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Original poster

Upping citalopram - side effects?

26 replies

LadyNymeriaGhost · 31/07/2017 18:01

Hi. I have a thread in Chat about my current experience with pnd.
I was prescribed citalopram 10 just over 5 weeks ago. My initial side effects were pretty awful. Seriously increased anxiety, clenched jaw, exhaustion and a bad stomach.
Today at my 6 week check the doctor upped my dose to 20. I'm happy with this because I feel I'm still struggling, and I've read that 20 is the lowest therapeutic dose. But I'm terrified that I'm going to experience the same side effects again. The doctor said I might, and Google is telling me that people often do.
So what are your experiences of upping your cit dose? Please tell me it's going to be the magic wand I so so desperately need.

OP posts:
Ceetee23 · 31/07/2017 19:24

I'm in the same boat so bumping for you as also interested in responses. I've been on 10mg for 6 weeks and felt improvements so was waiting it out thinking I'm just responding v slowly. But the last week I've gone backwards and v teary and depresssd again. X

smu06set · 31/07/2017 19:28

I only ever had side effects at 10mg, after the first few weeks they never came back Smile

Original poster
LadyNymeriaGhost · 31/07/2017 20:22

Sorry to hear that, Ceetee. Has the doctor upped your dose?
Thanks, smu, that's good to hear. Did you find 20 to be helpful?

OP posts:
Ceetee23 · 31/07/2017 20:25

They suggested 20mg today but like you I'm scared about what may happen. X

winkywinkybumbum · 31/07/2017 22:21

I'm on 40mg and I don't have any side effects. Don't be afraid. Flowers

Ceetee23 · 31/07/2017 23:16

Did you ever have any winky? I've had terrible disrupted sleep, daytime exhaustion and hot flushes on 10mg and don't want them to get any worse upon raising dose. But obv do want to be depression free!!
Let us know how you get on OP x

Ceetee23 · 31/07/2017 23:18

I am also on these for PND Ladynymeria x

laurzj82 · 31/07/2017 23:25

I started on 10 and gradually over the yrs increased to 40. No side effects after the first couple of weeks at 10.

123fushia · 31/07/2017 23:27

I'm on 20 mg per day. No problems

Original poster
LadyNymeriaGhost · 01/08/2017 08:39

Well, this all sounds much more positive than other corners of the internet would suggest! Really must stop Googling.
I took my first dose of 20 today. It took some very firm encouragement from DH to get me to swallow them!
Ceetee, it sounds like we are very much in the same boat. I shall report back.
Thanks so much for all your responses.

OP posts:
Ceetee23 · 01/08/2017 09:00

Good luck and yes do let me know how you are! X

winkywinkybumbum · 01/08/2017 19:25

A couple....mainly increase in yawns....and burps Blush

redandorange · 01/08/2017 20:43

I had terrible side effects starting on 10 - headaches, disturbed sleep, blurred vision- but the increase to 20 wasn't anything like as bad as the first couple of weeks. Hope it's not too bad for you and you feel better on it - I also took it for PND and it really helped me turn thing s around, in combination with therapy. Good luck.

Ellypoo · 01/08/2017 21:29

My dr has just upped mine from 20mg to 40mg, but only just - I don't think the side effects could be worse than how I'm feeling so I can only think that the only way is up (hopefully)

lemonzest123 · 01/08/2017 21:31

I lost my orgasm when on 20mg

AliciaMayEmory · 01/08/2017 21:33

I started on 10mg for a week then up to 20mg after that. Never had any side effects at all. Fingers crossed for you too, OP.

dementedma · 01/08/2017 21:36

I started on 20mg. First few days was nauseous and sleepy. Other than that fine. Appetites for food and sex both decreased but not bothered about either of those. Have lost half a stone. All good and feeling so much better.

Catmint · 01/08/2017 21:37

First few weeks on citalopram are yucky, no matter what the dose.

I'm on 20mg per day. I get sweaty very easily and sex drive has dropped right off. But then, I was previously so anxious that I was sweaty and had no sex drive then, either. My GP says citalopram is now prescribed for the awful pmt that some women get when peri menopausal. ( me).

It's a mental breathing space, doesn't have to be forever.

Good luck OP & all other anxious people.

Ceetee23 · 02/08/2017 10:40

I'm with you with the being sweaty very easily! I'm only on 10mg and get that. So didn't want to exacerbate things by going to 20! Also get hot flushes x

Ceetee23 · 04/08/2017 20:20

How are you getting on Ladynymeria?x

RubaDubMum89 · 04/08/2017 21:42

I had the same side effects off the 10mg, including insomnia Angry however when I was upped to 20mg none of the effects returned. The insomnia never left, however, I've always been a terrible sleeper, so I don't suppose I can blame it all on the citalopram.

Original poster
LadyNymeriaGhost · 05/08/2017 06:16

Well, I've had all of the same side effects as when I started (clenched jaw, increased anxiety, exhaustion, bad stomach), but these only seemed to last a couple of days, and for the last day or so I've been fine.
After an initial struggle, my mood seems to have picked up too, and I didn't have any anxiety surges yesterday. Still early days, but it's looking positive!

OP posts:
calmday · 05/08/2017 07:29

Glad to hear things are going ok for you OP. I'm on citalopram 20mg as well. It was my starting dose so I don't have any experience of going from 10 to 20mg. I notice a lot less low mood. Hope it continues to be positive for you.

Ceetee23 · 05/08/2017 22:07

Great news good luck. Keep us posted xx

Mimimi1029 · 09/12/2019 15:28

Hey I know this thread is 2 years old but I wanted to ask how you got on with citalopram?
I take it for postnatal anxiety! I was given sertraline first and had a horrible reaction to it.. it made me severly depressed with derealization and suicidal thoughts not to mention the shaking electro shock sensations and insomnia.. I switched to citalopram and the initial side effects on 10mg werent tooooo bad.. awful but not as horrible as in sertraline. At first I thought the side effects were starting to subside but I still felt worse than before meds because I also have depressiin now..my doctor said I should increas my dose to 20.. I did about 12 days ago and I again the side effects were bearable but today I feel awful again.. teary blurred vision and panicky feelings..
Did you get over your PND and how? Thank you!