I suffer from anxiety and depression and I've just started to take Citalopram. I feel horrendous, but persevered to 7th day. Upset stomach, nausea, restless, tinnitus, dry mouth and feel like I can't leave the house. I had a panic attack this morning and I've spoken to a doctor who has said to stop using them and to wait a week to perhaps try something else (I've tried other SSRI's in the past and I always end up in this situation) I feel stuck. I'm also on a waiting to speak to a psychiatrist. Any advice on this would be welcomed.
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SPARK3L
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First and foremost, before you read this, please understand that everybody is different.
Second, what works for one person, may not work for another. (because everybody's body chemistry is different)
With all that said:
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Citalopram is the generic name for Celexa.
& Celexa was the med that gave me the worst nausea. (out of all the meds that I have ever taken, Celexa was the worst "for me" with Nausea.)
Interesting enough, I ended up on the generic version of Lexapro. (Escitalopram)
Lexapro is kinda like Celexa, but (usually) with less side effects.
Do I have side effects on Lexapro? Yes
Do I have side effects on Lexapro like Celexa? No
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The point of my post is simply this.
Let you doc/psych decide on what he/she may think which next med would be best for you, but if Lexapro comes up as your doctor's best suggestion, it may be worth a try.
Edit - If anyone else is reading this, and you are on Celexa, and you are happy on Celexa, then please stay on Celexa. (Why? Because it's not worth trying a different pill, when the one that you are on is currently working.)
I know it isn’t likely in a crisis but otherwise I suggest thinking of yourself as a partner in your care. Your doctor shouldn’t be a monolith. They can for example offer more than one choice and help you decide by providing information such as common side effects and outcomes.
Agreed in a crisis (perhaps too strong a word). My biggest problem with traditional psychiatry is prescribe meds is all they do. Over and over again they have shown that combined with therapy works best. So why aren’t they helping to get them to a therapist? This is why I think stepping forward to a partnership is vital. TBH critics say they are trying to preserve their profession and salaries. I’m glad I can go to a PA instead.
A lot of patients and people don’t realize they are specialized in meds rather than holistically educated in all treatments. They don’t need to be therapist… just be prepared to get them there… even in a crisis…especially in a crisis. Often they don’t even coordinate with the pharmacist who is educated in how drugs interact. I have seen this go bad where the doctor wouldn’t listen to the pharmacist who, unfortunately was right. That is changing but could be better as a profession
You and I both know that is somebody has a breakdown, and given the choice of "pill lottery" or "unknown amount of time in talk therapy", most (like 9/10) will take the pill lottery.
Even though I agree that meds (doesn't "have to be RX") and talk therapy (AKA one of the many reasons why I'm here) are usually the best way to go.
It isn’t an either/or. In a hospital they are forced to talk to someone and come up with a support plan. It could be socialized as part of taking meds. It could be on the form you fill out every time and discussed at every visit…”who is your therapist and contact info “ just like “who is your regular doctor “ Of course people will decline. The point is to let them know it should be part of the plan. Based on posts here I don’t think it is widely known.
Hi AnxiousSilver, I've got an assessment with a Psych in a few weeks, just an assessment, not therapy yet - waiting list is long. Thanks for your response re:Lexapro/Citalopram. It's so awful to have to go through this.
Why? Because I went through it too, but this is why this site and this community is here. (to help each other out)
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Since your psych appt isn't for a few weeks, is there any chance that you could see your doc in the mean time, and see if he or she has any other med suggestions for you in the mean time?
I'm guessing that since your psych visit hasn't happened yet, that it was probably your doc that gave you the Citalopram.
When I took that I had to start with half the amount I was prescribed. When I ended it took twice the time my doctor thought it should. It did what it should otherwise.
Not sure if you have this available for you but recently I got genesight testing done to see what antidepressants would work for me and such the one I had major side effects to was in the red and the other ones I had moderate side effects too were in the orange and ones I never heard of or even tried were in the green. Maybe you could look into genesight testing. I know I don’t do well with medicine
As Anxious Silver said - we are all different and in my experience there is never a quick fix However , regarding citalopram- I too experienced awful nausea and resorted to adopting an intermittent fasting regime
This did help me because I didn’t consume food until at least 1 pm
Anyway, my nausea subsided after about a month and my dry mouth too
I am gradually experiencing small yet significant gains being on this drug - though I’m sure I still have a long way to go before I’m brave enough to face all my old fears
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