Hi,
First time of writing and first time on Citalipram so feeling nervous! Bare with...
Have been prescribed these by GP last Thursday for stress/anxiety probably mixed with depression. Have been signed off work which is a relief. But getting anxious about starting Cit due to the horrendous side effects I've read about.
Also worried about Christmas and not drinking! Seems abnormal but in reality don't feel like a drink. But would like to have the option.
Finally concerned about travelling to see family on Boxing Day if I feel sick, tired etc
But on the positive side, once the side effects wear off the pros seem to out weigh the cons.
So should I just bite the bullet and start in the morning, or hang fire until after Christmas? Feeling pretty low, emotional, tearful, so would like to get started.
Also feeling indecisive! Would appreciate some advice.
Thanks
Hi emmalina71, having come off my cit and yes had crap side effects, the advice I'd give you is to start asap, with this time of year being soooo stressful etc the sooner you start the sooner they can start to work. Although one thing I have learned is don't get dependant on them, and don't become complacent with them either.
One thing I learned was they aren't a magic pill to make all your problems disappear and it doesn't get better over night unfortunately.
You will have to take positive steps to help yourself get better, and in going to the doctors with your problems you are taking steps forward.
If I had to take mine again (cit) I would in a heartbeat, side effects either way or not.
Chin up ma love 
the initial effects aren't that bad and am sure when your better coming off them will be manageable..
Good luck
And merry Christmas xxxxx
Thanks Kat
I appreciate your reply.
It was a hard step to take going to the GP. I guess it feels like a hard step to start taking the Cit too. Weekly therapy is helping too though to get the core.
You are right, Christmas is stressful so the I understand why is makes sense to start sooner rather than later.
How did you feel when you first started? We're you able to drink alcohol or not?
Xxxx
Hi emmalina
I'd have to agree with kat and say the sooner you start the better. When I started taking citalopram I only had mild side effects the biggest one was trouble sleeping and excessive yawning. Switched to taking the pill in the morning which helped. Think my side effects only lasted a couple of weeks but everyone is different.
I think I did drink alcohol with them on occasions with no noticeable side effects. But I wouldn't go too mad on it especially in the first few weeks.
The best bit of advice I've learnt is once you start taking them don't suddenly stop taking them that is the worst thing to do
Good luck with it all they worked for me first time round.
Have a great Xmas
Hi Brendan
Thanks for your reply.
Did you take Cit in the morning or evening. I have trouble sleeping at the best of times, so was quite interested to hear that people take it in the evening as it makes them tired.
I have been prescribed sleeping tablets prior to the Cit and I assume I can use these if I struggle to get off. Did you have trouble getting to sleep or waking during the night or early?
Also, did you take them with food?
Sorry to ask so many questions!
Hi emmalina. I am on a very similar time line to you. I started taking 10mg last Tuesday. I haven't drunk alcohol in this time but the I've been feeling so low and tired it has been the last thing on my mind. It would appear from these forums that everyone experiences different side affects at different levels and because we all have different pain thresholds then it becomes even harder to analyse!
For me I found the initial tiredness a few hours after taking the 10mg the hardest. On balance my depression has been slightly wosre, but there are a lot of people who had success by hanging in there. I have got to increase to 20 on boxing day which i am already anxious about.
My advice would be to take then. Avoid alcohol and travel safely.
David
Hi emmalina
I started takin them in the evening but kept waking at like 4 am and would struggle to go back to sleep. Switched to taking them in the morning after breakfast and that made sleeping better.
Have to say After about 4 weeks I felt great seemed to give me a new lease of life.
No problem with the questions. I was like you when I first went on them, nor sure weather to take them or not.
Hello emmalina what a nice name by the way please start them the sooner the better,i had side effects from other anti depressants and was amazed that this one worked after about four weeks ,they have to get in your system so when you think "oh god why am i no better after a week on them" they do take time depending on the person you have made the biggest step and got help now so it can only get better from here,there are horror storys about the side effects but i was started on 40mg and had very minimal effects the worse was when i had none with me in hospital due to a heart condition and i freaked and the hospital did not have them so i rang home and got my brother to bring me one and once in my system was cool i drink with them and if anything it gives you a better nights sleep well i find that anyway so please take them and forget you have taken them as that will be all you will concentrate on, they truly work for you i promise as would most on this forum i am now on 20mg no bad coming off them as i did it as the docs said and they are happy for me to remain on this dose till i feel ready to come off them,i wish you all the best for the holidays and i always think there is someone worse off than me i am disabled and have a very dodgy ticker plus the worlds worse cold at the minute but like i said you will feel better good luck my love hugs from sadsack xxx
Hi emmalina
I am also anxious about starting citalopram 10mg for my anxiety . It seems to have gottwn worse the last month and now im having disturbed sleep I sleep for 3 hours then wake up every hour til I get fed up with trying ro sleep. I know my ibs caused my anxiety but also that my anxiety is making my ibs worse. Im too scared to start the tablet as like you I have read the horror stories and would rather not add nausea and all the othera to my anxiety . My anxiety is already based around my digestive system so to speak im scared to eat incase it flares up my ibs and incase I end up feeling sick as im emetophobic I havent vomited in 10 years and thats what scares me so to read reviews where people have been sick on citalopram automatically tells me I shouldnt take it but I want to give it a try because I cant deal with this anxiety anymore some days I wake up like it and have no idea why ... if I wake in the night im anxious as to why ive woken up and its worse right now as last xmas is when it all started I woke the day before xmas eve with tummy trouble and was ill over xmas and my birthday for about 2 weeks total and then this all stems from that and now im worried im going to be ill for this xmas too and judging how I feel today and xmas is 2 days away im afraid im right 
have you started your cit? I promised myself I would start them day after boxing day
take care
Hi all
I've done it! Took my first Cit tablet at 9.30am this morning after another anxious night.
Found I was getting more anxious deliberating over whether to start them or not! Tend to over analysis too much!
Found everyone's advice really reassuring. Thanks. Indecision is also a symptom of my anxiety/stress.
Have a quiet day planned today but so far no side effects. Fingers crossed this continues.
Would like to have a drink over Christmas but will see how I feel.
I don't sleep well at night and I have been prescribed 3.75mg zopiclone. Having looked online it appears this can be taken with Cit. Has anyone taken sleeping pills whilst on Cit?
Xxx
Hi Emmalina,
Well done for deciding to start taking the tablets. Hopefully you won't have many sideaffects. Just remember the tablets will make you feel better, just stick with them.
Hope you get to have a drink over Christmas
All the best
Well emmalina you encouraged me to take my first citalopram tablet and I have also started my citalopram journey today
im hopefull that they will work for me
wishing you luck
Well done Natasha, hope it all goes well. You and Emmalina should be feeling a lot better by the New year.
Have a lovely christams
Thank you brendan I decided they cannot make me feel worse than I already do so now is a better time than any to start my journey to becoming me again .
Hope you have a lovely Christmas
Well done, Natasha! Happy to compare notes if you want to. Feels less lonely knowing there are so many others out there taking same meds. Hope you are feeling better soon.
Thanks to everyone for encouragement. Will keep you posted. Have felt slightly fuzzy today with a few headcaches. Not much of an appetite.
Happy Christmas everyone.
i'd be very careful taking citalopram..have you ever considered going for a country walk and filling your lungs with fresh air? too many people are relying on medication...there are far easier natural solutions..dont fall for the big pharma hype...there is always a profit motive...well people doesnt please the shareholders
Hi Steve,
I think most of us on here would rather not have to be taking citalopram and agree the benefits that exercise can have. However, my own experience is that depression is so debilitating that just the thought of exercise is out of the question. At least the tablets can get you over that initial hurdle and physical activity becomes easier after and can help with depression/anxiety. My personal view is citalopram gives people to give them that boost he/she need to get back on track.
Hi emmalina71 when I first started taking my cit I actually felt happy, happy that I was taking a positive step forward for myself so that out weighed any side effects. I had a few crazy ass bad dreams, slight nausea, eating breakfast before taking the cit is a must I also had very slight dizziness. So I think I got off lightly.
When it came to drinking I was pretty much fine.. I did find that I got drunk easier though, mind you I'm a bit of a light weight when it comes to alcohol anyway
I spoke with my pharmacist before I started taking my cit he explained everything about the drug to me, and he told me that it's fine to have a couple of drinks every so often on them.
So I think big benders no..
Party every now and then, few shots etc, should be fine..
I hope this helps a little.
Love and hugs xxxx
Hi again emmalina71,
Meant to also add, try not to take the sleeping tablets now your taking the cit, the cit will eventually help with your sleep pattern anyways. If you really feel you need something try herbal teas, chamomile or lavender or never go for something like "nitol" available in boots etc , but just check you can take the nitol with the cit I know that you can take "quiet life" with them (I took the two initially) but not sure re nitol.
Xxxx
Thanks Kat99794
Will try to avoid the sleeping pills and will check about nytol
Last night I went to sleep ok, but woke at 5am. Awake til 6.30am and then luckily feel back to sleep.
Actually quite pleased with that as I normally struggle to get off to sleep.
Did a lot of yawning yesterday and pounding headaches which I don't usually get. Have them again today
Re alcohol, will try to resist today if poss but may succumb tomorrow! Not enough self will!! Oh and it is Christmas!!
Xxxx