Second time around on 20 mg of Citalopram and like most people had the normal side effects, feeling sick, upset tum, feeling worse before feeling better etc but I've now been on them for about 8 weeks now and am still getting the hot sweats, lack of labido, dizziness, feeling 'out of it' at times plus now I'm having an outbreak of spots and at 37 that's not a good look !! Had these tablets a few years back for about a year then gradualy came off them as wanted another child, had the baby then had those horrible feelings back so just went back on them myself before I got too depressed but it all seems a lot different this time. Anyone else had problems the second time round at all ? This website is great as like a few on here have mentioned you don't want to keep on to friends/family about feeling down as if they aren't feeling that way themselves it's hard for them to understand. Any answers would be appreciacted !!!
Hi
I have been on and off these tablets for years now and this time round has been horrendous, Ive put on 2 stone, spent the last 8 months sweating like a beast and generally feeling tired, irritable and horrible!!
Ive been weaning off for a month now and last wednesday just thought sod it and went cold turkey! Today is the first day where I am starting to feel quite normal again.
I think these tablets are strange as I mentioned earlier I was fine on them previously, but this last 8 month episode has been a nightmare with them............maybe time for a change???
Let me know how you get on!
Alibob xx
Many thanks for your reply, even though not wishing an unpleasant experience for anyone but it's good to know that I'm not alone and haven't lost the plot completley and am dreaming my symptons up etc. I've decided that maybe this time pills aren't the answer and like you I am going to start coming off of them and try the drug free way and maybe start doing some exercise of something.
Thank you again you have been a BIG help !!
Hi guys
There are plenty of other AD's out there that your doctor can prescribe. Please don't feel that just because Citalopram doesn't work for you that others won't work too.
Citalopram didn't help me. After a while my GP persuaded me to try a different one. I went on Seroxat and they worked a treat.
Discuss the alternatives with your GP rather than try and go it alone.
Good luck
Melbi x
Thank you for your advise. Not too sure what to do as apart from being a bit snappy with kids etc while we were trying for our baby I didn't take any pills as I couldn't if I wanted to get pregnant and I was OK ish (I think) but as soon as I had my son I just felt low etc and didn't really think about it too much and just went ahead and starting taking Citalopram again as there were some in the cupboard so I didn't even go to the doctors until I needed more AD's. Maybe I just had a bit of 'baby blues' and didn't really need the pills after all or again I've been kidding myself for years and I do get depressed, very fine line to know if I'm mildy depressed or just a bit down as no-one in my family have taken AD's before unlike my mate who's family have got clinical depression. I wouldn't want to offend someone who is genually depressed by me just taking pills as for me life seems more managable with them but then I've have got 3 kids, I work part-time and do all the household things so isn't my life going to be busy and stressful ? Really do appreciate the help and honesty this website (people) has given me and maybe someone could advise what signs I should look out for if I come off my tablets ? Many thanks for all your help, it's very much appreciated !
Hi there Izzy
Unfortunately the symptoms of depression can vary from person to person. So it would be difficult to say whether your 'low feelings' are that of depression or something else.
The important thing to remember here is that if you feel you aren't coping, feel stressed, anxious, low etc. then like many other people you may need the help of a tablet for a while to help lift you.
Don't feel guilty or anything else about taking AD's if you feel you cope better taking them, surely that alone would suggest you need that help to cope?
When we read of others problems, feelings etc. we do tend to look at our own lives and start to feel guilty for feeling low. DON 'T!!!!
Depression doesn't have to have been caused my some traumatic experience in our lives. Depression is an illness, an imbalance of chemicals within the brain. In a way, knowing what has caused the depression can help - it gives us a starting point to help oursleves on the road to recovery. Depression that is there for no apparant reason can be devastating (I have experienced both forms). Not knowing why we feel low is frightening, riddles us with guilt and makes it extremely difficult to know where to begin to help us recover.
I hope you are feeling better now.
Melbi x
Hello Melbi,
Thank you for your comments. I think your voice is like a cool, soothing breeze in this jungle of us all battling with our problems.
My problem is like Izzy's - I apparently don't really have one. No, I'm not suicidal. Yes, I cope (if you call taking regular baths, keeping the house clean and doing some cooking \"coping\" for a woman, that is well capable of more (lots more) by intellect, intent and possibilities - alas EMOTIONALLY I have to take myself by the hand to do even above.)
I want more than just to 'cope'. I just don't dare to. I went on Citalopram nearly three weeks ago and about a good week ago, everything changed. It just wasn't a problem anymore. I had expected live to turn technicolor or something, but that didn't happen. It just stopped being such a fight. Lovely! A few days later though, I realised I am pregnant. At first I was over the moon, but as I had dutifully stopped the medicamentation, that didn't last long. I am still positive in the sense that I want the baby, but really, I want both: Citalopram AND Baby (telling what I mention first).
Really, what I want is feeling better. I guess, I thought a baby would make me feel better. Being childless was a secret fret of mine. I was not sure, whether I'd like or stay on medicamentation, hence I didn't use contraception. At that point of time, I didn't much care about anything. I didn't think it'd matter much anyway, I am 43 and were told conception my age is problematic. I gotto laugh! One go and bingo!
I am glad though. As I liked the tablets (10mg Citalopram), I would have stayed on and being of more sound mind, would have paid attention from now on. Once I might have gone off them, it really may have been to late. I think even on Citalopram being without child would have been a regret.
Now I think, going through pregnancy, especially when it is all new and exciting (but now just that bit less exciting, tipping more to SCARY) without Citalopram would be a regret of me. Am I selfish? Will I hate my child, for \"depriving me of the tablets when I needed them most\"? If it has a birth defect going on taking them, will I blame myself for not having done everything I could or even getting pregnant at such a late age?
I spoke to my GP, she said she invetigated the matter and she wants to switch me to flouxetine. Browisng this website I got the impression, flouxetine is just the one SSRI NOT to take.
I am well aware, that in the end it's my responsibility what I take or not, how I live. Nobody can look inside me, nobody can tell the future, there are no guarantuees. So to cut a long story short - does anybody out there know, which is considered the safest SSRI during pregnancy???
Thanks to everybody and to you Melbi in particular.
holy moses Heidi did you type all that as fast as your mind raced?
I admit your post has tired me and I am now thinking where do I start.
pauses, lights a ciggie and wonders where did my ability to get all that out in one breathe go.
First things first hun:
Go with what your doctor suggest - afterall he knows best - right?
Are you depressed because you have no children?
Do you believe your depression can be cured by having a child?
Do you want a child because society says it natural for women to have children?
Do you really know what makes you depressed and if so can you work through it with CBT or counselling?
I really do wish my voice had such a cooling, soothing breeze, a voice that would heal depression. Sadly I don't :oops:
Okay so you are pregnant. What now?
Are you in a position to provide for the baby?
Do you have the energy?
You want to cope but daren't? You are going to have no choice hun but to cope when the baby arrives. He/She will be your life, you will no longer be able to think about what you want, it will be all about what baby NEEDS.
Children huh?
LOL, if I am honest with yiu and myself......
I often ask myself would I be so anxious now if I hadnt had them, would I have coped better with life?
Problem with children is they will always be your baby no matter what and age doesnt make it any easier, in fact as they get older they become more of a worry, more stress.
With age they bring their own freedom, their own problems, stress, love, heartache, all of which as parents we carry with them.
I congratulate you on your news and I no doubt think you will make a super mum and provide all the love your child will need.
So before then, may i suggest you get all the help you need with your illness. Your hormones may well add to your already existing imbalance of chemicals in the brain.
Wishing you all the luck and happiness
Melbi x