Citalopram day 11

[alicemac83]

Hi,
I've been on citalopram 10mg for 11 days. The first 5 we're hideous, I was so low I was almost suicidal- then the following 4 we're amazing- I felt like myself again. Only just as I started to relax I've had 2 days of feeling anxious, lacking motivation and being very irritable. I'm so disappointed as I really thought I had my life back. Over the weekend I had my dd on my own as dh was away so I think that made me tense. Should I increase my meds or hope this is just a blip? Xxx

That's good. I actually started on 20mg and was up to 40mg at one point but back down to 20mg and as of today 10mg.

YY to each day being a step closer to feeling normal again-you have done the first 2 weeks, I nearly gave up after 2 weeks.

Have you any side effects? yawning/vivid dreams/clenchy jaw/feeling hot?

My GP started me on 20mg originally but I felt really dizzy and couldn't sleep, so the next day I spoke to another doctor who told me to go down to 10. Since then I've not really had any side-effects, apart from mainly a bit of a rubbish memory! Last time I had PND I was on 40mg by the end, so I think I need a bit more to take the edge off the mornings x

I've got some 20mg citalopram to start. Should I take half a tablet to start with & build up to 20mg a day in a week or so? I'm petrified of side effects as I find it difficult enough to get through a day as it is, the thought of having something even as (relatively) minor as a dry mouth to cope with is horrendous to me.

Hi Idlevice, I think you should talk to your doc first. The first one I saw was fine to give me 20mg, but when I phoned the following day the doctor I spoke to was very adamant about starting on 10 and building up. The thing is it's different every time. When I first took it 3 years ago I had no side-effects at all. Maybe the best thing to do is assume you'll feel horrible for a couple of days and plan for it. Take some days off work, find someone to stay with you, organise someone to have the kids, and just get through it the best you can. You never know, you might not have any side-effects at all but I think it's good to be prepared xx

idlevice I agree with alice that it would be best to check with your GP.

I've had a bit of a rough day today, mainly because of a difficult meeting at work. I'm thinking of going up to 20mg- my doctor said I could after 2 weeks and I'm already on 16 days, but I'm scared of feeling really low again. Can anyone advise? Xx

Citalopram can take a few weeks to work, so any low feelings during the first few days could have been because it just wasn't working for you yet. It doesn't necessarily mean it was a side effect or that you'll get the same when increasing the dose. Obviously if you do get any problems though, or are still concerned, let the doctor know.

How is everyone doing? X

I contacted my doctor and she said she'd intended for me to start with the half-dose of 10mg for the first 10 days anyway but must have forgotten to tell me and it didn't come through on the prescription (which was faxed to my GP so the info must have got lost somewhere along the way). So I'm glad I checked as advised on here & feel a bit more confident about starting on the lower dosage & will start tomorrow.

I started three weeks ago for anxiety. Thanks for posting the thread and all the updates. I still feel a bit weird...like me but not myself and I get a bit confused (jumbled words). A lot better than before I started but has anyone else experienced a feeling of being emotionless? I find I am saying some insensitive things and upsetting people and I don't seem to be connected to either loving, happy or sad feelings. I am glad it's evening me out (I was in a state) but also don't want to feel numb and detached. Anyone else? Does it wear off?

Hi all.
I just wanted to share my story. I have suffered with panic attacks and anxiety for three years. They came out of the blue. It seemed that overnight my life changed. It was pure hell. I was scared to go out. I couldn't work. I couldn't travel. I was scared to socialise.
I tried everything from counselling, acupuncture, massage, hypnosis, regression etc I did not want to take meds.
Then I felt as though I had tried everything and I had no choice but to go on ads. I was first prescribed citalopram 10mg. Like you all the first week was horrific. Then I started to improve. I was advised to up the doseage to 20mg but I was suffering with night sweats and insomnia. I persevered but eventually switched to sertraline 50mg.
I started them 4 months ago. I don't want to be on meds but hand on heart I can honestly say they have saved my life. I am 95% back to how I was before anxiety. I am working. I am driving. Socialising. And smiling again.
There is light at the end of your tunnel. Xx

Thank Funnyfishface, that's so nice to hear you are doing so well. I increased my dose from 10-15 over the weekend, the frist day was pretty horrible, but sunday was fine, just a very nervous feeling in my tummy all day. This morning I woke up without a churning/nervous tummy for the first time in weeks. It's weird, I feel calm but I'm finding it hard to accept as I keep expecting something to go wrong! I'm at work so hopefully I can just distract myself from those thoughts and have a good day!
XX

Hi everyone, I'm lucky to have found this thread I've started on citalopram today, 10mg. I don't have any experience of depression or anxiety or any of the meds so am a little apprehensive. The GP I saw was vile and didn't really explain anything to me.
I was wondering if anyone knew about having to be on these meds for at least 6 months, is that true?
I've taken some lorazepam (sp?) this morning, I feel lovely and calm, is this how the citalopram makes you feel when its working properly?
Sorry to be asking so many questions, just thought it made more sense than starting another thread!

Hi there, don't worry about asking too many questions, I'm on here all the time! So sorry that you had a vile GP, that really doesn't help when you've worked up the courage to go and admit you're feeling horrible.
In my experience from last time I took Citalopram it just made me feel like myself again. When I was depressed I had no interest, and took no enjoyment from anything. If I won the lottery I wouldn't have cared. Slowly but surely I felt myself get excited about a new coat or a tv programme I enjoyed and before I knew it I was myself again and enjoying life. The citalopram shouldn't make you feel spaced out or anything once they settle down, but you might have side-effects like this. Basically, stick at them because you will get better!!!!

Oh and BCRbye, I totally relate to the feeling slighly emotionless thing - I'm like that, especially with my DD, but I think that's something that will just get better and we get used to the drugs. Don't worry xx

Thanks Alice xxx

I had my first 10mg this morning & had a dry mouth a couple of hours later. Even that was worrying me before I started the tablets but as I've been trying to drink more water anyway I have water bottles everywhere & it was fine. I felt a bit spaced out at lunch time when I just wanted to sit & stare into space, not something I would ever do, so I put it down to the medication. But I made myself get on with doing stuff so not problematic.

I am taking it for long-term depressive illness. My dr said you would begin to feel like your old self, which I notice you mentioned alice, & others. I have no "old self" to go back to feeling like so I'm quite intrigued as to what will happen. I like the sound of feeling excited about things that you wrote about though! I think the feelings of being disconnected DCRBye mentioned are similar to feelings of disengagement I have, also not caring about anything or enjoying anything like you said alice.

I'm sure you will start feeling an upflift once the tablets start kicking in, I really, really know how you feel. It's a horrid place to be in because everyone around you seems so happy, or are caught up with silly little worries and you can't help but think 'who cares?' It feels lonely doesn't it.
But things will get better. Have you thought about having some counselling too?
I'm on my 4th day of 15mg and I'm feeling so up and down. I'm not waking up feeling nervous anymore which is great, but today I feel very apathetic, like I can't be bothered to do anything at all. Yesterday was a much better day, I felt pretty much myself. So it's a rollercoaster ride, but I know it will come very good in the end xxxx

Mr dr has also recommended a CBT-type course & possibly psychotherapy/counselling, but first I need to be brought up to the level where that would be effective as at the moment my energy & concentration is too low. It all sounds like a lot of effort but I might as well try.

I'm having counselling soon too - I think it's going to be helpful. If you've been depressed for a long time, perhaps there's a cause that you'll be able to get to the bottom of xx

Thank you Alice. I agree with you on the apathy, not sure if that's the meds or how I'm actually feeling! I'm still very spacey. I haven't been crying though and I'm much calmer. Hope everyone else is having a good day.

I think it's probably a bit of both... I felt really apathetic this morning but much better this afternoon. I could go to the cinema or out with friends now and enjoy it, wheras this morning I didn't want to do anything. I'm hoping the good mood will last the whole day soon...

So I'm on day 21 today and feel very up and down. It's weird, I change throughout the day. In the morning I felt low, after lunch I felt great but now I feel a bit down in the dumps. For those further along that me do you think things will start to even out soon? Xx

Alice, I am along about the same as you. I have been googling side effects and it sounds like yours are normal (up and down a bit for the first 6 - 8 weeks). It says online that by week 4 this sort of thing drastically improves. Keep it up!

I am experiencing some very weird effects though. As I mentioned earlier, blunted emotions. I seem to be being quite mean to people and not feeling any empathy (I am NOT usually like this).

I am also a little hyper and made some very insensitive jokes. My friend hung up on me for saying something off.

I also have short term memory loss. I know that's to be expected, but I can't remember conversations sometimes and went to the wrong appointment yesterday because I thought it was Thursday.

the doc said "some personality changes were to be expected". But i can't carry on being uknowingly vile to people.

Trying to sort things out with my ex and he wants to now how I feel and I genuinely feel nothing.

Anyone experiencing feeling like a different, colder, meaner person?

Thanks DCRBye, I had a bit of a cry on the train to work this morning, mainly I think because I'm fed up of the ups and downs. I woke up feeling really angry this morning, and that is not like me at all.
I think I'm just angry with this stupid illness!
I'm sure it's normal to have those emotions, maybe it's just the meds trying to find their level in your system.
I just long for the days when I feel myself every day without a daily battle!
XX