Citalopram

[Gizabreak]

Hi all. Name changed for this thread.

I've just been prescribed Citalopram for anxiety. I've had anxiety on and off most of my adult life and have had propranolol in the past for the physical symptoms of it. At the minute I'm suffering with anxiety and can't manage to get into work. The thought of it just makes me freeze. I work in an environment where if I need to get out because I'm feeling anxious I can't.

Anyway just been to the doctors and he's prescribed me this. I'm really, really wary about taking this type of medication and I tend to feel more anxious at the though of taking them. A few years back I was prescribed sertaline and I took one table and had a massive reaction to it. I had a full on breakdown and huge anxiety attack. I thought I was losing the plot.
My Gp didn't think it was because of taking one tablet but I do.
Has anyone any positive experiences of this citalopram to encourage me to take it? I've been prescribed 20mg of it.

My daughter had no problem with it. No side effects apart from yawning a lot when she first started it. She had no problems coming off it either...She just stopped it, but that's not recommended.
Everyone is different.
I had a totally different experience with escitalopram...but like you, I was terrified about taking it. I'm sure my anxiety about medications made it worse for me.

If your anxiety is not crippling, you could try other therapies rather than meds...but if it's severe, then you may need the meds to get you to a good level.
Having anxiety most of your adult life means you may benefit from counselling, mindfulness, yoga or cbt. But discuss with your doctor.

I've had CBT, my work are referring me for counselling.
My anxiety is not crippling me yet as such. It's worse first thing in a morning hence why I can't get to work. I just feel frozen with fear at the thought of going there and not being able to get out.

As pp said everyone is different. Citalopram was a real game changer for me. I went from someone who couldn't get through an hour without bursting out crying to back to more normal within little more than a week. Maybe it won't agree with you but you can try others.

It's been a godsend for me. I'm on 30mg a day and I'm much, much better for it. I've not had any big side effects, just some tiredness at the start.

Yes, it's been a fantastic thing for me. I had very bad health anxiety and now - three years on - I am utterly free of it and my life is so much better for it. I don't feel dull or drugged or a different person, just not scared.

The first two weeks are a bit rubbish; I was tired and yet couldn't sleep and had a slightly gyppy tummy, but all of these are pretty common and they do wear off. I think taking it in the evening works better.

It sounds to me - and this is just a guess - that you are also anxious about losing your fears, as though you need them for some reason? To protect you, to keep you safe? That might be the reaction you had to the other tablet. In which case tablets + counselling might be a good idea, but please don't give up, it's so much better on the other side.

Please do ask me anything about the drug if it helps.

I've heard, as pp said that Escitalopram has fewer side effects. A friend was offered this after refusing to take her Citalopram due to what she perceived as it's horrible effects.
I tried Citalopram and stopped it myself after two weeks. Was at the height of my anxiety and I blamed it for my fuzzy, detatched symptoms. However, looking back I do believe the symptoms were as a result of the state I was in and very likely it was not the medication. Worrying that I'd taken the tablets simply made me extra anxious with extra turmoil.
In your situation rather than work myself into a frenzy of extra worry I'd go to my GP and ask about Escitalopram tbh.

Thankyou all for the replies. I'm extremely wary of meds. I just know I'll take one and work myself up into a state that I'm more anxious.
My main issue is work tbh. I tried to go in on Monday and just couldn't do it. I woke up shaking and felt so sick, I had the runs (sorry for the tmi - like water) I'm fine in the house doing the boring, mundane day to day stuff.

I don't mean to scare you but I couldn't get more than two tablets in, and it's the same with sertraline for me. Some people find SSRIs very hard going.
It put me in a state of hideous fear and agitation. It definitely wasn't my anxiety as that wasn't anything like as bad as it was just situational.

Unfortunately it made me feel much worse initially - 2 weeks in was my low point, but after that it was fine and made a huge difference.

Hi, I've been taking citalopram for just over four years now and I haven't had any bad experiences with it. It really helped me - before I started taking it I would never leave the house by myself and sometimes used to stand paralysed in a panic at the back door when it was time to feed the rabbit.
I never really had any side effects either apart from once I swapped to taking it in the morning because I was having trouble falling asleep. Hope that helps

I've had CBT, my work are referring me for counselling.My anxiety is not crippling me yet as such

@22Gizabreak Well, personally, I wouldn't take the antidepressant. I'd try everything else I could first.
I did cbt, counselling, I do simple Thai chi from a YouTube video, I walk, and I'm reading 'Change your thoughts, change your life' by Wayne Dyer.
I started doing all these things so I could get off the escitalopram which was awful for me.It's created more problems than it solved and withdrawing is very very difficult. Like I said though, I was scared of taking it in the first place.
Everyone is different though so you have to do what you feel comfortable doing.

I'm thinking for now to see how I go with it
I've got a sick note from the GP. I had one last week and asked for a further one for this week but when I've checked it they've done it for 2 weeks not one. Even that has got me in a tizz because I'm worried people think I'm not ill.

Hi, I’ve been on citalopram for three years for anxiety, it has helped but still get bouts of anxiety. I’m now desperate to wean off it due to weight gain, almost two stone and I cannot lose it no matter what I do. Anyone else had weight gain?

I spoke to my OH last night who suggested I maybe start them on Friday when he's around and is there to support me. I explained my fears about taking it to him and he said I'll never know if I don't try - which I guess is obvious.

The thought of taking them fills me with fear but then I got into a tizz when I started to take the contraceptive pill.

I'm still in the process of debating with myself what to do. I've been prescribed a small dose of it 20mg.

Whatever you decide, good luck.