Quote:
Originally Posted by Lycanthrope
I started taking 20mg this medication about 7 months ago. I've always been a bit of a binge drinker but have always had some control, I'd normally drink at weekends but keep it under wraps during the week.
Since taking Citalopram I have had constant urges to want to drink alcohol. I have been drinking between 10 to 12 bottles of beer almost every day, and what's worse is I don't feel drunk afterwards or have a hangover the following day. This drug is the holy grail for an alcoholic.
I stopped taking this drug 4 days ago and guess what? No cravings for alcohol. I know I shouldn't stop the drug going cold turkey but have no choice on the matter and so far no side effects form withdrawl. My appetite has also come back a bit and now I want to eat rather then drink.
Just thought I'd warn people out there. if you take this drug and your alcohol intake goes up it could be worth stopping the medication.
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I saw this thread and registered so I could pop in and discuss. Yes, I too developed serious alcohol cravings on Celexa and my (former) pdoc would not believe me, and increased my dosage- which resulted in a drug induced manic state that put me in the emergency room. I was also on Xanax as well. When I informed him later, he scoffed at me and that was when I decided to fire him.
Of course, the deterioration prior to this was slow and almost imperceptible. I became dull and uninterested in life's activities and stopped enjoying my hobbies during the decade I was on both of these drugs. The pdoc naturally attributed all of this to my "illness" and would not even consider the possibility that the drugs could have been a contributor.
I am drug free today, and furthermore I refuse to touch them. They are not for everyone. I feel far, far better today and the alcohol cravings have disappeared.
Just a caution- don't stop taking anything cold turkey.