Cough

I started (reluctantly)citalopram in July. I started to have a runny nose some time later. Now I have this annoying cough. Sometimes when I am eating I cough so badly that I almost choke. I recently increased the dose from 5 mg once a day to twice a day. My doctor has been quite vague about how long I need to take this drug. I notice some comments about coming off citalopram. Under what conditions were you told to stop?

Alex, I am coming off of citalopram of my own decision. I was misdiagnosed with an anxiety problem, when, in fact I had a hormonal (progesterone) imbalance (which is now taken care of). But, by the time I had a correct diagnosis, I was already on the citalopram as well as ativan (I took 15 months to wean myself off of ativan). I began tapering from citalopram, using liquid citalopram about 4 months ago. I will be finished in about 4 more months. My starting dose was 10 mg. This slow taper seems to be going very well. If you are not comfortable being on citalopram (or anti-depressants/SSRI's, in general), I would urge you to get a second opinion. Doctors should make medication decisions with the patient, not, against their will.

so what was done to diagnose the real problem (progesterone)

I was able to find a doctor who was more familiar with hormones than any of the doctors I had been to before. In researching all of this, I have found out that very few doctors understand and know how to properly test hormone levels. My particular case of hormonal imbalance was caused by being on the birth control pill. The Pill has the ability to strip the body of its natural hormones. This is what happened to me. So, when I tried to stop taking the Pill, that's when I began having massive panic attacks. Things are much better now. But, it is has been about 26 months so far recovering from all of this and weaning off the psych meds I should not have placed been on.

Been on Escitalopram for around 4 years now and have had a maddeningly persistent dry cough. I've had so many chest x-rays, tried all sorts of inhalers and today by chance I came across this forum. So it looks like it's another side-effect and nothing more sinister.
Anyone find anthing to help with the cough? Does coming off the meds see the cough disappear? Would love to know.

Ben wrote:

Been on Escitalopram for around 4 years now and have had a maddeningly persistent dry cough. I've had so many chest x-rays, tried all sorts of inhalers and today by chance I came across this forum. So it looks like it's another side-effect and nothing more sinister.
Anyone find anthing to help with the cough? Does coming off the meds see the cough disappear? Would love to know.

Hi Ben, came off the anti depressant last month, and guess what, it took about 2 to 3 weeks, but my cough has nearly disappeared, so tablet def to blame, and I had had this awful cough since feb this year when i started the meds.

I have been slowly weaning off citalopram since August (2009). I am very sensitive to changes in medication, so, I take tapering very slowly. I am using liquid citalopram to taper off. I began at 5 mg of liquid citalopram (10 mg tablet equivalent) and am now down to 1.5 mg of liquid citalopram. So far, the cough has not gotten better. But, I anticipate that it will clear up pretty quickly after I am completely off of citalopram.

Well ive had this nasty cough for about a few days now. I know it does not start because of phlem or cause i have a cold. I dont have a stuffy nose or have a fever. But because of the coughing alot ive been getting headaches because of all the pressure im putting on cause of coughing. Miami has been really cold for a week now and this started last week around new years when it started getting cold i had a scratchy throat the one you get before getting a cold. Yet still no stuffy nose or fever. It got normal until ive been getting this very strong tickle on my throat i cough until i get to this point of throwing up because of all the coughing. It sucks because im a student and im the only one coughing while everyone else is doing their work and i have to excuse myself from the room to drink water but it does not help at all until it stops in aout 5 minutes or so.I think maybe its because im not used to the cold Miami gets to 70 degrees and thats cold for us, but lately its been on its 30s and 40s here. I dont know what it is ive never have taken pills for anything it just started out of the blue. And ive never gotten something like this before either i hate it. Any suggestions on what it might be?

I have just started on a 10 mg dose of Citalopram for suspected depression. I have only had them 2 days but have developed a cough which seems to be linked to my sinuses. I suffer from catarrh. Is there a link with Citalopram and my cough?

I'm on 25 mg. of Metoprolol daily, and have developed a persistent, spasm-type dry cough. I've never had asthma, it's not a cold, I haven't been ill with a virus, that leaves the Metoprolol as one of the few suspects left standing.

I see my cardiologist tomorrow, and will be asking him to remove me from the Metoprolol.

It's beyond annoying, I can't carry on a simple conversation. It's affecting my desire to talk with friends and family as well as my ability to carry on business.

I started coughing a few months after i started citalopram..and yes it is a tickle and then it grows into a an all out cough fest and sometimes i cant stop until i end up gagging up phlem...and then i get a runny nose or I completely stop up.. i tale lisinopril also and i think the combo of the two are making it worse.. I read there is a cough that has been known to develop with that drug too...Lord Help Us...

Oh my God! I've a horrible cough every since I've taken celexa too fir about three months when I first started. My doctor thought it was my blood pressure medicine, I got a chest X-ray, seen the pulmonary clinic and blood work. Every test came back normal. I stopped all medicines except celexa and the cough is still there. But this morning I didn't take the celexa my cough has decreased about 30percent and I didn't have a embarrassing gagging episode today. I'm not going to take it tomorrow neither and pray the cough continue to decrease. Pray for me as I continue to pray for you that our debilitating cough goes away for good!

I have the same thing an no doc has helped me at all. It's a tickle in my throat and then I cough cough and cough choke and throw up. I have been like this for two months I've also been on all kinnds of meds steroids anti bois and couc syrups with coidine I am tired and looking for some hope as well. At this point in the coughing game I am exhausted. My throat is swollen and it hurts really bad I don't even like to go out of the house because I donnt know when I am going to have a coughing spell. I have been to a lung doctor and did a sleep study I guess my next step is a ent.

My grandmother has been on Celexa and blood pressure meds Diovan, Amlodipine and Metoprolol. She has had a serious choking gagging cough for the entire 3 months that she's been taking them. She also has trouble sleeping and nasal issues. The dr. suggested that she take her Celexa every other day for 10 days and then stop. I am worried that she will have withdrawal symptoms, but we are at the point of trying anything to get rid of her cough.

Hi,
Blood pressure medication can also cause coughing so it could also be this as well as celexa which is giving her the symptoms. Its not wise to suddenly stop this medication and I'm amazed the doctor told her to do this. Its far easier to withdraw slowly. If she suddenly stops she could suffer from anxiety and palpitations etc., although after a few days these symptoms cease. Hope this is of some help.

I suffered cough for 6 months, very debilitating. My doctor suggested chest X-ray but I knew not a chest problem. Friend said sometimes a blood pressure meds side effect and doctor came to same conclusion, thankfully. First time I have ever had a drug side effect. I was taking citalaprom, symptoms disappeared after change.

Wow I am so glad to hear that other people are experiencing this awful cough. I have been taking citalopram for 7 months. I wake up at night coughing... My throat feels like I have something stuck in it so I swallow and swallow thinking it is flem stuck and I feel like I am going to puke. I also get this cough during the day it hits me all of a sudden. It like forces me to cough and then it gets out of control. What is also so weird, I start coughing after I laugh hard or holler. It is so irritating.