Anyone on citalopram?

[Llh1979]

Hi
So 6 weeks ago I went through a period of acute stress which the doc prescribed 50mg sertraline for after 2 days the panic attacks started and I've not been right since
Awful nausea and diarrhoea and basically just sit on the sofa all day i have no interest in anything I'm can eat due to the nausea and also now have acid reflux 😢
I'm under 2 week reviews with the doctor after been prescribed propranolol 40mg which keep the panic attack from full blows but only just I've definitely developed anxiety from all of this
(Always been anxious but very well controlled)
I'm going to ask the doctor about citalopram but wondered if anyone had any personal experience of it I know everyone is different but the reaction to the sertraline has scared me beyond anything I've ever known
Thanks if you made it to the end on just a desperate mum looking to get better

I started on citalopram last march and it's worked wonders! Only downside is I used to get headaches and found myself clenching my jaw/teeth together while my body got used to it

Hi,

Sorry to hear you are going through such a bad time at the moment.

I used to take citalopram for years and I found it really helpful. I personally didn’t experience any side effects even during the first few weeks, but of course everyone is different. I have also tried sertraline and found the same as you have - it actually made things worse and I ended up having to also take propranolol for the panic attacks.

It’s definitely worth speaking to your doctor again about different options - antidepressants affect each person so differently but it’s worth persevering to find something that works for you.

X

Thank you for your replies
I took sertraline 2.5 years ago when my mum was passing and I was absolutely fine on it but this time it made me 100% worse and obviously still struggling now I just dont know what to do for the best
I didnt really want meds but I'm running out of options in order to get better

Sorry you're having such a crap time :(
I am on citralopram for anxiety and it really helps me to control it.

I'm on 10mg and I feel it's enough, first few days I was spaced out and lost my appetite but it settled after a couple of days.

I hope this works out for you, I feel its really helped me out.

I never knew that anxiety could be so deliberating but 6 weeks later I'm no closer to getting better Christmas was ruined
I've always had a good appetite but now I'm lucky to eat a piece of chicken a day
My emotions feel numb bar the suicidal thoughts thinking it's the only way to end all this 😢

Citalopram is great for my DH - he started on 20mg but actually is on 10mg now and he had v little side effects

I had citalopram 20 mg for a while and felt a bit queasy at the start but later swapped to venlafaxine as was having horrendous hit flushes from chemo and venlafaxine has helped with that side as well as anxiety I had- but I never had any issues with citalopram 💐

I’ve taken Citalopram for 10 years without side effects and it’s been a game changer. I could hardly leave my house due to anxiety and agoraphobia. I still find it hard to believe that my mental health got so bad, but am grateful for Citalopram.

Thank you all so much
I'm actually just on Google (need to stay away) and nausea is a rare side effect of propranolol I take 20mg morning and night and I'm wondering if this cold be playing a part of it
Suppose I'm just looking for answers

I started citalopram a month ago, 20mg.

Brain fog and nausea for the first couple of weeks but much better now.

Its helping. A long way to go but it's helping

@AlaskanSnow do you find you've got more motivation and actually want to do things
I dont want to get out of bed or off the sofa I have no interest in anything and then the panic attacks start
I'm more scared of the side effects of the anxiety getting worse in the beginning and causing more panic attacks

@Llh1979 The anxiety hasn't worsened.
I am gradually getting better. I'm still quite dithery but I'm not as meh any more.

@AlaskanSnow I have all day nausea aswell which I dont want to get worse it's such a vicious circle
Getting anxious over taking a med to help with my anxiety dont think we could write it

@Llh1979 my GP did warn me about the side effects, he said he could start me on 10mg which would be less likely to have side effects, but he would prefer 20mg and for me to push through the first 3 weeks until the side effects subside.
I'm glad he said that, as I do feel improvement now.

That's the trouble with anxiety! Makes you overthink and worry about everything.
Read back the thread though - people only have good things to say about it, so it may be worth the try for you.

@AlaskanSnow I'm definitely going to ask for it I've been given a phone call appointment for a week today

I'm on day 5 of 20mg a day.
To be honest until now I've been reluctant to take medication, I'm quite frightened of it (maybe irrational but that's how I felt)
However l too was at a point where I literally could not function.
No nausea or any other side effects so far. Hoping it will remain that way.
Whatever you decide I wish you good luck,

Citalopram has totally changed my life. Side effects lasted 2 weeks then nothing. I didn't think I could ever be happy again but I am. The flatulence has been ongoing but I can cope with that and I've lost weight.

Thank you both so much I'm going to ask for this 1
I'm very wary of medication but going to ask the doctor for antisickness tablets aswell to see if that eases the side effects as it's the nausea I cant tolerate

@Shehasadiamondinthesky I shall look forward to the weight loss!

@Llh1979 I would say it was like morning sickness for me - lasted about 4 hours from taking the tablet each morning, but if I ate ready salted crisps that would ease it. I haven't had to do that the last 3 days...

@AlaskanSnow I'll keep that in mind my anxiety makes me very nausea

Info for helping with anxiety:

www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/anxiety-and-panic-attacks/for-friends-family/

www.time-to-change.org.uk/blog/what-can-you-do-help-someone-anxiety-or-depression

See which feels right to you.