CITALOPRAM

[bsmom10]

Hello, I have been given Citalopram 10mg to take and not sure if I should or not.  I have been dealing with issues for about a year now of getting lightheaded and feeling of passing out which I have done a few times, very scary, hot/cold flashes, sweats, crying spells, numbness of feet and tingleing in my right pinky, ear ringing and many more issues.  I have went to an ENT, neurologist, cardiologist.  I have had scans, x-rays, numerous blood tests, ultra sounds of my heart and thoat and a tilt table.  I go in a few weeks for an EEG.  No one has told me that it is caused by anxiety but given this to calm me down.  I have been bed reden for almost 3 months now and on a high sodium diet, wanting me to take 450mg salt pills 3 times a day.  I am scared of the side effects since it says if you have low sodium you shouldnt take.  What should I do?  

[JJSSY]

Did these symptoms start after you started taking citalopram or before? And did you get any testing done at the ENTs? I ask, because I'm on 10 mg a day of citalopram and recently went through eng/vertigo testing. It came back positive for bppv, but the doc also said it showed some CNS stuff. I wondered if this was the case for you or for anyone else taking citalopram--if it can cause nerve stuff.

[mammo]

There are often contradictions like this with medications and that's why we rely on our doctor to do what is best.  He has you on salt pills which I would think is to counteract any issues regarding the sodium. You owe it to yourself to give this a try.  There is an adjustment period for the first week or two and then it takes 2-4 weeks for it to reach a full therapeutic level in your system.  You won't know how much better you will feel until you try it.  If still in doubt...call your doctor for reassurance.  You've been thru a lot, I hope you get some relief real so.  Best wishes.

[lynn57]

If your doctor prescribed it he must feel it is safe for you to take.  I take it and the beginning may be a little rough but after a few weeks I felt great.  I had almost all your symptoms.  You just have to remember, if you have any early side effects, they will go away.