Anti-Depressants

Not me but yes I've had close experience of that one. IMO it is very helpful and few side effects. It works by stopping the quick absorption of chemicals released. So it can heighten pleasure and excitement too. It works best if you work with it, work on issues and positivity.

. No real nasty side effects in my experience and less addictive than others. Sweating is the main one i can think of but that may be user dependent. It takes a while to feel the initial effect so don't give up thinking they are not working, give them a few days to build up.

Also you can get various doses, if you feel it's not working at a low level you can get your doctor to up the dose to 40mg

I hope they work for you, they were a life saver for the person I know using them

If you have any questions give me a shout x

I was on citalopram in 2004, it worked well for me. For the first four weeks, I was a bit zombie-like, and the side effect I had was I threw-up quite a lot. Once it all settled down, I was fine and they eventually made a massive difference.

I started on the 20mg, but was increased to 40mg after I had a bit of an embarrassing meltdown in the toilets at our AGM, caused partly by my depression and partly by my then boss kicking off and piling pressure on me.

I've been on fluoxetine (prozac) same family as citalopram twice and they worked quickly both times. Other half has been on citalopram and apart from being a littl hyper at the beginning, did not suffer any side effects and they seem to be working. Take a couple of weeks to kick in and then gradually you find you are ok in my experience.

I have been taking them for almost 3 weeks now and haven't seen any difference, although I wasn't expecting to until past the 6 week mark at least, so far I haven't had any side affects apart from the previously mentioned Zombie state. Thanks for posting, I now know where to turn if I need any advice!

Yes, you won't notice anything...the spaced out feeling will go soon,you only really get that in the first couple of weeks x

I have been on citalopram before, I didn't have any side effects and found they worked quite quickly after the initial spacedoutness disappeared

I found with Citalopram that it made me really shaky and anxious the first week or so I was on it. After that I diddnt feel any diffirent. I just stopped taking them one day and I never seemed to suffer any ill effects. Leads me to belive that I never needed them in the first place, it was just an easy thing for the GP to bung at me to hurry me out of the surgery.

Totally agree with this, I was on the full dosage and decided I didn't need them so just stopped taking them completely, and there were no come downs or side effects whatsoever. It was reassuring to me that I hadn't become reliant in any way on them, but I know reactions vary vastly from person to person. What I did feel, however, was that the citalopram was a bit of a 'band aid' reaction from my doctor, and instead of addressing the real issues at play, she thought that drugs would be the quick fix solution.

I took citalopram 20mg a few years ago for depression, and I'm currently taking it for anxiety. Both times I found I felt worse before I felt better, but after about 4 weeks I started feeling much better, and I have no side effects. It's definitely been a massive help to me.

Re what bwqtts & mini just said about the doctors- I think it depends on the reason you are prescribed them. The second time, I was offered cognitive thought therapy alongside the medication because of the issues I had causing the depression. I think if it is an event which has caused it like a bereavement for example,all they can really do is prescribe something to make you feel better. If it is more of a mind thing (worries or anxiety that won't go away) they may refer you for counselling if it is a deep-rooted issue. I'm always relieved when I come away from the doctors with a prescription ,it's like I don't think they'll believe that I'm ill. Must be from having old-school parents "I've never had a day off in 20 years " etc etc ?

I've been put forward for CBT, and to see the regular counsellor at the GP's, the medication is more for the anxiety and depression to take the edge off while I see someone that knows what to do with me ?

I used them last year and for the first 6 weeks i didnt feel nay different then suddenly out of nowhere i felt different- i felt as if life was worth living. they helped me lots-

on ebit of advice dont stay on them for too long otherwise its harder to come off them. i decided after 6 months of taking the tablets that i didnt need them as i was in a much better place at work and at home so i stopped taking them - at first i noticed the difference but i continued without them and now im off them completely over a year later.

ps things will get better keep your chin up x x

I've been on these for the last 5 weeks. The first couple of weeks were pretty awful and I'm only on a low dose. The third/fourth week were much better and the last week I've felt really low again. I mostly have them for anxiety but I also have suffered from depression for the last 4 years. I wasnt sure that I wanted to start taking them either but when it came down to it I can go on like I have been anymore.

I am a long term user of citalopram and quite honestly wouldn't have done a lot of the things I've been able to over the past ten years without it. I am too reliant on it so have started CBT - If you have any underlying anxiety problems I would recommend doing this sooner rather than later. I always thought i had a chemical imbalance but it seems I have an 'inner critic' which is the result of have a critical parent. Knowing this has totally changed my outlook as I now believe I will be able to stop taking the meds in the future. I first was put on it for depression (mild and circumstantial) but quickly realised the anxiety was a bigger problem once I had recovered from the fallout of the circumstances. Use it to help you through, I get the 'zombie' thing when I go back on it but it only last 1-2 weeks for me. They are one of the mildest SSRIs and have the least side effects.

My best friend is on that and for her it works and works well