Citalopram/anti-depressants

Sugardonut

Hi

I've been on Citalopram for almost three weeks for depression. I am so tired, got no appetite and clenching my jaw constantly It's driving me crazy. I have the docs next week, but was just wondering meantime if anyone else has had this? Does it pass after the first few weeks?

Also, is there anything i can do to stop the clenching? My cheeks are agony and it's giving me a sore head.

ali-t

Would chewing gum help? People who are on stimulants (amphetamines etc) tend to chew to ease the clenching jaw.

Sugardonut

I'll give it a go tomorrow. thanks for the reply

raven83

lots of anti-ds are can be liike this and it takes some time (months rather than weeks) to settle down, it will though and you will notice that you start to feel alot better.

littlestar1981

I got this quite severely on Citalopram and couldn't bear it after a week because it was so bad I felt like I had clenched not just my jaw but my throat too, swallowing was a struggle. But of course everyone is different and you should speak to your GP.

Call NHS Direct for advice, they might have some suggestions. Maybe taking a painkiller would be helpful but definitely get that kind of advice from NHS direct as some drugs have interactions that need to be avoided (eg with Citalopram I was told not to take ibuprofen because it can cause stomach ulcers)

Hope you get it sorted soon as I know it's unpleasant...

Darlyd

Did the same for me, I also suffered from more Anxiety, and I ended up being taken off of them after 4 weeks for other reasons....

Go to sport shop get yourself a gum shield to wear whilst asleep, will help a lot during the night time clenching..

Moomin21

I'm on citalopram, and came off it once and went back on a few months later...when i went on it again i was dizzy, had blurred vision, and super tired...it will settle down after a while, its just not much fun at the start!!

doodoot

Yep, it's a side effect of that medication.

As another poster said, get some chewing gum and wait until you go back to the docs.

Don't stop taking the meds even though it may be tempting, as it may settle down.

(Although in my case it didn't so I changed to another one).

Sugardonut

Thanks all, will keep with them and see what the doctor says next week. Just really hope these side effets clear up soon, i'm so tired and run down and the jaw thing it's driving me bananas!! Chewing gum has helped a little, but i do feel like a spaced out clubber at work

ellies_angel

I am also on citalopram. I had the horrible metalic taste, horrible feeling, dazed out of it, it lasted a few weeks and by the time i could feel my depression lifting around 6/8 weeks the side effects stopped. Just hand in there, I have to say when I started I had to go back and forth to my GP every fortnight just to see how I was getting on for the first 8 weeks.