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Original poster

Citalopram - first day

55 replies

Maddie645 · 14/12/2018 06:50

After lots of deliberation (years in fact), I have started on Citalopram for anxiety and panic attacks. I took the first one yesterday.

My anxiety has been pretty bad of late.

I have been reading about how SSRIs make you feel worse before you get better. But, today (only one tablet so far - taken yesterday), I feel strange, but in a good way. I feel slightly detached and a bit 'trippy'.
Certainly not anxious.

I was expecting to feel awful. Is this normal??

I've read that if you feel good initially, it's a bad sign because it's supposed to take a while to kick in, not work immediately.

Does this mean it's not going to work for me?

OP posts:
DarienGap · 14/12/2018 06:57

Hi. I've been on cit for years for anxiety.
What dose are you on?

I remember my old gp telling me that it was the best for anxiety. It normally takes a few weeks to work though. Are you getting any other help eg have you been referred for counselling.

Original poster
Maddie645 · 14/12/2018 07:00

She started me on 20mg.

I've had lots of counselling in the past (CBT, hypnotherapy, person-centrered therapy). I also read lots of books. None of it helped.

I am taking Citalopram as a last resort.

OP posts:
Original poster
Maddie645 · 14/12/2018 07:04

What dose did you start on Darien? Did you get worse before you got better?

OP posts:
Sweepington · 14/12/2018 07:12

I felt good straight away and have been on them for years. How long is your course? Could you see how you feel after then?

DarienGap · 14/12/2018 07:39

I started on 20mg which I'm still on.
I didn't feel any different but then gradually over a few weeks my anxiety started to ease off. I still have anx (mine is health anx) but I feel more able to cope. Also on propranolol 3 x 40mg to help too.
Anxiety sucks!!!!!!!
I've found keeping busy helps, so when I feel bad I regularly blitz the house to try to take my mind off things. Also breathing exercises when I remember.

DarienGap · 14/12/2018 07:40

I was previously on prozac then venlafaxine. Cit is the best out of those.

DarienGap · 14/12/2018 07:41

Sorry op, meant to ask do you have gad or is it anxiety over a certain thing?

milienhaus · 14/12/2018 07:43

I felt v trippy the first day (smiling at everything!) and they’ve worked well for me.

EmMcK · 14/12/2018 07:44

Hi OP, I have been on Citalopram for about seven years and had no side effects at all when I started. Try not to focus on the potential downsides, just hold tight and see. It's been fantastic for me, my anxiety and depression dont overwhelm me, but I still feel things, if that makes sense.

Raven88 · 14/12/2018 07:50

I was nauseous for about 2 weeks when I started and couldn't stop yawning. The nausea settled after a couple of weeks but the yawning took about 4 months to calm down. Supposedly it was affecting my vasovagal nerve.

taratill · 14/12/2018 13:32

I've taken my first one today and am worried about the side effects, glad to read that some people have had none.

LionsHeart · 14/12/2018 13:42

Been taking this for 2 weeks - My throat is so dry I can't stop coughing and retching, I'm exhausted, sweaty and I'm having nightmares. But I do feel calmer. What to do?

Original poster
Maddie645 · 14/12/2018 18:26

I have a month' wroth then a review. I also have propranolol Darien and it helps. I've been on that for a few years.

Yep, anxiety does suck. i have GAD and panic.

Milienhaus - that's exactly what I've been like all day! I'm just hoping it's not the calm before the storm. I've read so many stories about how bad it can get in the first few weeks. If I carry on like I have been today I will be ecstatic. I feel (dare I say it....anxiety free!) Nothing has phased me all day. Nothing.

I'm just about to take my second dose.

I think that's good advice Em. I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts and hope it continues.

The only side effect I've had is the jaw clenching thing in my sleep last night and mild nausea. I'll take that happily if it puts a stop to the hideous anxiety.

Taratill - we can log our experiences here if you want? Would be good to share the journey with someone at the same stage. Are you taking it for anxiety?

Lions that sounds grim, I'm sure it will pass though. The advice generally seems to be to persevere. Raven only had the side effects for two weeks.

OP posts:
Original poster
Maddie645 · 14/12/2018 18:26

Sweep - I'm really hoping my experience is like yours!! - so far so good :)

OP posts:
Original poster
Maddie645 · 14/12/2018 18:30

I suppose I'm just trying to keep an open mind and not get too optimistic....it's only two days after all. But I honestly didn't expect to be feeling like this so quickly. My friend said it could be psychosomatic/placebo effect but that doesn't make any sense....I wasn't expecting to improve, if anything I was prepared to feel like shit.

OP posts:
taratill · 14/12/2018 18:46

I can already feel my teeth clenching but I think that may be because of what I'm reading on here!

Yes it's for anxiety/ depression, I've two kids with additional needs and I have been feeling shit for about 4 years so I need to give something a go.

My only issue with starting today is that if you feel like shit for 2 weeks that takes over xmas day so fingers crossed.

When those who started taking it started feeling shit was it immediate or a build up?

combatbarbie · 14/12/2018 19:39

I didn't get on with it..... but I do remember the first few weeks being a nightmare. The trippy feeling could be completly psychological but you know the worst is to come so don't get alarmed when it starts. Day 10 is apparently the worst, after that it should be up upwards x

Good luck xx

Unsurprisinglysurprising · 14/12/2018 19:56

I started earlier this week. Mine is for depression with anxiety. When I'm busy I feel ok. When I stop and sit down I feel tired and nauseous. It actually reminds me of the way I felt after a night's clubbing and associated drugs in my younger days! Not sure if it's had any impact on my mood yet. I feel a bit all over the place.

thewinterqueen · 14/12/2018 23:13

So I've been on citalopram for 15 years now, and I remember feeling very nauseous and dizzy at first. It took about 2-3 weeks for the symptoms to go away.

Unsurprisinglysurprising · 16/12/2018 08:32

I woke up this morning feeling horrible and have had to force myself to take my tablet. I feel like it could easily come back up. My doctor told me I would only feel bad for a few days and I thought each day would get easier, not worse. Do I really have at least another week of nausea and diarrhoea to look forward to? Sad

How are you getting on Maddie?

Fantasisa · 16/12/2018 19:33

My GP recommended that I take it before bed so I could sleep through the nausea of the first few weeks

Original poster
Maddie645 · 17/12/2018 12:46

Hi

I bailed :(

Convinced myself I didn't need them. Took them for three days and then bottled out. I actually felt fine on them but for some reason started fretting about the idea of feeling worse before better. I'm such a wuss. Fearing the fear is a big part of my anxiety issues.

Gonna get my head around the idea and try again in a few weeks.

I hope you're feeling better Unsurprisingly x

OP posts:
taratill · 17/12/2018 16:05

On no! I'm on day 4 now. Apart from a dry mouth the only issue is insomnia because I tried taking in the evening. I took in the morning this morning and have felt fine actually but I have been quite busy so not really thinking about it.

I hope I am not going to start feeling bad as I don't need the stress before/ over Christmas.

Maddie, I hope you are feeling OK, I know about the 'fear' of the 'fear'. I get health anxiety but it doesn't provoke me to go to the drs it means I avoid it altogether even with genuine symptoms.

Original poster
Maddie645 · 18/12/2018 08:46

Please keep me posted on your progress Taratill. I really hope it is the start of something good for you.

It was the idea that the anxiety was going to spike at any moment that put the fear of God in me. Ridiculous because the irony is that I was anxious about the very thing that could have helped the anxiety.

Ah the joys of being a neurotic wreck.

I really hope you stay feeling good for Xmas.

OP posts:
roisinagusniamh · 18/12/2018 10:36

I am on day 11 of 10 mg of Citalopram .
The first 7/8 days were very difficult. The anxiety was much worse than than the anxiety I had experienced which made me take the meds!!
I couldn't eat and have lost a half stone.
I couldn't sleep.
However, it is beginning to take effect now and I'm feeling calmer and more in control now and I am feeling hungry again.
It is worth persevering.