Citalopram and side effects - should I start taking them now or wait??

[Tryagainplease]

I am about to separate from H.
I have a history of ill mental health with a couple of major breakdowns association with anxiety/panic/depression. I’ve never taken medication before - have instead tried to ‘think’ my out of it which usually works but takes years.

I have a small child now and can’t afford to be unwell for his sake so I decided to speak to a GP about medication and therapy now, rather than waiting until I get worse and potentially needing more intervention.

They prescribed me 10mg of Citalopram for 2 weeks and want a follow up appointment to then raise to 20mg.

I shouldn’t have but have been googling side effects and they don’t sound pleasant. I’m about to move house any day now and I’m worried if I start taking them today that I won’t be good to man nor beast while I move! Would you put off taking them or just start now and hope for the best?

Please be kind, I’ve never taken medication like this before and it’s making me feel anxious. Have been in my current situation (living with abusive H) for months and months after ending the marriage. It’s been a very tough year.

I've been on Citalopram for a long time - varying between 10 and 20mg a day. Cant remember having any side effects but like a PP I take mine at night so any side effects happened whilst I was asleep. Their effect wasn't some miraculous switch that made it all better, just that over the course of a few weeks, the black cloud that was enveloping me began to lift and I could see individual trees in the wood!

Although a female GP told me to stay on them 5 years ago to help me through menopause, a much younger male GP told me 2 years ago that I had to promise to come off them if he issued the repeat prescription. Well, my the start of 2020 I was down to 10mg every other day and about to stop totally. Then my life turned head over heels, Covid happened and now I'm back on 20mg a day with the black cloud returning far more often than I would like. Got another medication review next week - I hope I don't get the same young man

@Tryagainplease

I picked up my prescription yesterday and thought I’d leave it until this morning to take them in case they messed with my sleep - wondering if I should leave it until this evening.

Oh the irony of overthinking taking a medication that should help stop overthinking!

Best way to cut through the overthinking in this case is to just take your first one now. Just do it.

Ps I take them with breakfast to minimise any chance of them causing sleep problems, as I already have insomnia

I found the side effects to feel like a mild hangover for a week or two, but after that I couldn’t believe how much better I felt, in ways I hadn’t even realised I’d felt bad until I felt better, best thing I ever did!
Just take them

Took it at half ten this morning. Just starting to feel a little shaky and nauseous but not too bad!

Well done for taking that step, OP
Try not to look too hard for side effects

@AwkwardSquad

Well done for taking that step, OP Try not to look too hard for side effects

Thank you

Also a well done from me! The grip of overthinking is hard to overcome.

I had the sight shakes and nausea too at the start. It took me a about a week to realise it was only there when I acytually thought about it.

By two weeks I felt the weight lift from my brain and the anxiety thinking loop had dramatically reduced. I begain to feel like the good me, not the overthinking, self punishing, insecure, problem-finding, self-blaming me.

@Thingsdogetbetter

Also a well done from me! The grip of overthinking is hard to overcome.

I had the sight shakes and nausea too at the start. It took me a about a week to realise it was only there when I acytually thought about it.

By two weeks I felt the weight lift from my brain and the anxiety thinking loop had dramatically reduced. I begain to feel like the good me, not the overthinking, self punishing, insecure, problem-finding, self-blaming me.

Thank you - that’s really good to hear. Both for you and for me - the thought that I could feel better in a couple of weeks is finally giving me something to look forward to!

Well done for taking, I was previously on them and struggled with side effects making me feel much worst when I started. I need to go back on them now but the fear is stopping me. I need to be brave like you have. Hope the side effects wear off quickly for you - it is worth it

@icklekid

Well done for taking, I was previously on them and struggled with side effects making me feel much worst when I started. I need to go back on them now but the fear is stopping me. I need to be brave like you have. Hope the side effects wear off quickly for you - it is worth it

Just bite the bullet and do it Easier said than done, I know. Have had no nausea today - just feel spaced out and tired but I felt that way before anyway. I can definitely handle a couple of weeks of feeling like this if there is light at the end of the tunnel!

I've taken them in the past , they really helped me please try them at least

All medications have side effects. You will not have most of them, if any. I spent a year on Citalopram and I have never been so calm and peaceful in my life. I don't need them anymore but if I ever have to go back on them (which I suspect I will) I'll do it in a heartbeat. One of the best things I ever did for my mental health.

No, the best thing I ever did for my mental health.

10 is low.

You'll likely be absolutely fine.

Still feeling a bit crappy. Seems to be worse when it’s coming up to 24 hours since I last took one rather than a few hours after I take one if that makes sense?!

How are you feeling now OP?

It take a week or so to calm down I've found. Sometimes longer. Give it time and be gentle with yourself.

I've been on 40mg for 3 years now, and they help me so much. My anxiety is under control.

Take them at night. I had every side effect going for three weeks but am about 10000% happier now. The way out is through xx

Thanks for asking

I feel slightly better than I did this morning. Just feel very tired and spaced. It’s a similar feeling to how I felt when I was first pregnant but obviously I am not (impossible!)

I decided not to take at night in case they made my insomnia worse. Will see how I go - only taken three so far.

Stick with it OP. I went on 10mg about 7 weeks ago. Had very minimal side effects for a week or so (bit tired, slight nausea) but those faded and I do feel lots better in myself now. Fingers crossed!

Well done so far @Tryagainplease - I vividly remember the day that citalopram kicked in for me. It was like a black and white filter had been lifted from my life. Absolutely brilliant. Best of luck going forward.

I take 20mg citalopram and it's made me feel so much less anxious about things I can't control such as climate change, automation, war etc. I also feel more in control of my own life with regards to things such as money, work etc.

The only side effects I have is yawning a lot more despite not being tired.

It’s great to hear the positive stories. It sounds silly but it is keeping me going. I don’t feel great atm at all so looking forward to when I do!

A friend has been taking citalopram for years for recurring,severe OCD. They have literally saved her life. Do persevere OP, note any symptoms but try not to focus on them too strongly.

Honestly I would leave it until things are calmer (which is actually what I'm doing- I've just been prescribed Fluoxetine and am waiting until I've moved house to start taking them). In general SSRIs give most people side effects for a few weeks to start with, which can include very severe anxiety/panic.