Feeling so bad after 1 dose

[Velvet21]

Took my first escitalopram (5mg) today - now feeling sick, gurgling stomach and slight headache after just one dose. Can’t risk taking another as I need to work.
Do all SSRIs cause this to start with?

All antidepressants have side effects, OP, but they usually settle down after the first week or two as you acclimatise to the medication.
Try to stick with it, as it takes up to six weeks to be effective in lifting depression.

They can do. A family member had a tough few days with headaches, sickness and a feeling of being spaced out but he had been warned that this might be the case, and had been signed off work, which made things easier for him to cope.

I cant be precise but after about a week or so the benefits really began to kick in and since he's been taking them his life has been transformed, so the unpleasantness of the first few days was definitely worth it for him.

My advice would be persevere for a few days more if you possibly can, and if you are feeling worse rather than better after this go back to the doctors because there will almost certainly be an alternative you can try.

@millymae thank you 😊 I really can’t take another - I might cut some in half in few days and see if that’s a bit better..

I would suggest instead you go back to your doctor rsther than re prescribe your dosage

Oh yes, please see your doctor! Antidepressants need to be taken exactly as prescribed. And on a daily basis. This is very important. My DS takes escitalopram and didn't have any side effects. It's likely that this isn't the right AD for you and your doctor will prescribe an alternative.

@MyrtlethePurpleTurtle thanks. If I had more faith in the doctors I would be more inclined to plus it’s a challenge to get to speak to them. I will try to get an appointment though.

Hi op. I've been through this a few times. It's very disconcerting. I found an article once that explained the medication is basically working its way around your system trying to work out where to land for best effect. In the mean time you feel worse as it digs around. Clearly I've forgotten the actual medical terms used in the article 🙈 but it was definitely something to that effect and it made me feel much better thinking about the citalopram poking around my brain seeing where it was needed most

I felt pregnant for 2 weeks. It was awful, couldn't sleep or eat. So sick and tired and anxious. Then after those 2 weeks I felt so much better. I was so glad I stayed with them.

Good luck

Thanks for your comment. If I didn’t have to go to work, I could maybe just try to deal with the side effects for a while. But taking time off isn’t an option. Still feel a bit strange this morning but a lot better than yesterday. I thought escitalopram had fewer side effects than many SSRIs.
I really need something for my anxiety and to dull my over the top feelings and reactions

@Velvet21 I truly understand, I had them for the same reasons

@user94747295 thank you. Which SSRI do you take? Any other side effects, eg weight gain?

I had sertraline. 50mg. I had no side effects at all after the 2 weeks. Really took the edge off of life. I took them for 5 months and then started to half the dose for 2 weeks , then stopped them. I don't feel any different now to when I was on them. And have been off them for about 2 months.

It seems to make anxiety so much worse when you start them, which is terrifying. But honestly worth getting through.

I lost weight initially because they made me feel so sick that my appetite went. But I went back to normal after those 2 weeks. No weight gain at all