Support with citalopram

[Tweetypie88]

Evening.....I guess I'm looking for some support/advice. I was given citalopram a few months ago for anxiety and I still haven't plucked up the courage to take them....for some reason I just keep thinking I'm fine without them and then suddenly realise my anxiety is not at all getting any better on its own.
So basically I decided yesterday that enough is enough and I'll start them. Then I read so many horror stories online about the first day taking 20mg and I'm really anxious about the first few weeks side effects that I decided against it again!!
Is it really that bad the first day/week/month. I really don't want to be feeling ill, unable to sleep etc.....the list goes on. Someone with anxiety really doesn't need that huge list of side effects to worry about.
Sorry this is so long......any good stories on citalopram to help tell my mind ill be fine and that i really need to to this for my anxiety.

Only my own experience of course but I had no problems at all when I stated them but remember very well that coming off them was a very different story. You really do have to wean yourself off them.

Like I said, only my experience but hope it helps x

I know it's different for every person but my first few weeks on them wasn't too bad. They did make me feel nauseous and a bit woozy so I used to take them just before bed as my MH nurse said this could help. Didn't feel too much different on them, bad days were less frequent but still horrible. Got upped to 40mg about 5 months ago and thankfully my anxiety is much better controlled now. As I said it's different for every person and I know how scary taking that first tablet can be but hopefully you'll soon start to feel better. Is there anyone in RL you can ask to keep an eye on you just in case you do get some side effects?

Also I was given some diazepam to help while the citalopram kicked in and help with side effects, is this something you could talk to your gp about?

I've been taking citalopram for years now. I was switched from sertraline when it was no longer having much effect.

I didn't have any side effects at all.

I've had a few times over the years I've thought I felt better and stopped taking them, only to realise a week or so later that actually that wasn't a good idea. Mine have recently been increased to 40mg.

My first week was ok - a bit jittery and spacey, but nothing too bad (I still got through work etc). It's definitely worth it for the end result, and doesn't last long, you'll be grand - think positively

Actually, sorry - the jitteryness (is that a word?!) was sertraline - I can't remember having any side effects with citalopram in the first week! Sorry for the confusion!

They have been a God send to me during the last 3 years. You may feel slightly ‘off’ for the first couple of weeks, but I had nothing awful. Definitely much better than the dreadful anxiety I used to have.

Like pp said, nighttime after dinner is a good option. I first started taking mine in the morning and did go a bit spaced out and had, rather randomly, bouts of uncontrolled yawning. Other than that, I was fine; I worried about the sleep side effect as I am a terrible sleeper, but it didn't interfere. I'm coming off of them now as I'm pregnant, and they are not the greatest to wean from, so if you do eventually decide to, talk to your Dr first and go slow!

I took it for about 6 months a long time ago and then went down to half a dose and then off completely. No side effects. A few years later I needed it again for different reason. GP gave me something else to try which had me climbing the walls after taking it once. Never went back to that GP again as lost my trust. The list of possible side effects is usually classified under common uncommon or rare. Check the box. You might not even get any. I didn't and it took the edge off my anxiety. Really helped me wasn't sleeping had panic attacks couldn't eat. GP said that I had mostly made myself better. I hate taking medication for anything do I understand what you mean but don't think these are as strong as some other medication. Hope this helps.

I have been on them since sept and they have been a god send
My anxiety was sky high and it took alot for me to finally admit I needed a bit help. The gp was lovely and I was the same when I got the prescription but I never really had much side effects. Felt a little bit off colour for a few days and quite tired but I cpuld still go to work and look after the kids. I just kept reminding myself they were going to help me in the long run. Good luck

I have just had my citalipram prescription upped to 40 mg, I have been taking these for the last 4 years on and off, I felt a little sick the first few days as I recall but it's just your body adjusting to the chemicals.....I've just been prescribed 30mg of mirtazapine to take in the evening to help with my panic attacks and anxiety....don't be afraid to take them , it will do more harm taking nothing and being in denial about your condition. Once you admit to yourself that you aren't 100% then it's half the battle won already? It's all about getting to understand your mental health, you have to be your own best friend because in reality you are the only one who can truly help you x

Thank you all so much for your replies.....I wasn't sure id get any!! And every single reply relates so much. Seriously though how do I take the plunge to take the first one when I'm so anxious about the side effects......I know it's my anxiety but I keep thinking I'll end up being really ill.

Is it wise to break the 20mg in half for a few days...would 10mg be easier on my body to adjust to

Another one who agrees they changed my life, when I think back to how I was before citalopram I can't believe the difference, I take 20mg can't remember any awful side effects. I am now considering coming off as I feel like a new person. Hope it works well for you too.

Personal experience.

Started taking them in March after having a weekend full of panic attack's and convincing myself if I went to sleep I wouldn't wake up.
Woke up clawing at my neck as I couldn't breath and didn't want to leave dh for days.
This in itself for me is unusual as normally I'm a confident happy business owner with a busy but fun life.
I jus think juggling everything took its toll as well as major hormone surgery four years ago.
I don't think I have myself enough tine to recover from that to be honest.

In the end I went to the gp in an absolute state after no sleep for three nights.
My gp was brilliant.

I got a prescription and took the first one straight away whilst tellling myself I couldn't ever feel like that again and if I could just ride out the next week while it settled in my system it would be ok.

Within five days dh commented on how much calmer I was.
I had a few days of feeling nauseous and spacey but then it settled down.
I look back now and can't believe I'd got in that much of a state before seeing someone.

I take mine in the morning with my coffee and think no more of it.

Big deep breath op.
I was where you are and I'm so glad I decided to take the prescription.
I still have moments when I'm under extreme stress where I panic and flap but I've learnt to calm myself down now

No problems here...starting or increasing dose

I was on them for three years and they probably saved my life. The only side effect was a bad stomach (diarrhoea) for about a week. I felt so much better in a matter of days.

Thank you for your great replies. I'm getting closer to taking the plunge and opening the box. I'm able to admit that I need to do something....step in the right direction I guess but I feel so silly that I can't actually just take it!!! Anxiety Sucks

Okay I'm glad I saw this I tired on these a few years back and couldn't get past the first week of feeling like I was in a dream world feeling like my head was in the clouds so I stopped taking them my life got worse and worse and I had crippling anxiety for last few years where I've been doubled over in pain with it so I went back on them three months ago but this time I had no side effect and it's the best thing I've ever done I no longer have anxiety and I'm like a completely different person it's helped me get over so much terrible stuff and I don't know where I'd be without them if I had waited it out last time it may have saved me three horrible years

Do it please do but just hold on through the first few hazy days if you have them!

Prescribing 20mg as a starting dose is bad prescribing practice. Recommended titration is 10mg daily for 14 days then increase to 20mg daily if tolerated.

When my anxiety was at its worst I found it hard to pluck up the courage to take the tablets too. Just to start yourself on that road maybe try and take half a pill, see how you feel? Build your confidence with it that it's ok and if it isn't, we'll you can rationalise it's only a small dose and won't be in my body long.

Personally have never tried them though dh keeps insisting I should as he's been on them for 4 months and it works really well for him, he is on 10mg only as pp said 20mg shouldn't be the starting dose it should be upped to that once tolerated if 10mg isn't making a difference, for my dh 10mg worked a treat and he didn't need to up (so far anyway). In regards to original question, my hubby said he felt nauseous and spacey for a week, he didn't vomit, didn't have diarrhea etc, he did struggle to sleep though for the first 4 weeks but I hear that's a rare side effect and not the norm. My anxiety is awful and dh keeps telling me to ask gp for a prescription but I'm like you and can't bear to take it from fear, I suppose that's the point of it, I'm afraid of everything fs.

Mine made me really sleepy for a week. I also got the jitters and a jaw tremor.

Now I wouldn't be without them. They really help.

It's worth persevering.

Oh god citalopram is amazing for anxiety. I take it and never had any side effects not even in the first two weeks.

Take it in the morning and it won’t effect your sleep.

Honestly life is too short to suffer anxiety. Take the tablets!

I'm taking it.
Full dose from the start, didn't really feel any better for about two weeks. Then it kicked in. I can't say I've had any side-effects (I've read that it makes some people feel tired but I'm knackered all the time anyway!), and I really needed some help for anxiety, the same as you.
Go for it and give it a good try - at least two weeks. If after that you don't feel it's helping, it's time to go back and ask for something else.
Good luck.