Citalopram and my loss of Motivation.

[Dahl]

I've been taking 20mg of Citalopram daily for 7 weeks now and the one constant side effect is I really don't want to do anything anymore. I'm not depressed and I'm not exhausted I've simply lost the will power to get off my backside and do things. It doesn't matter if it's small stuff like brushing my teeth or eating something, or if it's bigger stuff like getting showered and dressed and going out for an appointment, the truth is I'm just content to carry on sitting down and do nothing. The really strange thing is that once I've actually managed to get up and start I'm great and I can do everything better than I was before. I can move from one task to the next without thinking about a thousand things all at once. But it's constantly having to nudge myself into action and overcoming my own inertia that's frustrating me. I was just wondering if anyone else out there has experienced the same effects on Citalopram.

[Wyominganxiety]

I feel the same way I tell myself I really need to get up I just don't have the motivation I'm on week 7 also but on 40 mg . I still feel really exhausted though like maybe I should get a shot of b12 in my butt!!

[Dahl in reply to Wyominganxiety]

Thanks for your reply. I'm pretty much levelled out on 20mg and I don't feel I need to go to 40mg, my anxiety symptoms are under control now but as we both agree it's having lost the motivation to want to do things. I'll be 55 years old in 2 weeks and I've set out an exercise plan of using my rowing machine for 30 minutes each day for a fortnight. I'm still in good shape for my age, around 165lbs and still have a full head of blonde hair (must be a Norwegian thing) but I'm determined to push myself in a healthy way to overcome this lack of interest. Everything is going well at last apart from this puzzling loss of momentum.

[Wyominganxiety in reply to Dahl]

I think Its the meds I push myself to get up and clean house do laundry and try to get outside and do something atleast for a little bit everyday

[trevor1954]

I’m on 40mg daily. Not sure at moment about it. Was thinking of seeing doctor to try something else. Am under treatment at moment for both anxiety and depression.

[Dahl in reply to trevor1954]

Thanks for your reply and sorry to learn you're suffering from depression as well. What's puzzling me at the moment is I know how I feel has nothing to do with depression or fatigue. I'm simply content to stay in my armchair and let the world go round. Everything I do requires a lot of nudging myself into action and I'm wondering if this is how Citalopram is affecting me. I'm gonna try a little good old fashioned will power for the next 2 weeks and see what happens.

[trevor1954 in reply to Dahl]

That sounds exactly like me. Just can’t be bothered to get up and get things done. Then wife starts arguing with m and I get more upset.

[Wyominganxiety in reply to trevor1954]

How long have you been on 40 mg?

[Dahl in reply to Wyominganxiety]

I'm still keeping the dosage to 20mg and I'm happy with this. I don't feel any need to increase to 40mg. My worst anxiety symptoms emerge when I have to go out in the world and I'm always over vigilant about this but at the moment I'm coping and I'm slowly improving when I'm outside.

[Wyominganxiety in reply to Dahl]

Yea I still have a really hard time going places I hope it gets better soon would love to be able to go out of town with my fiance and actually be calm and enjoy myself.

[trevor1954 in reply to Wyominganxiety]

Approximately 2 yrs. I was on 20. But wasn’t doing any god so I asked doctor if they thought increasing it would do any good.

[Wyominganxiety in reply to trevor1954]

I'm going on 4 weeks on the 40 mg I still have a hard time with my agoraphobia and panic attacks

[violetkathy]

I feel the same. I have had 12 weeks off work and I have to return tomorrow. I don’t know how I’ll manage to get up in the morning never mind work. I’ve tried taking it at different times but that doesn’ help.