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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:
KarBB · 19/12/2018 07:48

First time I went onto citalopram the improvement was very quick, within a few days, and the main side effect was dodgy guts. I felt tired & spaced out and like I was walking through treacle if that makes sense... second time round side effects much worse but worth it as they helped me immensely.

strawberrisc · 19/12/2018 07:50

I’ve been on them about 2 weeks. Didn’t have any side effects at all. On the lowest dosage. Still feel like everyday tasks overwhelm me. I may see if I can increase if things don’t improve after Christmas.

roisinagusniamh · 19/12/2018 08:47

straw, it does sound like you need a higher dose as one of my issues was being overwhelmed by everyday tasks and that is gone now (while still on 10mg).

KarBB · 19/12/2018 09:15

I went from 10 to 20 to 30 over a month or so. Life changing for me but I've heard others on here whom it didn't help so if you feel no change after 1-2 months might be worth trying something else.

Original poster
Maddie645 · 19/12/2018 10:16

I am getting the impression from the responses that it isn't ' a given' that anxiety gets worse before it gets better?

But, I have read that if it gets worse before it gets better, it is more likely to be effective - if it feels like it works quickly and with no increase in anxiety, then it is less likely to work long term. Maybe that''s nonsense but the fact that I felt good on it after only three days almost made me feel like it wasn't right for me because I had psyched myself up for a massive spike in anxiety. This, coupled with the fear of the 'spike' actually happening made me bail. It was a double edged sword (if that makes sense?)

Maybe I was setting myself up to fail on it (or maybe I'm over analysing.....again).

OP posts:
KarBB · 19/12/2018 10:30

If it's working then stick with it!!! Wishing you a very speedy and long lasting recovery. It is possible...

strawberrisc · 19/12/2018 11:55

@roisinagusniamh Thanks! I lie in bed at night trying to sleep but go through my home and work mental to-do list (all totally achievable) and just feel sick and anxious.

roisinagusniamh · 19/12/2018 12:01

Straw, that was me during the first 7/8 days on the meds. I still have wakeful periods but it is definitely easing off.
My GP wants me to increase my dose but I am going to stick with 10 mg for a bit longer.
How do you feel about going up to 20mg?

strawberrisc · 19/12/2018 12:10

I think it would be beneficial right now. I literally don't try to be anxious - I put on soothing music but all the thoughts just assault my brain!

Unsurprisinglysurprising · 19/12/2018 14:38

My GP started me on 20mg. I'm thinking he should maybe have given me 10mg. I'm a week in. I'm taking them in the morning still as I read taking them in the evening can lead to insomnia. I am so, so tired and still nauseous but eating a lot.

Just praying I settle down in the next few days. I am too tired to tell what my mood is like. I certainly don't feel anxious but anxiety is secondary to depression for me.

Original poster
Maddie645 · 19/12/2018 17:22

Thank you all for this. Really good to have your input. After another day of feckin' anxiety, I think I'm going to give them another go.

My anxiety today was mainly social. I went to lunch with some colleagues and I felt hideously anxious. I don't know why, they're all lovely people and I know them well and I know they like me. I just felt like the whole time I was there I didn't want to speak or engage. Even people involving me in the conversation made me feel horribly self conscious.

I don't understand it really, it's so bloody consuming...confined spaces, job interviews, public speaking, meetings and now apparently lunch with friends!!!

I have a lovely life, amazing partner, brilliant kids and an interesting and enjoyable career. I feel like anxiety is killing all of that and I am sick of waking up in the morning working out how I am going to navigate my way through the day without my anxiety kicking the shit out of me.

I used to be so confident. I traveled the world and would talk to anyone. People would always rely on me to be the life and soul. I feared nothing. I hate how this has changed me.

The annoying thing is, a lot of the time I can relax. I can sit and watch a film with my family and anxiety doesn't affect me. It's just the amount of triggers seems to be escalating and at this rate I'm going to be scared of my own shadow!!!

Okay, just about to take a Citalopram.....it's worth a shot I suppose. There are so many people on them, they can't be that bad!

Thanks a million to you for helping me on this.

OP posts:
BifsWif · 19/12/2018 21:10

It didn’t work for me - I had it for depression years ago and it was great, prescribed again for anxiety and it did make me much worse, but I know lots of people who took it with no issues.

Propanalol and counselling/CBT is keeping things in check at the moment.

strawberrisc · 20/12/2018 06:32

@Maddie645 I arranged a Christmas day out with my three best friends last Saturday. I didn’t expect where we were going to be so incredibly busy and fel exactly as you described. We ended up coming home. I tried to get them to stay but they were really supportive. I felt like you said. I wanted to join in the conversation but my brain shut down. I was dizzy and started really sweating.

roisinagusniamh · 20/12/2018 09:08

I upped my dose to 20 mg this am. The GP advised it last week and I was reluctant because I thought I was doing ok on 10 mg, but, I had aserious dip yesterday.
She said 10 mg is getting the meds into your system and 20 mg starts doing the work.
I am worried about repeat side effects though.

Getoffthetableplease · 20/12/2018 09:23

Day 8 of 20mg citalopram here. I haven't had any increase in anxiety, in fact I think they're amazing all things considered. My husband left us out of the blue 4 weeks back and taking these was my near final step before potentially doing something stupid. I was prepared for them not to work, for all kinds of side effects, and to generally feel like shit until at least in to the new year, but it just hasn't happened. I'm still understandably a bit all over, but they have numbed me enough to step back and take the edge off, I've been motivated to do things with the kids and get to the gym etc and to start sorting through the things that need it like bills and paperwork. I feel a bit tired, especially in evening, but I've been going to bed as early as possible to try and go along with it. I take mine at 4pm each day which seems to fit re the tiredness. I should add I took sertraline a couple of years back and the first few weeks of that had hellish side effects, and it only really worked for about 6 months for me, so I'm going to enjoy this working immediately and take the notion that says it means they won't be good long term with a pinch of salt.x

JustAnotherPoster00 · 20/12/2018 09:28

The only problems I've had on Cit are 1. I get restless leg (wrestlers leg we call it here Grin when I'm on it and 2. heart palpatations if ive missed more than 1 dose other than that I think its helped, im on a 40mg/daily dose

roisinagusniamh · 20/12/2018 09:49

Wow Getof, well done!!

KarBB · 20/12/2018 09:56

@Getoffthetableplease Sorry to hear you've been through such a rough time. I previously took citalopram for 10 years (with a few dose adjustments - up then down) and it helped me immensely. There were still some tough times but nothing compared to previous experiences. It took the edge of the panic / desperation off enough for me to function & do 'self care' - therapy, exercise etc... the only reason I got sick again was because I stopped taking them. Second time round was harder & with more side effects but totally worth it & 1 year on they are definitely still working for me. The research I've reads indicates that ADs + CBT are more effective, particularly in the long term, than either in isolation.

LionsHeart · 20/12/2018 09:58

End of week 3 here.
The dry mouth & cough have gone. The sweating has eased off. Still very tired.

But oh, the feeling of calm.

The shakes & trembling (hands & legs) have stopped.
Two hours shopping in city crowds without panicking.
The inexplicable fear of everyone and everything has quietened.

It's so peaceful.

halfaglassofouzodestructo · 20/12/2018 19:48

I started last Tuesday and almost started a thread at the time. I'd been resisting going down the medication route for ages but (another) meltdown at work made me realise I had to do something. I've had a few side effects - a bit of nausea, dry mouth, tiredness and over the last few days, jaw clenching and teeth grinding. I'm hoping that doesn't last as it's starting to give me a headache.

Overall I feel slightly better, a bit calmer, but going back to work after a few days off has brought me down a bit. I'm feeling a bit sad that it's come to this and everyone's in such high spirits with Christmas coming - it exacerbates the feeling of isolation which has been a big problem for me anyway in the last few months. But I'm trying to keep my focus on feeling better because it will all be worth it if it actually works. Fingers crossed!

strawberrisc · 21/12/2018 08:52

@getoffthetableplease my daughter tried Certraline and it really didn’t work for her at all.

Getoffthetableplease · 21/12/2018 09:24

I went to the doctors for my first review yesterday and whilst she was nice about it, I did feel dismissed when I said they were already helping. It got me reading, and I've just seen this, which I think may be of interest :)

psychcentral.com/news/2010/06/23/some-antidepressants-work-fast-for-anxiety/14905.html

Original poster
Maddie645 · 21/12/2018 16:46

Interesting article Getoff. I am feeling a bit better again already after only three days so I reckon there's some truth in it.

Straeberrisc - It's weird isn't it that seemingly innocuous and familiar situations can trigger it?

So glad it's working for you Lionsheart. Calm and peaceful sounds amazing!!

Just a word of warning to you all you other newbies - I went out last night and had a few Xmas drinks with friends. I got disproportionately drunk. There is no way I would've been like that normally on just a few. I was literally staggering (very embarrassing!) I can only assume it was the Citalapram that made me react like that.

Won't be doing that again! Ah well lesson learned.

OP posts:
Original poster
Maddie645 · 21/12/2018 16:56

Also........this is interesting because it mentions that fast acting changes don't predict longer term poor outcome.....

www.quora.com/Do-some-people-feel-instant-effects-from-SSRIs

OP posts:
Original poster
Maddie645 · 29/01/2019 18:40

Just an update in case anyone sees this.

I started on them again a few days later and I've now been on them for five weeks. I feel sooo much better. The anxiety has really lifted. No more fretting about stuff, no palpitations and my fears about panicking have subsided.

I have just responded to a couple of posts from people who are at the point I was when I started this thread and told them about my experience. I know reading other people's positive stories really helped me to give them another go.

Thanks to everyone who responded to this thread. I feel like I am 'me' again (if that makes sense!).

OP posts: