Citalopram for panic attacks?

[Moaningmyrtle65]

I've been prescribed citalopram for anxiety and panic attacks. Started on 10mg for a month and just moved up to 20mg.

But when I've read up on it it sounds more like an anti depressant. I'm not depressed. I suffer from extreme panic attacks but not everyday. It's more when I have to go into uncomfortable or unfamiliar situations.

Wibu to question this with my gp? Has anyone else been prescribed this for panic attacks and did it work? I haven't really noticed a change but I'm not sure if it's because it's early days or if I've been given the wrong thing....

Bump

I haven’t been but take propranolol for panic attacks and it’s great.

I take citalopram for anxiety.
I've gone from being crippled with near constant panic attacks and being terrified of so many normal things to being able to actually function.

Citalopram can be used for anxiety as well as depression. I'm prescribed 30mg for anxiety but also had low mood at the time. I have been on it around 5 months now and definitely feel a lot different in stressful situations. I am also prescribed Propanalol however I don't tend to use it that much anymore. My advice would be to stick at it and see how you feel in panic inducing situations. It would be helpful if you made a note of current triggers and compare them in a few months iyswim?

Yep prescribed for panic attacks/anxiety. It's a common approach, is it called "off label" or something? Anyway it worked.

@SprogletsMum that's reassuring to hear. Can I ask how long it took you to feel better? I've been on them just over a month now and I'm still having panic attacks often

I’ve been on ADs fir years

I think this is inappropriate for panic attacks. I did have them but also had terrible anxiety all the time

I’m sorry to say there is a trend for giving longer term drugs for what might be a short term problem.

I would certainly question this. It’s a real bugger to come off, may be unnecessary from the info you’ve given, and may be their way of avoiding giving tranquillisers which are now treated as the very devil.

My original GP from 15 years ago is now retired and is very concerned about this trend too. In her words, they don’t like to give meds that work short term. I was only given sleeping pills after 72 hours of no sleep. She used to give me about 10 pills a year but her replacement said that was too many.

Sorry, that was a rant. Yes, do question your GP. I gained weight rapidly on citalopram as well. Prior to taking it, I had eaten so much junk it was obscene but the anxiety burned it off. Citalopram, back to feeling better and normal eating - instant weight gain.

Oh wow
The other posts weren’t there when I posted my rant

Hope you find it okay as others clearly have

Proprnanlol is the standard go to med for panic attacks, especially if you think you are going to be in a situation where you may have one as you can just take when needed. It works wonders too!

I also take it for anxiety along with propranolol for the physical symptoms of panic attacks.

Speak to your doctor if your worried, of course, but rest assured that citalopram is not only for depression. It can really, really help.

OP I have been on citalopram for 5 years now for anxiety and panic attacks. It has worked so amazingly well. From memory it took about 3 weeks to work for me, I'd give it another couple of weeks and then speak to your doctor if it isn't working. I'm on 20mg. 10mg doesn't do it for me, I've tried to taper down in the past but it never works as well.

Generalized anxiety disorder and panic attacks sometimes respond to anti depressants, so they can help.
You might also find that a daily magnesium supplement can reduce the number and intensity of attacks, and there's a breathing exercise you should learn, try to practice several times a day;

the vagus nerve is in charge of turning off the ‘fight or flight’ reflex.”
www.thecut.com/2019/05/i-now-suspect-the-vagus-nerve-is-the-key-to-well-being.html

Citalopram can work for anxiety - lots of anti-depressants are also used to treat anxiety related conditions too. However, if you've been taking it for a month and haven't noticed a difference, I would go back to the GP and see if there's anything else they can do for you.

Propranolol is good for anxiety and doesn't have anywhere near as many side effects as Citalopram, which is really grim in the first few weeks and is also a nightmare to wean off from speaks from bitter experience. Sertraline is another option that worked very well for me when I was signed off with stress/anxiety and needed something stronger than propranolol. It was also much easier to adjust to.

Best of luck

www.nhs.uk/medicines/citalopram/
See section 1. Propranolol is helpful for treating the physical symptoms of a panic attack (the racing heart etc) but does not prevent the attack from occurring, which Citalopram aims to do.

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg113/ifp/chapter/What-treatments-should-I-be-offered-for-panic-disorder#medication-2

I've only just gone onto 20mg so hopefully this increase will make a difference.

A lot of my panic attacks come from being in situations with crowds, confined spaces, high pressure situations like meetings or ceremonies of any kind. I'm due to get married next year and although it's normal to be nervous I currently feel like I'll be crippled by panic and might not even be able to go through with it.

Will citalopram just change my mood and fear? I don't know what to expect. I just want it to stop.

Hi OP, I have been taking Escitalopram for panic attacks and anxiety and it has changed my life, so much, for the better.

It just takes away my anxiety and allows me to stay calm and cope. My panic attacks come out of nowhere so no predictable triggers but on citalopram I just kind of stay stable and strong.

For me, it just took away the overwhelming panic. I found I was able to do things like answering the phone to strangers or going out in public without feeling sick or sweaty. It was just like a switch flicked in me.

Will citalopram just change my mood and fear? I don't know what to expect. I just want it to stop.

It did for me. After about a month and a half of taking them, I can remember sitting with DH and saying "I don't feel scared and worried right now".

It was shocking. In a good way!

It's not a total wonder drug. I obviously still get scared and worried from time to time but not to the point where those feelings consume my whole life and I'm just waiting for the next panic attack to hit me.

I really hope that happens for me. It would just be nice to be able to do something simple like going to the shops without all the stress and panic before and during. I wasn't sure if it would be a gradual thing or a lightbulb moment. Maybe it's different for everyone

Give them another couple of weeks and if you are still seeing no improvement get back on the phone to your doctor.

I wish you all the luck with them, I really do.

Anxiety is awful.