Hey guys,
26-year-old dude living in London, finally decided that after my best attempts (meditation, exercise, healthy lifestyle, reading all literature) I needed some additional help.
Took my first Citalopram this morning (19/08/15) and wondering if anyone ha some advice, tips or general hand holding as I heard it can be rough.
Cheers all
Hi welcome to the club, citalprom affects people differently l had no much side effects except diarrhea, after 2 months l was happy again, how were u feeling b4 u decided to sick GP help, this is a good site, do not be shy to ask for any changes, etc cheeers
It probably depends on your dose. When I first started I didn't have any side effects. When I upped my dose years later I had a few issues. If I took it in the morning it made me very drowsy, but when I took it at night I had terrible insomnia. After a few weeks this resolved itself. Be patient if you have side effects because they will go away
Hi Partridge
Like the other say, some people are affected more by side effects than others. If you find you get them bad, remember they will ease off in time. You may find your anxiety and/or depression gets worse at the beginning too, but try not to worry as this will ease too.
This is medicine is really good, but you do have to be really patient for it to take dull effect. It can be weeks or it can be 3-4 months. Just keep persevering. It works really, really slowly so remember progress should be measured month by month, not week by week.
The wait is so worth it though. When it works, it works really well !!
K x
Aaaargh typo's!!!
FULL effect - not dull effect 
Thanks, dude. Glad this community is here.
Felt just awful really, pretty much all the time. I'm super sociable which means no one would ever know but when I'm in my own world it was torture. Starting to think it wasn't eve worth waking up the next day cause I could anticipate the triggers and reactions.
First day has gone OK. Few headaches, few trips to the bathroom but weirdly (I know it takes a while to work), I've been very calm. Although that just might be psychological!
20mg to start but going up to 40mg in a few weeks.
Good to know about the insomnia. I understand that might not happen to me but I was considering taking it in the night so I'll wait until a risk-free day to try it.
Thanks 
That's what I'm a little scared about. It getting worse before it gets better! But I'm pretty ready, I've tried everything else but after speaking to a couple of people I think this is what I need.
This group gives me some confidence and your comment is much appreciated.
Looking forward to seeing the progress and chatting to you a little more.
Ha, I was a little worried
I'm a 27 year old female who was given then a few weeks ago and hasn't taken then as I'm pretty scared of the side affects. I'm going to knuckle down tonight and start. Would be good to keep in contact with you to see progress and bounce of someone in the same stage x
Hi
I to had a big problem admitting i was poorly. I finally gave in and started on 20mg. After 6 Months i feel good. It is only now i realise how rough i was. I am cool and calm. My biggest worry now is when they ask me to come of them. Cross that bridge later. I was lucky. Very few side effects when i first started. Just lack a bit of 'go' now. I take mine at night. Works for me. This forum was a big help to me.
Thanks everyone for their input.
Ta
Hey Terry!
Same, I could admit it to myself but never thought I needed any additional help (see above for non-medical cures I tried).
That's what I need for my job. Cool and calm. I manage strategy at a company and operating with high-level concepts then going to tactical stuff and back can't have a depressed and anxious guy at the helm.
Side effects are pretty much non-existent for me.
By 'lack a bit of go', do you mean enthusiasm? For tasks or life in general?
Hey Partridge,
Welcome to the Club! Rough it may be or may not, no one can say as everyone is an individual. One thing on your road to recovery is that you have accepted help, you have found this site and I recommend you stick with this "sticking plaster for the brain".
Hopefully you have a Doc that understands this medication and is supportive throughout. You will soon know if your Doc does or not by the advice you will find here. I suggest you listen to katecogs as a guide to all other advice. She definitely knows what she is talking about. I am fortunate that my Doc is all clued up on Cita, though as after all they are General Practitioners, not all are. So, be wary of any "stop" "start" advice as you need to get through the side effects without having to deal with withdrawal too soon.
The side effects are many and varied, but this is not to say you will experience them all or to what intensity you will either. Amongst most of the usual I also suffered a little health paranoia which my Doc reassured me about by giving me a full male health check up, including ECG.
I could wittle on about side effects (SE), but who knows you may imagine some that aren't there! The important thing is you are here, you are not alone and if you have a partner or someone close it is a good idea that they also get involved as it will help them appreciate, possibly understand what you are going through. I have an Ann and it certainly has helped her understand and in turn to help me.
Most advice here is safe and some, although a llittle wacky do no harm, just cost in time and money - only noticeable if it is a waste of either.
Vitamins D3 and B6 are a good help with the serotonin levels throughout and of course no one can tell you how long you will be on the road to recovery. Exercise is good, duh! we know this, but worth reminding ourselves although Cita does cause hightened anxiety, whether you have it or not (to be able to treat it), panic attacks may also occur so you may not wish to go out for a while or where there are too many people. This is nothing to worry about, just one of the SE you may or may not suffer. Darn, I said I wouldn't wittle on about SE!
DO NOT FORGET TO TAKE YOUR MEDS!
We take Cita at different times of the day as a change can be beneficial to the individual, most of us have changed to another time of day to suit, as opposed to first thing in the morn. You will decide which time is best as you progress. If you forget to take at the usual time, take as soon as you remember. Once Cita is in your system (basically from day one) you must not just stop taking them or man you'll have withdrawl worse than the SE on the way up!
I have been here 9 months, due to work related stress, and levelled out on 40mg. Not everyone goes this high. What has been the biggest part of my own help in my own recovery is that I have put that which made me ill far behind me now. I have stopped smoking, nearly a year, and become a veggie, a welcome challenge as I love to cook. My alcohol consumption has dropped to just a few bottles of ale at the weekend, well after all, "everything in moderation, even moderation itself!"
I recently tried to reduce, but my timing was wrong and the amount I dropped was by 10mg every other night when I realise it should have been 5mg (ie 40mg one night 35mg (adjusted) the next on a trial basis for a fortnight) with Family visiting and then having dental problems that needed hospital treatment it all went Pete Tong. Withdrawal hit me and it has taken roughly two months to "grab the oars and get back in control again"
Yep, it can be a rough old ride, but you are not alone!
Keep visiting daily, keep reading and keep posting no matter how insignificant your question may be. Maybe you just want a chat then so be it as this is where you need to be.
Good luck, stick with it and you'll eventually get use to what Cita brings and look forward to a full recovery, with or without her.
Best Regards,
David
Hi Terry
You can stay on this medication for life if you want to. They're not addictive, and if they help you stay on an even keel, then why not. People are on lifelong meds for all other ailments, so depression is no different.
The decision will be yours at the end of the day.
When I got better, I eventually reduced my meds to a dose I found I could maintain my wellness on. That's an option too.
Often though, the longer you're on medication and eventually come off, the less likely the depression is likely to return. That's what I've read anyway ;-)
I have also spoken many times on this site about 5-HTP and l-tyrosine which are bought over the counter meds. 5-HTP is a natural SSRI and it's something to look at IF you decide to come off meds one day. Food for thought.
Glad to hear of your success on Citalopram. It's great isn't it!
People often try self help and alternative methods before eventually going onto medication, and though it may help for some, often forget that depression is an illness like any other ailment, and medication is there for a reason. Nobody would try to heal themselves if they had diabetes or epilepsy.
Don't forget, progress will be slow, but push on through everything and you'll find this medication will work.
Keep in touch with your progress. :-)
K x
Hiya David
Nice to hear from you. How are things?
K x
This certainly helped me too! Thanks was a good read x
Hey Sacha,
Definitely, let's keep in touch. I don't know if you can private message on this thing, but we could do that or I could drop you my email.
Let me know.
Hey,
No don't think you can on here but I'm happy to email
Yeh give me your email address and I will email you
Hope everything's ok
Sacha 😆
Yes you can private message on here. Look at your name at the top right hand corner. You should see Messages :-)