hot flushes

frettee

hi all i have been on citalopram for some 12 months now and like many others taking them have experienced weird dreams low libido but just the last 7 or so weeks i have been getting hot flushers lasting between 5-10 mins several times a day ,( tests for menopause came back negative ) Question

could any one tell me if they have experienced these symptoms whilst taking citalopram Confused

austinali

I am on day 13 of 20mg a day and have been experiencing really weird hot and cold flushes and night sweats, I too have considered menopause (i am 43!) Generally feeling rubbish and just hoping the tablets will start working in a positive way soon. Confused

MonsterP

I have found there are some odd temperature regulation effects from citalopram.

I found that, like most SSRIs (Selective Seretonin Reuptake Inhibitors - the type of antidepressant that citalopram is), there are site effects, mostly of the sypathetic nervous system stimulation type: hot & cold sweats; restlessness; inability to concentrate; fuzziness; enlarged pupils, but to be honest as long as you just accept that that's what it is they're usually quite bearable.

I found that, after starting this course some months ago, the effects slowly disappeared as they started to work properly, removing the crippling, debilitating anxiety that was preventing me from operating. This took several weeks; probably about 4 or 5 in the end.

My problem is that once I start to feel the benefit I get lax with regard to taking them, often missing a does for 5 or 6 days at a time. The anxiety has started to return and, looking back, I realise I'm probably taking a sporadic 5mg a day on average. So I've started ensuring I take my 20mg a day regularly and am, er, enjoying a dose of the side effects again. It's not a killer; I just have to give myself the time to get through it and I'll be fine again.

At the end of the day I've found citalopram to be worse for side effects than others except Seroxat, which was deeply unpleasant. But these are a small price to pay for the lack of any of the usual emotional suppression that others have given me.

Most SSRIs I've taken, typically Prozac, have led to a slightly numb, emotionally restricted feeling. I'm not completely experiencing life, feeling quite content but a bit cushioned from the highs and lows. This is often a good thing for a while but after about 8 months I feel I need to stop them. Citalopram has proved to be different for me; I still feel (even when I was regularly taking my dose) joy and sadness, excitement and manageable anxiety where I should.

In all, I'd say that yes, the side effects do feel a bit offputting during the first few weeks but they do get weaker every day until they've gone, and, for me at least, citalopram works. Much better to give it its full opportunity to work than be put off by the side effects.

Rich