidding myself if I say there wasn't any side effects.  I do remember increased anxiety and poor sleep being some of them.  But at 32 and having no children back then, I just got on with it.

As each day goes by, i'm taking by hrt and getting more of that in my system so soon I hope to see the benefit of that.  And maybe, just maybe with my talking therapies and mindfulness, things will slowly start to take shape.

Fingers crossed and all the best to you xxxx

[Milamam]

Fingers crossed! Just give some time to the combination to settle. i know it's easier said than done! My major issue was anxiety as well. It did settle, after about 4 months on HRT  combined with the AD. Also 5 mg of citalopram is really a small dose so don't expect magic immediately.
Keep posting, you know there is soo much encouragement here, which was instrumental for me as well!

Milamam

[MIS71MUM]

For me the problem is the side effects, do I push on with 5/10 mg of Citalopram? or give myself a while off.the AD's and give the hrt, counselling and mindfulness time to take effect?

I'm such a lightweight with side effects!

[CLKD]

Think back.  Are the side effects worse? R they the same? R they improved at all?

Are you able to tolerate them?

[MIS71MUM]

I think it's the fear/increased anxiety and agitation that's the worse with Citalopram. And the feeling of being scared to be alone is awful. I think I'm going to either continue with the Citalopram at 5 mg and maybe switch to taking it before bed or give myself a couple of weeks off.

I don't think I'm quite ready to jump into a third one just yet.

I will have missed 2 doses by end of today, so will need to make my mind up by tomorrow if I'm going to carry on with the Citalopram.

[CLKD]

Agitation is a known side effect of some meds for some patients. 

Give yourself a couple more days without, then begin 5mg at night.  5mg is a low maintenance dose which is what I take at night and at breakfast.

[dazned]

I know how difficult it is feeling the way you do but you really won't be doing yourself any favours chopping and changing medication for one thing your poor body/mind won't know what's going on and another thing you've not giving anything a fighting chance of working. Decide which regime you want to try and stick with it for at least one month. Start keeping a detailed mood/food/symptom diary it's all too easy to become bogged down in it all and not realize sometimes just how you feel. My husband was always asking each day how are feeling and sometimes I truly didn't know if I was better,worse or any different I was so consumed with it all ,it really helped to have something to look back on for reference and slowly I saw that yes actually I was starting to improve. Also try not to look for the negative effects,think positive as much as you can,easier said than done I know but if you start off thinking this is going to make me worse then it probably will 

[CLKD]

Good advice!  Me: I'm worse if anyone asks me how I am - I then have to make a decision