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]

I've been away for the weekend, feeling lots better. I'm 5 tablets in now. I had a few drinks last night which made me feel very queasy,tired and upset so will avoid alcohol for the forseeable.
Daytime I'm feeling fine with no side effects now...the odd fluttery anxious moment but generally a lot better.

[gingerboy1912]

Try taking it at bedtime so you sleep through the worst of the effects.

[FV45]

I am WIDE awake.
I'd be waking early anyway, but the 2am wake up is something new.

FFS.
Better get off the screen I suppose.

[LittleHouseOnTheShelf]

I'm on those too op
Can hand hold as well, we can do this and we will do it - together via here if it helps.
I get those symptoms too.

[FV45]

Thank you. While the side effects of the very first day have not returned I am still feeling pretty sick quite a bit of the time.

I really hope the insomnia isn't going to last.

[Thornrose]

Just checking in! I'm not sleeping great either. I wasn't before though in fairness. I fall asleep quickly but wake often at 3 or 4.

I've still got nausea too and no appetite. I feel hungry but can't really face eating. I don't feel anxious at the moment which is good.

I feel quite lethargic which is irritating. I was hoping for more get up and go!

[LittleHouseOnTheShelf]

FV45 I'm on day 5 and still feeling sick but then that could be because I've come off a different one and it's a possible side effect of withdrawal. Ditto the insomnia because the old one I was on helped me sleep but this one doesn't.

[OhGrace]

I'm a week in and feeling much better now and I am sleeping ok. Have the odd jittery moment and wave of nausea but head is clear. I'm taking mine early evening after tea now.

[Orchidflower1]

Hi has anyone tried escitlopram?
Does it have the same active ingredient as citlopram? I had fluoxetine but only lasted 9 days as side effects unbearable. I feel like the fluoxetine made my anxiety worse so I'm a big relucatant to try anything else- I've had the prescription for a week and daren't take them. Was coping quite well on the Diazapam but not a great day today. Any thoughts ?

[FV45]

Been awake since 4.30am. Feel really sick. Have tried to nibble a biscuit.

[funnychops]

FV I was on them for 9 years
My main side effects were excessive sweating, clenching jaw, nonchalance about most things, lethargic, no 'get up and go', if I took them at night I get this weird jittery feeling and would lay awake at night. I'd say short term they are brilliant but long term they didn't help with my depression. I've been off them 7 months now and I've never felt better (whether that's down to getting rid of the tablets or the XH I don't know )
After 2 weeks the side effects settle down or become less noticeable. Hope they help you OP.

[FV45]

Thank you for sharing your experience funny.
I sincerely hope I only need them for a short time. When stbx has gone I will start to get my life back on track. So far though, the ADs are making me feel worse.

[LittleHouseOnTheShelf]

FV day 6 and the sickness has stopped.
I hope you feel better soon.

[FV45]

Good news little

I've had an awful day.

[Wolfiefan]

Sorry you have had a bad day.
I was on citalopram for months. Always took it at night. Side effects can be horrid. Can you start on a lower dose and increase slowly?
The pills made me well enough to do CBT which in turn made me well enough to wean myself off the pills VERY SLOWLY.

[Wolfiefan]

Oh and I also had some pills to take to help me sleep. Not every night. But they helped get me out of the routine of not sleeping
Good luck.

[LittleHouseOnTheShelf]

I hope that today is better.

[FV45]

Actually...you know I don't feel so sick today.
Fingers crossed. This is day 8.

[OhGrace]

Hope you have a better day today - with disturbed sleep I used to take Atarax on prescription, it's a drowsy anti histamine rather than anything too strong. Lack of sleep is horrendous, everything seems so much worse and it's hard to think rationally when you're exhausted.

[Xoticdreamz]

I'm on week 4 on 10 mg and I feel so much less anxious and sleep is way better . I take in the morning and I'm not noticing any side effects now .
I'm not sure if I wil stay on 10 mg or go up to 20mg as mine is for anxiety rather than depression . I will see how this week goes .

For me sticking with it has been the best thing although it was pretty hard initially . Hope it's the same for you .

[LittleHouseOnTheShelf]

Glad to hear that FV. I don't feel sick today either :)

[Imcrackingup]

Was thinking about starting a new thread but it would be very similar -side effects of citalopram
I've been on 20mg citalopram for a month - did feel sick etc at first but it has helped but still feeling despondent, struggling to get things done but better than I was. So the GP put my dose up to 30mg...
But I have just realised for the last week at least I've been feeling really restless -fidgety -wound up. Also my shoulders are constantly really tight - sore - I've had that before when I had cause to be stressed but I am not under that much pressure at the moment (and a few years ago 10mg citalopram really helped with that).
I'm hungry all the time, eating way too much - I comfort eat so have put on a lot of weight recently anyway and now I'm getting fatter and fatter...
But if I don't eat when I feel hungry I get stomach acid problems - I am already on proton pump inhibitors for that problem.
I work from home/SAHM with school age DCs - house is a mess cos I usually do the majority of cleaning on Mon/Tue and I couldn't this week (had to do some work things outside the home) normally I'd catch up yesterday and today - instead I just don't have the energy.
Yesterday was the first day on the increased dose - I take it in the morning.
I felt tired (and cold) and wasn't getting anything done so decided to lie down and read on my bed for 30 mins under a blanket to read for a break - I fell asleep for an hour (DP woke me up coming home) which is rare for me (and I am sleeping ok at nights).
I've done exactly the same today... slept for 2hrs - nearly missed taking a DC to an appt -now I feel shattered, could sleep for a week - but also restless - I can't keep my feet still...
I am also peri/menopausal and waiting for a diagnosis for possible ADHD...
I get the restlessness could a side effect of citalopram -but the tight shoulders? feeling more stressed/wound up? exhaustion?
My mood is better - I do still feel really down and sad and weepy for no reason ...but it isn't as constant.
I think I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this with citalopram?
Or is it a symptom of my depression...will it get better in the next few days? I did post in Dec about feeling like I was going to have a breakdown so I have been struggling for almost 6 months - maybe this exhaustion is part of the healing?

[FV45]

cracking It really sounds like you've got a great deal going on.

When do you go back to see your GP? Are you keeping a daily diary of symptoms? It can be easier to spot patterns then.

[Imcrackingup]

I'm still pretty tensed up/fidgety but thankfully I have an explanation for the exhaustion - I really couldn't have coped with that for more than a day or so. I've now got a cold/sore throat so it was just a viral thing. I'm all achy too now. It was just a coincidence. It is a relief - getting further behind was going to do nothing for my stress levels. Even with this cold I have managed to get more done
Honestly mood wise I still don't feel much different from before the dose was put up but I guess I need to give it more time.
I'm back to see the GP in a couple of weeks but I am trying to keep track of when I feel particularly restless/ tense - to see if relates to when I take it - its wearing off/at its peak....

[FV45]

cracking
While I'm of course not pleased you've got a virus, it's good that you know it was that and nothing else. You can beat a virus!

Today I feel sick again. It had passed but is now back again, perhaps because I am more anxious over all.

I am back to the GP tomorrow.