does anyone know anything of.......citalopram? just been given these and i am very reluctant to take anything. i ve 3 weeks, minus this one before i go back to see the doctor.
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does anyone know anything of.......citalopram? just been given these and i am very reluctant to take anything. i ve 3 weeks, minus this one before i go back to see the doctor.
Did your doctor not go through it with you? I understand we have a lot of "experience" on the forum, but surely the GP is the best placed
yes. but i don't like taking any kind of drugs, save for my asthma ones. not even for a head ache or tooth ache. i ve only heard bad things about drugs like these and i don't want to get hooked on them or experience menacing side effects.
i don't feel depressed, just because i am permanently angry, want to kick someones face in (hers) and spend all evening in tears doesn't mean i am.
he gave me them because i cannot sleep and i am certainly not taking those sleeping pills, he knows there is a underlining problem and thats why i have them. tomorrow is pay day and i will get them. i just wondered what they will do to me and how long i will be on them.
They will do what they say they will. They are one type of anti depressant tablet. Depending how long you are on them and what dossage there can be side effects of coming off them - mainly buzzes in your head now and then, gradually decreasing over a period of weeks since stopping.
Speak to your doctor.
Its horses for courses I'm afraid JTB - my dad has recently been switched to Citalopram after about six years of taking something else and he didn't think much to it. He went back to his doctor who just doubled the dose, and he feels better again now. I get the impression therefore that its one of the 'weaker' anti-depressants but I am by no means an expert.
My old man will be on his tablets permanently. He's come to accept this, but obviously everybody's situation is different. I don't think there is any chance of getting 'hooked' though, he's certainly not dependent on them in terms of craving them or anything, he just realises that he needs assistance to manage his own personal imbalance. He could give them up today and not miss them, just means he'd be back to his mood swings.
Ady is right though, speak to your doctor.
I take St John's Wort for low mood and it's pretty good, just takes off the edge. I'd check out herbals before pills from the doc but some can have side effects and some have limitations of use. Ginkgo is reknown for promoting wellbeing and Valerian/Valerian-Hops is good for anxiety.
I prefer a few pints of Landlords.
John what would you like to know mateQuote:
Originally Posted by john the baptist
hi jtb my wife has been taking citalopram for about three years now as she has suffered with anxiety and anger due to depression she wasnt sleeping and had chest pains and panic attacks .citalopram helps all these issues as it suppresses certain nerves in your body which make you angry and anxious,they are a mild anti depressant and say they are better than others because they are non addictive i asked my wife if she would reccomend them (as such) and she said yes definiatly she came off them once as she felt so much better for 4 months but the anxiety and anger returned so she continued with them the dr said she may always need them due to a chemical imbalance she has only ever needed to take 20mg which is a low dose and they have really really helped so i would try them and see how you get on theres no harm in trying but be aware that they take about 6 weeks to get into your system and work. my wife has never had any side effects at all other than if she runs out of tabs after a few days of not being on them she feels a bit dizzy and headachey so make sure you get your prescriptions on time.good luck mate
My wife has just seen this statement and said this is exactly how she felt 3 years ago and would not accept that it was depression, but after councelling sessions and visits to her gp she now understands that you feel like this because of depression. She said that even now she struggles to accept she suffers with depression as she has a good life but does not always understand why she feels that way. This is why the doctor has said its due to a chemical imbalance although obviously this is not the case for everyone. If you are going through a bad time this may be the reason for you. Accepting you have depression will always be hard and I must admit that it is also hard to understand for myself and to understand how and why she feels like she does.Quote:
Originally Posted by john the baptist
Did the citalopram aid sleep? In what way?Quote:
Originally Posted by sore legs
Does anyone have any experience of already being on medication to aid sleep and THEN being prescribed an SSRI?? (Citalopram or otherwise) Did the doctor take you/him/her off the sleeping meds before starting the SSRI's, keep them running alongside, stop the sleep meds at the same time as starting the SSRI's?
Has anyone had any experiences of any side effects of taking both and what they were please or what to look out for.
My dad stopped sleeping when he was put onto Citalopram. I cannot recall his previous medication, sorry. He doesn't take any other medication in conjunction with it.
(At one point last year he was taking separate medication to lower his cholesterol which interfered with his anti-depressants and negated their effect. Another thread another time I guess.)
Anyway, When he went back to express his concerns, the doctor doubled his dose of Citalopram and he is now sleeping again. I do not know if the non-sleeping was 'medical' (as in directly chemically connected to his tablets) or a result of his increased anxiety becasue of the Citalopram not having the same effect as his previous medication. This is all within the last seven days and relevant to Emmilou's first question, hence why I'm posting on a matter here I actually have very little experience with :o.
He 'stopped' sleeping when he was put on them?? Oh eck. Thanks for the reply. I have a feeling there will be a confliction but am trying to work out the best 'options' :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by simgreen78
As I say Em, I'm no expert. It may have just been a 'bodyshock' reaction to moving over from another type of tablet. But yes, he stopped sleeping and his mood swings returned. The doctor doubled the dosage and he's now back to normal, although I'm keeping a close eye on him for the usual warning signs.Quote:
Originally Posted by emmilou
Warning signs?? What would these be? Sorry I'd explain myself further but it will no doubt open the floodgates to a barage of opinions on a public forum and I'm not up for that suffice to say it's not for me I just need a bit of awareness..... thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by simgreen78
PM'd you.
I know its been said before but perhaps its worth reiterating that there are a range of pharmacological and non pharmacological approaches to the treatment to depression (eg cognitive behaviour therapy) with proven efficacy. Often such approaches can be combined to yield the best results (see NICE guidelines for depression). Speak to your GP but there is also useful information at the following link:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Depress...Treatment.aspx
talking therapies can be particularly useful in helping people who are experiencing difficulties in their relationships.
good luck
Citalopram has certainly worked for me. About 6 months ago I could not see a way forward in life, was in a very dark and strange place, did not recognise myself and was so unhappy. I am now able to go to bed and go to sleep straight away (most nights). Do not have the terrible thoughts I was having. Do not have the awful anxiety and panic attacks. Then, I was so embarrassed and ashamed of what was wrong with me. Now, I can talk about things without bursting into tears. I can go out, I can socialise with my best friends, do normal activities without shaking and going into cold sweats. I have returned back to work after having 5 months off on sick, something I thought I would never be able to do again!
I have had counselling which did help in some ways, it wasn't really for me, ultimately, it's the Citalopram that has helped. I am enjoying life again and looking forward....yipeeee!
One thing I will say is that it does kind of 'numb' ones emotions, so coming off it may open up new problems for me. But at least now I am strong enough again to deal with things.
I have opened myself up again on this forum....bad move I know! But to any of you that feel the need to argue or criticise my words, my actions, my feelings...well don't bother...I am in a good place right now and I don't need YOU!
To all of my friends out there....realling looking forward to spending some time in the hills with you :wink:
Oh, and to John the Baptist...wishing you happier times ahead...hope you find the answers xxx
JTB PM me if you want and i'll offer my professional opinion from being a psychiatric nurse for nearly a decade. Won't get involved in this thread though after the mess that Staggers depression thread became.
just taken my first happy pill, i hope they work because i got my regular asthma medication along with them and the cost sure did make me depressed...£14.40:angry:
:thumbup: This is such good news MG. You are such a gawjus lovely person, and I am really glad you are in a happy place again.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mountain Goatess
JtB, it is not something I know anything about but I really hope it helps you too - I guess time will tell :) From your posts on here regarding the alcohol and now this, it certainly seems from this outsiders point of view that you are in the right place to move forwards and upwards. I have heard from people about quitting smoking (for example) that you have to *want* to quit, and I think depression and associated stuff is similar. Not that that makes it easy, but wanting things to improve and facing the right direction is a bloody good start. :)
I am glad that you are feeling much better MG and admire you for being so open :-) xQuote:
Originally Posted by Mountain Goatess
Blimey, after the Alcohol thread i really had a look at my life, and decided i didnt like what i saw. Now this thread has almost convinced me that i really need to see my G.P. I usually run to help with feeling angry/down but recently have lost all motivation and sometimes set off and within minutes have turned back as i really can't see the point. I am constantly angry but put that down to an errant daughter and a recently diagnosed sister with grade 2 breast cancer, maybe i should have a quick chat at the surgery just to get it out of my system.
So 2 messages.....
1) JtB keep the honesty coming-its helping loads of people.
2) MG-i have a good phrase and its yours to use as much as you like.."those who matter dont mind, those who mind dont matter". enjoy xx