Starting Citalopram, anyone else? Did it help you?

[Belle12]

Hi,
Am trying to make a positive start to the new year and after a very long time of feeling overwhelmed with fear and anxiety I have realised I am not coping as well as I should be so have been to see GP and have prescription for Citalopram 10mg.

Basically I couldn't cope feeling so fearful all the time and it has been having a negative impact on daily life even though rationally I know that I only have the usual life stresses that everyone has.

Just wondering if anyone could share (hopefully positive) experiences please? Did it relieve your anxiety? How long did it take to become effective and did you it make you feel worse initially?

Please let me know I'm not alone in feeling so bad and that it can get better!

Belle x

Yes, I take Citalopram and its been a life changer. I would say it took about three weeks to start working, but it has just allowed me to feel 'normal' (ish ), that is the only way I can describe it.

I haven't had any problematic side effects, which obviously helps.

But it really has been fantastic to me, it's amazing to not start every day with a sense of total fear and doom.

Good luck

I am just coming off after 3 years. It has really done the trick, and YY it can get better.

You may get side effects to start with which can make you feel it's not working but give it time. x

I started it a couple of weeks ago, still waiting for it to work too! Good luck with it.

I did take it, but didn't seem to help much. Sex drive and inability to orgasm a big problem, so came off it, now trying Sertraline.

Thanks all for your replies, it really helps.

Treaclesoda, glad they worked so well for you, am hoping for same result that you've had. Feel completely worn down and fraught with worry, it's not fair in those around me either.

Sparklingbrook, thanks, glad to know it can and will get better.

SnowyMouse, hope we will both be feeling the benefit very soon!

Stardust, did it lower or increase your sex drive? I'd actually be better off with reduced libido just now. Hope the sertraline works better for you.

Was prescribed it 8 years ago for overwhelming anxiety / inability to rationalise things. Basically, had been handling a lot of stress for a long time, appearing on the outside to cope, but finally had to admit I wasn't Superwoman and needed help. Was lucky to have a very supportive GP, who convinced me that accepting pharmaceutical help is not a sign of failure! About three weeks in, I woke up and it was like someone had flicked a switch in my brain. All the crap I had to deal with was still there but I was ABLE to cope and be rational. It may sound bizarre but it felt like my brain had been chemically re-set. Took it for quite a while with no side effects apart from lots of yawning (v odd). Came off super slowly with no adverse reactions. Hope it works as well for you as it did for me (and hope I don't sound too much like a drug rep on commission :-)

Hi -

Yes, depressed after a miscarriage, was prescribed venlafaxine (with no support), for 2 years.

(another) new doctor, refused to give a repeat prescription, without an appointment to 'review' ( he did not care) -

So was forced into withdrawl -

Anti- depressants do not work without a plan - to use, talk, get better placed and come off -

They are blockers, not a cure xx

I started citalopram back in the summer for anxiety/stress. To start with I had what felt like morning sickness and headaches for about 10 days and was so so tired. Also excessive yawning too. I nearly have up but so glad I persevered as I feel so much better. No palpitations, I'm on a more even keel rather than a roller coaster of emotions and wouldn't look back Good luck x

It lowered my sex drive, so if you don't mind that, go for it, good luck. xx

I have found it very helpful for anxiety and panic and have had no side effects. I ran out over Christmas though which was horrid, anxiety came flooding back. I'm back on my usual dose and coping well now. It's a very bad idea to quit taking it suddenly.

It's been a wonder drug for me. I no longer go through every day just trying not to lose it with people. I am becoming productive again. I want to do stuff and see people. I'm happy. Not la la happy, just normal. I've still got the same stuff to deal with but I can actually deal with it rather than trying to avoid it. I just wonder now why I held out so long.

Pnd forced me down the citalopram route.

Made me feel sick and "fuzzy" so took it at bedtime.
Took about 10 days to kick in.

Changed my attitude to antidepressants completely, changed my life for the better.

I only needed to take them for about a year.
Got me through a bleak and dark time until I could be myself again.

Wouldn't hesitate taking them if needed again.

It's heartening to hear others' good experiences with it

I started on it nearly 3 weeks ago for depression. I think it's starting to help, in combination with techniques I learned a few years ago in CBT. I'm not nearly as tearful as I was and I'm no longer freaked out by the realisation that I probably have another 50 years to live.

It made me quite brave and assertive which was a nice side effect.

Worked for me with depression a few years ago. 6 months of Citalopram gave me head space to get some counselling, work out an exit strategy from a job I felt trapped in and make a few changes.

Started them about 3 wks before Christmas. It has really, really helped me. Felt a bit, only way I can describe it was wooshy, on the first day and had no side effects since except a little nausea sometimes. But the nausea is very short lived and seems to just kind of rush over me maybe a couple of times a day.

I wish I'd started them sooner infact but I am staying on a very low dose and am starting CBT alongside as I don't want to stay on them longer than necessary and want to learn to manage my anxiety.