Citalopram - what's everyone's experience please

[QueenofClean]

I've been started on citalopram for anxiety issues. Took my first dose last night 5mg a night for the first week increasing to 10mg next week.

What is everyone's experience of it and the side effects and how long they have lasted?

Thanks
QoC

[SnowyMouse]

I haven't noticed any major side effects from it, I take 20mg at night.

[QueenofClean]

Thanks Snowy. Have you noticed if you have started to feel better?

[sisterofmercy]

I took citalopram for a while several years ago. I didn't have any side effects. I didn't have any when I gave up either unlike some of my friends. It didn't make me happier but it did make me feel able to cope better - I didn't feel anything as strongly. The talking therapy was what really helped (once I finally got it and it lasted 9 months because I'd been depressed for 20 years by that point.)

[Bettythree]

I am on week 9, taking 20mg in the morning.
To be honest the first 3 or 4wks were pretty hard going for me. Felt more anxious than ever before, slept really badly and felt sick a lot of the time.
My GP persuaded me to stick with it and I'm really glad I did - by about 6 or 7 weeks I realised I was a lot less anxious a lot of the time and the other side effects were wearing off. I still feel a bit nauseous from time to time but I can live with that as my anxiety made me feel even worse.
I actually feel happier now than I have for a long long time and feel that I am coping with everyday things much better.

[Sparklingbrook]

Same experience as Betty. I started on 20mg and the first 2-3 weeks were pretty tough. But sticking with it paid off.

I took my last one about two months ago after being on them since Summer 2011.

Oh, and I was told to always take it in the morning.

Good luck x

[SnowyMouse]

I find it helps.

[EmpressOfJurisfiction]

I've been taking 20mg before bed for a couple of months now. As sisterofmercy said it helps, but it's starting talking therapy that's really made the difference. Few headaches at the start but no side effects otherwise.

[Sparklingbrook]

Side effects I had at the start-

Constant yawning
Clenchy jaw
Constipation
Vivid Dreams

[mrselizabethdarcy]

I felt a bit nauseous for the first two weeks but it has helped me loads. I feel able to cope and have only had 2 panic attacks since starting it 6 months ago and they were both at the start.

[MissPricklePants]

I'm on 30mg, been on it 18 months now. It's amazing as I can cope with life and generally on an even keel most of the time.

[PolkaSpottyDotty]

I absolutely couldn't take it.

After one dose I was like a zombie, had suicidal thoughts, felt like I was in a black hole.

However. I feel like it worked for me because I vowed never to go back there, didn't take it again and have used other techniques to conquer anxiety and depression. I'm not saying this is possible for everyone, but I must've been very sensitive to citalopram and it didn't suit me at all.

[Lozislovely]

Same side effects as Sparkling. I was on 20mg for 4 years and then up to 30mg for another year but it seemed to stop being effective when my marriage broke down.

Good AD though. Through determination I got a promotion and lost 2 stone whilst on it (lots of exercise though) so would never speak badly of it.

My main reason for taking it was anxiety and in the first couple of years it was really good, I think my state of mind over my marriage breakdown were the reasons it wasn't so suitable for me anymore.

[Sparklingbrook]

After the initial few weeks I started to not only feel better but got very brave. This was a new feeling for me.

Driving round strange cities' one way systems-no problem. I was very assertive for the first time ever.

[QueenofClean]

Thank you ladies. Good to see it helps you

Did any of you start on 5mg to build up some tolerance and then gradually increase the dosage or start off at 20 or 30mg?

[Sparklingbrook]

I started at 20mg. Then at first review GP said 'How about upping to 20mg now?'. She thought she had started me off on 10mg.

Anyway i went up to 30mg then 40mg before coming all the way back down again.

[QueenofClean]

Thanks Sparkling. Do you think your side effects were bad because you started on quite a high dose?

[Sparklingbrook]

I think so Queen, I don't think I was eased in gently. Weirdly I didn't have any further side effects when upping the dose each time.

[QueenofClean]

That's why I'm on 5mg for next week - 10 days at night. As tried Sertraline and Prozac at a high dose and knocked me for 6 and just didn't agree with me. So citalopram at 5mg and being eased into it. 2nd night of taking now and so far no side effects, fx stays that way.

[Trooperslane]

Same experience as sparkling - though always on 20mg once I'd done a week at 10.

I had the edge taken off horrific, crippling anxiety after 3 days and was able to go back to work after 4 weeks.

and a hug. It's shit but with the right help, gets better xxx

[Trooperslane]

Also take in the am. Vivid dreams and poor sleep plus night sweats otherwise for me (though others are different)

[dementedma]

Have been on it a few times.most recently 20mgs.
No problems at all coming off it. Takes a few weeks to kick in but found it really helpful

[Alchemist]

This is so interesting. Started with 10mg, couple of weeks later up to 20mg and for the last motnh on 30mg but now I am feeling more anxious and shaky than I did before taking it. Perhaps I should go back down to 20mg? Seeing GP next week.

OP Citalopram has helped me, on the whole, in a greatly beneficial way. I don't remember sickness etc but that was more the situation iyswim. In fact I would say they took the jagged edges off to a manageable level. It is still helping me now.

Hope you are feeling ok .

[123rd]

I'm on 20m which my dr said is best to take in the morning. I also had weird clenchy jaw thing. But I slept better then I did before I was taking it. I guess we all react slightly differently. The only on going down side of taking this ,I've found, is my sex drive/life has suffered. Don't fancy it half as much as I used to. Dh is quite chuffed tho-always had a lower sex drive then me so we are more matched now.

[Alchemist]

Troopers Are night sweats a side effect? I have been worrying about the sweats as am on hrt for prem meno and have been having horrible sweats. Was thinking the hrt wasn't working.

Sorry OP

[woolypigs]

I started with 10mg then went up to 20mg and now on 40mg. I am on it due to depression, anxiety and stress. Depression is better now than it was but anxiety still high.
I have had shakes, yawning, vivid dreams, jaw clenching. I have recently suffered night sweats but didn't put it together with the citalopram. I originally started taking it at night to try and help me sleep but while it might have helped at first it was making me wake up every hour.