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Citalopram - new to me

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Posted 10/29/2010 2:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hello!

Went to my family MD this morning.  Thought I needed Xanax - turns out antidepressant will be of more help.

I'm not sleeping well because of many worries, like everyone else I suppose.   This is making it difficult to function during the day.

I'm also on Atenolol for PVC's, diagnosed by my cardiologist.  The PVC thing started the ball rolling for me and it's been all downhill.  No underlying heart disease though.  I went through many, many tests. 

Next week my husband goes in for a heart cath., mom in nursing home, his mom in nursing home.  Lots of stuff for me to obsess over.  ( I think Kitt will remember me from other forums.)

Anyway, my question is...has anyone had any experience with Citalopram?  New meds scare me.  I read all the side effects and hesitate to take it.  But of course I will follow doctors orders.

Can anyone help me? rolleyes

Thanks,

Chele

Posted 10/29/2010 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
Its good to be informed as to what the drug is supposed to do, and watch for side effects. Don't let the side effects freak you out, they list every little thing, and the bad things that have happened to a few, just in case you fall into that category.

When you start meds, as you know, its usually at a low dose. Get back to your doc if it doesn't seem to be helping because he probably ihntends to increase it anyway. Or he will switch you.

With all that is going on in your family, no wonder you can't sleep. My ONLY thing was last year my husband had a heart attck, open heart, and angioplasty with stints all in 3 mos. Phew, just was like a deer in the headlights. Its scary. This will pass.

How about for you? Do you have a chance to go out or visit friends that make YOU feel better? Even short visits are helpful. You count too.

Good luck,
Posted 10/29/2010 5:41 PM (GMT 0)
Citalopram is Celexa, oh, that's a very good drug. Hope it helps. Has helped many.
Posted 10/29/2010 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your kind reply, Sandy.

Yeah, there are a lot of things to consider with any new medicine. Hope I'm a lucky one. And a little time for myself is a great idea.

Give my best to your hubby.

Take care,
Chele
Posted 10/29/2010 9:10 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with TTU, don't get upset about the many listed side effects. These studys are done under controled groups of many people and they have to list every little thing that is going on with them. A lot of it could be a coincidence of something going on at the time they are doing the controlled study.

I hope that this works for you, but if it doesn't, don't get discouraged, I tried many before I found what was right for me.

Best wishes to you.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 10/30/2010 1:27 PM (GMT 0)
Karen,
You are so right. Getting past the scary literature that comes with prescription meds is hard for me.
Thanks for the encouraging words.

Take care,
Chele
Posted 10/30/2010 9:59 PM (GMT 0)
hi, im on citalopram 60mg, have been for about a year now, ive found with me that they worked to start off with, but my body has got used to them now, so not feeling any benefits. also when you lower your dose, when you're trying to come off them, they do give you really bad withdrawal symptoms.
but it could be different for everyone.

hope you get on ok with them, but i wish i had never gone onto them, even just forgetting to take 1 day (i have fibromyalgia, so forgetting them from time to time is quite common for me) you get terrible withdrawal symptoms and dont take them in the evening because you wont be able to sleep.

i hope this doesnt happen with you.
let me know how you get on.

hugz
amy
Posted 10/31/2010 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
There are some other meds that have the effect you describe,too, if you don't take the med the same time daily, you feel funny, get brain zaps, etc.
Why you need to make sure you aren't going to run out. My pharmacist will give me a few in a bottle until my doc answers him if I don't have a refill available. It just comes out of the quantity ordered when I do get it filled.

Important to note, one person may get the "zaps", another one may never experience them. Don't know why.

Always remember when going off a med, to take your docs advice and wean, or taper off them very gradually. Not all drugs, or all people have withdrawal, but it is not fun.

When your med doesn't seem to be working anymore, you need to talk to the doc or docs if you have a few. Maybe something else is going on with you. Maybe they will increase your dose, or switch you to something else, or add something onto it.

For me, and it seems for many on the forum, we don't get on a drug, feel relief and it lasts indefinitely. That's why we have to see the pdoc for those 15 min medication adjustment appts. If you feel you can't wait, tell them its an emergency, tell them you will take a cancellation. Be flexible. I call about a half hour after they come in, and they are usually very happy to fill a cancelled appt.

Never be afraid to speak up to your pdoc in your own behalf. Tell him exactly what your problems are, concerns are, or he won't know. Even if he disagrees, you have the right to respond. It isn't arguing, its discussing your treatment plan. Even if you do "lose it", you are in the right place and he is used to it.

Try to have your head on straight when you see the doc. Keep an index card of complaints or questions and start it a few days ahead of the appt. Don't leave till you get them all covered. If you have a lot, then you can review and prioritize them in the lobby, and be sure to tell the doc, I have a lot to ask you about today.
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