Suicidal Thoughts Citalopram

About Suicidal Thoughts Citalopram

Questions and Answers

taking Citalopram and having suicidal thoughts? i'm taking citalopram and having thoughts like that but no, i'm not going to act upon anything. i'm just wondering what my doctor will do when i tell her this. will i get new medication? or have to stop taking meds all together?

Cephalopod replied: "Ironically, many antidepressants can cause you to think more about suicide. My guess is that he'll probably give you an anti-anxiety drug (like Xanax) to go along with it."

John replied: "Dear Mellisa I'm a 4th year medical student from Australia. Citalopram belong to a group of drugs call selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), it is used most commonly to treat depression, which is what I believe you have (suicidal thoughts are a sign of depression as well). You should definitely tell your doctor this, since it means the drug is not working for you. She will probably either increase your dosage or swap you to another drug. Another possbility is that you are prescribed Citalopram for something else aside from depression, in which case the suicidal thoughts are highly abnormal and you must ;et your doctor know, again she will probably change your medications. I suggest you give your doctor a phone call soon, she can give you better advice."

did celexa/citalopram help with ocd, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts? Just curious. and yes, staying on the internet and searching for answers and trying to justify things is crazy and probably will make me more nervous... it has been four months, and I have only been on medicine and regular therapy for three weeks. I am impatient. I don't think I am psychotic. I have weird dreams and sometimes I can actually remember them and talking t opeople and then I wake up and wonder if I was awake or asleep. I look at things and well, just have to change my way of thinking. Would love to chat with people on im who have had similar issues. did anyone ever have impulsive thinking, intrustive thoughts, intrusive(I guess you say), fears and what ifs that you might do something to someone or yourself or crazy stuff as a result of PTS or depression? connie i have never had a mental disorder before. i wish i was manic and elevated and having false beliefs and being delusional and able to go from one mood to the next. I wish somoene could diagnose me. I wish I had the money to go to a psychotherapist or psychologist. I live in a rural area and I don't have the money or transportation, so I am going to a behavior specialist provided by Mental Health and then I meet with their pscyhologist/psychiatrist in two weeks. I had some traumatic events to happen, might have had a seizure or stroke but no one can really say, or has said. I was in a mental hospital not once but twice and told them all of this and they just said it was a mental breakdown. It is scarey at times. I am not very patient. I am not going to look on the internet too much anymore. I can't. The more I read, the more I look and hear opinions I think oh my gosh... I don't want to be a statistic. I am in rural Georgia. Pray for me. I have decided, there are people walking around with a lot weirder thoughts and feelings than I have been having. And I am not doing myself any favors by worrying or thinking I am crazy or worrying. That makes it worse. And I just have to give the medicine time. I really have not been on anything for a long period of time. I had all kinds of weird thoughts and impulses before I started any medicines, I tried to blame it on a lot of things(hormones, thyroid, medicines), and you know, they may have made the condition(depression) worse, but I believe wholeheartedily, that when Rufus died, I went into some sort of anxiety/depressed state. Because even before I had the reaction to the honey/etc, and that heavy body feeling, the day before, I was extremely anxious and down and out, and couldnt concentrate. Classic signs of traumatic stress? And I have just been so obsessed... Oh well.

thethingzuneed replied: "citalopram is the ONLY thing that has ever helped me with my anxiety panic attacks. Its quite good."

Rook W. replied: "Lexapro (an equivalent) helped with anxiety and stabilized my mood up until the sixth or seventh day, at which point it made me start gaining weight uncontrollably, which destroyed my body image and made me utterly miserable. I went on and off of it several times and it was the same each time. However, everyone reacts differently to meds - even the same meds."

Mark D replied: "I felt really low and had some strange thoughts but citalopram pretty much stopped all that. It takes maybe six weeks to kick in, so just hang in there a bit longer. Any side-effects usually pass within a week (I didn't get any except my sense of taste & smell became less sensitive.) If you're really concerned then go back to your doctor or therapist."

connie y replied: "i do not know what kind of doctor you are seeing, but in my personal opinion, you need to see a psychiatrist. this is the person that can help you very quickly. otherwise, you are just a guinea pig until one day a medication actually does work. with all that you have going on, you are suffering from much more than mere depression or ocd or anxiety. you appear to me to have signs of one overall mental disorder that covers everything that you are experiencing. all the things that you say are components or side effects of a more major problem. i do not think that you are psychotic because i do not believe you would be looking for rational things to do to help yourself. psychotic people are not rational. however, i do feel that you are experiencing the first signs that you will become psychotic if you have to go through this process for 17 years, as i have. i have so many disorders- side effects, it is impossible to ever think my life would come back together. i have been on the right medication for a little over two years. i stay in therapy that helps me with everyday problems and helps me to understand my strengths, instead of my mental disorder. i have read for many months on my disorders so that i can understand what this process of being healthy is going to require from me. i now know to never stop my medications without my doctors help. i had a severe nervous breakdown. you do not want this to happen to you, so you really have to try very hard to be more patient. this takes time. this is your brain that is being altered and certain medications can cause you to kill yourself or someone else. this is no joke. i have been through it all. i am not a doctor, but you sound as if you aught to be on something called LAMICTAL. this is the best pill i ever took. i have bipolar-schizoaffective disorder. i had every thing that you mentioned plus....voices in my head telling me to kill me. telling me how useless i was. telling me i cant get better etc. terrible when your own self dont like you. all the irrational thinking. irrational behavior. wanting to just lay down and die. if you hear voices in addition to what you have said thus far, i would say you would seriously benefit from a medication called ABILIFY. this has been a lifesaver. remember, i tried various different medications for 17 years. i went to see a psychiatrist after my doctor diagnosed me with this overall mental illness and he was in agreeance completely. he told me that i have ocd, neurosis (anxiety disorder), pts, depression, personality disorder, mood disorder, and so on. all these things were merely symptoms of the overall diagnosis. i have been wonderfully normal (better than ever in my life) for over 2 years. my medications are...LAMICTAL it is for bipolar -- extremes of mood. euphoric or depressed. symptoms are (manic) elevated mood,grandiosity-inflated self esteem,irritability, anger,insomnia, anorexia,flights of ideas, racing thoughts,distractability,hyperactivity,doing pleasurable things, loud rapid speech, talkative,high energy, increased interest in sex, high rate of suicide, labile mood(unstable or readily changeable mood), delusions, hallucinations, depressed mood, low self-esteem. (depressed) withdrawal, passivity, insomnia, daytime sleepiness, anorexia, sluggish thinking, difficulty concentrating, distractability, inertia, diminished interest in activities, innapropriate or excessive guilt, decrease in speech, fatigue, decreased interest in sex, high rate of suicide, memory loss, abnormal thoughts about death, and weight loss. schizoaffective disorder is characterized by both affective(mood disorder) and schizophrenia(thought disorder) with substantial loss of occupational and social functioning. hybrid of two disorders. affective disorders cause people to be extremely depressed or elated, and schizophrenia is expressed as positive, negative, or disorganized thinking. disrupts perceptions, thinking, feelings, and behaviors. it causes distorions of reality, false beliefs, hallucinations, and changes in speech patterns, moods and behaviors. it disrupts the pesons ability to function, socialize, and work. this is what i can share with you about me and what i know of myself. celexa is just an antidepressant for major depressive disorder. investigational uses are panic disorder, social phobia, ocd in adolescents. this does not sound like a very useful drug unless you are only being treared for depression and i know that you are not merely depressed if everything you say is so. i would stop pissing around and get in to see a HEAD-BRAIN doctor. russian roulette is being played with your life. it is impossible for you to be merely depressed with all your symptoms! i seriously suggest you get a real serious healthcare provider as fast as you can. you have a long road ahead of you. at this rate, you wont make it. you need more than what is happening for you. i understand that your doctor may be trying to reduce the depression to see what other things come up or still remain, but you are far better off going straight to a doctor who only works with the brain. you cannot function without a brain and this is why people that have these things kill themselves. there own brain tells one to or your feelings tell you to. dont listen to one negative persons crap out there. i understand totally why you are searching so hard. you must be very lost, confused, and scared."

Are "suicidal thoughts" with no REAL know intention dangerous? Lately I've been experiencing these..."bad thoughts" (I call them). I imagine myself swallowing all my pills, drowning myself in the bathtub, cutting myself, or hanging myself from the stairs outside (worst thought yet). I'm not actually planning or intending to do any of these things, but....they keep popping up in my mind. They're like these annoying, morbid thoughts, and obviously, I'd like them to stop. Yes, I'm batteling depression/anxiety, etc. and I'm in counseling. We recently just upped my dose of Citalopram from 20-30mg. I haven't mentioned these thoughts, because I don't want my counselor to think I'm suicidal when....I'm not REALLY. Anybody else had these "bad thoughts" with no real intent????

Jack B replied: "Suicidal thoughts are always dangerous. Please tell your counselor about your "bad thoughts" whether you have intent or not. Remember Jesus loves you and we'll be praying for you. God bless and get well soon, Jack B."

kay b replied: "everyone has bad thoughts some more than others I think there is something going on in your life that in your conscious mind that is problay going to your subconscious making you think things like that review what your life has been throwing at you or maybe someone close to you. you might be surprised what is the true cause most of the time it something we can't control"

Ron H replied: "Sometimes people do have these thoughts or explore the idea. I have and I do not intend to kill myself. Try some positive meditation or get involved in other people's lives as a hobby to take your mind off of your self. No reason you should not talk about this with your counselor. I read that it was not threatening until you think about it more than 30 times a day."

one hot mamma replied: "those thoughts are always dangerous. you must tell your counselor. it may be as simple as a change in meds. i must repeat the first answerer....Jesus loves you. i hope you feel better soon."

Kris replied: "The Citalopram is for your depression, right? And it was just increased by half? The counselor already knows that you have depression and with depression OFTEN comes suicidal thoughts. You have to talk to him/her about your thoughts if you want to get them under control. Never, ever keep things from your counselor, if you do it will greatly reduce the effectiveness of your counseling. ""

yjdsgds replied: "Any suicidal thoughts, with or with out intent are dangerous. I'm pretty sure your counselor will understand if you explain you weren't really wanting to do it. You upped dosage of medicine, and that could be the cause of it."

elaeblue replied: "Have you told your counselor about these thoughts? If not I would if I were you. It has been shown that people on certain anti depressants will have more or more often have suicidal thoughts. As long as yours are in the imaginary world its not so bad but soon they could start to intrude on real life then its not good so tell the counselor-maybe you need an adjustment in the medication. Good luck.!"

Mary M replied: "i experience these also and i have no intent to actually do so. im not sure why it happens. i wonder if stress has something to do with it."

Susan m replied: "i feell the same sometimes i sometimes feel there is no longer to go on but have my 13 year old daughter to consider"

reemstar123181 replied: "well i used to have them when i was ten though they were much simpler. like i would get a disease and die or i would die in a fire somewhere. i guess it just depends on your age, and your feelings of course. if you're a teen, that's very natural, but if you're older than that, it might just be your feelings. and whenever you have these thoughts, just turn them down by thinking of nice happy thoughts. if you're telling the truth by saying that you are not suicidal, then maybe you can just ignore them until they go away. my "bad thoughts" lasted for about three or four months, maybe less. but it depends on how depressed you are too...."

CRAIG C replied: "You say that your not suicidal, and that might be the case but having continual thoughts about committing suicide is causing alarms to go off. Please confide in your counselor for he is a professional and can help you. I too suffer from depression and even thought about suicide, not really going to do it, but the thoughts were there never the less and that is not a healthy attitude. Good Luck, Talk to your Counselor."

scuba pants! replied: "Sure, thinking about suicide from time to time is actually normal. The problem here is that it sounds like you can't control these thoughts. If you can't control your thoughts, how are you going to control your actions? Or at least that's how it follows. Assure your psychologist that you are not going to act on these thoughts ever. You won't be thought of as suicidal. In fact, if your psych. asks you our right, "Are you suicidal?" and you answer, "Well, no. I think about it, but I'd never do it." It sounds a hell of a lot more truthful and trustworthy than, "No. Of course not. I wouldn't even think about it!" When I was seeing a psychiatrist and he asked me, I was suicidal, but gave him the first answer because I was suicidal, I didn't want help! His office was too close to the hospital for my liking and I wanted my 6 months worth of medications so I could go home and overdose, well actually that wasn't the plan until he just had to make sure I wasn't suicidal before giving me such a large quantity of medications. Haha, didn't work anyways. Tell your psychologist because these sorts of thoughts while normal are disturbing you, but she probably won't think you are suicidal unless you don't tell her how you are not going to act on it!"

boo76 replied: "I think a lot of people have had these thought especially when they are experiencing depression and anxiety, I would tell your therapist about them but make sure you tell him/her that you don't feel like you are going to act on them. There has to be more to your problems then what you are aware of that's why your mind is getting these thoughts. I have been in your position."

brokendownangel64 replied: "Any thoughts of suicide is dangerous, you may not think that you intend to do this but if you are down so far you may. Some medication will actually give patients suicidal thoughts and people have even killed themselves on certain medications for depression. Tell your councillor that you are having these feelings she will either do one of two things: 1. change the medications you are on based on your past history or 2. commit you for a period of time again based on your past history. Patient therapist confidentiality only applies when the therapist believe you have no intent on these actions but if she does she has the right to EPC you."

Simon C replied: "If you tell this to your counselor or psychiatrist, Chances are your dosage will be increased and you are gonna be a vegetable. Having these suicide thoughts regularly will possibly lead you to the intent of doing it. Go into something spiritual. Try meditation in lotus position. Learn breathing techniques to settle down your emotions and your mind. Try yoga if you can. Maybe just experiment it. There are websites on this."

Patricia replied: "There's usually a period in our lives when we have such thoughts. Most people I know have had them. Don't worry too much about it. However, I strongly advise you to spend a lot of time with people, avoid being alone (people who are alone most of the time tend to lose contact with reality). I also think that pills don't help depression disappear. Nor do doctors. I've never been depressed, but I have friends who are, and none of those things are helping them. When you are depressed, you need to find out why you feel like that. Then seek the support of your family and friends and try to help them as much as you can too. Soon you'll begin to love life and to believe in yourself like never before. And, what's more, people will admire you even more. So smile and don't worry too much about the present. Tomorrow will be a better day ;) P.S. I forgot to say an important thing. Most people tend to see themselves as the only ones who have no luck, when they are down. But in most cases grass is not greener on the other side. People smile but many are just trying to hide some inner pain. Everyone feels sad sometimes, everyone gets frustrated, everybody cries. You are never alone. That's why I think the best thing you can do to find happiness in your life is help others feel happy. Smile at them, make them feel important... You'll see how much brighter your world will become (just like mine has become). And all your bad thoughts will go away."

Carrie replied: "I've had thoughts like that before. The thoughts can lead to planning and other things. I would definately tell your counsellor because the thoughts could be a side effect of the medication or sign of another type of disorder. If you start planning or anything changes, go to the hospital."

desikawa replied: "These bad thoughts are called ruminations and are a sign of an obsessive disorder. You probably aren't suicidal, but the fear of losing control over your thoughts scares you. This is very different to people with suicidal tendencies, who don't see suicide and death as something to fear-rather a release. However, if the thoughts get you down too far, you may become suicidal. Sometimes the best thing is reassurance that your THOUGHTS DO NOT HARM YOU. They are thoughts, no matter how horrible. Please send me a private message if you want to hear more about my personal experience overcoming the visions/ruminations."

stephy.x replied: "yeah I've had bad thoughts like that and I became so close. Although they're not dangerous, they're disturbing and unhealthy. I think you should talk about them with you're counselor. Because you must be having these thoughts for a reason. Maybe it will help just to talk about them x"

Meng replied: "Whether they're dangerous in your case I don't know, but yes, I've had thoughts about suicide for years now and never gotten around to attempting it, so in my case they seem to be rather non-dangerous. :) Usually when I have thoughts about suicide they're something along the lines of "I suck so bad, I should just kill myself". Other times they're me visualizing for a split second about how I could use something to kill myself, such as when I'm cooking dinner I might visualize cutting myself with the knife. I don't like those thoughts but they don't scare me. I worry more when I actually seriously start thinking about the pros and cons of killing myself and what technique to use etc. Even in the latter case I'm not too worried I'll do it, but I do always let my husband know just in case. The latter are rather rare, whereas the former are quite common. Is there a pattern to when you think those thoughts? The ones where I think "Things will never get better I should just kill myself" usually occur around bedtime, and the solution is to somehow get myself into my bed... if I can do that I'll usually fall asleep pretty quickly and wake up fine the next morning. Also, saying "no" out loud when any such thoughts start sometimes helps to. Thinking about my wonderful husband doesn't always get rid of the thoughts but it pretty much makes it impossible for me to follow through. Recently I had a bad evening and I voluntarily made a promise to my husband that I wouldn't kill myself before the baby is born (in 10-14 weeks from now or so), and it's given me a bit of peace of mind. When I'm really suicidal I don't care about promises like that, but when they're just lame thoughts I can just tell the bad thoughts to shut up because I don't want to break my promise. I don't know what else... I'm pretty happy with my life overall, it's just when I feel guilty about not having done enough of my share of the housework or w/e that I get down on myself like that. That's another thing I sometimes do... tell myself it's silly to want to kill myself over not having done the laundry. Anyway, hope you get better soon. :)"

how true is it that prozac or any antidepressant can cause suicidal thoughts? I have read the good, the bad and the ugly about medicines, i.e. antidepressants. In a matter of a 5 weeks, the doctors have tried me on three different medicines--1 was depakote 1000 mg, and during 1 week of the depakote or was it 2, I was on lexapro 10 mg. I was on lexapro for 1 1/2 week after getting off the depakote, and the nstarted on Citalopram 20 mg because lexapro was too expensive. During that time, I felt worse, anxious, paranoid, couldn't sleep good, had very very very very vivid dreams, and before all the drugs, i had been feeling down and thinking suicidal thoughts and fears and all, and impulsive. The drugs helped a little, though the suicidal thoughts kept coming, and they are still there. So, the doctor sent me to a crisis stabilization unit, where they took me off the Citalopram. And, we skipped a day of meds, and then they started me on Prozac. I am a worrier, anxious and obsessive more than anything else. Can anyone be honest-is Prozac bad? I am scared enough. See, I need some answers. I keep getting, nos, duhs yeah, and whatevers. I heard it can make it better. yeah, you are right. i analyze too much...

xxxxxoxxxxx replied: "Yes it is bad since it can lead to suicidal thoughts...... duh."

Samelife761 replied: "I was on it and Im still allive what happens is the person is so depressed then they get more energy from the medicine so they have more energy to commit suicide"

scott_in_ri replied: "There are a lot of anti-depressants that can lead to suicidal tendencies. It takes time before the doctors put you on the ones that will work. I've been on Depakote (mania) and Lamotrigine (depression) for Bipolar I, Diazepam for anxiety and insomnia as well as Hydroxyzine for sleep. It took quite some time before my doctor found that this combination of drugs worked. I must have been on a dozen different medications before I finally became stable. Every time I had an odd reaction, like depression for example, I let my doctor know right away. If you start experiencing suicidal thoughts when they put you on a new medication let them know immediately! If you do a search on the side effects on the medications you take you will find that many 'may' cause depression. Drugs act different from person to person."

Máire Siobhán replied: ""Antidepressants" is a very broad category of drugs. If you have learned anything from what you've read you must know that. I can't tell if that's the case from what you've written, though, or from your questions. It is true that there has been an ASSOCIATION in SOME PEOPLE with suicidal thoughts and the use of fluoxetine, which is the chemical name for the SSRI Prozac. That doesn't mean "Prozac is bad". It means that it doesn't work for some people (maybe you, maybe not you), but aren't you getting sufficient care and supervision and attention for you to be able to leave this question in the hands of your medical professional team? It would make more sense to me for you to worry less about "if Prozac is bad" and more about why you think in such broad BLACK AND WHITE terms that would make you ask a question like this, again, given the intense level of care and oversight you're getting for your situation. Black and white thinking lends itself to worry, anxiety, and obsession. I would think it has a strong relationship to the kind of thinking that engenders suicidal thoughts. I say this with some insight in having seen my own father struggle with black and white (all or nothing, life is perfect! life is hell!) kind of thinking, and end his life. I would encourage you to work on the thought processes underneath your condition and leave the puzzle about the meds to your medical team. Be sure and be open with them about how you're doing. With best regards for your ultimate recovery."

bin there dun that replied: "I feel sorry for you being on so many medications in so short a period of time. Good for you for hanging in. Most medications can take several weeks and even months to show results. Medications work differently for different people and the effects may change in time. That is one of the best reasons to get on going counselling while you are on medication. We need to be able to learn to cope and use our cognitive skills to help ourselves along with the medication, not just depend on the medication to make us feel better. All medications have the potential for side effects. Be aware of them, but try not to worry about them. You are under your doctor's care, and your doctor will help you to manage any side effects you may have. Don't hesitate to ask your pharmacist for information. Sometimes the pharmacist has more in depth information than the doctor does. I am on prozac to manage my days, and olanzapine to manage my nights. The combination works well for me. I am aware of the side effects, so if something "goes wrong" I know enough to let my doctor know. As far as suicidal thoughts go ... I had suicidal thoughts without being on prozac and counselling was what helped me choose to live with my depression and not die with it. In a crisis, suicide always seems to be the quickest solution that pops into my head. And sometimes just the long drawn out sadness part of depression draws in the suicidal thoughts. Eternal death is not what I really want ... what I really want is a solution to the challenge that sent me sinking into depression again. I can understand your fear. Try to educate yourself and learn to cope with your feelings. You are well worth the effort and deserve every chance to live. You are not alone in this type of struggle. Take good care of yourself."

citalopram :i have just been prescibed citalopram what can i expect? my doctor just (two hours ago) prescribed me the antidepressant citalopram i have never been on a antidepressant before so i dont know what to expect some of the reasons i was prscribed them is suicidal thoughts mutism (ie not speaking in front of strangers) and social fear severe depression. has anyone else hhere had this drug and did it help.

Aliz-USA replied: "Ask your doctor this question. You have a right to know!"

just me replied: "Very helpful drug for social anxiety disorder. Based on my own experience you may feel a marked increase in self-esteem & a decrease in self-consciousness...also some lightheadedness the first week or so"

Paul G replied: "I was on them a few years back .... I was dizzy everytime I stood up and felt sick quite often but it only lasted for about a week ... I used a few others before that one but it seemed to work the best for me in the long run ... I stopped taking them when I got sent to prison and have been pretty fine since (apart from 1 or 2 occasions which only lasted for a day or two)."

mandalaybay15 replied: "hi. I was on it for about a week. It made me extremely dizzy, so I took myself off of it. It might work great for you. It is in the Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) class.. Doctors often consider selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), citalopram (Celexa) and escitalopram (Lexapro), as the first-line treatment for depression because they have fewer serious side effects. They seem to work by increasing the availability of the neurotransmitter serotonin in your brain. Drugs similar to SSRIs include serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), such as trazodone (Desyrel, Trialodine) and venlafaxine (Effexor), and dopamine reuptake inhibitors, such as bupropion (Wellbutrin). It did not work for me b/c I have an ultra-rapid liver that metabolizes things very fast. I am now on effexor and its working great. I wish you the best on celexa!"

gavsmam replied: "I know a few people on this drug. It is ued to treat a chemical imbalance in the brain. Its the feelgood chemical which is lacking. This drug tops it up for you. the folk I know on it have seen a great improvement in the way they are feeling. Good Luck"

jed slade replied: "you can expect possible shakyness, nausea and a dry mouth but nothing to worry about."

questresponder replied: "I took it for four years. It helped a fair bit with depression although I had a slight character changes. I gained a fair bit of weight/ate more but all in all positive experience."

Smokey MonTana replied: "Hi hun hope you are feeling better soon here is a description of the med you are asking about Celexa is what they also call it You can read all about it there."

zed replied: "hi i was given these last year (for most of the reasons you have stated) i was started on 20mg, then went to 30mg when i was really bad, now back down to 20 mg and hopefully down to 10mg soon they really do help, i have had no side effects and it has helped me cope i would recomend them rather than any of the stronger ones as it seems to build up in your system gradually rather than just give a bang effect so you learn to handle things better good luck to you"

cenedra replied: "My husband took these for a couple of years for an anxiety disorder but has just recently changed to another medication as he has been rediagnosed with OCD. It is very common for them to make symptoms worse in the first week or two however after that you should start to feel much better. The leaflet with the tablets explains the possible side effects. The only thing is that the leaflet say there is a small chance of patients experiencing suicidal thoughts in the first week or two so as you have already experienced this i would be extra careful, do you have support at home? I would speak to your doctor again. This medication helped my husband alot and he found that while his anxiety didn't go away it was much easier to manage. He has been taking his new medication for 3 weeks now and his anxiety is quite bad the now he is going to give it another week and if things don't improve speakto his doctor about changing back to citalopram. I hope everything goes ok for you."

ambience212 replied: "my friend, who was on setraline (Eleva, Zoloft), also in the selective serotonin re uptake inhibitor class of drugs (like citaopram), had a weird reaction to it and tried to kill herself. i'm not sure if that is true for all SSRI's, though sorry i couldnt be more of a help :( But I think you should speak to a pharmacist when you go to fill the prescription, they'll be able to tell you all about it good luck, and i really hope you get better"

tawala replied: "It's generic Celexa or something like that I took it once I liked it and after 3 years of taking it I didn't need it anymore and had to come off it slowly. I had some lightheadedness and got kind of dizzy sometimes especially if I had forgotten to take it. I also gained 15 pounds over the 3 years that I took it. NEVER EVER drink alcohol with this medicine you will remember nothing even though everyone will never let you forget it. You will embarrass the crap out of yourself or WORSE and never know a thing about it you will have no memory of it at all. Good luck and be safe."

C1 replied: "hi i have citalopram for anxiety, and it worked very well"

kaleidoscope_girl replied: "Hi, yes I take citalopram, it is a very very good treatment for depression and anxiety disorders. It may take a couple of weeks to feel the effects and you might get a few side effects like dreaming more and getting headaches though everyone is different - it has made a high difference to my life. All the best,"

davey babes replied: "It's the cleanest, most selective and reliable SSRI, they work very well, can take weeks or months to nail down your problems and it can be a bumpy ride for some during that first 2 - 8 weeks but stick with it, they are very good...will make you beter. Think long term. One to three months and u will feel better."

Dr Frank replied: "It is one of the top 2 or 3 anti-depressants/anxiolytics used in the UK today and had a high success rate with only modest side effects. You can read the list of these in the package insert."

Anyones experiences of Prozac (fluoxetine) or Celexa (citalopram) I am v.depressed and suicidal already.? I've been avoiding starting medication as I'm worried it will increase the suicidal thoughts and I may actually do something to damage myself. I do not want to be stuck in this situation forever though. Every day I isolate myself away in my bed and just wish I was dead. I'm 26. No job. No friends to go n see. My life has no purpose. I gotta start wanting to live soon or else I really may end up being a suicide statistic. Thank you in advance for your help.

Kim B replied: "Start your meds now! It will help. The increased suicide is just that some people are thinking about suicide but are too unmotivated to actually do it. once they start to feel better they have the energy to actually do it. Just get past that stage. It will take 2-3 weeks, but the sun will come out again and you will feel better"

KATIA replied: "I have taken both Fluox and Citalopram. I found citalopram too heavy for me, but I was 16 and really too young for it. Your situation sounds more severe then mine was so I think it may be a good choice. Fluox I didn't find helped much, Although I was going through bi-polar so it may have been different for me again. Overall I don't think fluox is half as effective as Celexa. I do hope your situation improves, mine really did through meds and through support from other people. Good luck."

Kamini replied: "any sort of depression can be tide over by faith in GOD and sincere prayer. Your prayer is from your heart. Further You must have to understood the fact that God is present in our heart. This can be realised in meditation. Further we are the creation of our own destiny. As per Hindu sacred religion, we carry all good and bad deeds life after life. There is no end unless we pray for unification of self with the divineliness. Hence there is always a possible way to complete mergence with God in this life by a simple and wonderful meditation"

Fran G replied: "There are other options which dont have any increased suicide thoughts.. like amytriptilline, sertraline etc. I have been on Fluox for a couple of years and do have suicidal thoughts, but just thoughts, and from what i can gather, that doesnt need to be a scary thing- most people do have these, drugs or not. it is whether they become plans, or ideation, or action. It is hard being in this feeling hopless situation- but you know that if you try to pretend that you are fabulous, wash your hair, put make up on, dress smart, and go to the shops- smiling vivaciously at someone- even for just 10 minutes if that is all you can manage to start with... it really does perk you up, and believe it, a lot of people who look like they have a purpose have just learned that trick."

Ahorn replied: "Getting a job would really help you - no matter how difficult it may look now - you must get through and find a job and that'll be just one but very important thing that will help you. You can read this chapter that can help you. There's also a contact phone number if you need to talk to someone. Before taking any antidepressants I would recommend you to watch following DVD that is available online if you have fast internet. It's told by psychiatrists, psychologists and people who worked for pharmaceutical companies. It informs you - beside other things - about side effects that are not often being told by psychiatrists. It also suggests an alternative in the end. When you then make a decision to take antidepressants, you may be better prepared, educated and understand what's going on when you encounter some bad side effects. I would say that these information are actually vital. The link sounds a little scary - that’s because many antidepressants have suicidal thoughts and impulses as side effects which you can also read inside the pack of some antidepressants."

anti depressants: whats the difference between citalopram and lofepramine? I was on Citalopram for a couple of months, and had to come off them because i was having severe suicidal thoughts (thats not why i went on them), so changed to Lofepramine....just wondering why i feel fine on lofepramine, yet citalopram was a really bad one for me?

MICHELE K replied: "i have just been prescripted citalopram today and now feel quite worried that i might get worse mmmm"

RAD replied: "im on prozac i hate it."

Marky Moo replied: "Citalopram is an SSRI antidepressant, and therefore inhibits the re-uptake of serotonin.Lofepramine is an older Tricyclic antidepressant, which mainly inhibits the re-uptake of noradrenaline.They work on completely different neurotransmitters, and therefore will have different therapeutic effects.Suicidal thoughts have sometimes been reported with SSRIs, but very rarely with Tricyclics."

Pink me replied: "Dunno"

Seizures as a side effect of citalopram hydrobromide? This is an internet research-induced question. But I've had (non-epileptic) fits in the past, when I've hit my head, then stopped breathing. My grandmother had epilepsy as well, does that make me more likely? I'm also sort of hoping for another reason not to take them. More insomnia and suicidal thoughts is not what I need right now, even if it's just a temporary side effect.

select_fan replied: "i have epilepsy but that is due to a disease that i have inherited. however, epilepsy is NOT hereditary. no need to worry abou that. just because something is a side effect does not mean that it will happen. i take a medicine for my epilepsy and dont or have never experienced any problems with my side effects."

CHICKY replied: "i heard, starrring at computer more than few hours is bad if you have Sezures, You need to get up & Walk around a bit to."

mcdannells replied: "Non epileptic fits?? You have had seizures in the past. You have a grandparent with them and who knows who else in your family. Stop talking these mind altering pharmaceutical drugs for a non life threatening illness. I have seizures, one son, many relatives. Just because your seizures do not show up on a eeg does not mean they are not serious. Your doctors do not know about these "fits" of yours? or like one doctor I had, did not care. We all know doctors hand out drugs like some hand out candy and we need to take a active step in our health care. Do not take anything that is going to harm you, even if a naive doctor is telling you to take them. Doctors are only human.... I have fired and quit a few doctors in my time for making me sicker with there drug pushing ways. You are allowed to say no to a doctor. Have had more then one doctor (one has written many papers on the subject) that seizures are hereditaty......ignorance is bliss."

Doctor priscribed me Citalopram. Should I take this med? I am a new mother who is breastfeeding? I have taken anti depressents for 3 months right before I got married and I had bad side effects. I got depressed after I took the anti depressents. I had bad anxiety attacks, irrational thoughts, suicidal thoughts, obsessive compulsive thoughts, nightmares, unable to eat, diahrea and vomiting. I am affraid to take Citalopram now because I am affraid that I might get bad side effects again. Although I only took those meds for 3 months the meds completly changed me. I am not my self. My mother didn't help me at all when I told her about the side effects of the meds. She told me I was a bad person and going to be a bad wife. Now I have obsessive compulsive thoughts every single day thinking that I am a bad person. I take care of my baby real good but I also have suicidal thoughts & have post partum depression. I am affraid what if things don't get better if I take this med. How safe is this med? I don't want to end up in a mental ward. I want to take care of my baby. Please advice.

Purpose replied: "What is it with all these meds. Mankind has survived millions of years without them and now every time we feel a little bad we run to the doctor. Forget the pills lady. think of your child. YOU WILL LIVE."

Lesley W replied: "Hi,speak to ur health visitor or practice nurse for some advice on local groups,ask about family support worker,to come in and give u some support,my advice regards ur mum is TO IGNORE HER, there are breastfeeding support groups out there, try and get plenty of rest,forget the housework,baby sleeps u sleep, and try to get out even if it's just for a walk,i no it's hard with a new baby,had three myself and have felt like u at times, try and find some toddler groups they will welcome u even with new baby they can help u and support u, and will give u people to talk to as well,good luck"

Joe from WI replied: "Your symptoms are fairly severe. Doctors are well aware what medications are dangerous to mothers who are breastfeeding. So I would presume that the citalopram is safe. Look up citalopram on the sites below and research it. It sounds like a variant of valium, but I'm not certain. Valium keeps the mood stable and prevents anxiety. The reactions you suffered from the previous medication might be allergic ones. Find out about that. You shouldn't fear that a medication won't work because you were allergic to a different one. Please tell your doctor about everything you've written here. Print it out if you can and show it to your doctor. They will have specific ideas for dealing with it. You're a human being and you're doing the best you can. The storm will go away eventually, and life will be normal again. Good luck! I will pray for you."

Maggie W replied: "no! don't take citalopram while breastfeeding. It could hurt your baby no matter what the doctor says. get a good friend to watch out for you and get off the meds."

Elsie Treize replied: "Ok, when you took the meds before , was it Citalopram? If you are having suicidal thoughts, you should try some kind of medication, but maybe not the same one that gave the side effects before. Your baby needs you to be healthy. You need to live and get healthy. Depression can be caused by a problem with brain chemistry. Sometimes medication is helpful! The person you really need to talk to is a doctor. I was taking Riva Citalopram 3 years ago, PLUS seeing a psychologist once a week for about 6 months. Side effects, well see I started taking an iron supplement around the same time. I felt a little light headed. Pharmacist said that might be the iron. Another side effect, maybe, I have this thing where I'm dreaming and dreaming just before it's time to wake up. I think it's called epic dreaming. The dream goes on and on like an epic novel. I think I know how to cure all the world's problems. But it slips away quickly when I wake up."

j153e replied: "If your doctor is handling both your depression symptoms and your breast-feeding, and is competent, likely no problem, although you might switch to formula part of the time if that seems right. However, if you are being seen by two doctors for the two areas, they may need to talk; definitely ask your pediatrician re the medication and feeding. Also, as you probably already know, maternal feeding has many positive benefits for both child and mother, so this is most desirable Also of some value: "A Spiritual Approach to Parenting: Secrets of Raising the 21st Century Child," Marilyn Barrack, Ph.D. and as a general, excellent reference site. Give them a call at 1-800-232-6459 business hours M-F and ask your question, give your situation, ask for recommendations and resources appropriate for your baby, you, and your family. They are very friendly, warm, positive, and knowing people."

Is anyone on Citalopram for depression? I feel like it is losing its effectiveness on me.? I've been on Citalopram for just over a year. It worked fairly well at first, but lately I feel as if it is losing effectiveness. I feel as if I need a second pill at the end of the day. From what I have read, Citalopram seems better for anxiety.. which I don't have, just depression. My depression is beginning to affect me physically now as well as mentally.. I sleep until around 11:30 on weekends (NOT like me), and every day I feel like I could have a 2 hour nap, and sometimes do. I am taking out my emotions on my boyfriend, and constantly picking fights with him.. I am getting meaner and meaner, and during these fights, I KNOW that I am pushing it too far.. but I can't stop myself. I never feel truly HAPPY anymore, and I am beginning to get fleeting suicidal thoughts, just because I feel so hopeless. Has anyone else who has been on Citalopram felt this? What did you try instead? What are similar drugs? What has worked for you?

SUSAN K replied: "these meds are so unpredictable try natural treatments instead like omega 3 read curezone.com or alternativementalhealth.com, read their success stories good luck"

bluebell replied: "Sounds like it's time for a med change. Antidepressants will "poop out" after awhile. Basically, your body becomes immune to the medication and it's time to switch to another antidepressant. Good luck :)"

gracekelly3rd replied: "never heard of it. checkup on the internet for side effects. sometimes u need a higher dose. Being mean can mean that u need someone to understand your problems. honestly i would not rely on a partner to help me through depression. do u see a therapist?. some pentecostal churches have free counselling, just pretend u are a beleiver.i'm depressd cause this girl i like seems to have left her job boo hoo."