I've been on citalopram for all of 5 days now and was ve...

Treatment and medication
1

I've been on citalopram for all of 5 days now and was very worried . I went to the GP due to on-going migraines. After trying numerous painkillers, nothing seemed to be hitting the spot. I've seen several doctors all of which told me they were tension headaches related to stress - which is understandable due to my job mainly. However this GP asked me a few questions, gave me a questionnaire and diagnosed me with severe depression. To say I was a little shocked would be an understatement - although there was no denying the symptoms. I just thought I was a bit down, but it seemed liked the questions tapped into my vunerable side and hit a sore point. It took a while to absorb, because I immediately thought depression = mental illnes = me being crazy! I read through the leaflet and was put off by the side effects and relucant to take them - as you'll see I wasn't as brave as everyone else to recognise the problem.

After 4 days of building up the courage and reasoning with myself I began taking them and was very apprehensive, expecting to want to throw myself off a bridge or find myself slitting my wrists, rather than crash my car as I had previously wanted to do. I'm glad to say that hasn't happened and after reading this site I doubt it ever will, which has been really re-assuring.

I have noticed the yawning, it's terrible I can't stop! I have been having very vivid dreams (once I finally drift off to sleep) and my memory is terrible - I've just watched Miami Vice the movie and cannot really tell you what it's about for the life of me even though it was 2 hours long! I have noticed that I'm getting jaw tremors when I wake up and just feeling very dopey and dumb! It's a bit like being drunk where there are blanks, not to mention the dizyness and jelly legs - even writing this I have to keep going back to remember what I was saying! Again it looks as though all this should go with time. Also I have noticed that my concentration has been shred to bits (even good old Eastenders feels like an eternity) and I'm more interested in staring and just drifting off into nothingless. I've been advised that they normally take 4 weeks to kick in, so by then I'm hoping to see a change, positive thinking should help them on their merry little way.

It's early days yet, but was so glad and relieved to read all these postings, sitting here knowing that it's not only me, I'm not crazy and in time will get better! Some of the postings are really touching and you people have no idea what it means to someone in EARLY days reading them. It's still quite shocking, but am coming to terms with it and going to see a counsellor. Knowing that these little pills that I've been popping aren't going to turn me into a raving lunatic or a complete zombie makes all the difference, so thankyou so much to everyone who has posted. Just incase anyones interested, I will try to keep you updated with progress - depending on my internet access .

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2

Hi there,

It was lovely to read your post, I'm so pleased you decided to take the pills ! I'm sure you will start to feel better in a week or two, at the moment from what you say, it sounds very similar to the way I felt when I first started taking these. I'm just under 3 weeks into mine now.

Having taken some similar tablets for 8 months (I've posted below recently) - I realised after reading yours that I forgot to mention that I can't concentrate on anything, and find myself re-reading pages of books several times and STILL not taking it in :headhurts: I think this does persist a bit, but it's not a huge deal, just annoying :roll:

I'm glad you posted, if you can get back online sometime I'd love to know how you're getting on. Good luck to you and everyone else here.

Keep smiling !

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3

I have been on anti depressants for around three years and was prescribed citolopram a year ago. I know the medicine is here to help but I have tried to come off it and have struggled everytime due to the side effects. It was hard enough for me to settle on them. Citolopram made me feel better but it only can supress what is happening inside your mind. Personally I would never advise anyone to go on anti depressants. I'm seeing my doctor this week to discuss coming off the tablets. I am going to try another path beacause the drugs have simply delayed and supressed the issues and problems i need to address. Take care everyone.

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4

Hi there just a quick update!!!

I've seen my GP & she wasn't too happy with the side effects so early on and has now changed them to Sertaline Hydrocholoride (as of yet I haven't collected the prescription so am not sure the common name for them yet, I did look it up last night, but surprise surprise I can't remember what they're called!).

I was a little miffed that the GP took me off them so quickly and didn't give them time to kick in?!! But there we go!

Am yet to start the new lot, but once I do I will keep everyone posted on progress and difference to the Citlopram! Am on them for a 2 week trial and see how we get on from there!

And just a quick thank you for the replies. I have spoken to a mate of mine who agrees with regards to the side effects and surpressing the real problem, but think for me I need a bit of help to get me on that road to recovery. I am seeing a counsellor so that's a good start and am trying to get my confidence back to get my life back together! Hopefully MysteryMe you get the help you need, although it's clear on here that things takes time and some people do need that bit of help to get them on the road to recovery, presumably it's not for you and 3 years is a long time, so can understand your frustration.

Never-the-less, hope you and everyone else who's posted is getting along well and remember to keep your head up and keep going, it's an illness and we'll all get there at some point or another!

Best Wishes!

Rach:lol:

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Hi there

Having just read your comments, I just want to let you know, i have been there, did the crying for nothing, the yawning, being sick and struggling with my memory!!

The main thing I would say is stick with it, I am 8 weeks down the line and things are so much better, I'm back to my happy confident self, enjoying going out and having a laugh, believe me 8 weeks ago I thought I would never be "normal" again..

I realised my problem was my job, I even handed my notice in and I am due to start my new job in a week.

Talk as much as you can with friends and family, and you will get there

Take each day at a time and if your memory is as bad a mine was, write things down, I had too, otherwise I would forget what I went to the shop for!!!

stick with it and you will get there

:wink:

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6

Hi ive been on citalopram for nearly 4 months and last month got my dose upped from 20 mg to 40 mg. I must say I dont have the horrible thoughts I did before I was on them, I felt worthless and couldnt stop thinking really dark things (my friend took her own life one year ago) and this has just escalated the way I feel. I think I had head in sand before she died and didnt think anything was wrong.

Side effects, I have the most horrible, nightmares, I wake up thinking i see things, I have the most horrible night sweats and wake up every night having to change. Does this happen to anyone else? its the dreams that are horrible, and the tiredness through the day:shock:

Does anyone else feel like this?

I dont think I have any other side effects. I know I am more tired, and need to take things slower and I do sometimes fidget alot in my sleep. I have not had any sickness or anything like that.

I do not want the doctor to take me off thse tablets as they seem to have helped me, but as you have said rachel and others did i do worry that it is just suppressing the thoughts and feelings and that when i come off them this will return. But we can only hope that these are the kick start we need to help us feel better.

On the alcohol front, I dont seem to notice much difference, apart from the morning after is hellish.:magic:

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7

Hiya,

I know I've left the Citolpram club technically but as promised an update with how things are going...

The sertraline were HORRIBLE (I've posted already about them on the Sertraline part of this site). Basically I went downhill rapidly and was cursing that I didnt stay on the citolpram!!!

I've had a break inbetween changing to yet ANOTHER... I did ask if I should give the citolpram another go, but the GP was worried about the side effects, despite me telling her they were NOTHING compared to the sertraline!!!

So yet again trip to the chemist (lucky it's over the road for me otherwise I dont think I could take it!)...now being prescribed lofepramine apparently a different type of anti-d. Let's see how this one goes.

I've also been referred to the local mental health team - which is a bit drastic as far as I'm concerned, but maybe I'm just in denial!???

I'm not feeling anywhere near as good as I should and it's reassuring to see that other signs of the depression are things like getting out of bed, because I thought I was just being lazy and imagining feeling achy and exhausted! Gillian, dont worry I too have had REALLY vivid dreams/nightmares and wake up sweating and feeling like it was real (would also explain the tiredness - or am I just making excuses???)

I definately think counselling should be offered rather than just chucking pills at people - if you felt anything like I did initally, you need the counselling to help recognise the fact that you are mentally unwell (& please dont be offended by me saying that everyone is crazy, because it's not that at ALL!). The stigma attached to mental illness is different to that of depression, when really it shouldn't be because depression can be so extreme as I found - everyone walks round saying "oh I'm so depressed" so casually nowadays! I became suicidal the last 2 weeks and someone suffering from paranoia or skitzophrenia could all end up in the same boat (worse case scenario), so why would paranoid skitzophrenics get help and support whilst others suffering depression get chucked pills at them???! I say this as I work with people with mental health problems (yes ironic I know!) but even in my field no-one seems to understand the importance of depression and how dramatic the effects CAN be. Most importantly remember the difference is with other mental illneses is that depression is short-term, it's not forever (some bouts may last more than others, but everyone is different and respond in different ways to treatments!) and is sooooo treatable...people on this forum are proof! So DONT ever give up!

More GP's should be helping people to sort out their problems in conjunction with experimenting with pills. If your GP isn't offering this I would sugguest when you see them next you ask for it. Depression is there for some reason and we all deserve to feel whole again - in the long term it's better to battle any demons and deal with them now! Like Gillian & Claire, try and talk to people...you can't deal with this alone, this forum shows we are all here for each other, the pills should be the kick start and not the answer!

Oh and as for the alcohol I stay well clear of it anyway...after a 3 year uni binge I gave up a while ago mainly due to the crappy after feeling...I dread to think what would happen on these things I feel drunk enough as it is!!!! Think I'd be in a coma for weeks...let alone deal with the hangover! :headhurts:

Neway, as I've rambled on for a while think I'll leave it there! :roll:

Don't worry we will all get through this together, everyone keep posting because it's really good to know how people are doing!!!!

Rach :D:D:

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Hi just replying to your email Rachel, thank god someone else has the same awful sleepless, restless,nights.

On the alcohol front, my dose being doubled has obviously kicked in, as alcohol is fast becoming a no no.

I feel really drunk even after 2 glasses of wine or 2 beers and feel the pills really accelerate the effects.

Anyway just wanted to share this. I only hope for one night sleep without the nightmares!

Gillian

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