Citalopram and beta blockers

[Stickworm]

Posting for traffic soz!

Finally taking the plunge and increasing my citalopram again - I find it really hard to tolerate the side effects when I first switch so the doctor has also prescribed propranolol (so citalopram 20mg + propranolol 40mg). Has anyone found beta blockers help with the side effects of SSRIs?

I love beta blockers in general for anxiety

Is it racing heart that gets you? They work instantly pretty much so I hope it helps xxx all my love

Nope, didn't find find that Beta Blockers helped with anything, but I hope you have a better experience with them.

@acuteanxiety thank you ❤️ I suspect (and have done for a long time) that I have PMDD. My periods have just returned after having my 2nd baby and depression and anxiety have hit like a ton of bricks - didn’t have it for 2 years while breastfeeding and having no periods 🙃 it’s usually a glorious mixture of anxiety and depression (so one day feeling extremely low with no self worth, the next day palpitations and restlessness, skin crawling etc)

@SpeckofDustUponMySoul sorry to hear that! Hope you found something that helps you

Beta blockers should help with palpitations, racing heart, feeling jittery. Everyones different though with SSRIs obviously, I can't take SSRIs at all cos they send me totally bonkers.

Periods are a shit storm after a baby
I just waited and waited and waited for mine after our third I recently had in March and I was beside myself

I'm wondering if there's something more instant release for you for the period aspect so you could get off of citalopram and use the beta blockers

I don't know much about it but I know that there's a book called Period Power and it's written by a lady who lives here in Margate called Maisie and she has transformed so many womens life

I sleep with a little pillow case folded up in my pyjamas for the sweats and it's helped so much with coping with that isolating night time aspect of the sweats

Re the racing heart it will help I know it will It is designed for just that

All my love xxx

I found Beta Blockers did nothing for me other than a low blood pressure/feeling dizzy, but everyone is different

I love them both. They keep me sane!

Thank you! Any stories of the beta blockers actually helping with the side effects of ssris?

I take 40mg citrapram and 40mg propranolol and it definitely helped with the racing heart after dose increase.

I've just started on beta blockers (alongside sertraline) and I already love them, they really help the racing heart and jittery feeling that I've had 24/7 recently

Thanks for the responses everyone ❤️

I take beta blockers on their own and they're amazing for the physical effects of anxiety. But they do raise your risk of insulin resistance if taken regularly.

Beta blockers helped me with anxiety, I also took alongside citalopram and when I was ready to come off then I carried on with propranolol as I felt they helped more.

Good luck and hope you are doing ok

Thank you everyone!

Just my tuppence - recently trying beta blockers for anxiety, and they’ve disrupted my sleep. Also, may not be related but I’ve had strange tingling sensations in my neck and shoulders - sadly don’t think they’re working for me.

Sorry to hear that @Jibbajabba1 - maybe a lower dose might help?

I’ve upped citalopram by 2.5mg so far (so 12.5mg in total) using a pill cutter. So far I feel a little more ‘alert’ in the morning - that kind of wired feeling, and absolutely shattered by about 8pm. Completely manageable side effects compared to last time so I’ll carry on like this and build up slowly. I haven’t taken the beta blockers - I’ll carry on with this slow increase and see how I get on while building up.

Sounds like a good idea @Stickworm 👍🏼

From what my doctor’s told me, most people tolerate beta blockers really well - so you’ll prob be fine - think my experience is a bit of an anomaly. Haven’t taken any today and the muscle tingling weird sensation has disappeared however I can feel the anxiety already creeping up. Must be alternatives to try…

Possibly spoke to soon, I feel totally zoned out today that sort of out of this world feeling like I’m not in my body. Plus very hot and sweaty 😅 again nowhere near as bad as last time but hard to function with work and kids!

Well what a rollercoaster- this afternoon I feel more spritely and have more energy than I have in ages! 🤣