taking citalopram 40mg

[dillydally1]

hi, my fatigue seems to be going worse. my energy levels are very poor. I know lots of you suffer fatigue, I was just wondering I f you have ever been given medication by your gp that improves this. I sometimes wonder if a different antidepressant would help me. any ideas or info would be of great help. x

[Hidden]

Hi dillydally1,

It's murder isn't It, finding the right meds that suits you can be challenging.

I have been taking Fluoxetine (prozac) tablets for 9 weeks now and there is a difference. I still have periods of tiredness but my mood has certainly lifted a lot I can't take amitriptiline, I am too sensitive to It (zombified) ha ha

Pls go back to your GP and have a chat with them, hopefully they can prescribe another. It appears we build up a resistance to medicaton when taking it over a period of time and sometimes It is more benifical to try another.

Let us know how you get on.

Sending you lots of love and soft hugs xxxx

Take care,

Elizabeth xxxxx

[dillydally1 in reply to Hidden]

ah thank you, yes your right I need to go back to gp and have a discussion with them. soft hugs sent back to you. will let you know how I go on x

[rosewine]

Hallo

The last antidepressant I tried was actually Citalopram and I had to come off it because of the side effects even though i was on the lowest dose. My fatigue was so bad that it was mind over matter just to get out of the chair I felt I had heavy weights on me and I had the most strange headache that each day got worse. I decided that I would rather have the insomnia and pain than feel like that as each day was like walking through treacle. i also tried Mirtazapine as unfortunately I started to have very strange pressing sensations in my upper chest a bit like I would imagine angina to be and funny sensations in my arms and shoulders which increasingly got worse. It is such a shame as I did start to feel a bit more of a lift in mood and the pain in my lower back seemed to be easing abit

Because we are trying to move to a bungalow and have to put this house up for sale I have decided for the time being not to try another one although my doctor did offer but he thought it was not the right time. Everyone is different unfortunately and what suits one does not suit another. I seem to be very sensitive to certain drugs and had the same problem with statins with only at the fourth attempt finding something that did not make me feel terrible and even then i ahve had to stick to the lowest dose or I have so much muscle ache I have difficulty walking.

From many of the posts i have read it can be a trial and error. I don;t know what your diet is like and I know it is difficult to prepare food. I now have ready meals but I try to pick the healthier options and supplement it with pieces of fruit to try and make my diet more healthy and just take one multi vitamin to replace any that I am not naturally getting.

Can you exercise at all as just managing easy exercises each day even though very difficult at first can help mobility and slowly build up your muscles again.

I don;t know if any of this has helped and I do hope that you find something that suits you. I am sure others will come on and give you some helpful tips. Let us know how you get on.x

[dillydally1 in reply to rosewine]

this has helped me a lot. I think I need a change in citalopram. my hubby had a total knee replacement then a blood clot behind same knee about 18 days ago. I have really had to push myself, it has been much harder than I thought. we also have two dogs so these needed walking. I have had some good help from a friend. I'm going more fatigue each day now. so I'm feeling a bit down about it. good luck with your move x

[secondhandrose2]

You might even try a simple tonic like Metatone which always gives me energy - must buy some! x

[dillydally1]

will try that, is that the tonic that tastes yukky. mind you they say if it tastes bad it does you good. thanks x

[secondhandrose2 in reply to dillydally1]

It is bitter but I don't mind the taste of it

[BlueMermaid3]

Hi there

You don't say whether you have just started this medication?

I wonder if you have had a look at the side effects leaflet to see if fatigue is on there?

I tried a new antidepressant recently and had the exact same effect as you. I thought my fatigue was already bad enough, but oh boy did those tablets make me feel bad. I was in such a state my daughter begged me to stop taking them.

However, I am very similar to 'rosewine' above, and struggle immensely with dreadful side effects to antidepressants and especially antibiotics.

I would mention to your GP how bad your side effects were, so that when they start you on a new medication they can make sure that you are prescribed a very low dose to start with, which can then be increased.

All the best

Hugs

Lu xx

[dillydally1 in reply to BlueMermaid3]

hi,

I have taken citalopram 20mg for years, started on 40mg about 4 months ago because I got really down with pain and fatigue. I try to accept that I am not what I used to be, but it's so hard.

hugs to you x

[BlueMermaid3 in reply to dillydally1]

You are so right. Hard barely covers it. I still can't accept that I'm am unable to do what I used to be able to do.

I hope your GP is supportive and will talk through some options with you.

Some GP's will allow a short period of sleeping tablets. Also, I have found that Nytol is pretty good, which coming from an insomniac is not bad. I only take it when I'm desperate.

How is your hubby doing? It must be so difficult for you looking after him as well as coping with this rotten condition.

Lots of gentle hugs to you both xx

[dillydally1 in reply to BlueMermaid3]

he is doing really well now, held back a bit with the clot in his leg, but seems to be making steady progress. thank you for asking x

[BlueMermaid3 in reply to dillydally1]

Sorry. Meant to say. You don't feel better even when you do sleep because the majority of people with Fibro do not go into Stage 4 sleep which does not begin to start until you've been sleeping for 4 hours. This is when regenerative sleep kicks in and all of our cells start to renew themselves and the general healing process begins that most 'normal' people get overnight and awake refreshed.

That probably doesn't help much, but I have found knowing that (my Rheumatologist explained it to me) has kind of helped me to understand why I feel like I do.

Sending good vibes your way. Lu xx

[dillydally1 in reply to BlueMermaid3]

it does make you feel better knowing though x

[Hidden]

Hi DillyDally

I take 20 mg citalopram to lift my mood & have taken this for around 4 years. I started taking amitriptyline last summer to help regulate my sleep (started off on 5 mgs and have increased very slowly to 40 mg). I can't tell you how much this has helped me! Before taking amitriptyline, I was sleeping every afternoon for at least two hours and felt exhausted all the time. I have been known to crawl up the stairs on my hands and knees before - it was awful. I haven't needed to nap for 8 months now, and have so much more energy. I'm actually going back to teaching full time in September. :-))))

Hope that helps.

Xx

[dillydally1 in reply to Hidden]

I'm really pleased for you, that is great news. I took 20mg citalopram for years then upped to 40mg about 4 months ago because I got down because of pain and fatigue. I tried amitriptyline but it gave me palpitations so had to stop it. it is really good though to hear your positive news x

[Keeleybee in reply to Hidden]

Hi franzy I love amitriptyline as well gives me half a normal life and can actually sleep! Makes me want sugar really bad! Making me have wobbly bits lol x

[cas1975]

As if having fibro isn't enough to bring on fatigue..... i also have a sleep disorder that makes me want to sleep all the time!! Double whammy!! I am on two high power medications..... Adderall in the morning and a booster of Amphetamine 2x daily. .... and even with this I can struggle on some days....... or have a very long wake up time!!

I know that there are/can be big draw backs to these..... but I am going for quality of life and being dog tired all the time is horrible!!!!! I understand how sleep deprivation is a very effect military tool!!!!

[dillydally1 in reply to cas1975]

thanks, what is Adderall, if only I could sleep, however on the nights I get a few hours I feel no better in the morning. I try not to sleep in the day x

[Fibropuppi]

cas1975, were you given Aderall and amphetamine for Fibro or your sleep disorder? Just wondering because I approached my GP for both of these medications after a fibro-friend in America told me that she has been getting these for fatigue, but unfortunately my GP said that they were not on the list of prescriptions which were allowed for Fibro. My fatigue was & still is predominately horrendous and I wonder if GPs in Scotland can prescribe off-list meds because I really think that these would make some improvement in my quality of life 😏

[cas1975 in reply to Fibropuppi]

There seems to be a difference in how medications are chosen the the UK and USA . We do not have a 'set list' of meds that are chosen from for various conditions..... Our drs. have 'the list' and choose depending on symptoms/ needs...... NOT according to diagnosis ...... This is how I am interpreting ..... but I have no idea. Anyway.... I was given Aderall and amphetamine for both...... my fatigue from fibro and also for my sleep disorder.

[Fibropuppi in reply to cas1975]

Thanks cas1975. I'm going to see my GP next week.

[TheAuthor]

I am so genuinely sorry to read this and I sincerely hope that you can find the answers that you so desperately desire and deserve. There is a drug specifically given to Parkinsons and MS sufferers as an anti-fatigue medication that you could discuss with your GP if you have a sympathetic one? It is called ''Amantidine'' and my wife takes this for her fatigue with MS.

I want to genuinely wish you all the best of luck.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

[dillydally1 in reply to TheAuthor]

thanks ken. x

[Fibropuppi in reply to TheAuthor]

Thanks Ken, I will mention this medication to my GP .