Cotalopram

[UhOh4321]

Hi everybody. I've been suffering from awful anxiety the last 6 weeks. I get really bad fight or flight so this has been accompanied by an upset stomach the whole time too which makes me even more anxious ☹️

The DR has prescribed me citalopram. She said my stomach might get worse for a week or so which it has ☹️ Does anybody have anything positive they can tell me about taking citalopram or any positive outcomes? I just can't see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I know there are many people who have not got on well with it but my anxiety can't cope with hearing the negatives right now 😞

I am on 20mg a day and have been for over a year. I take it before I go to sleep as it helps and I don’t feel any zombie effects the following day. It has really helped me and am now at a point of asking the GP if it can be cut down to 10mg

Thank you tissuesosoft

Can I ask how long it took for you to start feeling more like yourself/better?

I'm on 40mg a day. I had it slowly increased till it was working. I had a very bad stomach for about a week if I remember. I occasionally have an up set stomach again if I miss a dose and then take it. I've been on it over a year and it has saved my life. I'm hoping to have it slowly decreased when I can get in to the doctors.

Yes! It worked for me. I took it for two years and have been off it now for 5 years. I used to feel sick and dizzy for the first three weeks, but then you start feeling good. Persevere!

I’ve been on citalopram on and off for years and have never had any side affects. It can take a couple of weeks to kick in.

It took about two weeks for me to feel the effects, it came on slowly. I began to notice the things that previously were making me anxious or bawl my eyes out weren’t having as intense as an effect. It was a month for me when I felt the clouds had cleared.

I've been on 30mg for about 2 years now and was on 20mg for a year before that.

The first two weeks were awful, hot flushes, unable to sleep and very down. However, now I feel fine and my mood has really settled down.

I did take it with Mirtazapine for a while but the side effects were unbearable.

I've not had any stomach issues at all.

Hope it works well for you op.

Hi OP, I started on it on Friday for PMS and anxiety. Feeling pretty good so far, have had some nausea and I'm quite tired, but nothing else.

What is your dose? I'm on 20mg. Fingers crossed that it does the trick for both of us

I’ve been on 20mg for 7 years and it’s made a huge difference in my life. I had fairly debilitating anxiety and had been prescribed a benzodiazepine in America . When I moved to the UK my GP switched me to Citalopram, thank heaven! Hang in there, OP.

I was prescribed 20mg about a year ago to help with anxiety and mild depression, triggered by extreme emetophobia. The doctor warned me that it might depress my appetite initially and it did (lost a few pounds which was a bonus), but that was because I felt awful - nauseous, tired and even more anxious. I persevered though, and by the time I went back to the GP three weeks later I was feeling much better, no more nausea and much less anxious.

Thanks for all your replies. I'm feeling more positive after reading them.

thisismyhappyface I'm on 10mg so quite a low dose to start. I think I'm starting to feel a little more at ease when at home although still panicking when I need to go out and dodgy belly. Hopefully we'll both feel much better this time next week 🤞🏻

Following this thread with interest as debating with myself about asking the GP for escitalopram after years of life destroying anxiety. How are you feeling today OP?

I hope so UhOh

Have had some bad news today, nothing major, just disappointing, amd I think I'm taking it fairly sensibly. Haven't got the rising panic feeling that I've come to know so well. Fingers crossed that things are on their way up

Thisismyhappyface Sorry to hear you had disappointing news but great that you did not panic and took it sensibly. I had a disastrous school trip today and made a catalogue of errors (admin related- no kids harmed!) but managed to stay calm-ish and not panic. Hopefully things are on the up for both of us.

abeautifulmess Going to the DR and discussing options would be a great idea. I wish I had done so before it started making me physically ill. Mentally I think I am feeling a calmer. Just waiting for the awful physical symptoms to disappear now.

I'm on 40mg and have been for years, the only side effect I've had is low libido which is slightly annoying but me being relatively stable and happy as a result of taking it is worth it. Give it time to work, you might be pleasantly surprised.