Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: catlover68 on March 19, 2019, 08:19:31 AM
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Hi ladies
Well I saw the doctor yesterday,well nurse practitioner who I don't really like but actually she was quite helpful. As I posted previously I'm struggling to take hrt due to the side effects. I've tried patches,tablets and the worst of all oestrogel. I don't know why but they just give me migraines and make me feel crap! I did want to try different patches but she explained that unfortunately some ladies just cannot tolerate hrt in any way shape or form and I'm obviously one of them.
Anyway she suggested taking a low dose of citalopram(which I was on for 8 years previously but came off 2 years ago) I'm loathed to take antidepressants but I'm willing to give this a try but I'm so nervous of the side effects. I've decided to wean onto them by taking 5 mgs for a few days then upping to 10 mgs then if I need to upping to 20 mgs.
I'm just so sensitive to starting new medication and remember when I started it years ago the side effects were rubbish. I'm just so gutted that the hrt didn't work for me as I was hoping to have a relatively symptom free menopause.
Just wondering if anyone else has been unable to take hrt and go down the antidepressants route.
Thanks
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ADs often have side effects which do wear off if one is able to tolerate them. I've not had any with escitablopram, the sister AD which I take for depression. I have 10mg at night and 5mg at breakfast time.
Let us know how you get on
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Thanks for your reply CLKD just a quick question do these help with sleep at all? I'm suffering with awful insomnia at the moment. Nurse would not prescribe sleeping tablets so having to find alternatives.
Thanks
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Catlover, I'm picking up my citalopram later today. Had tried sertraline last week, it was a nightmare. I too have used citalopram in the past, with a good outcome. So fingers crossed for this time around. I'm getting 10mg tablets and am thinking if cutting them in half for the first few days. We can go through this together :)
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I don't have much trouble in sleeping since in 1981 I stopped worrying about it ::). I have in the past used anti-histamines for 3 nights to get a break. Never required any more than 3 nights.
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Hi catlover,
loads of women on here take both HRT and ADs in order to fully deal with the symptoms of menopause. Some ADs are definitely more sedating than others - I found citalopram made me hyper, I'm trying mirtazapine at the moment. It definitely helps with sleep but for the first week or two you feel sedated during the day as well - that goes away once you move up to the standard dose though. I have to say it's not doing a lot else for me at the moment - anxiety and depression as bad as ever, but I'm sticking at it for the full 6 weeks in the hope it helps eventually (3 weeks in now).
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Hi cat lover,
I'm on Citalopram for anxiety brought on with menopause, I'm on 20 mg which I take first thing in the morning. Within a few days I was sleeping again and my energy came back. I also felt joy again which I hadn't done for a while. I did have initial side effects, nausea and feeling a bit spaced out for about a week, but hang in there as they have really levelled me. My doctor said it can take up to 8 weeks to get the full benefits. Oh and the night sweats have all but disappeared too.
Hope they work for you too, good luck x
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Hi cat lover
I've just started taking antidepressants again as the HRT patch I was using has been discontinued. I tried several others but they made me feel really unwell!
I started taking the lowest dose of Venlafaxine a week ago and so far so good. I have been on them before and had awful side effects when I started on them last time so was prepared for the worst! Anyway, I'm only a week in and haven't had any of the nasty side effects I had before. So hopefully it will be the same for you as you have been on Citalopram before. Fingers crossed 🤞.
I hope you find relief soon.
Jules x
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Thank you ladies for your replies.
I took 10mgs this morning and feel like rubbish. My anxiety is through the roof and I've got a headache and nausea. Think I may take 5 mgs tomorrow and ease myself onto 10 mgs.
Pants46 yes let's do this together,I could do with the support as I'm sure you can😀have you taken your first tablet yet?
Jodieh that's good to hear that it's helped you lots,I'm hoping for the same results and I know it's not a miracle cure for menopause but I'm hoping it will make things a bit easier😀 I would struggle with 20mgs though,I feel bad enough just taking 10mgs😬
Jules53 I was offered venlafaxine but as I had previously been on citalopram thought I might try it again. The nurse said venlafaxine is good for reducing hot flushes. I'm not suffering too badly with these at the moment,getting one or two at night. My main symptoms are anxiety,insomnia,headaches and generally feeling low alit of the time.
Thank you all for your kind words and advice,it's so comforting knowing I'm not alone x
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Btw racjen keeping fingers and toes crossed for you and hope mirtazapine works for you😀
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Catlover, no, I was going to take it tonight, but my dinner hit my stomach quite hard. So will do 1st pill tomorrow. Will def. cut rablet in half though. Sorry your feeling nauseous. Catch you tommorrow. N nite.
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Hi ladies
Well I saw the doctor yesterday,well nurse practitioner who I don't really like but actually she was quite helpful. As I posted previously I'm struggling to take hrt due to the side effects. I've tried patches,tablets and the worst of all oestrogel. I don't know why but they just give me migraines and make me feel crap! I did want to try different patches but she explained that unfortunately some ladies just cannot tolerate hrt in any way shape or form and I'm obviously one of them.
Anyway she suggested taking a low dose of citalopram(which I was on for 8 years previously but came off 2 years ago) I'm loathed to take antidepressants but I'm willing to give this a try but I'm so nervous of the side effects. I've decided to wean onto them by taking 5 mgs for a few days then upping to 10 mgs then if I need to upping to 20 mgs.
I'm just so sensitive to starting new medication and remember when I started it years ago the side effects were rubbish. I'm just so gutted that the hrt didn't work for me as I was hoping to have a relatively symptom free menopause.
Just wondering if anyone else has been unable to take hrt and go down the antidepressants route.
Thanks
"I did want to try different patches but she explained that unfortunately some ladies just cannot tolerate hrt in any way shape or form and I'm obviously one of them."
Fair enough if you want to give ADs a go but really I was struck by your comment - that you wanted to try different patches but the nurse practitioner more or less wrote you off re HRT without giving you a chance to have another try what you wanted (perhpas a different type) which is not on really, since HRT is the first line of treatment for menopausal symptoms. I know we had just that discussion elsewhere on another thread - that maybe lower dose patches might work and to take it low and slow (I think?) so pity you have now not been given the option of these.
If you stay with this medication, please don't be put off by your nurse's comments and be open to trying HRT again further down the line if your periods start to become less frequent and symptoms ramp up ( sorry I can't now remember what your natural periods are doing and how far along the menopause journey you are?).
Whatever you decide I hope your symptoms ease soon!
Hurdity x
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Catlover ... how are you today ?
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Just taken my first citalopram. Cut it in half. Which was difficult ... they are very small.
Am going to practice EFT tapping for the rest of the evening.
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Hi Catlover. I really hope you start to feel better soon. Can you give me more details on not being able to tolerate hrt? What were your side effects?
S
X
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Hi ladies
I'm wide awake with insomnia so thought would do a quick message.
Hurdity- I did suggest trying different patches but she said as I had already tried patches,tablets and gel it's obvious the oestrogen doesn't agree with me and no matter how it's delivered it's the same thing and that a lot of women are unable to take hrt for various reasons. As I have said previously I'm gutted that I cannot tolerate hrt at the moment,I certainly would not rule out trying it again in the future. I've got to be honest if I need to discuss hrt again I will not go back to see the nurse as I'm not keen on her but was the only person with appointments on that day. Thankyou for your advice and I will think about this again.
Pants46 I'm taking it slowly and having 5 mgs and having side effects. My anxiety is through the roof and nausea and slight constant headache,just hoping this settles down. What about you?
Sparkler- I have another thread on head with more detail but with the hrt I was getting a migraine almost as soon as I applied the gel. It just made me feel awful. I tried adjusting the dose but no joy. The tablets were slightly more tolerable but again gave me migraines and digestive issues. I also tried elleste solo patches and these just did not agree with me either. It was almost like I was getting too much oestrogen if that's possible?
I also have mirena for progesterone. As soon as I came off hrt the migraine went and I did feel a bit better. I knew she would offer me Antidepressants as it had already crossed my mind to try them. I have been on citalopram previously for 8 years so hoping I can tolerate them again. The side effects are not pleasant.
Thanks for advice ladies,I'm grateful for this forum as it really helps.
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Catlover, took the 1/2 tablet (so 5mg) at 8.30pm last night. Was anxious on and off during the day in the run up to taking it. Later in the evening, I spent over an hour onthe phone with one of my closest friends. Good distraction. As I was getting ready for bed, I felt tbe anxiety rising, so I climbed into bed and tapped away (EFT). Fell asleep ok at around 12. But woke up at 2, and at 4 and at 6 and then again at 8. Felt really hot on the inside. But not on the outside.
Feel ok this morning. My hands feel hot though. Wierd.
I am determined, however, that I am not going to have any side effects. It's a mantra I am muttering. Luckily I'm working from home so I can mutter and tap to my heart's content.
I've taken this before, not had side effects and it wotked. So that is what is going to happen this time.
I just need to get some bloody work done, so that I can reduce my work related anxiety. I started a new job in October, and I feel like they've bought a lemon !!!
How are you now ? Did you get any sleep last night ? xx
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Hello pants46
Let's keep chanting that mantra and hope it works lol! I'm not feeling too bad today,just a niggly headache and anxiety still there niggling in the background. I shall start taking 10 mgs on Saturday so sure my body will love that lol🙄glad you haven't had any major side effects and like you I have taken citalopram before so our bodies should not moan too much now we are introducing it again. This menopause lark is crap,never thought it would come with all these darn symptoms! Hope you manage to get some work done today,like you I started a new job last October and it's bloody stressful,I feel like I want a job now that is just sitting on a till with no stress lol. Keep us updated with how your getting on x
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Catlover, good to hear from you. And glad your headache is now only a niggle, rather than a roar. Try EFT tapping. It does really help. There are videos on youtube.
I had a real fright today, that sent my anxiety sky rocketing. Had my weekly call with my boss and at the start he saud he had something new to discuss with me, that might come as a surprise. Of corse I went into complete panic. I'm still in my 6 month probation period, and haven't been on form for the last 2 months, and really haven't done anything for 2 weeks. So of course I thought, oh shit ... he's going to tell me that I'm crap or someone has complained. But then he wanted to talk about other stuff first. I had to talk sensibly for 30 minutes before he would tell me. I think if it were yesterday, I would have burst into tears and offered my resignation on the spot. But I held it together.
The thing he wanted to tell me .... my colleague in Asia has resigned!!!! OMG.
Unexpected. But was a huge relief ;) I really did think I was for the chop.
Now, I really have to get some work done, so that I can stop the work anxiety. And give me space to deal with my other anxieties !!! :o
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So, I only woke up twice last night. That's progress I think!! Both times I woke up I raised my arms above my head and wiggled my fingers. So my hands were better this morning.
Catlover - what time of day are you taking the citalopram ? I'm wondering whether I should switch from evening to morning.
Happy Friday to everyone. xx
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Cat lover. My doc prescribed phenegran to help sleep. It's an anti histamine/travel sickness pill. It works but I try to reserve it for when I'm desperate.as it does make you groggy if you have to get up early.
X
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Hi pants46
Hope your ok today? I take mine on the morning as I think it would disrupt my sleep even further! I always used to take it in the morning when I was on it before. I've gone up to 10mgs today and feeling dizzy and spaced out. Also bloody tired as I had yet another night of broken sleep🙄I am functioning here today at work just about but roll on 5 o'clock lol. Are you on 20 mgs yet?
Tc funny you should suggest phenegran as I've been taking antihistamines for sleep already. I will ask the doc next time I'm there for that. Thanks for the advice😀
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Catlover. I'm a few days behind you. Will take my 3rd tonight. Sticking with 1/2 tablets, and only given 10mg. So I'm taking 5mg at the moment. Planning on doing that for 6 days in total, then going up to the full 10mg tablet. Although, I might continue to split the tablet and take 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 in the evening. Not sure if my disturbed sleep is because of the citalopram, didn't have sleep issues with it before. And my sleep hasn't been great since the surgery (was waking at 5am every day).
I am feeling a little less anxious, so definitely going to keep going.
Sorry you are getting side effects, having upped your dose. I thought you were going to do that tomorrow ??
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Tc, I'm not sure about taking anything else on top of the citalopram right now. Taking anything new will trigger my anxiety. I have some 5mg diazepam (for when I have to have an personal medical exam), but I'm too scared to take that. Even though the doctor says its fine. And I've taken it before.
So a bit stuck right now. Living on my own doesn't help ... there's no one to turn to in the early hours of the morning, if I feel unwell. :-\
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I understand that only too well pants. I'm in the same position. It's horrible when you dont feel well and theres nobody there. But it's even worse when you have panic attacks or nightmares and you're on your own.
Thank goodness we have this support on here.
I feel the same about taking too many new things at once. It makes it hard to tell what's causing what.
X
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Little steps. Medication is designed to help. It won't be instant.
Various types of therapies can really help so are worth trying, if nothing else it will be distracting. Singing helps us to breath correctly. If you wake in the night, accept. This won't last for ever. Practice breathing etc., for years I had music by the bed which I found soothing. It is finding something that eases those anxiety surges and early hour worries.
I used to wake to see whether I'd been asleep ::), WTF :D
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Thanks CLKD. I used a radio by my bed when I had anxiety before. I used to lie awake listening for the sound of burglars!! The radio would block out the sounds my house made at night. I've still got it somewhere. I'm giing to dig it out and plug it in tonight.
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Tc, the thing is, I've been through an awful lot in my own. An awful lot. And this is the thing that's floored me.
I've lost my bounce-back-abilty.
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One thing I found was if it was a suitable piece of music I could pretend to ice skate ;) - far better than in real Life :D
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CKLD, that is unusual !!!
But then, on reflection, I have in the past, listened to music in bed and pretended to be in strictly !!! Although its quite hard to strike pasodobla moves whilst lying down ;D
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........ and I have to be careful not to nudge DH ;)
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Hiya pants how are you today? Hope your feeling ok😀I'm on second day of 10mgs and feeling a bit dizzy and lightheaded but I think they are kicking in a bit as feeling slightly better. Just hope it carries on that way! Can I just ask what EFT tapping is please. Another thing I have started taking is 1000mg starflower oil capsules as these are meant to be good for women's hormones. I know your not wanting to take any additional medication but maybe for the future?
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Hey Catlover, glad you are feeling a bit better. How long did you take 1/2 tablets for, before going up to 10mg ?
I'm ok. I've managed to hoover the house and am doing some laundry. I might be able to find the energy to shave my legs later ... or not.
EFT is Emotional Freedom Technique. It uses tapping (with your fingers) on certain accupuncture points. Its been used to relieve physical and emotional pain, with a lot of success. Let me see if I can send you a link.
Is starflower oil better than evening primrose?
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https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1wG2FA4vfLQ&t=195s
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Shave your legs ;D - may I send mine over ;). It needs to be very hot for at least 3 months B4 mine consider showing themselves :D
Evening primrose was recommended years ago to ease PMT ....... as was eating every 3 hours, 24/7. It's the Trial and Error that I found so tiresome >:(
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Pants. A few years ago when my flying anxiety was at its peak I decided to try the tapping technique.
I was tapping on my chest and deep breathing from the minute I got on the plane and just before take off the stewardess asked me if I needed a doctor. I think she thought I was having a heart attack. !!!
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May I giggle ......... that's another no, no - why spend time in a metal Smartie Tube with 100s of other farty, smelly people :-\ :D
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Tc, good job you didnt start tapping on the under-boob spot. You'd get arrested for inappropriate behaviour these days.
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I love these Saturday posts on here. Its realy made me smile today.
Tapping your underboob in a metal smartie tin I bet no one has ever said that phrase. :rofl:
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Thanks for the link Pants,I shall take a good look at that tomorrow to see if I can put it into practice😀made me chuckle about you on the plane lol. I'm sure cabin crew have seen some sights in their job! I've had horrendous anxiety today and felt really spaced out :-\,think I may take 5mgs tomorrow as think the 10mgs was too much for me. I just think my body hates it when I introduce any form of medication. I'm trying to stay positive that this citalopram is going to work. I just want to feel normal again whatever that is lol. Nite nite x
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Na nite catlover. Hope you sleep well and feel better tommorow xxxx
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I'm switching to taking it in the morning. So haven't taken this evening. Feel anxiety rising. But hope to sleep ... I'm exhausted.
Have taken the memory foam topper off the bed, again ... fingers crossed it makes a difference.
N nite all. xx
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Hey Catlover. How are you ? Have you gone back up to 10mg yet ?
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Hi pants
Funny I was going to post today to see how you are but was so damn busy at work ::) I've been taking citalopram for a week now and I do feel a bit better. Still got crappy anxiety and tiredness though! I'm now on 10 mgs and still experiencing a bit of dizziness after taking it in the mornings. My sleep has improved a bit thankfully. I'm gonna see how I get on with 10 mgs and will up to 15 mgs if needs be.
How's things with you? Have you upped to 10mgs? How are you feeling?
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Hey Catlover. In doing ok-ish. Still fatigued and wobbly on the legs. Sleep is disturbed, by getting too hot. But took some diazepam last night, so got about 7 hours uninterrupted ... relief. First time in 2 months.
Still only on 5mg of citalopram. But think I should go up to the full 10mg tomorrow. CLKD suggested cutting it in half and taking half in morning and half at night, as a first step to the full 10mg. Think that's a good idea.
Just going to try and get to 10mg. And not think much further ahead.
Glad you are seeing some improvement in your sleep. Hopefully the dizziness will wear off in the next couple of days.
My anxiety is a little better ... but I haven't left the house (apart from going to get food at the shop up the road). So haven't really challenged myself yet.
If you are leaving the house and doing a days work ... you are amazing. Pat yourself on the back :) xx
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Aww bless you pants. I work 3 days a week (all I can manage) my job is demanding and can be stressful especially dealing with the public. I've been struggling recently and I've been so close to handing in my notice but I'm getting married next year and need to work. Unfortunately employers do not understand and don't care. My boss is ok but she is in her 30's and doesn't get it,i'm sure she gets hacked off with me. I wish my doctor would let me have diazepam but I've asked twice and it's a no,I have taken it previously only when desperate and could really do with it sometimes. Won't prescribe sleeping tablets either🙄
That's a really good idea taking 5mgs in morning and evening,you then don't get that hit all at once. It sounds like maybe it's helping you a little bit?
I'm just fed up with this menopause and fluctuating hormones,Oh and the bloody weight gain round the middle!
Hope you get on ok taking 10 mgs and try to get out even if just for a 15 min walk every day as this will help in the road to recovery😀
Have a good day and let us know how you get on x
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Catlover. Did you ask your doc about phenegran?
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Catlover. I work full time ... or at least I'm supposed to. Its a new job I started in October last year, after being made redundant and being out of work for 18 months. It wasn't supposed to be that long, but it took way longer than expected to get new job.
I schlepped up to London 4 days a week up until Xmas. And then the deal is that I go to London one day a week. Work from home the rest of the time.
I've been to London once since my surgery. I just can't face the 2 hour commute - walk, bus, train, tube !! And then I worry that I'll crash, and won't be able to get home again.
Keep thinking about resigning. But then what do I do ? My boss is in the USA, and is male. I haven't told anyone at work what's going on. I'm just hiding out at home and not really delivering ... which makes me feel guilty all the time. The past 3 weeks have been the worst. Just not motivated.
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Just taken my 2nd half tablet of the day, for the first time. Feel anxious. But have to keep telling myself - I will not get side effects.
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Had a relatively good day yesterday, better than for a number of weeks.
But not feeling that great today.
Woke up twice in the night. 2nd time round ate a shed load of chocolate ... why ??!!
Have diarrhoea (tmi), feel muzzy headed. Totally unmotivated.
One step forward, one step back. :(
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Hi pants
Sorry to hear your not feeling great today. I felt like that on Saturday,really muzzy head,nausea and generally crap! I think it's a side effect of the citalopram as I felt like that about an hour after I took it. I then reduced to 5 mgs the next day. I have also been snacking on damn chocolate🙄I'm hungry constantly but this has increased in the last week. Another side effect unfortunately. Try and rest up if you can,your job sounds very demanding and it's difficult when you have to work as well as going through this menopause lark! I'm feeling ok today but that can change from one day to the next.
Tc- I haven't been back to doctors as of yet,when I next go I shall as about phenegran.
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Catlover. I have to keep reminding myself that I've only been on the Citalopram for a week, and only 5mg, which isn't a therapeutic dose. So, its going to take a while longer (and at 10mg) to get all the benefits.
Glad you are feeling ok today. 1 day at a time, right !!
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Love to you both x
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Tc-Thankyou it's a difficult time for us ladies but this forum has been so helpful and your all lovely😘
Pants-just take it slowly with the citalopram and it's baby steps to begin with but you will be fine and soon be feeling a lot better😀even if you have to stay on 5mgs for another week then so be it. As I said one day I feel ok but that could change especially if I get no sleep lol and bloody anxiety🙄 hope you feel better soon x