Cough

I have read comments about people developing a cough on Citalopram. I thought my throat tickle was because of my blood pressure meds, but the Dr. changed that. I still have this weirdo cough that just starts as a tickle, then I start coughing which leads to gagging, and I have to leave the room to not embarrass myself. It's hurting me professionally, as I am a teacher. Before I change the Citalopram (which seems to be working well), is there any cough solution that will help. Sucking on mints does help, but if I can't get to them fast enough, it's too late.
One of my students mentioned something called Tessa something, anybody familiar with that? I really don't want to take another pill.

Oh my god I have been experiencing the same thing. I told my doctor and he told me it must be allergies. I thought it was more then that. I bet its these pills because I never had this gagging nasty cough before. I thought it was from smoking but again, I never had a cough like this before. I cough till I almost throw up because I can't stop and YES, it is VERY VERY embarrassing. I am also on blood pressure medicine myself but I knew it wasn't that because I've been on those pills for years. Very interesting and good to know that someone is experiencing the same thing.

Jo Jo wrote:

I have read comments about people developing a cough on Citalopram. I thought my throat tickle was because of my blood pressure meds, but the Dr. changed that. I still have this weirdo cough that just starts as a tickle, then I start coughing which leads to gagging, and I have to leave the room to not embarrass myself. It's hurting me professionally, as I am a teacher. Before I change the Citalopram (which seems to be working well), is there any cough solution that will help. Sucking on mints does help, but if I can't get to them fast enough, it's too late.
One of my students mentioned something called Tessa something, anybody familiar with that? I really don't want to take another pill.

It's been debilitating for me. Which blood pressure meds are u on? I'm on HCT (hydrochlorothiazide) and Metoprolol. I was on Lisinopril, but the dr. changed that thinking it was causing the cough.
Any news would be appreciated.

P.S. I thought it was allergies at first, which I don't seem to have, and I also smoke, but the cough wasn't like this until the drugs.

I am on Metoprolol and have been for years so I know the cough isn't from that and I agree that it is a different kind of cough too. Not a smokers cough so much but a very unpleasant and annoying cough it is.

Jo Jo wrote:

It's been debilitating for me. Which blood pressure meds are u on? I'm on HCT (hydrochlorothiazide) and Metoprolol. I was on Lisinopril, but the dr. changed that thinking it was causing the cough.
Any news would be appreciated.

I'm on metaprolol, also, and I was on Lisinopril as a diuretic. My Dr. said one side effect of the Lisinopril was a weird cough, so we switched to a different med. She said the cough should go away in 3 days, but it didn't. The last few days have not been quite as bad, though. It's just tough to never know when it will hit.

Hi there JoJo and HMC!

Celexa can cause pharyngitis, or inflammation of the pharynx, which is at the back of the throat, about at the end of the tongue. It can be readily seen if there is inflammation there by your doctor, and s/he can speak to you about it. Don't take "No!" for an answer, OK?

Thanks for the advice!

Well, for me it was time to stop my citalopram anyway, and over the course of 3 months I weaned myself very gently and carefully off med meds.
My coughing fits seemed to increase in intensity for a while, but they decreased in frequency.
Two weeks after I took my last citalopram dose, all coughing disappeared, never to return.
I still take lisinopril HCL, but that seems to have no real impact. In my view the citalopram was the real culprit for my respiratory (and several other) woes.

Jo Jo wrote:

I have read comments about people developing a cough on Citalopram. I thought my throat tickle was because of my blood pressure meds, but the Dr. changed that. I still have this weirdo cough that just starts as a tickle, then I start coughing which leads to gagging, and I have to leave the room to not embarrass myself. It's hurting me professionally, as I am a teacher. Before I change the Citalopram (which seems to be working well), is there any cough solution that will help. Sucking on mints does help, but if I can't get to them fast enough, it's too late.
One of my students mentioned something called Tessa something, anybody familiar with that? I really don't want to take another pill.

Tesslon Pearls! You can also get the generic brand....it works well too.

i to have took a cough over the past 2 weeks its an annoying cough i have been decreasing my cipramil over the past 3 weeks did not put cough down to this mood swings r bad when felling low is this normal

Hello all,

I'm late on the debate but I have had a constant and strange itchy cough too since laking Citalopram. My doctor dismissed it as a side effect but you lot have made me think I was right!

I've noticed an annoying cough which I've attributed to GERD, because the citalopram has increased my problems with GERD, even though I've been taking Prilosec every day for several years. Doctor suggested I take a second dose at night until the GERD subsides/goes back to normal. Have you considered that you might be experiencing acid reflux from the citalopram?

I have been on citalopram for about 1 year. I too have had a really bad cough. It starts off like I have something stuck in my throat, like popcorn. It has been driving me crazy. Once I start coughing it sounds like I am about to lose a lung. I don't see my Dr. until May, I will ask him about it then.

I also have a horrible cough. I can feel in start in the back of my throat, and I know that there is no way I can really stop it, no matter how much water I drink. The coughing doesn't stop until it's ready to, which is usually in about 3-4 minutes. It's not constant, but, it is really inconvenient and sometimes embarrassing. I initially thought that the cough was coming from ativan which I was on for 1 year and a half. I am now off of that, and, realize that withdrawal symptoms from that can linger for some time. But, reading the comments from you all makes me think it is the citalopram. I also have a lot of stomach pain and throat dryness. I am sure the throat dryness is contributing a lot to the cough as my throat is just so irritated. It seems as if citalopram just wreaks havoc on all the mucous membranes, which would make sense being that I am having stomach problems and my throat is so irritated. I plan on slowly weaning off of citalopram in a month or so.

Hi, its so interesting hearing about everyone who has also developed coughs on citalopram. I have had a cough for years but doc never acknowledges this is the cause. I know its somewhere far down the contraindications and made out to be a rare side effect but going by this, it isnt! I am now off the citalopram properly for the first time in 12 years and I am still coughing but am hoping that this will eventually calm down. Anyone out there who has recently stopped taking this drug and who is finding they are still coughing or who's cough has stopped? I am being tested for cough varient asthma next week but the doc honestly doesnt think this is my problem.

look forward to hearing from anyone out there.

Thank goodness for reading your posts! Today I asked my Dr to change my anti-depressant from Citalopram cos I have been coughing worse and worse since I started this course in January. I had asthma tests last time I was prescribed the drug but have now realised that the Citalopram must be to blame. The cough has been driving me mad and I have pains all around my body too, probably from coughing! It starts as a tickle and then I can't stop coughing. Glad to have my suspicions confirmed on here.

I have been taking citalopram for around 2 weeks now and i've developed a cough, but I do not have any itchy throat. Just the strange desire to cough. Its not like any other cough i've had, its not itchy, its not dry. Its a sudeffect I can live with though if it doesn't become itchy/sore/dry. I'm only on the 20mg dosage though. If I go up, I wonder if things will go worse? drop me a line at waynetickner@hotmail.com if you have any ideas on this, or the coughing going from dosage of 20-40mg

I'm glad i'm not the only one then, have taken Citalopram in the past and have been ok, but started taking it again in feb this year and the cough started. Went back to the dr and he said would i rather be depressed or put up with a cough, not good. Saw a different doc and he put me on inhalers, never had asthma in my life and they seem to be making me worse. The cough starts off tickly and then it catches you and you cant get your breath, my job is in a call centre and I know my colleagues are getting fed up with me. I've got another doctors appointment tomorrow and hopefully he will either change the dp or give me something to stop this cough once and for all.

hi ive have had a cough forever now ..it started about 3 years ago..i had a cold and got really sick and woke up in a coughing fit and gagging..now ever since i have had this off and on like every month or so ..im so tired of coughing and gagging all the time its horrible ..can anyone help?