Questions about Citalopram Side Effects

[RachBelch]

My boyfriend started taking Citalopram, 20mg/daily, back in June of 08. His Dr. recommended that he take something for depression since he had recently quit drinking. He had a few side effects for the first couple of weeks but other then that, he was doing great. About 2 months ago he started to get really strange. He moved out of our apartment and in with a friend of his who drinks and does drugs, for no reason at all. It really upset me and he just didn't care. The things that he liked to do and was normally concerned about didn't matter anymore. He is now drinking and using drugs while taking the Citalopram and about a month ago he went from the 20mg to the 40mg, and things got even worse. He is rude and gets very irritated for no reason and has no respect for himself or the people in his life. He is more depressed now than he was before he started the medication. The best word to describe him now is a zombie. His great personality and humor is gone. All he wants to do is lay around and sleep, or get drunk. I have read up on the side effects and I really think it's the medication that is doing this to him. I am very concerned about him and his mental health. Does anyone else think it could be the medication and does anyone have any idea how to go about dealing with this...How I can get through to him or his Dr. about how it is effecting him? Please help!
Thank You!
-Rach

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

It is unlikely that the medications are causing the problem, and more likely that the underlying problems are resurfacing, and he is using additional medication, alchohol and drugs to excess in order to tamp down what is really bothering him...what he needs is a doctor who will treat him with psychotherpay and get down to the issues that are causing this problem. Help him get to a talk doctor.

[Briain]

Its always a possibility these medications react differently with everyone i had personlly been slightly changed (personality) by a certain mediacation in the same makeup of mediacation as Citalopram. I changed medication and soon went back to normal.

Probably in a sympetetic concerned way focusing on the fact that you think he is hurting , and cant be happy in this changed way, maybe his behaviour feeds his self loathing and gets himself down. Keep a diary of events and converations with him could be good and show them to him from how he was before. Talk to the doctor and see what he thinks, keep small notes as to what to talk about as its easy to forget. Sometimes doctors try and defend the medication and focus on the drink. If youre not happy with the doctor  I think it would be good if possible to get a second opinion especially from an experienced open minded pyschiatrist, and go from there.  good luck