Citalopram...

[StayPositiveX]

Hi everyone. I'm really appreciating reading all of you posts with regards to Citalopram. My daughter is 23 and has been suffering with depression for the past 4/5 years. She's suffered with some level of anxiety over this period but 6 weeks ago when she moved out of a house she was sharing with 4 other people into a house with just her and her boyfriend her anxiety went through the roof. She was taking Mirtazapine but this did nothing for her depression or anxiety so 3 weeks ago she spoke to her doctor and they put her on Citalopram. I've read mainly positive reviews about this medication. She started taking it 10 days ago and it's had an effect on her sleeping in the sense that she wakes up around 7.30 every morning (this kid can normally sleep for 15 hours!!) and the anxiety which has been there for the past 6 weeks is still there with a horrible emptiness in her stomach but i am so proud because she still gets out of bed, gets dressed and still goes to work... As the day goes on she seems to be 'better' and come the evening we are normally having a bit of a laugh on the phone or on Facetime. As a parent it's not easy seeing your child go through this and I feel for her and so many of you who are going through this. Any advice you can give me as a parent that I can use to help her or and information you have that I can pass on to her would be greatly appreciated. x

[Mia_love]

I too had severe depression for years . For me the medication werent any help in the begining but ut did help later but i had to increase my dose eventually ..... so i would suggest if u could not completly rely on the medication and try natual stuff ... like spending more time in nature . And maam i really appreciate and thank you that you understood your daughter and trying your best to help her out .. i know no parent can see their children suffering ... so as of how you can help her more is by sometimes talking to her when u feel something isnt right ,sometimes a hug or a little kiss can help her more than anyother thing ... and for her sleeping issues she can slowly start eating a proper healthy food like nuts , rice , a small glass of milk with tumeric before going to bed ... and she should strictly cut off all the packed and junk food she intakes atleast try to reduce the amount she eats .

I hope she will sure improve with theese small changes ... it will take time and effort but she will be great soon ...

[Olderal]

I was asked to help as I have experience of decades of spells of depression and take Mirtazapine which probably limits my help as your daughter is no longer taking it. Despite the best efforts of the vast majority of health professionals the sad truth is that finding the right antidepressant for any individual is a guessing game and involves, unless lucky, trial and error.So little is really known about anxiety and depression.

Now the better news . I suffer from Bipolar 2 despite which I held down a pretty demanding job and managed with much family support to do this without taking a day off due to depression. I am now retired, but it still recurs. Your daughter is showing a great deal of courage in getting up and going to work and hopefully this will stand her in good stead through this spell. If one can continue to work it gives much needed social contact apart from the obvious fact that it avoids an additional worry about finances. I was lucky and it sounds that your daughter's courage will help her too. Mirtazapine helps sleep so your daughter waking earlier is to be expected. Still 7.30 does n't sound too bad and you should be proud of her and I.m sure you've told her so.

Secondly she seems to have a very good GP who has listened to her when she says Mirtazapine was not helping and has changed her a/d. after a reasonable trial period (usually 2-3 months). Not all GPs are as flexible and show empathy altho things are improving.

Your post sounds very much as if she comes from a loving family always a very important factor. There is lots of good advice on the internet about how families can support someone with these problems (too much to type out).

For your daughter healthy eating, regular sleep hours, and as much exercise as possible (preferablyin a social setting) are probably as important as any of the pharmaceutical drugs. Your daughter sounds very sensible and is probably aware already that any recreational drugs should be avoided like the plague.

Your talking to her regularly through facetime and the phone will also help a lot and her boyfriend's support is also very important although its quite difficult for a parent to unobtrusively check she has this.

You're quite right when you say that this is now so common and seems to be on the increase and I hope your daughter's courage, with a good empathetic GP and your obvious love and support will lead to the good outcome your daughter deserves.

Olderal

[StayPositiveX in reply to Olderal]

Hi Olderal,

Thank you so much for your reply - it was very kind of you and my daughter was also touched by it. She does have a good GP now which is also helping.

Thank you again x