Citalopram affecting sleep

[catlover1987]

Hi all. Just wondering if anyone's taking or has taken Citalopram for anxiety? I only started this on Tuesday. Yesterday, I felt like a zombie all day. Completely exhausted and could not function. But when I went to bed last night, I couldn't sleep at all. Gave up about 4am and got up so didn't sleep a wink. I am off work at the moment but plan to go back on Monday. I just don't know how I will manage if this continues. Does it get better? Thanks x

It got better for me, doc said to take pill first thing, which helped.

Thanks Stripey. I have taken it in the morning so far but wondering if I should try taking it at night. I suppose it will be a bit of trial and error, but I feel horrific.

I did feel really crap for the first few days. Odd combination of numb with vertigo and no real depth perception, as well as sleep disturbance.

But it did improve. Took about a fortnight to be properly stable, about a month to start feeling real progress. I did think "what have I done" for about a week. I didn't venture far for a week. Went back to work after a week, think it was a bit soon to be honest, would recommend longer if you can, but a week was doable for me.

I was on citalopram for a long time. Did fuck all for me, no side effects, no good effects, just zilch.

I was on it year ago and it definitely turned me into a zombie. I changed to different meds

Hi everyone. Me again. So I am still having major sleep problems. Averaging 2 hours a night since Tuesday. Have never felt exhaustion like this and I am struggling to function. I am going to go back to the dr tomorrow to see if I can maybe get some sleeping pills. But I will need a sick note for any more time off and worry the dr won't give me it. She wasn't keen to sign me off when I saw her initially and said routinewould help me, but there is just no way I would be fit for work feeling like this. Can she refuse to give me one? Thanks

You can't possibly continue to function on so little sleep. See a different GP if necessary.

That's not really on, you're struggling with anxiety enough to need citalopram, yet doc won't sign you off while you start to manage it, can you see another doc? Have you started on a low dose gradually increasing? I took it in the morning and it didn't affect my sleep but it did make me feel a bit funny for a couple of weeks - in which time I was signed off. It did work for me long term so it's worth persevering, have you been referred for cbt?

Thanks both. I've taken Citalopram before so I know that it will work for me. It's just getting past these first few weeks. The way my GP works, you just call in the morning and are given the first apt, so it may well be a different dr I see. I felt like the first one was quite patronising. My job is very technical and I need to be on that ball but she didn't seem to get that. Really struggling today.

Quick update. Back at GP this morning. Have been prescribed a sleeping pill and signed off for a week. Fingers crossed it's what I need to allow these tablets to help me get better. Thanks for the advice everyone.

That's good news. Good luck x