Anti-Depressant

[amy_simcott]

Hey all.
Really not sure where to post this, I just wanted some advice sine you are all so full of knowledge.
I have been really not myself the past four months, My mood randomly dropping, feeling stupidly paranoid and stressed when nothing is wrong and just generally crap about myself.
I am normally quite a confident and happy person and normally I felt good about how I looked - felt comfortable in my own skin.
But thats all gone.

Anyway, my bf being the most patient man in the world and really helping me through finally said all he wanted for xmas was for me to see a doctor.
I promised him I would, so today I went.
I was terrified, had all sorts of things going through my head about what could possibly be wrong with me.

After talking to him he said it sounds like Depression or a mood disorder.
He has now prescribed me with Citalopram.
I am to be on it for 6 months and then we will see if I have gone back to normal and this has all turned around, if not he is going to arrange councelling for me

Anyway, my question to you is this, has anyone here had or no one anyone who has taken this?
I have taken my first tablet today - 20mg, about an hour later I have a massive headache. Which I dont mind. I read the leaflet and there can be many side-effects but I really dont care so much as long as this sorts it out.
As you can imagine my friends and family are becoming quite concerned.
But I am wondering really what else to expect?
After doing my own research I have noticed alot of people get much worse symptoms in the first week and that in their first week the anxiety and everything else is much worse until it settles.

Im not going to stop taking them because everyone is different and reacts to things in different ways, but along with having my arthritis which is enough to bring me down on a bad day I need this sorted.

Thankyou for any help or advice given, I appreciate it very much
Amy

[sera300]

Please see your MD about this...and discuss the arthritis being controlled with meds. Controlled means no pain...discuss Enbrel.

[Brandye]

There is no way any physician should comment on your prescriber's presciption for psychotropic drugs. There are too many variables.

[amy_simcott]

Okies
I did ask my doctor before he gave me these tablets if they would affect the Methotrexate im already taking or if it might hinder my arthritis - he should they should be fine to take together and shouldnt affect my joints at all.
If he had said different id opt to keep the depression as I know I cant go through the pain of the arthritis again

[arutha]

Well there are many many sorts of antidepressants and each effect different people differently, so if you do find side effects or they don't seem to be improving your mood at all (you will tend to have one or two 'good' days a week in the first few weeks) then go back to him and explain, he may give you a different type to try.

I don't have the same ones as you, but I am on anti-depressants. I trialled 2 different types over a month or two which didn't work before coming across a third that did and is now working for me. They do seem scary, and the thought of actually having to take them takes a while to get used to, but they get a lot more hype than they deserve. Be a bit discreet about it, don't go around telling people, only really your immediate family needs to know and even then my parents didn't know I was on them until they noticed an empty packet in the bin after a couple of months of taking them.

Approach them with a positive attitude, believe that they will help you and they will. But they do take a while before you start to notice any good effects.