Hi all, does anyone take citalopram for anxiety.?

[Kar4]

Been to drs for ibs/anxiety and have been given citalopram but on leaflet it's says they are for major depression, which I don't have. Any advice would be appreciated, k,

[lynnie55]

Hi same only I'm on amitriptyline I didn't like it at first but it has helped my Ibs not end I'm been on it for six weeks only 10mg occasionally get ibsd not like before. Take it and give it a go what strength u on I am a dispenser in a pharmacy so come across it a lot x

[Kar4 in reply to lynnie55]

Hi, thank you. I've been prescribed 20mg but doctor said I could break tablet in half so will start at 10mg to see how it goes.

[ToMMo555]

Hi I have previously taken Citalopram but I am now taking Amitryptaline. I stopped taking Citalopram as a main side effect is Loose stools. Amitryptaline has a side effect of stiffening the stools so this has helped me a great deal with my IBS. I was slightly depressed due to worrying that I might not find a loo if I needed one quickly but I am more or less living a normal life now.

[Kar4 in reply to ToMMo555]

Hi, I certainly don't want any side effects of loose stools! Yes, I worry always about being near a toilet. How many mg of amitriplyane do you take, I took 25mg but it didn't help with ibs/anxiety.

[Faithlet81]

I've taken it for periods of extreme stress and anxiety. It really helped me. I would describe it first and foremost as an anti-anxiety medication.

[sapiens42]

I take Citilopram. My understanding was that it was to keep one stable after coming out of a bout of depression. I I miss my daily dose I notice the difference. Of my dozen of medications it is the one I would miss the most

[winniep1]

I have been prescribed this in the past for IBS/anxiety. It helped my anxiety levels but didn't make much of a difference to the IBS. I think citalopram is in a group of medicines called SSRI's which are not the same as medication for severe depression. You can take a mild dose and it may help but obviously different people react to medication in a different way. I found that the citalopram made me extremely tired so now I take sertraline which has reduced the anxiety. These medicines I have been told are not addictive so it may be worth taking for a while just to see how you get on.

[Kar4 in reply to winniep1]

Hi, thank you. I'm hoping if it helps anxiety levels it will reduce the ibs-d. But I'm told a side effect of this drug is loose stools, which is of course what I am trying to stop! I'm also told anxiety could be due to my age and part of the perimenopause. Karen.

[winniep1 in reply to Kar4]

Hi. Like you my symptoms of anxiety were perimenopausal. I also have IBS-D which is obviously worse at times of great anxiety. I didn't find that the citalopram made my IBS symptoms worse at all but I think when you feel less anxious you tend to cope with situations better. I got to the stage that I was worrying where I was going in case there was no toilet available or going out for long walks etc. This has improved considerably since I have been on the SSRI's as I am much calmer. I think if anything can help you cope with difficult situations you should try it. After all it's all about quality of life. Good luck I hope it helps you!

[Kar4 in reply to winniep1]

Yes I agree my ibs is worse at times of great anxiety, but don't understand why this happens when I'm doing things like clothes shopping, which I love!, no reason to be anxious about that. Although I do worry like you, where the nearest toilet is, and long car journeys are really difficult for me. Karen.

[winniep1 in reply to Kar4]

I was told by my GP years ago that adrenaline can be a trigger for IBS. So whether you are doing something you worry about or something you enjoy doing eg going out, shopping etc your body still produces adrenaline. I think the fact that we think about where the toilet will be before we go out has already set the cycle in motion (excuse the pun!) I have also realised more recently that if I get hot or cold particularly in shops that are stuffy or you're walking past the freezer section and cool down quickly this can trigger diarrhoea. My body is not good at regulating body temperature at the moment and this is definitely a perimenopausal thing. It's very difficult to pinpoint one thing or another as a trigger for IBS. It is often cumulative factors. I find if I cut out caffeine, dairy, wheat and fizzy drinks my IBS is definitely better although I still have times when I have no idea why my symptoms have been set off which is very frustrating. If I'm doing something that I know will take me out of my comfort zone I just take some Imodium and then don't worry about it.

[Hidden]

Lactose is in citolapram and I found that my diarrhoea symptoms are caused by dairy intolerance. Within 2 weeks of being completely dairy free my symptoms were under control and 1 year on I am very careful with my diet.

Have you considered trying a dairy free diet ?

[Kar4 in reply to Hidden]

Hi , yes many years ago tried a diary and wheat free diet, but made no difference. Glad your symptoms are under control.

[Hidden]

Did you do both eliminations at the same time?

I think it's best to do one at a time - maybe you could try again it might do some good - it can't do any harm.

[Kar4 in reply to Hidden]

Hi, no I did them at different times.

[Hidden in reply to Kar4]

OK

I'm using reflexology as another anxiety 'killer' - have you tried it

[Kar4 in reply to Hidden]

No I haven't, I've tried accupuncture

[Hidden in reply to Kar4]

Sorry - I don't seem to be able to help

[Kar4 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you anyway, I'm glad I've joined this it's nice to no u r not the only one with it, I've also tried chinese herbs too but that didn't help either! Could be perimenopause .

[whiteladder42]

nhs.uk/medicine-guides/page...

Please please please read up on Citalopram (the above link is just one of many) that state quite clearly increased depressive and suicidal thoughts can happen as a side effect. I personally have lost two close friends to suicide within months of them starting this drug and would never take it myself nor want anyone I cared about to take it. There are other drugs out there if that is what is needed for you. I am almost in tears just writing about this I feel so strongly about it and I would not want anyone to lose a loved one because of this.

[Idalmis]

Hi,

Was prescribed Cytalopram to improve my IBS C. Doctor seemed to think there was a link between the brain and the colon. I wasn't depressed at all and it made no difference to me so I stopped taking it.

[Kar4]

Ok, thank you for that. I'm taking it for ibs-d which is making me anxious when I'm out particularly if I'm not near a toilet. I have only just started it last night so too early to say if it works for me yet. I'm only on 10mg. How long did u take it for. ? And did u have any side effects?