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  • BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards

Citralopram sleepiness

P

pally pete

Bluelighter
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
2,428
I recently started a course of Citrolopram of 20 mg per day (10 days ago) and have been suffering severe fatigue/weakness/aching at work ever since,also whenever and wherever i sit down i will fall asleep.

Has anybody else suffered these side effects? how long will they last? will they go away?

mods please dont close this thead.
 
This is a few days old now; how are you getting on now?

Citalopram is an SSRI which usually leans towards the stimulating side, not the sleepy side, but sleepiness/weakness are listed as common side effects here. Side effects usually go in 2-3 weeks (in my own experience of SSRIs and also what doctors tend to say) but if you are concerned go back and see your doctor, especially if it is not gone after a couple of weeks, is affecting your work or you are considering stopping the pills cos of it.

Fatigue/aches can be a sign of depression too so it could just be coincidental that your depression got worse when you started the citalopram, but your doc would be in a better place to look into that than we are on BL!
 
effie said:
This is a few days old now; how are you getting on now?

Citalopram is an SSRI which usually leans towards the stimulating side, not the sleepy side, but sleepiness/weakness are listed as common side effects here. Side effects usually go in 2-3 weeks (in my own experience of SSRIs and also what doctors tend to say) but if you are concerned go back and see your doctor, especially if it is not gone after a couple of weeks, is affecting your work or you are considering stopping the pills cos of it.

Fatigue/aches can be a sign of depression too so it could just be coincidental that your depression got worse when you started the citalopram, but your doc would be in a better place to look into that than we are on BL!
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i started mine on sunday,
Its slowly going away, but at first it felt like id done a line of k, And i had that feeling allllll Day long.. Lol ... Even to the fact that music sounds better to me like it does on k!
hardstyle i can just take in very easily lol

today my jaw is annoying me, feels like its tense or something and its hard to concentrate
 
I got a tense jaw from venlafaxine (a SNRI but with similar side effects to SSRIs), also got pupil dilatation, raised body temp, nausea and feeling like I was coming up off a shit pill haha. That lasted a few days, other side effects (nausea and insomnia) lasted 2-3 weeks.

Glad it's easing off, sounds like quite severe side effects but hopefully they will vanish. Pop and see your GP if you have concerns about it I reckon :)

Good luck, hope the citalopram helps you! If its not agreeing with you am sure your GP will switch you to a diff one but if the side effects are easing then hopefully it'll be okay.
 
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i was on citalopram for about 2 weeks and had the same sleepy feeling you're having. it sucks i know:(
it went away after the first week though so maybe you should ask your psych next time you see him/her.
 
Fyasko. said:
i was on citalopram for about 2 weeks and had the same sleepy feeling you're having. it sucks i know:(
it went away after the first week though so maybe you should ask your psych next time you see him/her.
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Ill use your experience and wait it out..

The brightness keeps changing in my vision. When the sun went down, it was like my eyes instantly turned to 50% brightness and my vision was different.

Also note im appreciating dubstep and i didnt even like it before i was on this, i can really hear the music in a good way. Strange?
 
Haha appreciating dubstep is definitely strange! ;)

(Only kidding, I do like some... haha)

Maybe your mood is lifting and you are beginning to appreciate music again? I know that is a good indicator of when I am starting to feel better..

Not sure about the vision thing. It sounds to me like you might be quite anxious about the side effects of your meds. This could be actually due to citalopram making you a little jittery, or could be linked to your depression maybe, or maybe you are just a worrier like me.. If you are concerned I would definitely suggest popping to see your GP, if only to put your mind at rest.

Good luck and enjoy the dubstep! :)
 
effie said:
Haha appreciating dubstep is definitely strange! ;)

(Only kidding, I do like some... haha)

Maybe your mood is lifting and you are beginning to appreciate music again? I know that is a good indicator of when I am starting to feel better..

Not sure about the vision thing. It sounds to me like you might be quite anxious about the side effects of your meds. This could be actually due to citalopram making you a little jittery, or could be linked to your depression maybe, or maybe you are just a worrier like me.. If you are concerned I would definitely suggest popping to see your GP, if only to put your mind at rest.

Good luck and enjoy the dubstep! :)
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Na , i love music normally.

I listen to hardstyle, Trance, house, Love it..
I have never liked dubstep but that wobbly base has really appealed to me since taking these.

I can only describe my symptoms as same as doing a Bump of K i guess? (ive never tried listening to Dubstep on k, but when sober i didnt like it before) its like im on this bump of k all day.
first 2 days of this medication is felt more like a line of k lol
 
Maybe it just appeals more in your slightly spaced-out mood?

That's all I can offer I am afraid. If it's not bothering you, put it down to one of those weird things and move on.. if you are being bothered by side effects still tho I'd see your GP :)
 
effie said:
This is a few days old now; how are you getting on now?

Citalopram is an SSRI which usually leans towards the stimulating side, not the sleepy side, but sleepiness/weakness are listed as common side effects here. Side effects usually go in 2-3 weeks (in my own experience of SSRIs and also what doctors tend to say) but if you are concerned go back and see your doctor, especially if it is not gone after a couple of weeks, is affecting your work or you are considering stopping the pills cos of it.

Fatigue/aches can be a sign of depression too so it could just be coincidental that your depression got worse when you started the citalopram, but your doc would be in a better place to look into that than we are on BL!
Click to expand...
Thanks for asking :)

Since writing my original post 4 days ago ive had a reversal of the sleepiness..im now suffering sleeplessness! managing a maximum of 4 hours sleep a night which is still interupted by frequent awakenings. :(

Im still as anxious and depressed as ive always been.

I've been experiencing other side effects like being extra sensitive to light although the nausea has mostly not been present like it was in the first 7-10 days and my appetite has returned to somewhat more like it was being before i started the medication.

Tbh im not even expecting any sort of improvement in my psychological condition for at least 4-6 weeks although i am hoping the side effects will subside soon.

Have got another appointment with my GP next wednesday (6th july) so il stick it out until i see her as im determined not to give up on the medication too soon as i often read that is one of the biggest mistakes people make when starting SSRI's and other Anti-Depressant medication,besides ive suffered with life restricting anxiety/depression for around 13/14 years and this is the first time ive been prescribed any medication (i had counselling around 4 years ago and that was a failure)

The other poster on this thread who likes there hard trance i may have some mixes you may like ;)
 
darksidedsam said:
Ill use your experience and wait it out..

The brightness keeps changing in my vision. When the sun went down, it was like my eyes instantly turned to 50% brightness and my vision was different.

Also note im appreciating dubstep and i didnt even like it before i was on this, i can really hear the music in a good way. Strange?
Click to expand...

embrace the dubstep!!!:D

i forgot to mention that i had REALLY bad libido problems while on celexa, so watch out for that.
 
Fyasko. said:
embrace the dubstep!!!:D

i forgot to mention that i had REALLY bad libido problems while on celexa, so watch out for that.
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Well im just gutted i aint got a gf to put it in atm,, i could hold out for an hour at least on this stuff LOL
 
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