Citalopram - side effects so soon?

[FV45]

Took my first one 3hrs ago. 20mg
I have headache, dry mouth, shaky/dizzy, sick.
Surely it's too soon for side effects, isn't it?

[OhGrace]

Ugh silver cloud, obvs meant silver lining. Head is so foggy today!

[Pinkgeek]

I started taking citalopram 20mg about 6 weeks ago. I have been on it before too. I am always advised to take them at night right before sleep. I usually have a biscuit before it too if I haven't eaten for a while.
Foggy head, increased anxiety and generally feeling bleurgh only lasted 3-4 weeks gradually getting better as the days went on. Feel much better now so it is worth persevering!
for everyone suffering with anxiety and depression.

[FV45]

Tablet 2 taken. Have eaten some dry Shreddies, I really can't eat in the morning.

My stomach is a bit upset and I feel odd. Glassy eyed and spacey.

[OhGrace]

I'm feeling a bit better today, a bit shakey and twitchy but I had a good night sleep so that's helped.

[Thornrose]

I've taken tablet 2 also. Last night it took me ages to get to sleep.

Today I feel very nauseous and my jaw is really tight. Woolly head too.

It's nice to share this with others in real time, so to speak!

[OhGrace]

Definitely helps having live chat rather than threads a few years old. I'm on day 3, feel calmer. Jaw not as tight, head a bit clearer

[FV45]

So, I didn't have the extreme reaction I had yesterday, but I do feel odd.
Dry mouth. Headache, but entirely manageable. Eyes looks spaced out earlier.

[cleowasmycat]

I nearly gave up I felt so I'll but persevere. It does get better.

[OhGrace]

As the day goes on I honestly feel so much better. A million times better than yesterday. I still feel a bit tingly but my head feels clear and I'm in a really good mood. I split my tablet last night, took half at 7pm and half at 11pm...don't know if that helped or its just settling down in general. Stick with it

[stokeymum39]

I've been on them for about 2 months now and noticed feeling strange the morning after I took the first one. I have always taken them at bed time, and found my sleep better generally. I'm still aware of the jaw clenching though. Overall I'm happy with the "strangeness" and suffering much less anxiety. My advice would be to persevere. Good luck

[Thornrose]

That's great to hear. I wonder why GP told me specifically to take it in the morning?

I'm still not feeling too good. I feel really sick and my head is very woolly still.

I just keep telling my dd how amazing she is. She hardly complained at all when she started taking Sertraline and I keep moaning and groaning!

[MrsMarigold]

I take mine in the morning - I've been on them for ages - if I miss my morning dosage by about 2pm I'm grumpy and maudlin.

[TheNotoriousPMT]

I felt very very odd for the first week on citalopram.

Sick and dizzy the first couple of days, then a couple of days I felt stoned - the one person I saw at that time said my pupils were dilated, but that's not in the official side-effects, iirc.
After a week or so, I felt euphoric - although I think that might have been about the sheer relief of no longer feeling quite so shit. That lasted a few weeks, then things started to settle down.

Taking it at night can help you dodge the strongest symptoms - just fyi, it can cause extremely vivid dreams. Not particularly good or bad, just colourful and detailed and long and more surreal than usual.

[FV45]

Have felt a bit sick this evening and very anxious but a lot of that is due to the reason I'm on these anyway (long thread on Relationships).

Went for a run. That's the best medicine....well it was until I still couldn't cope.

[FV45]

How are you all doing?
I feel quite sick and brought up my small dinner last night.

Also have been rather absent minded e.g forgetting about a cup of tea. That's not like me.

[GreenRug]

Op, I've been on those tablets several times and it's completely normal to feel like the symptoms of your illness are exacerbated initially. The first time it happened to me I panicked and a gp explained it to me as the tablet needing to ' find' the problem, so it works through all the possible receptors in your body til it finds the one it needs to 'fix'. Now I write that i don't think I've explained it very well but it was something like that and it really helped me rationalise what was happening. It will pass and when it does Theo will really help you. I would advise you to stick with it.

[GreenRug]

*Theo will not really help you, THEY will!

[FV45]

Thanks green.
Apart from loss of appetite my stress/anxiety hasn't affected my digestion, so this new. It will pass.

Is this Theo nice then??!

[GreenRug]

He's gorgeous

[worstofbothworlds]

I started taking this earlier this year and at first was jittery, dizzy and tired so switched to taking them in the evening. I still get a bit tired but the other symptoms have gone mainly (there is a patch of skin I was picking at that I noticed has healed).

[FV45]

Right...well until Theo arrives I'll stick with them.

My sleep is so disturbed anyway I am reluctant to make it worse. Side effects in the day are grim but I can keep busy and ride them out. Harder when I'm trying to sleep.

[Thornrose]

Hi glad you're doing ok. I'm feeling very nauseous and not eating much but I want to lose weight anyway. I'm still a bit woolly headed.

I can't say I've noticed any mood changes yet but appreciate its very early days.

[FV45]

I don't want to lose any more weight.
I hate it when people mention it.

[GreenRug]

I used to have these tins called 'nurishment' I think. I can still taste them and even seeing them reminds me of being depressed BUT it meant I was still getting all the nutrients and feeling relatively full even though I couldn't countenance the thought of actually eating. Eventually I started eating small amounts here and there, and phased out the nurishment. I also used a supplement for glucose, to give me energy. Both were life savers in trying to keep my physical health in tact.

[FV45]

Eugh....that sounds tough green
I'm not at that stage but will keep it in mind.

I'm going for a run.
I'm still in bed. Hell, it's only 9.10am on Sunday so why do I feel so slovenly? I get up at 6.30 mon-fri and 7.45 on Saturday, one day off is ok.
Maybe cos I've been awake since 5am.