Citalopram hand hole please?

[ThatVogueLife]

Hi Mn-ers! 👋🏻

I'm suffering badly with anxiety and I am waiting for my cbt to begin.
In the meantime my gp gave me sertraline. I took one and it was an awful experience. I had D&V while at work and what I can only describe as white hot panic. The feeling of being at the brink of death. I appreciate this sounds dramatic but that's how it was. I wasn't myself for a few days after.
I've tried to handle on my own I've been reading books, going to yoga, meditation and running before work. It's not helping. I quit caffeine, better but still not ok.
I became exhausted and cried in my gp appointment. She has now given me Citalopram 10.
I'm terrified of taking it but I know that ultimately I need to. So I guess I am asking for some moral support and reassurance?
Thank you so much in advance to anyone who anyone who reads this

Oh no! *hand hold!
So embarrassed

I suppose the irony is in the anxiety over taking anxiety medicine 🙄

I also tried sertraline and didn't get on with it. Now on citalopram 20mg. Minimal side effects and I have my life back. 10mg is a fiddly dose. You will be fine!

You'll be fine, I've been up to 40 a day and it's been all good. Might feel a bit funny on first night but it passes quickly and the drug has helped my anxiety a lot. Currently dropping down but when I get over tired sometimes I have gone back up.

I am
On citalapran 30 and have been for a while. No side effects unless I forget to take it for a couple of days then have dizzy spells.
Takes a couple of weeks to kick in and takes that edge off the anxiety - the edge that means you can't cope

I take citalopram. I started at 20mg and it was fine. I'm v sensitive to medication and don't often take anything apart from the cital. Been on and off a few times in 10 yrs. I'm now on 20 every other day. Hope all goes well!!

Thanks very much for your replies that's actually very reassuring!
I've been really worried it will make me ill. I suppose hearing that it's been worth it for you all is going to be the thing to give me courage.
Isn't anxiety a real bugger!!

I get a bit of a dry mouth and reduced appetite in first couple of weeks but that's all.

Thanks merry I'm super sensitive to things too! I've only ever needed one paracetamol and I'm a shaky mess if I have 2 coffees!

Good luck! It'll be fine. I'm so so much happier on it. I don't even realise I'm anxious, I just get super irritable, like PMT x 100. I'm a lot more chilled and feel more like myself when I'm taking it but otherwise no difference.

Does anyone have a recommendation for the best time of day to take it?

Do you think I should have one now? Even though I've got work tomorrow???

I personally find night best but you can experiment after a few weeks. If you feel it keeps you up then swap.

Yes. Have it now. It won't do anything till you're already asleep!!

You probably won't notice anything odd at all!

Does it keep you up with worry or just like not tired xx

First thing in the morning as it can affect your sleep
Good luck x

I can't thank you all enough for responding.
I've felt so alone and vulnerable in this x

I don't know, makes me a bit sleepy so I prefer at night.

I take mine at night (I've just changed from citalapram 40 to Sertraline 100)

When I was first diagnosed with anxiety and prescribed citalapram I was so worried about taking the tablets, so you're not alone.

Another one here who takes citalopram. I take 20mg, have done for about 5 years.

Like a p.p. said, it 'takes the edge off'. It gives me the headspace to step back to think more logically. It doesn't totally get rid of the feelings but it makes them manageable and stops the anxiety being all-consuming.

The only side effect I have had is that it makes me really sleepy. So I take it at night before bed. If I take it in the morning I just can't keep my eyes open during the day! Having said that, I hear my children if they wake in the night etc so it obviously doesn't make me that sleepy.

I hope this helps in some way, even if it just reassures you that there is one more person out here taking citalopram and feeling better for it with minimal side effects. Best of luck vogue

Thank you so much, stupid as it sounds I feel quite emotional that you've all responded and have been there too and on the other side. Here's hoping. I think I'm going to do it you know Xx

Did you do it, ThatVogue, and how did it go?

Hey!! Thanks for checking in.
Well I just took my first one a moment ago. I'm frightened but know I'm going to be ok.
I didn't take it last night because I must have been so worried that my Fitbit had registered that I had been excercising in peak for an hour!
I'm going to be ok aren't I? Xx

Thanks again Merry, I don't think I would have done it had you not checked in x