NEW TO CITALOPRAM WOULD APPRECIATE FEEDBACK

[swampygirl]

I'm new to this forum so I'd like to start by saying hello to everyone.
I've been diagnosed with depression and got Citalopram 20mg meds. I've been taking it for three weeks.
My doctor said it will lift my spirits and give me energy but so far nothing.
I had a follow up appointment today with my doctor and he was undecided if to increase my dose to 40mg or prescribe me a different anti-depressant. My sleeping, which has been terrible for 30 years seems to have got worse since taking Citalopram. I;m exhausted and cat-nap throughout the day. An hour here an hour there. I just can't function. Then although my eyes are sore and tired during the evening, I'm not ready to sleep and am awake until around 4am before I go to bed then I can't sleep.
So he gave me Temazepam 10mg to help me sleep. I am to phone him next Wednesday to let him know if I've managed to get some sleep then he will decided to either increase my dose of Citalopram or prescribe another anti-depressant.
Anyone one on this anti-depressant? What can I expect? How will I know if they are working?
Also has anyone taken Temazepam? How do they work? My doctor says they will send me to sleep fairly quickly but does that mean they will knock me out or make me drowsy ready to sleep? I'm a bit hesitant about taking them because I don't know what to expect.
I'd really appreciate any feedback because I'm in the dark with all this.
Many thanks!

[lightenup]

Hi Swampy girl welcome to the forum, when I was first diagnosed i was on Citalopram and was on firstly like you said on 20mg and increased to 40mg.  It didn't work for me and I was tried on 2 others before taking the meds I am now.  But don't be put of by this as it usually takes 4-6 weeks for the meds to work, and what works for one may not work for somebody else.  I take a different sleeping tablet as well, but have never taken tamazepan before.  For me the difference in getting my brain to shut down at night and it is a God send, I have tried cutting down on these meds, but was back to how I was before.  Take the meds as they are an aid to help you get better, but your Doctor is doing the right thing by trying you and monitoring on the meds.  If you feel worse at any time you should contact him right away, good luck and take care. 

[bel]

Hi Swampygirl,  !"£
I've no experience with Citalopram or Temazepam so I can't help you there I'm afraid. But I second what lightenup has said, you do have to give it time.
Best wishes, bel

[Spooky]

Hey Swampygirl!  !"£

I was put on Citalopram 20mgs last April and found that after the weird yawning episodes and bizarre dreams they did start to kick in but just like you I suffer from sleeping problems because as much as I didn't have problems falling asleep, it was keeping asleep that was the issue. So my doctor prescribed me 20mgs of tamazepam to help me. Unfortunately for me, I found that it didn't help my sleep at all in fact to some extent it was worse as I would still sleep the same but the next morning I would feel so drowsy and lethargic, I could barely get out of bed. Then my dosage of citalopram was increased in October as my general wellbeing was getting worse again and was put on 40mgs. I was also given 7.5mgs zopiclone to help me sleep but again I didn't find they helped either. I just find myself sleeping in till the early afternoon as I don't sleep well during the night, luckily I've been signed off work but it was a nightmare trying to get into work for a decent time. I still find I'm tired during the day and start feeling more awake during the evening. But I'm trying to force myself to be more active during the day which is hard when you don't feel like you have any energy. Recently I've started taking 50mgs of Tesco own brand sleeping aids but again, they don't seem to do much.  "£$

Don't be put off by what I've told you, this is just how I've been affected but everybodys different and you might find that they really work for you. In terms of antidepressants, I'm now on 20mgs Cipralex (Escitalopram) and find that they are really starting to work for me in terms of mood. But please, keep pressing forward because there is a light at the end of the tunnel, I've just started to see it myself.

[Ezel]

Hi Swampygirl,

Jumping in late on this thread.  I have been taking Citalopram for about 9 or 10 weeks now starting with 20 mg then it was put up to 40 mg.  It is helping generally but not with sleep but I have had problems with sleeping for many years.  My GP knows this but wants to give me a while longer before prescribing anything else because Citalopram has helped ease my depression.  I am following advice to cut down on caffeine and get more exercise although I sometimes sleep in the afternoon which helps as well.  Can't comment on Temazepam as I've never taken that.

Pip

[AliMcBeer]

Hi there, im new to the forum myself and saw your post as im on exactly the same meds. im on 60mg of citalopram and i take temazepam. i jave found the citalopram has helped, much better than venlofaxine i was on before. it has taken a while to feel any difference tho, ive been on them since november and it wasnt until after xmas i started to notice a difference in myself. As for the temazepam, i find them much better than any others, they help me get to sleep, although i do tend to play a mindless game on my ds for half an hour or so before going to sleep to help shut my brain off, once asleep after taking one i do stay asleep, and i dont feel like i have a hangover the next morning, which is how i feel after taking the shop bought sleeping aids. I do still have times that ill wake but at least when i do get some sleep its decent sleep and i can get up for my daughter for school after taking one, i dont feel zonked! i dont take them every night tho, just when i feel i really need to. So i would say keep on with it and give it some time, hope this helps:)