JR2016 Posted May 12, 2016 Posted May 12, 2016 Today I've started Citalopram. Apparently it takes about 2 weeks to kick in. Anyone here got any thoughts or experience of it?
sorano Posted May 12, 2016 Posted May 12, 2016 Not to go into detail, but I will never take another antidepressant ever again in my life and I tell everybody close to me, never to start. Just sayin. Be careful with them.
SammySammy Posted May 12, 2016 Posted May 12, 2016 Not to go into detail, but I will never take another antidepressant ever again in my life and I tell everybody close to me, never to start. Just sayin. Be careful with them. Agreed. That's why I refuse to take OCD medication. Hate the way that crap makes me feel. Hate that it lowers my sex drive. Working out is the best antidepressant available. Positive benefits with no negative side effects. 1
keiji Posted May 12, 2016 Posted May 12, 2016 I've taken it on and off for a while and comparing it to other antidepressants/anxyiolitics (it's a mixture of both) makes no sense at all. It has negligible or almost non-existant side-effects. Once I sensed a bit of low libido that dissapeared in 3-4 weeks. It's an over the counter medicine in my country. Go figure. Sometimes you need some extra help. So what? You (or your doctor) made an excellent choice. When you feel better, which will be in 7/10 days approx., start working on yourself, though. The medicine will just stop the agony, but the underlying problem is still there. 1
BC1980 Posted May 13, 2016 Posted May 13, 2016 I think you will hear good and bad when it comes to antidepressants. All medicines have side effects, and it's up to the individual to decide if the negative side effects outweigh the good. I took Paxil for years, and it was very helpful during that time. Did it make me lethargic? Yes. When I tapered off of it, I felt like a different person. Still, during the time I was taking it, that side effect was a small price to pay for my sanity. I tried taking Lexapro after my breakup, and I stopped after a few days. I felt like a zombie, and I didn't want that. It wasn't worth it to me because I felt that my breakup was an acute problem I could work on, not a chronic issue. I don't take any medication right now and haven't in 5 years (except for the few days I took Lexapro). I feel really good about that decision but would revisit the need for medication if the need arose in the future. In the end, it will be up to you to decide if the medicine is beneficial enough to deal with the side effects. Also, remember that medication does not fix a problem. It should be used in conjunction with therapy and other ways to deal with depression, stress (exercise, meditation, ect.) My experience with Paxil was that it did not fix my problems, but it made it easier to deal with my problems. A good doctor should tell you all that and recommend a good therapist. 2
fands Posted May 13, 2016 Posted May 13, 2016 Can't you just swallow it? Using feet to administer medication risks damage to the teeth. Also, like you say, the reduced accuracy means it can take weeks to find the target. If you want to get really depressed, you could read the Wikipedia entry. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citalopram Just kidding. Citalopram looks to be guaranteed to work better than the LoveShack placebo, which is also great stuff with fewer side effects. 2
seamos Posted May 13, 2016 Posted May 13, 2016 Uh, ... fands, ... feet?? Did I miss something? What the heck r u talking about? JR2016; Citalopram, as with many other antidepressants, didn't work for me but it seems like antidepressants work different for different people. Often it seems that a combination of them (determined by the dr.) is what works best. My wife has just now begun taking a combination that really seems to be helping her. I gave up on antidepressants for myself and went back to plain old vodka. But I wouldn't recommend that either.
sickoflove11 Posted May 13, 2016 Posted May 13, 2016 Sometimes I wish I could have continued on it but in the beginning I couldn't focus on school and it was a problem. It also did weird things to my hormones and my menstrual cycle even though I take BC.. not sure if that would be an issue for you, just my experience. So I decided to stop and not try any other brands. I have moderate general anxiety/depression but I just kind of deal with it the best I can without meds now. Like some have said, gym or any exercise can help a lot. When it comes to social situations and friends I'm a mess but oh well. To the gym I go.
Tallman1 Posted May 13, 2016 Posted May 13, 2016 I have been on welbutrin for close to a month and it has helped quite a bit with the physical symptoms I had after my breakup, but agree totally with others that this needs to accompany therapy to get to the underlying issues going on.
Melrapuo Posted May 13, 2016 Posted May 13, 2016 I have been on welbutrin for close to a month and it has helped quite a bit with the physical symptoms I had after my breakup, but agree totally with others that this needs to accompany therapy to get to the underlying issues going on. Might I ask if it's affected your sex drive at all? I'm currently on Lexapro, and I just have no desire to date/have sex at all. I've considered switching meds because after 3 years of being celibate/single...lol
MidwestUSA Posted May 13, 2016 Posted May 13, 2016 Uh, ... fands, ... feet?? Did I miss something? What the heck r u talking about? Two weeks to kick in. That's a lot of footwork. CItalopram saved me, and I lost 20 pounds in the process (all that kicking). As for those looking for a libido booster, rather than a dampener, Wellbutrin fits the bill, as a dopamine reuptake inhibitor vs SSRI. It may not feel so good for those who also suffer from anxiety, however. 3
Tallman1 Posted May 13, 2016 Posted May 13, 2016 Might I ask if it's affected your sex drive at all? I'm currently on Lexapro, and I just have no desire to date/have sex at all. I've considered switching meds because after 3 years of being celibate/single...lol It has not had a negative impact at all, in fact was put on it for depression in conjunction with performance anxiety. Still in the early stages of taking it but I would say it has helped. I would recommend it if you are having issues with that area, but obviously talk to your doctor first.
privategal Posted May 14, 2016 Posted May 14, 2016 Im going to start them Monday...no energy, world is gray, sudden disclusion from the world, can tolerate no people, music is painful, sad and heavy and exercise not helpful anymore. Always feel HEAVY, getting dressed and going to work= major chore. Obsessive thinking and sad analyzing and going back over the sadness is the mainstay of the problem I cant shake. Im through all stages of grieving process (except acceptance) and back to start them again stronger, heavier now. In a vicious cycle I cant shake on my own I realize now. I can sit stationary alone for 8 hours. Somethings gotta give. I dont know what type to ask for. Anxiety also sometimes present but isolating and quiet helps. Not sleeping well. Mild suicidal thoughts but no real threat or belief Id carry that out. Overwhelmed so finally 6 weeks from onset Im going for help. Any pm advice or just reply as to what type to go for might be good. Doctors arent always right...would like to hear real life advice from experience too.
HopeForTomorrow Posted May 14, 2016 Posted May 14, 2016 (edited) Im going to start them Monday...no energy, world is gray, sudden disclusion from the world, can tolerate no people, music is painful, sad and heavy and exercise not helpful anymore. Always feel HEAVY, getting dressed and going to work= major chore. Obsessive thinking and sad analyzing and going back over the sadness is the mainstay of the problem I cant shake. Im through all stages of grieving process (except acceptance) and back to start them again stronger, heavier now. In a vicious cycle I cant shake on my own I realize now. I can sit stationary alone for 8 hours. Somethings gotta give. I dont know what type to ask for. Anxiety also sometimes present but isolating and quiet helps. Not sleeping well. Mild suicidal thoughts but no real threat or belief Id carry that out. Overwhelmed so finally 6 weeks from onset Im going for help. Any pm advice or just reply as to what type to go for might be good. Doctors arent always right...would like to hear real life advice from experience too. privategal.... I am glad to be able to reply to one of your posts. It touched me... you have been through so very much, for such a very long time. I'm glad you are getting help with antidepressants. I don't know if you have ever taken them before, but they saved my life. I can speak from both the healthcare professional and patient perspective when I say that there isn't a good way to predict who will do well on what antidepressant. Even within the classes of SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) or SNRIs (serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors), different meds work better or worse in different people - it's basically trial and error. It usually takes about 2 weeks to start working, and 6-8 weeks for maximum effect, so don't give up. Within 2 weeks I was up off the floor and back among the living. If you don't see an effect within 2-3 weeks, don't give up, and go back to your doc and try something else. Yes, there can be some adverse effects - the only one I experienced was anorgasmia. It's fairly common (reported in only 1-3% of patients in clinical trials, but in my practice I think about 75% of patients have mentioned it). But anorgasmia was a nonissue when I was just trying to survive the day and get to the next day. What they will prescribe for you will almost certainly be within one of the 2 classes I listed above, and it will be your prescriber's preference within those 2 classes. Again, don't hesitate to let them know if you aren't feeling better after 2 or 3 weeks. I wish I could PM you. You WILL feel better. I promise you. Hang in there. You have been through so much. You are moving in the right direction now. I am thinking of you. Edited May 14, 2016 by a LoveShack.org Moderator 1
Littlematt Posted May 14, 2016 Posted May 14, 2016 I took fluoxetine for about a year. After waiting about 3 month I started to see the benefits. I didn't have a care the world. But on the other side of the spectrum, I had no sex drive and not having a care isn't always the best. I had no emotions. I decide to tail them off in January and was off them in February. Then the break up happened. But I decided I had to get through the situation without them. I think they're good if you really need them but I wouldn't take them again. I prefer having the emotions.
TheArtist Posted May 14, 2016 Posted May 14, 2016 Citalopram is great. I used to wake up and just feel sad maybe four or five days each month (not necessarily all at once), and I spent a lot of time latched onto negative news stories or things that shouldn't bother me, like cars blocking pavements. I would regularly tell myself that stuff is rubbish and that I've generally failed in life, maybe as a way of making myself more motivated, but it really wasn't called for. My doctor noticed I appeared anxious when I was getting checked for something else and recommended a mild dose of citalopram and honestly, I feel like I always used to when I was at my peak. No more sad days, no more self deprecation. You might feel drowsy for the first couple of weeks, especially if you're sitting still, but when it kicks in that goes away. A really important thing to do is not to consider this a fix, but to start working to look on the more positive aspects of life immediately. I started replacing the bad thoughts with something positive every time they popped into my head from the moment I took that first pill, and I think it's really helped me develop a better attitude towards everything now. 3
Haydn Posted May 14, 2016 Posted May 14, 2016 Citalopram is great. I used to wake up and just feel sad maybe four or five days each month (not necessarily all at once), and I spent a lot of time latched onto negative news stories or things that shouldn't bother me, like cars blocking pavements. I would regularly tell myself that stuff is rubbish and that I've generally failed in life, maybe as a way of making myself more motivated, but it really wasn't called for. My doctor noticed I appeared anxious when I was getting checked for something else and recommended a mild dose of citalopram and honestly, I feel like I always used to when I was at my peak. No more sad days, no more self deprecation. You might feel drowsy for the first couple of weeks, especially if you're sitting still, but when it kicks in that goes away. A really important thing to do is not to consider this a fix, but to start working to look on the more positive aspects of life immediately. I started replacing the bad thoughts with something positive every time they popped into my head from the moment I took that first pill, and I think it's really helped me develop a better attitude towards everything now. Helped me. Took for 6 months. 3
Els Posted May 14, 2016 Posted May 14, 2016 I'm not on citalopram (which is a SSRI), but I'm on a tricyclic which works in a somewhat similar fashion. When I was first recommended it, I refused it and opted to try other methods first - sunlight, exercise, natural supplements, self-help articles, etc. Several months later, disheartened and depressed that nothing seemed to work, I decided I had nothing to lose and took it. Man, it was a HUGE change for the better. The doctor told me it would take 2 weeks to take full effect, but honestly by Day 2 I already noticed the positive effects. I didn't experience any significant adverse side effects in my case. It's possibly a little more difficult to lose/maintain weight than the usual (but still doable), but there was no noticeable change in my libido. I agree with the others that you still have to work on things as you take it (improving yourself and your life, surrounding yourself with positivity, mindfulness etc). But sometimes you need both. 4
xxoo Posted May 14, 2016 Posted May 14, 2016 I took antidepressants for about 2 years around age 20. HUGE improvement in quality of life. I haven't needed them since (now in my 40s), but they saved me in that stage of my life. 4
xxoo Posted May 14, 2016 Posted May 14, 2016 I agree with the others that you still have to work on things as you take it (improving yourself and your life, surrounding yourself with positivity, mindfulness etc). But sometimes you need both. I agree. The meds cleared the dark cloud so that I could do the self work. And then the self work was enough. 7
Els Posted May 15, 2016 Posted May 15, 2016 I took fluoxetine for about a year. After waiting about 3 month I started to see the benefits. I didn't have a care the world. But on the other side of the spectrum, I had no sex drive and not having a care isn't always the best. I had no emotions. I decide to tail them off in January and was off them in February. Then the break up happened. But I decided I had to get through the situation without them. I think they're good if you really need them but I wouldn't take them again. I prefer having the emotions. This is incredibly odd and would definitely warrant a second visit to the doctor, and a change or discontinuation. People who are on medications that are appropriate for them absolutely still 'have emotions'. I get the full gamut of emotions - happiness, sadness, disappointment, excitement, arousal. It's just the constant burning, agonizing feeling in my head that's gone - and I wouldn't consider that to be an emotion because it used to always be there regardless of what I was doing or what the circumstances were. 3
spiderowl Posted May 15, 2016 Posted May 15, 2016 (edited) Antidepressants are live-saving. They can reduce all kinds of symptoms - depression, anxiety, pain, nervousness, social phobia. They are amazing really. They do reduce sex drive and sensitivity. This is no minor side-effect. It means that they are not a long-term solution. That's my experience. As a life-long sufferer of depression, I feel they have limitations. I understand that some antidepressants do not have sexual side-effects. These are not approved in the UK. So we are stuck with those that do. There seems to be no discussion about this and patients are left stranded. I guess it's a taboo subject. Edited May 15, 2016 by spiderowl
spiderowl Posted May 15, 2016 Posted May 15, 2016 This is incredibly odd and would definitely warrant a second visit to the doctor, and a change or discontinuation. People who are on medications that are appropriate for them absolutely still 'have emotions'. I get the full gamut of emotions - happiness, sadness, disappointment, excitement, arousal. It's just the constant burning, agonizing feeling in my head that's gone - and I wouldn't consider that to be an emotion because it used to always be there regardless of what I was doing or what the circumstances were. Having tried several antidepressants, I can say that they do dull emotions. Maybe some don't, but I have tried a few different ones. The emotions are there but everything seems to matter less, things seem to wash past and one watches them at a distance. I do know that they reduce other symptoms and can make all the difference for other things.
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