Hi I have been having a tough time recently. Feels like forever! We got through my husband’s lymphoma in 2009 only to be hit by my dx in 2010. Then 2011 and 2012 were difficult due to medical problems with our children. Finally a close family member took his own life in 2013. Having to cope with all these things (or been an ostrich about them?) my emotional lability in the last half of this year has been difficult to manage. Keep bursting into tears, snappy with children and just generally not myself. Saw GP in October and was offered antidepressants and/or counselling. Opted for the latter and have been waiting patiently. Saw MS consultant in December and she stressed that she feels I need both options as soon as possible as they help each other. A problem at work in December has proved to be the straw that broke the camel’s back. My boss has finally agreed to counselling apts in work time which should speed the process up. Need to phone about that tomorrow. Long winded - sorry - but my dilemma is do I start the Citalopram now knowing that I am likely to feel lower for the first 2/3/4 weeks, which is hopefully the period during which the work problem will be being dealt with and fingers crossed resolved? Can I risk feeling even lower than I do now during this time? How much worse do they make you feel initially? All advice gratefully received. Thanks. Ann xx
Hiya,
I’m on Citalopram and I’ve had no side effects with it; but if I forget to take them then I feel a bit light headed. My doc said i’d only be on them for 6 months, but 7 years later and still on them.
Also two people at work are on them and they seem fine on it as well.
Mel x
Hiya,
I’m on Citalopram and I’ve had no side effects with it; but if I forget to take them then I feel a bit light headed. My doc said i’d only be on them for 6 months, but 7 years later and still on them.
Also two people at work are on them and they seem fine on it as well.
Mel x
Hi Ann,
I have to be honest, and say I did not get on at all well with Citalopram. BUT I don’t think it actually made me more depressed - it just did nil for the depression, plus the side effects were unacceptable.
I’m curious why you believe - or who’s told you - you would feel worse for the first few weeks? Even as someone who’s definitely NOT a fan of Citalopram, I was only ever told they might take a few weeks to work; not that they’d make me feel worse for those few weeks. I think they’re one of those drugs that don’t suit everyone (Is there anything that does?), but I think you’ll just find they either suit you or they don’t. I’m not sure there’s much evidence they make you feel worse, but then better.
Based on personal experience only, I wouldn’t ever recommend SSRIs. But then many here wouldn’t recommend Baclofen - which I absolutely swear by! So I do accept my experience may not be the norm, and that people who claim to have benefited would have no reason to lie about it. Unfortunately, you cannot find out, except by trying. I think my mistake was persevering far too long with them, because I was never quite sure I’d given them enough chance. If I had my time over again, I’d set a firm deadline by which I expected to notice some improvement, or a lessening of side effects, or both. As it was, I didn’t really have the courage of my convictions to call a halt, when I realised they weren’t working. When you’re told they’re the latest thing, and wonderful stuff and all that, you really think there must be something the matter with you, if you don’t feel any better, and perhaps you’re just not being fair.
Tina
x
Hi Ann, I have been on and off citalopram for about 15 years and they have always worked for me. Yes it’s true that they can make you feel worse before better, at least that’s been my experience. It’s to do with the chemicals in your brain trying to level themselves and the initial days and weeks of starting citalopram this is all knocked for six until everything balances out. It does take time for this to happen and you don’t just wake up one day and they have ‘kicked in’. It’s very subtle but gradually the times that you feel well and good will start to lengthen until every day is a good day. I always found that my side effects were more pronounced depending on how unwell I was. For example, I have taken Citalopram for some mild panic attacks and depression and only suffered light side effects, but I also started taking them once when I was seriously clinically unwell and the side effects were pretty strong until my brain chemicals levelled out. My advice would be to give them a go and make sure to persevere with them, it can take weeks. And if they really don’t agree with you then you can discuss with your doctor what to do. Hope this helps and best of luck! Lisa x
Hello Ann
I’m really sorry to hear about, all the personal troubles you and your family have been going through. You’ve certainly had your fair share.
I’ve been taking Citalopram 20mg for the last couple years. I am prescribed them for the menopause. Research shows that they help with hot flashes as well as stabilising moods. They have helped me enourmously…no side effects and I don’t take HRT.
If there is a chemical imbalance in the brain, then antidepressents are usually required. Along with the counselling for you as well, will be an excellent.
The effects will take about two weeks to build up in your system. Its also possible they may not work for you but there are other ones you can try.
Do not just stop taking them…always do so under docs advice.
Take care
Hello Ann,
I have been on Citalopram for years and I have read and heard negative things about the drug, but it has really worked for me. I can’t remember that I had to wait for it to work either. Best of luck. You have had plenty to put up with and this drug could make things much easier for you.
Yours Moira
Thanks for your responses. I think I’m a bit nervous about long term prescription meds so that may be why I’m feeling daunted. Good to hear other people’s experiences. I guess I will have to hope they work without too many side effects. Tina - in your opinion how long would/should it be before I feel some improvement? Thanks all. Ann xx
They take two to three weeks ann…otherwise what would be the benefit?
Hi x
On the citalopram patient info leaflet, it lists the side effects, but also states ‘not everybody gets these side-effects, and they usually improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine’.
I think quite often the first few weeks on antidepressants can be a little tricky. The side effects are often worst over first few days / week or so, but the effect on mood can take a few weeks to ‘kick in’ . So initially it is quite common for people to feel a bit demoralised by them - because during the first weeks you are unlikely to feel much positive effect, but you might experience a few side effects (which is not nice if you are already feeling depressed and grotty). But if you stick with them, you will hopefully find the side effects wear off, and that your mood will start to improve. And if that doesnt happen, you should speak to doctor about switching to another antidepressant, or other options.
It is completely understandable to feel daunted about long-term medication, especially since it is generally advised that antidepressants do help you, it is probably best to stay on them for a while, to minimise chances of depression returning when you stop them. But that does not mean you are signing your life away - if they don’t work, or the side effects are too troublesome, then you can stop them at any point. ( doctors generally advise you don’t stop them ‘cold turkey’, but reduce them gradually - but this usually doesnt take more than a week or two, and can be done at any point - they are not addictive). I agree with tina about setting firm deadlines for seeing improvements with medications - if you try them, give them a fair try - but if they’re not right for you, then stop them.
Counselling is definitely important, but I agree with your doctor that it is useful to try counselling and medications, rather than seeing it as an ‘either / or’ situation. Explore all your options, discontinue any that prove not to be useful, and hold on to the things that do help. xxx
Hi Ann
What with menopause, ms and a husband who has latterly been dx with Aspersers’ and like you a suicide in the family, I succumbed to asking my GP for some help. She prescribed me Cipralex originally and changed to Citalopram a couple of years ago as I’d asked for an increase in dosage and she said I could increase more easily with Citalopram. I haven’t had to increase the dose and remain on 20ml. I haven’t had any side effects from either, other than a slight loss of appetite when taking Cipralex.
I have never wanted to come off of them as they keep me on an even keel but would say that if you do decide to take them and you want to come off please do this with GP’s help.
Take care
Wendy xx
Hi Ann,
It’s quite a few years ago now - before I was diagnosed (though I suspect MS was the problem all along).
I seem to remember being told the AD’s could take “up to” six weeks to work - which seems more than the 2-3 people are being told now - but perhaps the advice has been updated? Anyway, I think I gave it a lot longer than that. One of the problems with depression is you do not always have faith in your own judgement, so rather than admit they weren’t working, I kept thinking there was something wrong with my attitude - that maybe they were working, if only I’d let myself see it, and that sort of thing. Also, because state of mind is a very nebulous concept - not like, say, pain, or spasms, that you can say definitely it’s better or it’s not - I was never quite sure how I was supposed to feel. How should I feel if they had worked? In what way different? So between vagueness about what to expect (Was I being unrealistic? Should I feel noticeably “better”?), and the feeling I must be doing it wrong, somehow, if they didn’t work - because they’re meant to be so brilliant - I kept persevering and persevering well past the point I should have said: “Look, as far as I’m concerned, I’m getting all side effects, and no benefit!”
You live and learn. I wouldn’t put up with a drug that long that wasn’t working, if it happened again. But you want to be seen to have fully cooperated, and to have done your best, don’t you? Please don’t get caught flogging a dead horse like I did. Give them a reasonable try, but don’t keep trying to convince yourself the breakthrough’s coming tomorrow, or next week, when you’ve soldiered on for weeks, and it clearly isn’t.
Tina
x
My friend took the same medication, it really made her feel pretty horrible. But she does not take well to taking medication full-stop. I will echo everyone else I wish you well and send the love.
Hi Ann
Tina is right when she says that at one time, doctors used to say antidepressants would take 6-8 weeks to work (in fact, I think when I was first prescribed prozac, I was told they would take 3 MONTHS!! before they would start to work. Yes, this has changed a bit : nowadays doctors (at least the up-to-date ones) tend to say you will usually start to see improvents within 2 /3 weeks.
I read an interesting article about this the other week. It stated that the original advice - that antidepressants could take 8 weeks (or longer) to work - had come from research that had failed to take into account the fact that the antidepressants they were trialling were not effective for everybody who takes them . So when they collected trial data looking at how long people needed to take them before seeing improvements, they were including data from people whose had actually improved because of medication - but also data fom people who had improved, but had taken a longer time to do so, and whose improvements were probably not due to the medication at all. This skewed the results, by including ‘non responders’ into the research.
It now seems to be the standard advice that antidepressants work for some, but not others. If they work for you, you should start to see improvements in 2 -4 weeks.
If you have no improvements whatsoever after 6-8 weeks, it is likely that your depression just isnt responding to that particular medication. Most doctors would at this point suggest increasing the dose (which can sometimes help) or switching to a different medication. It is really important to remember that there are so many other antidepressants out there, so if the first one you try doesnt help you, that doesnt mean that others wont. It is a bit like trial & error sometimes… some people hit on a medication that works for them straight away- others have to try quite a few different drugs to find one that works. (and of course some people conclude that antidepressants’ are just not the answer for them).
There absolutely no point flogging a dead horse. I took Seroxat for 3 years (!!!) without any improvement. For me, it was a horrible medication - but I was very young, and the doctors told me to take them, so I did (!) Over the years I have taken quite a few - prozac, citalopram, escitalopram, chlomipramine - non of them did anything for me, I had got to the point when I found they were all a big con. Then I found one (agomelatine) that worked. And all of a sudden I realised what all the fuss is about - when they work, they are bloomin’ marvelous; they have turned my life around completely. I have a friend on citalopram - and she says it does the same for her; it has really improved things for her.
Hope it all goes wel for you x
Hi,
I’ve been on Citalopram for a few years now and have had no problems with it at all. The only thing I find is that if I am a few hours late in taking my dose I get a weird sensation of popping, snapping and crackling in my head with weird electric zaps if I move my eyes. I feel a bit like a bowl of Rice Bubbles which someone chucked the toaster into! Handy reminder though that I need to take my meds!
As long as I take it on time I really have no side effects and it has certainly worked for the depression. I just feel normal in my mood again
The thing about feeling worse is that in a few very rare cases and more commonly in adolescents some anti-D’s have made people feel suicidal and so they have to warn people that IF they feel worse in the first few weeks of taking the drug to speak to a Dr immediately. But I do stress that this a very rare side effect indeed.
The more common side effects are nausea and insomnia and a friend of mine had to stop taking Citalopram as the nausea got too much for her. But loads of other people take it with no side effcts at all.
I guess the thing is you won’t know how you react to it until you take it and if it doesn’t suit you, you can always go off it and try a different type of anti-depressant. There are heaps out there and sometimes it is a bit of trial and error finding the right one.
But I do agree with your neuro as research has shown that people who receive counselling and anti-ds do better than with just one of them alone. And tbh where depression is concerned the sooner you get on top of it the better, especialy if a stressful period at work is coming up. They can take up to 2-3 weeks to reach their full efficacy but many people start to feel better before then.
All the best and I do hope your rough run eases up for you,
B
Hi there, I have very recent experience of Citalopram. I was prescribed it on the 18th December and came off it on 30th December. It gave me nausea like I’ve never experienced, I dropped pounds in weight as I just couldn’t eat. It also caused dizziness, insomnia and other minor side effects. I just couldn’t tolerate it and my GP told me to come off it as soon as I told her about it. I am trying Escitalopram, starting tomorrow. My GP thinks the side effects of this one will be much reduced, hope she’s right! Good luck with yours, I hope you don’t react to it like I did! Teresa xx
I’ve been taking Citalopram (20 Mg) for about 5 years now and no side effects. It works for me. Took about a week to kick in (that’s just me).
I had very similar Teresa, coupled with racing heart and flushing. Not nice. My sister has taken it for years and no problems whatsoever! Trial and error I guess.
Good luck, really hope it works for you x
That’s horrible hunny, hope you found something else that worked well for you! Teresa xx
Thanks for all your responses. Much appreciated. I have started to take them today. A waiting game now to see if they work. I’m keeping my fingers crossed I’m one of the lucky ones with no side effects! Thanks guys. Ann xx