Too scared to start taking citalopram.

[prettypurpledaisy]

I have been having panic attacks and have been given citalopram to help but having read the side effects I am too scared to start taking them. They are 10mg. Anyone got any advice for an already anxious woman?

Yeah I will do, thanks :o

Skippy hi! It'll settle down eventually, just keep at it. X

How is everyone doing? I have driven again since my wobble and even made it to Zumba last night. But today I feel really unsettled so back to Dr on Monday as still no results and only have 3 weeks before school starts to get my act together. Hope everyone is on the mend.

Hi!
I'm doing better now on a lower dose. Still don't feel 'right', still got the constant yawning but much better than having my head stuck down the look hehe.

Sorry that you're feeling bad pretty! You're doing the right thing going to the doctor, maybe citalopram isn't for you? Dont stress about the time you've got x

Hi all. Have started feeling nervous in the mornings again, but it does pass. I'm not sleeping well which may or may not be connected-it is v hot.

Good thing to see the GP pretty-have a chat about how it's going so far.

Ghost well done-you never know 20mg may be all you need.

Thought I'd add a success story since I have read so many posts on the web which are negative about citalopram - and I, too was scared of the implications.

First of all, I'm not medically qualified - and this is just about me. I have always been anxious, but about 18 months ago, I realised that my continual worry and anxiety was really ruining not just my life - but other people's as well ! My doctor finally persuaded me to start taking an anti-anxiety drug and prescribed citalopram 10mg.

The first few days were not too good (although not as bad as other people seem to have suffered) - felt a bit sick and couldn't concentrate, but I really didn't feel any more anxious (which was what I had been concerned about). I started feeling much, much better in myself in only a couple of weeks - and people did notice. My husband commented that I seemed more like the 'me from about 5 years ago !'.

I carried on with the 10 mg for about a year (which was longer than I had expected) and never had to increase the dose - and 10 mg is a very low dose. I never had any side effects after the first few days and felt remarkably well. I could cope with life, didn't spend hours endlessly worrying and got my confidence up.

I decided I wanted to stop taking the citalopram then, but had a chat with my GP and decided to continue for a few more months (I had a lot of hassle in my life at that time).

About 3 months ago, it came to me that it was 'time to stop' ! and this time my GP agreed. There is also a lot of concern about people coming off citalopram (and that made me scared !) but I just weaned down over a couplw of weeks (again, everyone is different - and how long you need depnds on you) and had really no side effects.....I was worried about 'brain zaps' and all of the other things I read on the web, but didn't have any of them.

Since I stopped, life has thrown me a couple of things to get really anxious about, but I do seem to have got over my long term anxiety and have taken them in my stride.

I would say 'go for it' - it's a bit scary, but chances are you will feel better in a couple of weeks - and for me, it was really worth the experiment.

Hope it worked out for you !

sparkling thankyou! How did to sleep, any better?

pretty how are you feeling?

london glad to see a success story! Good on you x

I slept better thanks Ghost but had one of those vivid dreams Citalopram comes with. I gave BIL a mouthful in it.

I still feel hot and tired. GP on Wednesday for further advice.

I quite enjoy the vivid dreams, I get them when not on it so I suppose I'm used. Haha @ the BIL bit.

Hope your GP visit helps

ghostship crikey, why on earth did the doc give you 40mg to start with?? That's crackers! I sometimes struggle even now and have been on 40mg for at least 6 months.

Hope you are feeling better on the lower dose.

pretty Think about how far you have come since taking them, chances are you will be so much better in 3 weeks.

I am really struggling at the mo, very very down. I am on the 40mg so can't increase the dosage and to be honest I wouldn't want to as I feel so tired all the time already (may be depression, may be the tablets, who knows)

Has anyone swapped tablets to another anti depressant? I have done it before but am worried it will give me the side effects of withdrawing from one and getting used to another all in one go!

God only knows. It's like he expected me to just pick up where I left off last time. It was actually horrific. Never again! Doing brilliant on a lower dose thankyou, still getting the yawns though. And this weird eye flicker. And I'm knackered all the time! I don't remember it being like this last time. I haven't cried though so that's good :o

Your last question, I did and I was fine. When I was first ever put on anti depressants years ago I was on fluoxetine. They worked well for a bit but in the end they were making me ill. Doctor changed me to Citalopram. Didn't have any adverse effects or anything.

I think I will swap over to fluoxetine. I have had them before and feel great off them for a while but then they just stop working. Goodness knows why! I am in a bit of a mess and need to get sorted quickly. I have a little baby to look after, a 7 year old, I am starting college next month and have just split with baby's dad. Argh! No wonder I am stressed!

The eye flicker and the yawns are so annoying. I hate the jaw clenching most of all though, like you said it looks like you have been popping pills. Shame they don't give you the buzz that pills do ha ha. Glad you are doing well on the lower dose.

my eye flickers when I am extremely tired, but I used to get that before the Citalopram, lol

Im doing ok on 30 now. I think it has taken a couple of weeks to kick in. Im feeling a lot more positive again now and not crying so much.

Hi everyone. How are you all getting on?

I have GP tomorrow. Have been on 30mg (reduced from 40mg) for about two weeks now. I feel ok but the last 2 days I have felt really ratty. So not down or anxious, just annoyed.

I don't know whether it's the DC being on hols, or the hot weather or the reduction in dose.

Tomorrows appt is to see how I'm getting on. Ummmm, I don't know!

I start the day feeling very odd indeed but it improves as the day goes on so that is positive. I have been keeping myself busy gardening and now am cut to ribbons on brambles.
I have got to repeat my 24 hour urine sample but not sure why as the receptionist was very cagey :( What fun!
Hope everyone else is on the mend :)

How is everyone?

Well I have swapped from citalopram 40mg to fluoxetine 20mg without a break. Not to be recommended! Its day 10 of fluoxetine and I am still not sleeping but at least the shakes, dizziness, sickness etc etc have stopped. Been in a mess, both physically and emotionally.

I knew it was going to be horrible but wasn't prepared for how horrible. I needed to get it done quick though as I am starting college in a couple of weeks and have two children to look after so I figured better to get it over and done with.

Am feeling much better, other than the lack of sleep I am doing well. Hope everyone else is fine and dandy too xx

How is everyone doing!?

I've just started taking citalopram (on 10mg and upping to 20mg tonight) I've been on it for a week. I am a MESS.
I missed my sons first day of school being I thought I was going to pass out and be sick.
Being a single Mum and having to pass him around feels like I'm failing him as a mother. When does it get better?

Hi Kate , I have not started taking mine yet, however I'm planning to start these on Sunday. I have taken anti depressants in the past and they worked brilliant for me. I wouldn't beat yourself up about missing your wee ones first day at school, it's difficult enough looking after a child when you have a partner there supporting you when your feeling anxious or depressed, never mind trying to do it on your own. Your little one needs his mummy healthy so don't be so hard on yourself. I'm hoping since you posted here that you are feeling feeling a little better. It can take some time, some people's two weeks others say anything up to 6 weeks but each day you will start to feel more like your old self. Good luck! X

Hi Kirsteenh78
That was a lovely message.
It's been a little while now and I'm very much adapting to the meds. Thank goodness.
I've managed to do quite a bit more day to day and even ventured into central London alone the other day. My son has stated he's happy Mummy is better too.
Have you started yours yet?
Hope it's going well for you.

7 weeks ago out of the blue I had a breakdown.... it was terrifying and I feel like my life has been ripped from me.
At first u was given diazapam and beater blockers and then I was given cetalapram 20mg..... it was then upped after 4 weeks to 30mg. It has definitely taken the edge off and I currently have 3 4 or 5 good days and then bang I have a few gritty days where I'm very anxious, feel like I can't breath and generally scared of what used to be very normal things.
Will I ever get back to how I was before the breakdown..... I loved life and lived it to the full..... I feel my life is inhibited by anxiety and I hate it.
Would it be worth talking to my doctor about increasing my dose ?
I feel at a loose end and just really want some reassurance:-)