Hi
This is my first posting. I've just been prescribed Citalopram (20mg), and having read through the other posts, am worried about the 'ecstasy' type side-effects. The doctor prescribed me this once before, but I stopped taking it for those reasons.
This time, however, I am going to try and give it a go - I need to return to normal-functioning in my day-to-day life, which I do not have at the moment.
My question is this - is there a set time scale to be on this medication? How is the decision made that you're ready to come off it, as assuming it's the medication that's making the improvement? I have yet to take my first tablet, but feel slightly bemused about how long I may be expected to take them for.
Thanks in advance.
Have just come from my GP's and he has advised that the usual minimum term to be on them is 6 months. Your GP should advise you when its time to come off of them and I was advised that you come off them slowly.
Side affects are horrid, but well worth it when they subside and the meds work.
Hope this helps.
Good luck
Hi Mystery Women (like the name! ),
Firstly, this is not meant to scare you or put you off, I believe this medication along with the other help I have recieved saved my life so please bear with me and read the whole thing!
Side effects are unfortunalty something you have to deal with, all I can say is they do subside when I started on Cit (About november last year) I had horrible side effects I couldn't sleep I wasn't eating (but these were also to do with the underlying depressions, just somehow amplified when first taking the meds). They are horrible and I was thinking thesame way, maybe I was better off before them and they were actually making me worse....
But the truth is I am now back to me again (or dare I say it a better me?? I understand more abot myself and others and have more insight into my limits), this is not just down to the meds but what they did was get me to a point where I could talk to people (my family, my councillor) without falling apart and to start to do somethig about the things that are contributing to the depression/anxiety.
As for the timescale, my psychiatrist (yes I really was in a state!) said the general rule they follow (royal sociaty of psychiatry) is 6-12 months clear of any serious depressive episode. When I first sought help I was very anti medication and took it reluctantly, I am now happy to take it for as long as I need to and don't see it as any different to someone having to take medication for a heart condition if it keeps you well then its a good thing!
Sorry, that ended up a little longer than I had intended!
Hope its of some use, take care!
I agree, the side effects aren't that great but I'm sticking with these pills as I know there's light at the end of the tunnel and it will be worth it. I've been on them for just over a week and was a little startled at the effects but I'd rather this than feeling depressed, stressed and angry. I already feel alot calmer and relaxed and its helped me put things in perspective.
Give them a go, surround yourself with friends and family you trust and talk on here anytime you need to, you're not alone and I've found alot of comfort in these things to keep me going, it's probably the most positive I've been. You will get your down days but they do pass.
Good luck x