Anyone else been/currently on Citalopram?

[mikel429]

So, my doctor stuck me on a course of Citalopram today and it was only after I'd swallowed the first tab that I'd bothered to read the small print. Things which stuck out at me were:

• do not operate vehicles or heavy machinery
• avoid alcohol
• may cause loss of libido and "anorgasmia"

I know the operating vehicles one is a common side-effect of everything, but should I be worried about the other two? Experiences are much appreciated, might seem silly but I see this as a big big step for me.

Thankings in advance

[Jasandjules]

I had it for severe pain a year or so ago. The only side effect I had was that I was constantly tired, really tired.

[zadumbreion]

Depends on the dose, but the effects most commonly experienced include

- vivid dreaming
- sweating at night
- some nausea during the first few weeks as the drug starts to take effect (you do know it will probably take 2-6 weeks to take full effect, right?)
- increased difficulty in achieving orgasm

Citalopram is often the first choice because it is usually effective and has the least unpleasant side effects. It's also non-addictive. The benefits usually outweigh these slight negatives.

And don't - once you start feeling better - decide you don't need them any more and come off them. This is a very bad idea. You need to stay on them for a decent period of time after you start to feel better.

[Funk]

Hi Mike, I've been put on this as well and have to say that other than feeling a bit odd the first day I took them, I've had no other undesirable side effects. I have avoided booze since starting on it about a month ago, there have been a few occasions I'd have really liked a beer or glass of wine, but I've heard that alcohol and Citalopram don't mix so I've not 'gone there'. Apparently Citalopram multiplies the effects, both good and bad ones.

If I'm honest, my libido has declined a little but the benefits of Citalopram are far outweighing that and the lack of booze. I'm feeling much better now, able to deal with things better, and overall wondering why I didn't look at it sooner. I'm sleeping better and feel much more alert in the daytime, especially in the mornings. I struggled on for a long time with doses of 'man the fk up' but it only works for so long.

Stick with it and keep me updated with how you're doing chap.

Edited by Funk on Tuesday 19th July 22:30

[mikel429]

Thanks for the kind words and advice - hopefully I'll come out roses on the other side
Today's been my first day and I've noticed nothing, apart from feeling awfully tired all day and in fact somewhat irritable (though this could be tiredness more than anything). I shall update you all on my progress, experiences, trials and tribulations.

[BlackVanDyke]

I'm just veeeery slowly weaning off Citalopram after almost 4 years on it.

Basically for almost everybody, almost all the dizzy/woozy side effects stop within a fortnight. Your mileage may vary, etc. But in general, you should be OK with time. I felt incredibly sick for about the first 3 days, and have been essentially fine ever since.

Except for the anorgasmia.

[chunkymunky]

mikel429 said:

So, my doctor stuck me on a course of Citalopram today and it was only after I'd swallowed the first tab that I'd bothered to read the small print. Things which stuck out at me were:

• do not operate vehicles or heavy machinery
• avoid alcohol
• may cause loss of libido and "anorgasmia"

I know the operating vehicles one is a common side-effect of everything, but should I be worried about the other two? Experiences are much appreciated, might seem silly but I see this as a big big step for me.

Thankings in advance

Yep I was a bit worried about taking A/Ds to begin with. Citalopram should be okay, and most people are fine on it, but keep a look out for any increase in mood swings as this might indicate a problem.

Once you have settled down (acclimatised) you will probably find that you are alert enough to drive and that anorgasmia isn't so much of a problem. The odd pint of beer is probably ok but try not to drink on the meds as this interferes with their function (or so I am told).

What is your diagnosis? Doctors seem to prescribe Citalopram for ailments ranging from depression and OCD through to back ache and eating disorders.

My own experience: I started on Citalopram after a particularly nasty depressive episode a few years ago. All was well at first, the side effects of tiredness and insomnia (double whammy) greatly outweighed by feeling human again. However after two months I started experiencing mood swings, veering from raging anger to depression and then on to extremely energised and back again over a period of a week or so. After 6 months of this, including an ill-advised trip into Mirtazapine augmentation, I was handed over to a psychiatrist who put me on Escitalopram, supposedly a 'cleaner' form of Citalopram. This worked fantastically well for six months or so until I started experiencing ultra-rapid mood swings - moods as before but cycling within a day or two.

Moving onward to last year I moved area and changed doctor. After a couple of visits to the GP I was referred to the local mental health unit and the care of another psych. She switched me onto Prozac, which flipped me into two months of euphoria, OTT energy levels, insomnia and babbling (unquiet) mind syndrome which was interesting but also damned irritating. To counteract the raving I was issued with Zyprexa, which calmed me right down. Unfortunately this was then followed by my mood plunging into the deepest hole yet. A very dark place to visit.

The psych has now come to the conclusion that I am not suited to SSRIs (Citalopram, Prozac etc) and has switched me onto old-skool tricyclics. After six months or so on these I am now beginning to feel normal again, if still bloody tired...

Don't be put off by the above, as many people find Citalopram to be the magic bullet for their problems. Do keep an eye open for signs of intolerance.

[mikel429]

Thank you all for the advice.

A small episode happened tonight - I went out but was a very silly billy and decided to drive (sticking to sobriety) and accidentally shunted a car in traffic. Pulled into a car park, details were exchanged and we went on our way. No major damage, just a crack in the guy's bumper. However, this has left me feeling very dark and cursing myself for being a knob and driving only a couple of days after I started on the tablets. Lots of people would normally just kick themselves and curse their lack of paying attention, but I'm currently feeling rather self-loathing and thinking thoughts of "Great, more st I don't need." Hopefully a sleep will sort me out, but I won't be behind the wheel for a while until I get used to it.

[Jasandjules]

mikel429 said:

Hopefully a sleep will sort me out, but I won't be behind the wheel for a while until I get used to it.

Ok, s**t happens, and let's face it, there are plenty out there who will be worse drivers than you. AT least you are taking the sensible approach to it however, so that's clearly a good sign. You know you are impaired, and you are taking action to prevent any more accidents. Hopefully you'll be back behind the wheel in a week or two as you get used to the tablets.

[chunkymunky]

I don't think I drove for six weeks or so until I felt a bit better acclimatised, and even then it was only over short distances. I also did silly things during this period, such as putting freshly made cups of tea in the fridge and milk in the cupboard and so on.

Try not to dwell on the crunch or on other negative thoughts, though I expect this may be hard or even impossible. I found it essential to do something not too taxing that occupied my brain, so I spent several months doing sudoku puzzles and concise crosswords.

[Six Fiend]

I've been on it for a fair number of years. The side effects do wear off as you get used to it. I'm only on a very small dose now and worked as a courier for the last 2 years.

Hang in there and give yourself time. It gets better

[trickywoo]

"anorgasmia"

I thought that was a type of goat?

[Galsia]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but I thought that my post would make the most sense here.

I've been pescribed Citalopram due to having debilitating anxiety and panic attacks with mild depression. The starting dose is 10mg. However, I'm pretty apprehensive about taking it due to the side effects.

I'm also unsure of the time of day that I should be taking it. Some people say take it at night as it makes you drowsy and others say don't take it in the evening as it will stop you from sleeping.

So my questions are when should I take it and what side effects have you experienced?

I'm pretty scared about taking it but I know that at some point I will have to take it as day-to-day life is almost impossible at the moment. Its got to the point where I only leave the house to go to work no and even that is getting more and more difficult.

Thanks.

[Funk]

Read my comments earlier; it's one of the milder ADs and I had no side effects to speak of - certainly nothing that would worry me or cause me to consider not taking it again in future if I needed to. I've been off it about 6 months now and it really was very helpful in getting me through a tough period of my life that I was struggling to deal with. 10mg is a very mild dose and you should start to notice a subtle lift within 2-3 weeks. Take it in the mornings as it can cause issues with falling asleep. FWIW, I was on 30mg/day.

You'll be fine in every sense of the word!

[Galsia]

Thank you.

I'm lucky that my employer is so great. I've been signed off by my GP for two weeks but I think that being sat at home is probably not a good thing for my mental health so I've asked for reduced hours. My boss has given me the option to work as little or as much as I want while I get used to them which is good.

I'll take it in the morning and see how I get on...

[ovlov60]

When I first started it I had headaches and some nausea. Beware your anxiety may increase initially, this is normal. After a couple of weeks you should start to settle down and gradually feel better. 10mg is a low dose so hopefully the side effects will be minimal.

I know its a tad nerve racking, the leaflet that comes with it doesn't make pleasant reading for someone who is already anxious but give it a go. I'm just about to move to prozac as after 4 years Citalopram has stopped working for me, and I'm nervous about the switch but am going for it. I figure its a couple of weeks of discomfort, in the amount of time I've had anxiety it's nothing!

Good luck!

ETA: I took it in the morning (my last one today!). I found a small snack helped with the nausea.

[x 7usc]

Hi Galsia

If you dont mind me asking, how well are you sleeping and how bad is your anxiety? (you will know what i mean) PH is a great place to share problems isn't it. The reason i ask is because Citalopram did not really work for me and i ended up being sectioned. As said above 10mg is a low dose, which is fine but i suggest you stay in contact with your doctor, even if its just a chat on the phone (it does help).

My anxiety and depression got so bad prior to my hospital stay i had trouble sleeping and was sick (literally) every morning of a working day, anyway i digress but i was changed to an AD called Mirtazapine by the doctors there, which is taken at night as its also a sleep aid, in the morning i now wake up feeling much better and the AD side of things work right through to evening with my only real side effect was a slightly "hung over" feeling in the morning which only really lasted for about 10 mins and after a week went away. i am on quite a high dose (30mg) but it may be worth mentioning to your GP as it may work for you, or i could be wrong and its not right for your symptoms.
I hope you are feeling better soon.

Mark

[BlackVanDyke]

Galsia said:

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but I thought that my post would make the most sense here.

I've been pescribed Citalopram due to having debilitating anxiety and panic attacks with mild depression. The starting dose is 10mg. However, I'm pretty apprehensive about taking it due to the side effects.

I'm also unsure of the time of day that I should be taking it. Some people say take it at night as it makes you drowsy and others say don't take it in the evening as it will stop you from sleeping.

So my questions are when should I take it and what side effects have you experienced?

I'm pretty scared about taking it but I know that at some point I will have to take it as day-to-day life is almost impossible at the moment. Its got to the point where I only leave the house to go to work no and even that is getting more and more difficult.

Thanks.

I took it at night, on my GP's advice - I think he suggested it because it made me feel a bit queasy and it was easier to cope with just curling up and sleeping through the worst. The queasiness stopped very quickly - just 3 or 4 days I think although that was several years ago now.

It's common for it to affect sex drive and things of that ilk but I don't think there are many people who need citalopram who'll even notice that as an issue until they're feeling a lot better generally, if you see what I mean. I mention it mostly because the dishonesty of not mentioning it as a real side effect bothered me a bit.

If you're feeling anxious even about taking it then a) try and find some sort of 'talking therapy' if you possibly can, it'll help you cope but b) if I were you I'd crack on and start taking it, so that you're not burdened with the fear about that first dose for any longer than you absolutely have to be.

I sleep better now I've finished taking it, but I didn't notice the difference until after I'd stopped. Kind of a nice bonus to have, that one.

[Galsia]

Thanks for the replies. Took my first tablet two hours ago and no side effects yet apart from a dull headache. However, I've been suffering from dizziness, tinnitus and headaches for ten weeks already so it might no be due to the medication.

Can I take paracetamol for the headaches?

[Paul Dishman]

Galsia said:

Thanks for the replies. Took my first tablet two hours ago and no side effects yet apart from a dull headache. However, I've been suffering from dizziness, tinnitus and headaches for ten weeks already so it might no be due to the medication.

Can I take paracetamol for the headaches?

Yes