can anyone hold my hand about to take my first ADs and very scared

[43mumof2]

doctor wants me to take them for y anxiety and depression , but im so scared about taking them ...anyone can help me through it , hold my hand ...shes prescribed citroparm (cant spell it ) not sure weather to take day time or night ?

[OwlAtEase]

Well done OP, I know it can be scary taking new medication like this but it can be so helpful. I've been on anti-depressants before and they really helped me. It may take a few weeks for you to adjust and start feeling better, so don't worry if you feel like they're not working immediately! Can't advise on when to take them as I was on a different type (sertraline), but hopefully someone else can help with that

[YouFargingIceHole]

Hi 43,
I was prescribed sertraline last autumn and it took me a week to work up the courage. What is it that's making you scared about taking them? Did your Dr start you on a very low dose? The side effects can be pretty harsh at first but they usually go away after a few weeks.
I felt awful for a week or so but then they kicked in and I now have much less anxiety and depression.
I found it helped to tell myself they wouldn't kill me. That might sound overdramatic but it put it in perspective for me.
I'm sorry you're going through this. Keep going though, it will get better! X

[YouFargingIceHole]

Oh yeah, I took them in the evening at first because they made me sleepy. I switched to mornings a few weeks in once the side effects lessened.

[43mumof2]

thank you for replying , i so want to feel better , its taking over my life this feeling , i went to the opptitions this morning to make an appointment ,as my sight has got a bit worse , then got so anxious incase they find something wrong with me , so i walked out ..with no appointment ...now i feel awful

[hotandbothered24]

Have recently been in your situation, and although they took a few weeks to kick in am now feeling much better. Be kind to yourself and hope you start to feel better soon. I take Sertraline and take them in the morning but trial and error will tell you what suits you

[43mumof2]

shes given me 10mg to start with as im anxious about taking them then i see her in a week and will put me up if i feel ok ,
im so anxious about side effects really , if i get a reaction and die .. sorry i know that sounds extreme but its how i feel , and thats why im not sure about night time incase i get a bad reaction, but i the day i must function , going to my DD friends mums BBQ tonight , i dint know anyone well only mums to say hi to as at secondry school , im going , and wish i said i wouldnt now as already im feeling over whellemed with anxiety , so not sure if shpould start tabs tonight or tomorrow morning ...

[YouFargingIceHole]

Oh 43, that sounds hard, be gentle with yourself. Imagine your very best friend was going through this and treat yourself like you would a friend.
Hang tight until you feel strong enough to make another appointment. Also, ADs can sometimes play silly buggers with your eyesight (temporarily and not sight threatening! just a bit blurry IME ). Can you talk to anyone in real life about this?

[Bakeoffcake]

Hi 43mumof2, I am taking citrolapram. I was also very fearful of taking it but I needed to have worried. it made me feel quite spaced out and very calm for about a week. I actually liked the feeling and took them in the morning as I enjoyed feeling calm during the day. However I didn't work at the time so I could take it easy. If I was working I would have started taking them at night.

They made such a massive difference to my life and I would recommend them very much. Good luck with them you should start to feel less anxious pretty quickly

[Bakeoffcake]

X posted with you.

If you are going out tonight then I'd take them in the morning, only because if you take one now, you'll be worrying all day about it.
You will feel a few side effects but often it's a calm feeling - which is nice after all the anxiety.x

[43mumof2]

thanks , no not really , no one i know takes ADS my DH i cant talk to about anything , hes making my anxiety worse , im going through few heath scares , health anxiety being my biggest thing , and my mind is working over time thinking the worst of everything so my doctor said to go on ADs to help me get through all this ...i could just cry i hate everything right now , except my DC they are my world

[YouFargingIceHole]

Can you ditch the bbq? say you're not feeling well, Tis the truth. perhaps you should take your tabs in the day so you feel safe. Is there someone who can be with you for the first few days to reassure you that you can get help if needed. Once you've taken them a few days you should have the measure of what side effects you'll experience. And with citalopram I know that anxiety can increase before it gets better so hang in with it! My mom has been taking it for years and had that at first. She's very well now.

[Bakeoffcake]

Oh you poor thing, it does help to talk with someone. It's great that you've started this thread, there are people here who will always listen.x

[43mumof2]

cant not go to BBQ i dont think my DD is so pleased im going as other mums are going to , shes struggled with friendship circles this year and this group of girls seems to be so nice so id like to support her , i will just try distract myself and be the helper , offer to wash up etc

[43mumof2]

thank you bakeoff , im grateful for everyones support really am x

[Bakeoffcake]

That's great you are supporting DD and a good idea to help and keep busy.

I hope it goes well, it's lovely weather for a BBQ here- hope it is with you too.

[LosingNemo]

Just wanted to echo other pps - I take ADs and understand your worries, but really they've changed my world. They haven't changed my personality or made me a zombie or any of those other scary things people who don't know go on about, they've just allowed me to be myself again. I promise you that a life without anxiety (you'll still worry but it won't be that awful disabling anxiety) is so much better than a life with it.
Also I bet that there are people in your life that do take medication - you probably just don't know it. Good luck OP

[43mumof2]

thank you losingNemo , i have decided i think ...i will take tomorrow morning as iv no plans for the day so can stay home i think so will be better than tonight and me perhaps not getting any sleep cos i will worry ...
i am very sensative to things , react to asprin , only ever take 250 of paracetimol as 500 to strong , i feel sick with vitamins , and have reacted to rubber gloves before ...so i think this is why im worrying ...

[YouFargingIceHole]

Hi 43, I'm just checking back in to see how the bbq went? Do keep posting for support while you start your tabs as there are so many people who understand where you're at. Can you go for counselling? Maybe your gp could refer you?
Take care. X

[Dummynameforthisthread]

I take citalopram.

Nothing to be afraid of. It's been a big help to me.

It may well make you sleepy at first, so probably best to take it in the evening and not plan much the next day.

In the first few weeks I had a really dry mouth. That was all.

The feeling when you first start, is a bit like an alarm being switched off. Like a car alarm that has been annoying you for so long you've almost stopped noticing it, then it stops and you're relieved.

[YouveCatToBeKittenMe]

I take citalopram too
I started on 10mg, I take mine in the evening as I don't want to feel spaced out or tired during the day
It took about 3 weeks for me before I felt so much better. I couldn't believe it could make such a difference.
About 3 weeks ago I went up to 20mg as I had a very stressful exam but have now gone back down to 10 again
I had no side effects and the difference it has made to me is amazing. It doesn't get rid of anxiety completely but just makes you feel more able to cope and there isn't that awful feeling of dread hanging over you.

[Bakeoffcake]

Hi 43Mum, just checking in to see how it went last night.

[dementedma]

I am currently taking Citalopram and have taken it before. It makes a huge difference and I have no worries about taking it. I take it in the morning and find I can feel a bit nauseated for the first few days but that passes. It can take a few weeks to kick in but you will feel less panicky and more able to cope.

[43mumof2]

morning all , thank you for messages , i went to the BBQ was very anxious must have changed about 20 x before leaving the house , but it was plwasent evening, some lovely mums there who were nice i was the quietist there but that was ok , late night for me in bed at 11 ...
my DD was so pleased i went as well she said she was so happy i came and meet all the other mumsn so i was glad i did it .

im debating to take a tablet now ot tonight again now ....i want to and i long to feel that feeling of an alarm being switched off , im on constant high alert ...and constantly tired and low ...tearful and just rubbish, so your experiences and advice is so very helpful and giving me hope that i can feel better ..

so i have to work tomorrow so do i take tablet now or tonight ?

god i long to feel normal ... i really noticed last night how poorly my head is and how all these people were enjoying life laughing , drinking , knew so much more than i do about every day events , go on holidays , social events , loads of stuff ..
and stood out to me how iv spent so many months ...years locking myself in my head of negative thinking and anxiety , iv lost perspective on real life ...a life of fun ...
does that sound familiar to anyone ...nust get out of the house , this house is suffercating me ...or im letting it ...

[TheWintersmith]

Hi. I'm on your other thread. Glad the bbq was tolerable.

Take it now.... Or else tonight you will find a reason not to, and you will keep putting it off (been there!)

That description of the alarm switching off is so perfect. I wish I'd thought of it!

[TheWintersmith]

And yes.. Totally recognise that thought pattern. Shit isn't it. :(