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Mental health

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Original poster

Need some reassurance about taking citilopram

16 replies

tutu100 · 07/02/2011 22:56

I have read a couple of threads about people starting citilopram in the last few days, but have started my own thread as I didn't want to step on anyones toes.

I have been suffering panic attacks and anxiety for years, but the last 2 have been very bad. I am currently unable to leave the house and am having awful panic attacks here as well which has left me very depressed.

Dr came out to see me today and has prescribed 20mg citilopram for me to start taking tomorrow morning. I am going to do it (have never really taken anti-d's before as so worried about the side effects). Dr said I should be fine, but I am really concerned by the fact it says that it may make you anxiety worse for the first few days. If it does I don't know how I'll cope - I'm taking them because I can't cope with the anxiety anymore. I did ask if I could start on a lower dose, but Dr thought that would make no difference. He has prescribed diazepam for me to use as well if necessary.

He has said if I have any worries to call him, but I know that I am so worried about taking them I will have a panic attack and then I won't know if that was just cos I got worked up about them or if it is part of the side effects.

I feel like I am trapped, I don't think I can carry on without something, but I'm worried if they make me worse I will go mad!

Can anyone help me please?

OP posts:

TotorosOcarina · 07/02/2011 22:59

You have to try them, i was a different person on 50mg of sertraline, they really helped.

If they don't help you can stop them so its well worth a try as you may find they do a world of good for you at the moment

I was terrified to start but I was just sleepy for a while and had a few other things, sicky feeling etc, but after a while the symptoms all went.

JarethTheGoblinKing · 07/02/2011 23:03

I have been on prozac (didn't work), sertraline (worked wonders) and now on citalopram (different world).

I may well be difficult when you start. You may feel more anxious, you may grind your teeth and yawn a lot. You may have trouble sleeping and have suicidal thoughts.

You most likely will have NONE of these. Feeling a bit twitchy is normal, keep up normal food intake, drink lots of water. If, after a week or so, you find the side-effects hard to deal with, try taking the pill just before bed. (I do).

All hard to deal with symptoms were gone within 4-5 days. The teeth grinding and yawning left me within a week.

Take them if you think you need them x

JarethTheGoblinKing · 07/02/2011 23:04

Totoro - I got the sleepy thing on sertraline as well, knocked me out for a week :)
Was kind of nice, actually..

FrogmellaMoonbeam · 07/02/2011 23:04

I never had any increase in anxiety when I started them I had headaches and sicky feeling etc but my main "symptom" was being really hot and my face was just running with sweat all the time but it all calmed down eventually and worked fine for me for 4-5 months. HTH

FrogmellaMoonbeam · 07/02/2011 23:05

Ooh yes I had the really tired struggling to stay awake for a while as well.

Pancakeflipper · 07/02/2011 23:07

Hello. Citalopram is useful for anxiety. It does have side-effects like all drugs. Some people are fine. Some feel queasy, some get a heightened feeling of emotions.

You could ask about starting on a lower dose of 10mg and then after a week or 2 go up to 20mg ( which is still a low dosage).

If you want to get better - they could be worth a try. Most people find that they feel a little crap on them to start with but no worse than the anxiety symptoms. Some people are utterly fine.

They don't fix things. But they give you time to sort yourself out and stop your body and mind going at a fast rate which is exhausting. Then you can start to mend yourself. Do you know why you are suffering from anxiety? If so then that's a huge step forward to getting better.

If you take them - ensure you don't have other pressures on you - keep the social life quiet for a few weeks so you can rest.

TotorosOcarina · 07/02/2011 23:07

I was lucky DH was at home so I would have 2 hour naps for about a week!

Am going back on them after baby is born so that'll be my excuse

Original poster

tutu100 · 07/02/2011 23:17

I'm just worried that if they do make my anxiety worse then once I've taken the tablet I have to ride it out and I'm scared I won't be able to do that. But the alternative of not taking anything isn't much better, when I'm having a panic attack I feel like I am going to loose my mind.

I'm really lucky my DP and family are great. My Dad will be here with me tomorrow so he says he'll support me. I'm just scared that if the tablets really affect me I might do something stupid that I wouldn't do normally.

Thank you all for you really quick responses. Hearing other peoples experiences does help.

If my anxiety is really severe, then does that mean if I do get side effects it won't be any worse?

OP posts:

shodatin · 07/02/2011 23:51

Best idea is to try them out first, then if anxiety is worse, make an emergency appointment, but you'll most likely be alright.

JarethTheGoblinKing · 07/02/2011 23:56

You will be able to ride it out because you'll know what's causing it Xx

hazeyjane · 08/02/2011 10:01

I started on citalopram just after Christmas, after several weeks of putting it off for the same reasons (reading the list of side effects is enough to give you panic attacks!).TBH I haven't really noticed any side effects at all, but it has made a huge difference, even though I am on a very low dose. I feel as though I have been tensing my body all over, and have finally been able to relax my shoulders a bit. When my dds throw an enormous tantrum or start fighting, I don't instantly feel like crying or shouting, it feels as though I have taken a deep breath and counted to ten.

I was so worried about taking them as there is so much negative press about anti ds, and I have had experience of my parents being on them forever. But I am very glad that I have started on them, it really feels as though they will help get me over the hill that I seem to be climbing at the moment. It is great that you have a supportive partner. Be as open and honest as you can with him, and tell him what you are worrying about as regards the anti-ds. I keep on asking dh whether I am different on them, but he just says I seem more relaxed.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Original poster

tutu100 · 08/02/2011 13:38

I just thought I'd update anyone interested. I had a really bad night. Couldn't sleep and kept having panic attacaks so I took a Diazepam in the hope it would get me off to sleep. It relaxed me for a couple of hours, but I still couldn't sleep and then I felt dreadful. Couldn't stop crying and didn't know what to do with myself.

My Dad has come round today and I managed to get a couple of hours sleep. I have now taken the citilopram (about 2 hours ago) and have surprised myself by not freaking out straight away.

I do feel odd, a bit spacey and I'm really having to concentrate to type this, but so far not too bad so hoping to carry on like this. Also I know it could still be the diazepam making me feel funny.

Really hoping for a better night though. I really worry DP and he must be shattered as he was up for most of it with me.

OP posts:

shodatin · 08/02/2011 14:50

Thanks for the update - I really think you're going to be OK now; hope so (and dp too)

TotorosOcarina · 08/02/2011 15:40

good job for taking them tutu,

hopefully you will be ok, DH was on citalapram and felt spaced out for a while too.

Have you learnt any techniques for dealing with your panic attacks?

do you know what triggers them?

musicposy · 09/02/2011 22:39

Well done for starting them. I went on citalopram early last summer and I'm really glad I did.

Just to warn you (I'm on 20mg too), the first couple of weeks were a bit horrible with side effects. Persevere through this if you get them; it's worth it. Keep telling yourself it's only a couple of weeks and things will be much better - hang in there. That's how I got through that bit, just hanging in there.

They've made a huge difference to me. I was such a mess before that if people just said "hello, how are you?" in general chit chat, I would just break down and rush off crying etc. I was avoiding everything because I couldn't cope with even the tiniest thing going wrong. The citalopram balanced me out so much.

Keep chatting to your GP on a very regular basis about how it's going for you on them. Don't hesitate to get reassurance on anything that worries you. Good luck :)

alicemac83 · 10/02/2011 13:39

I am on citralopram and had no side effects. I asked my doctor if they would increase anxiety and he said no - it's just that when you are ill you sometimes get worse anyway while the drugs start to work. I think it took about 6 weeks before I started feeling better - so don't give up X

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