So I continued taking that more or less straight for three years which have been the three happiest and most productive years of my life. When you started taking that one did you get any different effects? So when you were waking up after your long sleep you were still feeling groggy? Yeah, for about three or four hours, yeah which, which again was useful it was a kind of cushion from all the horrible feelings which, you know, it sort of gave me a couple of weeks to sort of sleep off the worst of it and.
But yeah luckily after, I kind of acclimatised to the levels or whatever it, the cognitive stuff got a lot better. I had a bit of, sort of strange short term memory stuff going on as well, the first maybe month that I took it but all that cleared up really quickly.
Emily stayed with her parents for the first few weeks and said she Can you remember roughly how long it did take to start to have any effect on you at all? And so I find it very hard to judge and pin point when I would say the medication and it was starting to, I suppose make me feel… maybe more detached You could escape from the thoughts?
Yes and that I think the, it was, the insomnia was, was pretty awful. Emily found it hard to concentrate at work when she started That first month or so when you were starting to take the citalopram, how easy or difficult was it to continue working normally? I took a fortnight off or maybe even three weeks off over the Christmas period.
I was quite lucky that I could do that, you know, controlling my own diary. Would you see that as a weakness or as being able to be kind to yourself? Olivia Y found that changing the time SSRIs are generally safe for most people.
However, in some circumstances they can cause problems. For example, high doses of citalopram may cause dangerous abnormal heart rhythms, so doses over 40 milligrams mg a day should be avoided according to the FDA and the manufacturer. They also recommend a maximum daily dose of 20 mg of citalopram for people over age Issues to discuss with your doctor before you take an SSRI include:.
Drug interactions. When taking an antidepressant, tell your doctor about any other prescription or over-the-counter medications, herbs or other supplements you're taking. Some antidepressants can interfere with the effectiveness of other medications, and some can cause dangerous reactions when combined with certain medications or herbal supplements.
For example, SSRIs may increase your risk of bleeding, especially when you're taking other medications that increase the risk of bleeding, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs , aspirin, warfarin Coumadin, Jantoven and other blood thinners. Serotonin syndrome. Rarely, an antidepressant can cause high levels of serotonin to accumulate in your body.
Serotonin syndrome most often occurs when two medications that raise the level of serotonin are combined. These include, for example, other antidepressants, certain pain or headache medications, and the herbal supplement St. John's wort. Signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome include anxiety, agitation, high fever, sweating, confusion, tremors, restlessness, lack of coordination, major changes in blood pressure and a rapid heart rate.
Seek immediate medical attention if you have any of these signs or symptoms. Most antidepressants are generally safe, but the FDA requires that all antidepressants carry black box warnings, the strictest warnings for prescriptions. In some cases, children, teenagers and young adults under 25 may have an increase in suicidal thoughts or behavior when taking antidepressants, especially in the first few weeks after starting or when the dose is changed. Anyone taking an antidepressant should be watched closely for worsening depression or unusual behavior.
If you or someone you know has suicidal thoughts when taking an antidepressant, immediately contact your doctor or get emergency help. Keep in mind that antidepressants are more likely to reduce suicide risk in the long run by improving mood. SSRIs aren't addictive. However, stopping antidepressant treatment abruptly or missing several doses can cause withdrawal-like symptoms.
This is sometimes called discontinuation syndrome. Work with your doctor to gradually and safely decrease your dose. People may react differently to the same antidepressant. For example, a particular drug may work better — or not as well — for you than for another person.
Or you may have more, or fewer, side effects from taking a specific antidepressant than someone else does. Inherited traits play a role in how antidepressants affect you. If you have a close relative who responded to a particular antidepressant, tell your doctor, because this could be a good drug choice to start. In some cases, results of special blood tests, where available, may offer clues about how your body may respond to a particular antidepressant.
However, other variables can affect your response to medication. When choosing an antidepressant, your doctor takes into account your symptoms, any health problems, other medications you take and what has worked for you in the past.
Typically, it may take several weeks or longer before an antidepressant is fully effective and for initial side effects to ease up.
Your doctor may recommend some dose adjustments or different antidepressants, but with patience, you and your doctor can find a medication that works well for you.
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This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. See more conditions. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs.
Products and services. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs This commonly prescribed type of antidepressant can help you overcome depression. They're not usually recommended if you're pregnant, breastfeeding or under 18, because there's an increased risk of serious side effects.
However, exceptions can be made if the benefits of treatment are thought to outweigh the risks. SSRIs also need to be used with caution if you have certain underlying health problems, including diabetes , epilepsy and kidney disease. Some SSRIs can react unpredictably with other medicines, including some over-the-counter painkillers and herbal remedies, such as St John's wort.
Always read the information leaflet that comes with your SSRI medication to check if there are any medicines you need to avoid. Most people will only experience a few mild side effects when taking SSRIs. These can be troublesome at first, but they'll generally improve with time. You'll usually need to see your doctor every few weeks when you first start taking SSRIs to discuss how well the medication is working.
You can also contact your doctor at any point if you experience any troublesome or persistent side effects. Page last reviewed: 2 October Next review due: 2 October
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