Hi all,
I'm new here. I've had depression/anxiety issues since childhood. Sometimes I've felt on top of the world, sometimes I haven't been able to get out of bed for days. I believe there is a personality/biological reason for my depression, but that's not what I'm here to talk about.
After a really bad few months at the end of last year, I decided to go to my GP for medication. I took a low dose of Prozac several years ago, and while it did seem to work eventually, it made me feel a bit disconnected and hyper, so I gave it up after a few months. My depression was in no way cured. So this time I declined it and asked for "something else" and was offered Citalopram at 20mg per day. I started taking it that day. I've been taking it for 7 weeks now.
I had side effects: dry mouth, nausea and loss of appetite. My libido/ability was reduced. It made me feel more anxious! These lasted for several weeks and the depression did not seem to be getting any better. I had done my research, so I knew the score, but even so I considered stopping the Cit as it wasn't working - or so I thought.
I am so glad I kept taking it.
Some time between week 5 and 6 the side-effects declined and then disappeared completely (actually, I seem to yawn quite a lot for the first hour after taking it, even though I don't feel tired - but that's all). My mood has improved greatly. My anxiety has receded dramatically. My motivation has returned. My desire to lie in bed, hide from the world (and honestly, just die) has ended. I want to sleep less - between 7 and 8 hours a night. When I wake in the morning I feel rested and ready to go. I'm much more alert throughout the day and my concentration is much better. I'm looking forward to the future. At times I feel mildly euphoric, which is great.
Now, my mood can cycle a bit. So this could just be part of that cycle. But I don't think so. The change has been so dramatic that I have to say that the Citalopram is responsible.
At this time I can say that I do not feel depressed, or anxious.
My only worry now is - can this last? I'm not "anxious" about it (not obsessing), but I want this mental state to last. I always want to feel like this. I'm ready for some set-backs and one of the reasons I'm writing this is to remind me how good I felt right NOW and that it is possible to get back to this state again.
So - my message to you dear reader is this: sometimes the drugs do work. Citalopram may do for you what it is in the process of doing to me. I really hope it does. As described elsewhere on this site in PsychoPoet's post you need to give it several weeks to act. It may not be for you - different SSRIs seem to affect different people sometimes in very different ways. If it doesn't work for you (at any dosage) then there may be another SSRI out there that suits you much better.
Anti-depressants and SSRIs have had a bad press in the last few years, but from my own experience so far I am so very glad that I decided to take this drug. Gotta go to bed now - another day tomorrow - great!
Tiger
(not that Tiger, but hey, maybe he could use some Citalopram now too!)
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