HWN Suggests

My experience of Citalopram (SSRI)

I have just completed my first two weeks on Citalopram (20mg), and the word ‘adventure’ definitely springs to mind. Initially, I was pretty worried and hesitant to take the tablet, having done my research online and after looking at the accompanying safety leaflet. The number of icky side effects that are listed under “very common” (more than 1 in 10) or “common” (more than 1 in 100) are very off-putting, but it is important to know that these are in line with most SSRIs. Everyone will react differently to different medications in the SSRI class (as it alters the serotonin levels in your brain), but generally, Citalopram is held to be one of the more ‘stable’ options available, and the one…

read full article

Featured

 Citalopram survival guide

This guide was started in 2009. I have learned a great deal since. I am currently working on a heavily revised self-help guide which will be published as an Amazon Kindle book at some point in 2015. This Guide is written in an informal and often bizarrely rambling style designed to be light-hearted and entertaining. There are very few pieces of literature out there that consider the feelings of a person suffering from anxious illness. This is one of those few. You will not find anything in this Guide that will shock you, frighten you, dissuade you or otherwise give you cause for concern. Instead, you will find hope, a quirky sense of fun and constant reassurance mixed with facts and research.

 I stopped taking Citalopram: what did it feel like?

Medication didn’t fix my anxiety and depression; it was a crutch in a moment of crisis, prescribed without an exit strategy.

Articles of Interest

Celexa Begins Working Faster Than Previously Thought

In a study of the SSRI Celexa, 26 participants were given either a single dose of the drug or a dose of placebo, a harmless sugar pill. None of the participants had depression, a fact which allowed researchers to study specific physiologic responses without interference. Three hours later, participants were shown images of frightened faces while brain activity in their amygdala was measured via magnetic resonance imaging. Psychiatrists have theorized that hyperactivity in the amygdala is a measurable effect of depression that places the individual in a constant state of heightened anxiety. In the single-dose Celexa study, participants given medication showed a muted response in their amygdala when viewing frightened or anxious faces. Researchers observed a spike in amygdala activity in those who received placebo. These findings demonstrate that potentially therapeutic effects begin as quickly as a few hours after the first dose of Celexa, and by extension any SSRI. Interestingly, none of the participants reported either a change in mood or unusual side effects.

Celexa vs Zoloft: What’s the Difference?

Like all drugs, there are significant differences between Celexa and Zoloft — from how they work, to what they treat, to how much you take. That’s why it’s so critical to learn as much as possible about these drugs before you decide to take either.

Considerations on Safety Concerns About Citalopram Prescribing

Citalopram (Celexa, Forest Laboratories, New York, NY) is one of the most widely prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in our practice. It has had good tolerability and low discontinuation rates in practice and in clinical trials. The recent US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommendation to not use doses higher than 40 mg/d because of potential QTc prolongation has been causing various difficulties

I took my first antidepressant this week. The effects were frightening

On Tuesday I joined the throng, and popped my first Citalopram. It was quite a thing – not least because, like an idiot, I dropped my pill about 90 minutes before curtain up for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of The Tempest at the Barbican. That’s right. This isn’t just mental illness: this is metropolitan-elite mental illness. It was a pretty overwhelming theatrical experience.

Mental Health Awareness Week: My Experience With Citalopram

I’ve been taking citalopram in some measure or another for about eighteen months now, and it has been life-changing. It feels like demisting the windows of your car, or wiping away the dust from your favourite book. I honestly feel like me again, and I haven’t been me since the age of twelve, so it’s incredible

My first week on Citalopram: what did it feel like?

About a year ago I realised all my other options were exhausted, so I turned to drugs.

Prescribing citalopram safely: an update

The maximum daily dose of citalopram has been reduced because evidence shows that higher doses increase the risk of QT prolongation and incidence of Torsades de Pointes (a type of ventricular tachycardia).1–3 It is also considered that there is no treatment benefit at doses higher than 40 mg per day

Taking citalopram to treat depression: Rachel's story

The citalopram doesn’t make me feel sedated; I just feel like myself. I know that I need to use this time to practise looking after myself and plan for what I will do if I feel myself getting depressed again. I keep track of my mood and days when I am more anxious I know I need to give myself time to be calm and not get over-tired. I have many more ways to manage my mental health that I couldn’t even think about when I was really ill.

What Are the Side Effects of Citalopram Abuse: What Are The Dangers?

While antidepressant drugs like citalopram are effective for many people, they also have certain side effects. One of the most serious side effects is an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This occurs more frequently in children, adolescents, and young adults.

Resources

6 Citalopram Interactions to Watch Out for

Citalopram is known to prolong (lengthen) the QT interval. When combined with other medications that have this effect, it can be dangerous. Symptoms of a long QT interval include dizziness, sudden fainting, and even a heart attack or death in severe cases.

6 Months On Citalopram: Why Anxiety Medication Was The Best Decision For Me

I finally started Citalopram – a common SSRI used for depression and anxiety disorders. I finally caved. And in a way, it felt freeing to finally admit and accept that I did need extra help, despite for so long convincing myself and everyone around me that I was “better”. I wasn’t. And anxiety medication taught me that more than anything.

NAMI

Citalopram is an antidepressant medication that works in the brain. It is approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD).

StatPearls

Citalopram hydrobromide is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. The primary FDA-approved clinical use for citalopram hydrobromide is for treating depression in adults. Off-label uses include alcohol use disorder, coronary arteriosclerosis, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, postmenopausal flushing, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.