Hi, depression-GAF! I took Citalopram for about 8 months. I basically had a nervous breakdown last year. My experience:
-First four months were wonderful. Really helped me get through a rough time.
-After that, it basically had more of a neutral effect. I was generally always in a good mood, but that was it. It stopped making me see things differently. Then, I basically never wanted to leave the house, exercise, watch my diet, etc. I just went to work and was a happy camper. It was really weird, looking back. Too weird. Not that I am much of an extrovert to begin with, but I didn't want to do anything -- and not only that, I didn't even think about it. Things like music didn't seem to be as interesting anymore. I responded to thoughts, feelings, etc. differently and usually in a numb fashion. I didn't like that.
-It made me brave, but far too often too brave. I'd be prone to yelling at people in parking lots, saying something overly aggressive to people I'd see doing something dumb in public, and so on -- way out of character for me in public and it was getting worse, to the point where I was borderline starting arguments with strangers over trivial shit. People I knew? Not so much. I was about the same, if not nicer.
-Eventually I just felt lethargic all the fucking time (this was horrible). A lot of my joints hurt more than usual which I think attributed a lot to lack of exercise.
So while it did help me stabilize my mood and all, I found that always being tired and turning into a lazy fucker was not an even trade. I gained ~15 lbs. taking this pill. I attribute it to two things: CONSTANTLY having cravings (especially for carbs) and not exercising enough. That said, there were times where I'd hit the gym like I used to, watched my weight for a week, and it didn't even move. I know I would have lost at least 1-2 lbs. under those circumstances had I not been taking Citalopram because I was able to lose that much with the same activity level being off it. I truly do wonder if it does slow down one's metabolism. I think it does, but I also think it makes some people want to eat more, and that's a horrible combination.
In retrospect it almost feels like I'm thinking of another person, and it creeps me out. I will say, however, that I learned from certain things while on it, such as how to deal with certain kinds of people better. It still didn't solve all of my problems and ended up giving me more cons than pros, but, at least I got something worthwhile out of it, I guess. I've already lost 5 of the 15 lbs I put on, but I'm still not happy about that. I stopped taking it by going from 20mg to 10mg to 5mg (cutting 10mg in half). ~3 weeks each dosage reduction, then I just stopped. No withdrawal effects other than a headache for 2-3 days and that was it. I'll take it over the other symptoms I've read up on...
To those of you who are taking/have taken this pill, how old are you and what was your initial experience like (first 6-8 months)? If you came off the pill, do you find that it permanently altered your metabolism? I turn 30 soon, so I know one's testosterone levels begin to drop a bit anyway, but I don't think the SSRI helped anything. I am hoping it didn't fuck with my hormones afterwards. Some people like to get bloodwork done but you have to beg your doc to do it under these circumstances.
