Citalopram positive support please !

[Turkishdelight1]

Hi
After I multitude of stressful life events my poor old body has demanded some rest and I crashed with huge anxiety problems. My very supportive gp started me on Citalopram and I am waiting for some counselling. I started reluctantly on the medication as I like to avoid medicines usually but I really need a lift. The side effects have been pretty gruesome. ..nausea and vomiting shakiness no appetite and the weirdness. However the anxiety was huge over the first few days then improved only to return and hang around all day yesterday. I have to say, today it feels a little better but I just wondered how others have felt ? I take it at night as it really seems to help me sleep.
The other thing I have noticed is that I cannot really stay focused on a conversation with others at the moment.
Would love to hear some positive stories as I have taken the plunge and desperately want to feel better and enjoy life
Thanks so much

[sarah876]

I have been taking them for three years now......I felt pretty groggy for a few weeks but this does improve. They really do help me and stop me over thinking things and intrusive thoughts. I would not of coped without them but one word of wisdom please do the councelling as I didn't. I tried recently to come of off them and bam a whole load of crap happens again and I can't cope because I never learnt how to stop the cascade of depressing thoughts that seem to pop up when I'm stressed, so I'm back on them but this time I'm getting some talk therapy. Xxxx

[ChilliAndBint]

I was on it for a fortnight.
I've had ads on and off for 30 years.
Citalopram is seen as a cure all for just about everything. It's not!
It affected my eyesight and gave me the shakes.

[dementedma]

I have been on Citalopram on three different occasions in my life. Each time it has made a major difference and got me through and I have come off it no problem. No side effects other than the first few days and hugely beneficial.

[Turkishdelight1]

Many thanks. I will definitely do the counselling too. Is day 11 too early to expect all the side effects to have disappeared ?

[knackered69]

Im on it now - for me, it took about 11 days before the worst of the side effects were over, but after 11 days the anxiety was starting to lift - the depression wasn't quite as all encompassing and I started to feel a little hope.

I came off it after about 6 months and was doing well, but about a year ago my mum died, and then 6 months later my sister died and it was very stressful as I looked after them but I live 200 miles away and am a working single parent.

My sister lived with my mum,and she was a hoarder and they had rats, so I had to sort all that out and deep clean the house, cos at one point they were both in hospital at the same time.. Then sister went to itu, and mum was terminal - mum died, but sister got out of itu - I did mums funeral service then sister came home with support, then 6 months later she had a massive m.i and died. Am just sorting out probate now, and the headstone.

So yeah! went back on the meds and am doing ok - sorry for the hijack!

[knackered69]

Sorry cross posted!

[Turkishdelight1]

Hi knackered69...certainly sounds as if you have had your plate full ! I do hope things are settling for you ?
Sarah876.... sounds positive ? Am on day 12 today feeling very nauseaous and generally under par. Trying to be hopeful that these side effects will burn out soon ? I am a bit low I wouldn't say depressed but very anxious. Almost panic most of the time which is what took me to gp. The anxiety I have had since on the meds definitely feels different, pretty scary and nasty but quite different.
Dementedma thankyou too. I guess I wanted those "hang in there"comments. From what I have read (and it has been much!) I should expect sude effects at this stage ?

[Clair1981]

My anxiety went through the roof after ten days on 20mg. I dropped back to 10 and it improved . After four weeks I was feeling improved but not great so I'm increasing to 20 very slowly ( fortnight of 20 every three days and 10 the others, and now a fortnight of 20/10 alternate). I'm finding the side effects not as bad as the start other than the hot flushes are back.

[gladyoucame]

I started this on Monday. I've been taking it in the evening as advice seemed mixed on the best time to take it. Haven't noticed too many side effects yet as its really early days, I'm also on painkillers for a bad back so not sure whether I would know which medication was causing what. Possibly slightly 'foggy' mentally and not as quick. Really hope it doesn't make my anxiety worse as I can't cope with it getting worse, I'm trying to get through it whilst working in a job I really don't like.

[Turkishdelight1]

Hi clair
How long did your side effects last ?

[hefzi]

Hi, Turkish - hope you're doing better today. When I first started taking it, around 9 years ago, I had minging side effects (dodgy eyes, nausea, weird anxiety, vertigo etc) for about a month. Once it settled down, it was absolutely brilliant right up until the time about two years ago it was no longer effective. (I was taking it for anxiety and depression: the eye issue continued, but to me, the side effects were worth the increased ability to cope)

[Clair1981]

I didn't get nausea, but the tiredness , funny eyes ( technical term) and hot flushes lasted 3-4 weeks. The crazy heightened anxiety, like full on panic attacks went within a day or so of dropping to 10mg - I think I should have been started on 10 all along as I'm more being treated for anxiety than depression. It's only the hot flushes I'm getting now increasing the dose and I'm hoping they will pass in a couple of weeks. Beta blockers can be good to temporarily deal with extra anxiety .

[Clair1981]

Oh and my appetite came back about week four xx

[Turkishdelight1]

Thank you all it really makes me feel better to know it is to be expected. Really sicky and zero appetite during the day but better in the evening.
Stomach rumbles but just not able to to face food.
Been the quietest and stillest I have ever known

[Clair1981]

Try and force yourself to eat cause low blood sugars will make you feel worse. I always tried to have soup as it went down easily! Good luck and honestly in a few weeks you will feel much better xx

[Turkishdelight1]

Good luck gladyoucame! Keep in touch x
Hefzi.....minging..yes really ! How long is it so yuck ?
Clair1981.... I did manage some pasta last night and some lucozade today but have to be careful when I clean my teeth because it makes me vomit. Mine for anxiety too hope it is as successful as your story x
Thanks so much all xxxx

[RatherBeRiding]

I have been on it for years with zero side effects so maybe I am just lucky but if you aren't getting on with it there are others that might be more effective and without side effects?

My anxiety settled within days of starting it and my sleep improved so maybe it's horses for courses but I honestly wouldn't persist with it for too long if the side effects are unpleasant - go back to your GP and see if there is another one that is more effective for you.

[SeaBear]

Hi Turkishdelight1

I have actually the opposite problem trying to come off Citalopram with not very pleasant results. However, I remember when I first started on them I felt like I was stoned!! Whilst it was a relief the anxiety I was experiencing literally disappeared within a few hours of the first 10mg pill (only to come back with a vengeance 2 years later but I think that was due to switching to Sertraline and then back to Citalopram) for the first 5 - 10 days I felt totally spaced out and unable to concentrate. I don't remember it being an issue though as my mind was working overtime beforehand and the spaced out feeling was quite the welcome relief. What I do remember though, is that it really didn't last any longer than two weeks and got easier every day. It affected my sleep at first (patchy, weird vivid dreams) but I switched to taking the pill in the morning and found that helped. I also felt a little sicky and lost my appetite for the first week, so I lost a few pounds, which I wasn't complaining about. It wasn't a bad feeling, but once I got through the initial few weeks, with the side effects getting easier every day, I felt worlds better than I did before I started the meds. So, do hang in there. Remember everyone reacts differently, so some will get more severe side effect symptoms than others. If you are feeling the same in a months time I would suggest another visit to the doctor.

Oh, another side effect for me was excessive yawning!! And I mean literally every 5 minutes... Not a great impression when you are in a meeting with your boss and you need to yawn whilst he is in the middle of talking about his own self importance...

[Wolfiefan]

Hopefully a positive story. I was put on citalopram. I was a mess. I did the counselling and rode out the side effects. I began to feel like me again. I VERY slowly came off the pills (with support of GP.)
I am now off the pills and have been for months.
Good luck everyone.

[Turkishdelight1]

Seabear oh thank you so much. It is so good to hear positive stories. I think as I increased the dose the side effects have increased again unfortunately. So extra yuck but can bear it if it is going to make me feel better soon. I am just having to completely write some days off because I feel so horrid. It is day 15 in total but day 4 of the increased dose so I guess I have to just wait on
Wolfiefan....great to hear you have done so well and good luck out the other end. After being so reluctant to start on them I need as much encouragement as possible x

[SeaBear]

Ah yes, that happened to me too. As soon as I started to feel normal-ish on 10mg, my doctor upped to me 20mg and thus starting the whole side effects process all over again! Hang in there, in a few weeks you should hopefully feel a lot better.

Also, don't feel bad about any days you have to write off. It's a lot of change for both the brain and body and the adjusting can take its toll. So there is nothing wrong with a good old duvet day, a movie and some tlc to help the process

[Turkishdelight1]

Seabear thank you for that x I have to say netflix has been a Godsend and I have googled everything possible! I have some days where I feel good for part of the day and some where I just feel vile
Trying to hide it from my 2children is not at all easy :(

[Error404usernamenotfound]

I'm currently on citalopram, not for the first time, and it is a godsend. If the side effects are too much and aren't settling down then it might just not be the right one for you; everyone's body reacts differently, and there are other antidepressants.

I hope that you feel better soon

[Turkishdelight1]

Thank you. I am trying to stick with it for a few more weeks if possible as I am hoping it will settle. I think increasing the dose has worsened it but hopefully just temporarily. Amazing how many other people take this medication and how helpful it has been to so many trying to get themselves back on track x

[hefzi]

Hi again Turkish - hope you're having a better day today: I know what you mean about tooth-cleaning vomit! I was minging for about five weeks, but over that period, it slowly, slowly got better - from parts of some days being quite good, to good days and bad days, and eventually, only good days. There were some days I just used to lie on the sofa and groan a little pathetically, but after about a fortnight, these went - so hopefully, the end is pretty much in sight for you!

Another weird thing - I couldn't face food at all for about three weeks, except for those Italian chocolate things: Baci (?) or something. I don't even really like chocolate...

On a more positive note, when I came off it, it was with no problems at all: I figured I had had my full quota of shittiness getting adjusted to it in the first place!

Keep hanging in there x