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Citalopram Side Effects - How long?
After about 6 months of me refusing to take Citalopram, my doctor has prescribed it and I took my first one on Saturday night [she said to take it at night].. I've taken one each night at the same time and the side effects seem to be getting worse. Each night I've felt sick without actually FEELING sick [makes sense to me], and now today its got to the point where I actually want to be sick, like Im gagging but nothings coming out and I'm having to like hold my hand over my mouth right now incase I throw up all over my keyboard. I haven't slept since I started taking them because of the sick feeling. Last night I had diarrohea [not sure how thats spelt], which was annoying. I haven't been to uni since I started taking them because I haven't felt well enough. Haven't eaten much - I get hungry but don't want to eat. But now these side effects are really getting to me.
Questions:
Could the lack of eating be part of the reason why I feel so sick?
Is it really worth going through these side effects?
Anyone who's taken them, how long did it take for side effects to go away? [ I know it says 'a few days', but I'd prefer something a bit specific. ]
Should I go back to my doctor if Im feeling like this for too long?
Would really appreciate some advice please because at the moment, I refuse to take another one tonight.
Questions:
Could the lack of eating be part of the reason why I feel so sick?
Is it really worth going through these side effects?
Anyone who's taken them, how long did it take for side effects to go away? [ I know it says 'a few days', but I'd prefer something a bit specific. ]
Should I go back to my doctor if Im feeling like this for too long?
Would really appreciate some advice please because at the moment, I refuse to take another one tonight.
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If you're not eating then the citalopram will be working on an empty stomach, and you dont want that because that could be whats making you feel sick. To be honest I decided the side effects were too much for me, but as well as sickness I got very suicidal, so I thought that I needed a different medication than that. The sickness went away in about 5 to 6 days, ezpecially when I took the tablets after eating. I'd say if you still are getting the side effects badly after 8 or 9 days then it may be worth going back to the doctor.
Take your other one tonight with a piece of toast or something, don't take on an empty stomach, and drink plenty of water!
Take your other one tonight with a piece of toast or something, don't take on an empty stomach, and drink plenty of water!
midge18
If you're not eating then the citalopram will be working on an empty stomach, and you dont want that because that could be whats making you feel sick. To be honest I decided the side effects were too much for me, but as well as sickness I got very suicidal, so I thought that I needed a different medication than that. The sickness went away in about 5 to 6 days, ezpecially when I took the tablets after eating. I'd say if you still are getting the side effects badly after 8 or 9 days then it may be worth going back to the doctor.
Take your other one tonight with a piece of toast or something, don't take on an empty stomach, and drink plenty of water!
Take your other one tonight with a piece of toast or something, don't take on an empty stomach, and drink plenty of water!
Thanks for the advice.
I'm also wondering, is it better to take at night or morning, especially during the early days when side effects are there? The reason my doctor told me to take it at night is because I have always had sleeping problems as well. But I haven't slept since I started taking them. This should get better when the side effects go away?
So you're on one a day? I think that another side effect of citalopram is drowsiness, which is prob why you were told to take it at night. But to be honest, if its upsetting your stomach then you'd be better taking it in the morning and then the sickness might wear off during the day. Because you're definately not gonna sleep when you feel sick.
Side effects don't tend to last that long, I think for me the sick feeling went away within 2 weeks on citalopram. However, if it's really effecting you that much just ask to change, there's nothing wrong with not being able to wait out the side effects - every medication affects different people in different ways. I know that for me taking prozac was the worst 4 days of my life I couldn't handle that at all whereas everything else I've taken the effects have been tolerable.
Side effects will dissipate and will continue for a while if you come off it without advice from your Doctor - so stick with it and within a few days it'll be alright. Try to take it with something bland to eat and with water, not any carbonated drinks.
If it gets difficult, see your Doctor and have a toxicology blood test to see if there is too much in your system.
I doubt there's anything wrong or that you are allergic, see through the side effects and you'll be alright
If it gets difficult, see your Doctor and have a toxicology blood test to see if there is too much in your system.
I doubt there's anything wrong or that you are allergic, see through the side effects and you'll be alright
midge18
So you're on one a day? I think that another side effect of citalopram is drowsiness, which is prob why you were told to take it at night. But to be honest, if its upsetting your stomach then you'd be better taking it in the morning and then the sickness might wear off during the day. Because you're definitely not gonna sleep when you feel sick.
Yeah one a day. 10mg.
I hope this is as bad as it gets. I'm dreading taking another one tonight.
I'm still not able to be sick which is annoying me. I just wish the sick feeling would go away.
Why did you stop taking them?
Only 10mg? You probably shouldn't be getting such bad side effects. What are you on it for?
Can you eat something now?
Can you eat something now?
Antimatter
Only 10mg? You probably shouldn't be getting such bad side effects. What are you on it for?
Can you eat something now?
Can you eat something now?
Depression / Anxiety.
I'm eating little things.. like I've had two scotch pancake things which was ok, and I managed about 1/4 cup-a-soup before I started to feel sick again. I'm trying to drink as much water as I can. But I just have no appetite, so the foods I like don't seem very appealing atm.
I was put on 20mg about a month ago. The first week was a complete nightmare. Like you, I was very nauseous and the idea of food was repulsive to me. Ended up losing a fair bit of weight, only just started to put it back on.
My side effects have lessened a bit now so my advice would be to stick it out if you can and hopefully you'll pick up
My side effects have lessened a bit now so my advice would be to stick it out if you can and hopefully you'll pick up
When I was on citalopram, for the first two weeks after starting on 20mg and later increasing it to 40mg I would be throwing up at 5am every day. Not nice, but once that stopped I didn't get anymore side effects from it.
Antimatter
Only 10mg? You probably shouldn't be getting such bad side effects. What are you on it for?
Can you eat something now?
Can you eat something now?
Not true, some people experience severe side effects on the lowest dose.
The effects should dissipate within a couple of weeks.
HearTheThunder
Not true, some people experience severe side effects on the lowest dose.
The effects should dissipate within a couple of weeks.
The effects should dissipate within a couple of weeks.
WEEKS??
I'm not normally the type of person who throws up or feels sick so thats probably why this is such a big deal to me. I really wanna carry on taking and get out on the other side but if I'm feeling bad right now, taking one tonight will make it worse and I didnt think it could get worse...
Anonymous
WEEKS??
I'm not normally the type of person who throws up or feels sick so thats probably why this is such a big deal to me. I really wanna carry on taking and get out on the other side but if I'm feeling bad right now, taking one tonight will make it worse and I didnt think it could get worse...
I'm not normally the type of person who throws up or feels sick so thats probably why this is such a big deal to me. I really wanna carry on taking and get out on the other side but if I'm feeling bad right now, taking one tonight will make it worse and I didnt think it could get worse...
Well you're gonna have to decide whether it's better to put up with feeling ill for a couple of weeks or staying depressed. I'm sure you've had the flu before and got through that.
HearTheThunder
Well you're gonna have to decide whether it's better to put up with feeling ill for a couple of weeks or staying depressed. I'm sure you've had the flu before and got through that.
Never had the flu I dont think, but had food poisoning which is the only thing I can liken this situation to. I hate having to miss uni also.
Are you sure you don't have a bug?
I never experienced anything even close to what you are, even on 60mg
I never experienced anything even close to what you are, even on 60mg
Magnanimity
Are you sure you don't have a bug?
I never experienced anything even close to what you are, even on 60mg
I never experienced anything even close to what you are, even on 60mg
Well yeah, some people get no side effects. I don't get any, and I'm on 5 medications.
Hey,
Felt I had to reply as I had a similar experience a few weeks ago - please DON'T JUST STOP TAKING THEM!
I took one 20mg tablet and then stopped taking them because I felt so ill, I then became worse and worse and was ill for a week because of the withdrawal symptoms.
According to many people the side effects will reduce after a couple of weeks so bear with it if you can. If you really want to come off them I was told (afterwards!) that you are supposed to reduce the daily intake gradually ie 20mg - down to 15mg for 2 weeks, then down to 10mg etc.
To be honest I would seek medical advice if you want to stop taking them but some people claim they're great after the initial side effects are over.
Good Luck, hope you feel better soon
Felt I had to reply as I had a similar experience a few weeks ago - please DON'T JUST STOP TAKING THEM!
I took one 20mg tablet and then stopped taking them because I felt so ill, I then became worse and worse and was ill for a week because of the withdrawal symptoms.
According to many people the side effects will reduce after a couple of weeks so bear with it if you can. If you really want to come off them I was told (afterwards!) that you are supposed to reduce the daily intake gradually ie 20mg - down to 15mg for 2 weeks, then down to 10mg etc.
To be honest I would seek medical advice if you want to stop taking them but some people claim they're great after the initial side effects are over.
Good Luck, hope you feel better soon
I'm going to see how I feel on Friday and if I still feel as bad as I do now then I'll think about seeing the doctor again. But I'm going to try remain positive until then.
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