citalopram anti-depresants

[wizard69]

Has anybody been on the above medication? my doctor has recently prescribed these for me but the list of 'possible' side affects looks horrific. Has anyone else taken these and how did you find them? Did they help?
Are they long term? Im also taking diazepan (valium).
They have been prescribed as I've been experiancing bouts of violent outbursts followed by feelings of helplessnes.
Ive been imprisoned before because of uncontrolable anger and I'm not wanting to go down that route again, hence, a visit to the Doc.
TIA

[Trinny]

Hi wizard, all medication has side effects. I was on Cipramil (sp) once, not sure if its the same one as you are on. Is it?

[wizard69]

Dont think so Trin, maybe same 'family' of drugs. Only just started taking them so dont know if any of the side affects apply to me yet.
one of the side affects is impotence and another is increased sexual desire.....fantastic, horny as a rabbit on speed and everthing pointing south.

[Trinny]

LOL Wizard...Just see how you go with the tablets, thats all I can say. Making you feel better inside yourself is whats important. For me, taking the anti-depressants, did help me.

Tablets are dished out too easily by GPs. Not always the best way forward, but can help you get your head straight.

[fran2]

wizard, Citalopram aka Cipramil is an SSRI as you may know. All ssri's have more or less the same side effects and they can also cause severe agitation (this is more common with Citalopram) but, as we're all chemically different that does'nt mean you'll neccesarily get agitated. Many patients on ssri's also experience horrific dreams but, like I say, this does'nt happen to everyone. Citalopram may suit you whereas they would'nt be any good for some else. Are you on 20mg? This is the legal starting dose recently passed in a bill by Parliament as GP's were starting patients on higher and dangerous doses! If you're on 10mg thats fine. If you need anymore advice you can mail [email protected] Good luck.

[oopsydoopsy]

Hi wizard. I take Citalopram 20mg daily, previously on a drug call Mirtazapine which knocked me out!
Citalopram much better and I do find that it has helped me - but we are all different.
Main side effects were GI disturbances for a coulple of weeks (nausea mainly) but since then, no obvious problems.
Hope it helps you. x

[wolf63]

I have been taking Citalopram/Cipramil for years and have had no problems with them.

I take it that you are also getting psychological treatment for your anger problems. If you know why you are getting angry then you can maybe reduce the problem.

Remember drug companies have to advise us of all potential side effects. So most of the side effects mentioned in the leaflet are very rare.

Good luck.

[wizard69]

Thanks all.
I'm on 10mg a day at the moment but my doc. is talking about increasing the dose in a week or so.
Wolf63, is it a good idea to be on them long term, what would happen if your gp took you off them? I'm not getting any psychological help, mainly because ive had some bad experiances in the past with the psychiatric services....I dont trust them as far as I can spit. I was once seeing a psychotherapist because at the time I was finding it hard to adjust after coming out of prison (for A.B.H) I told him that I was fearful that I would do some damage to someone and he promptly got me sent back to prison on remand for making threats of violence. On another occasion I had to see a psychiatrist for a pre sentence report and I begged him to help me. He reccommended prison and prison I got.
On another occasion my probation officer got me sectioned because I was suffering from uncontrollabe bouts of anger. After displaying one of these bouts in hospital they decided that I had a personality disorder and kicked me out.
Psychological help? Nah, dont think so...

[katejess44]

Hi Wizard.....Strangely enough I'm glad you have posted this question as I have also been prescribed citalopram very recently. When I first started taking them I noticed that I felt queasy a lot of the time and I feel hotter a lot of the time too......as Fran (thank you for your post Fran - you've also helped me) has mentioned in her post, I've had some pretty horrific dreams which isn't normal for me. They have caused me to wake up in a cold sweat on several occasions so I do hope that is a temporary side effect (just as the queasiness has been).

I'm one of those people who never thought in a million years I would be diagnosed with depression and was extremely reluctant to take any medication, however, I took the doctors advice and now I'm very glad that I did as I feel so much better.

I hope to not have to be on them for too long......apparently the minimum is about three months after which you can be weaned off them again.....fingers crossed that will be the case for me and I only needed a bit of 'temporary' help.

I was horrified to read the trouble you have had with the psychiatric services but I wish you all the very best of luck.

[coco pops]

hi wizard. I have had citalopram didn't have side affects. Give them a few weeks to work and i'm sure you will feel better. Some people take them for years and years and gradually reduce the dose to come off.

[coco pops]

P.S. Try and find time to relax.

[ally85]

Hello Wizard
I have been on Citalopram for quite a while now i started on 40mg for ages and have got it down to 20mg.
I have had no problem with side affects or with reducing them as i feel better, definately better than prozac which made me hyper or another which sent me to sleep!
Good luck with them i hope they help you xxx

[wizard69]

thanks guys...