I have been on Citalopram for over two years now. I find life generally a great deal easier but I have experienced some side effects, the inability to concentrate, very poor memory, excessive fatigue and disturbed sleeping patterns have been my main problems. Although these are quite upsetting at times I also think back to how difficult life was before this medication and I prefer my life now to before. So its no "wonder cure" as you have to compromise but I found my symptoms before treatment were making my life ■■■■ and then I think this drug can only be an improvement.
Mentioned above is one persons comment about sex drive and weight. I have gained over 2 stone since treatment, but that is mainly as my life has slowed down in pace a huge amount. I have found my sex drive has increased to occaisionally unbearable levels (well for a single person they are unbearable!)
I will also state that I am on 30mg a day and recently tried to lower my dose to 20 and have found my depression and anxiety symptoms increase and have had to abandon the idea of lowering the dose for now as I found it too difficult. But the decrease from 40-30 mg was very easy and barely noticeable. Hope this helps.
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I was on this drug for anxiety for approx 3 years,I didnt link my excessive weight gain to the drug until i read the comments above! I felt well enough earlier in the year to come off these tablets but experienced withdrawal such as nausia, grinding noises in my ears, dizziness (like vertigo) and aggressive and impatient behavior. I had to decrease the dosage very gradually which took a while as i was on 60mg.
Unfortunatly my anxiety symptoms returned after a few month and sadly my doctor refused to re-prescribe the tablet and has put me on a 12 month waiting list for councelling. I went to see him this week and he gave me a paper bag to breath into! great!:cheers:
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I too failed the first time I tried to come down from 30mg to 20mg. However I have recently tried again and am now two weeks in and so far so good. So hang in there and try again when you feel ready.
As far as weight goes I lost a lot of weight in the early stages, not surprising as the circumstances leading to me needing the antidepressant had killed my appetite. As that settled down and my appetite returned the weight stayed off. However as I have reduce the doseage I have found the weight is going back on, which is a pain as I rather liked being able to eat what I liked without weight gain.
One other thing though. As I have reduced my doseage of Citalopram my migraines which had been less frequent have started coming back more and more often. They are now at the level they were at the worst.
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I was very poorly before taking Citalopram, and had never taken any medication before. Once I started on these my life picked up, and I am so grateful there is something out there to help.
I had been on 40mg for nearly 3 years, and had been quite anxious about reducing the dose even though I really wanted to. I was reduced to 30mg about 2 months ago, and as the comments say, I was remarkably suprised I have been fine with this. I really would love to come down another dose in a couple of months, and am grateful that you have taken the time to right about your experience, so I know what to look for when the time is right to reduce.
Thank you:wink:
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