Advice from people who have taken Citalopram

[Sara1235]

Hi everyone

I am now on day 3 of taking citalopram and I've started to think I've made a big mistake these side effects are horrible nausea, no appetite, stomach ache, burning sensation, intense anxiety, faster pulse, dizziness, just want to cry all the time.

Does anyone have any advice on how they got through the first week / 2 weeks? How long is it this intense for does each day get better?

Thank you

@Snowshower @Sara1235 @buddyb5

Just wondering how everyone is doing now . I have been on 10mg escitalopram about 4-5 mths now and it has helped but this last few weeks I can feel the anxiety creeping back . I suffer mostly from health anxiety and one of my old school friends sons died of leukaemia aged 21 this last week. It is so horrendous and so sad for the family . It has also triggered me as it was always a trigger thing for me if you look back in my posts that I was worried over that illness the most .

i gave a review on 5th April to discuss dose increase . I am also doing cbt but not getting much benefit

Do you think it time to try an increase to 12.5 or 15 maybe ?

Hope you are all doing ok .

@Elliejane
Hi, sorry to hear you are having a rough time and thanks for getting in touch,how weird, I was literally just looking up dose increases on the internet, I'm on week 12 of citalopram 30mg and have been doing well, until the last few days, where my anxiety has started to peak again, I've also recently found out that my thyroid hormones are all over the place, I have hypothyroidism which has been well managed for years but now it seems it doesn't want to play ball 😩 also my nurse practitioner thinks I'm peri menopausal, so has prescribed me HRT, so I'm a bit of a hormonal mess at the moment, my main concern is the anxiety, so like you I'm wondering whether to up or not, I've been told to wait a few more weeks as the cit wouldn't have levelled out yet, can take months I've heard, it's all so frustrating as I just want to feel me again.

@Elliejane @buddyb5 @Snowshower

Hi everyone, I'm 6 months in and on 40mg of Citalopram and touch wood I've been ok had a slight relapse around Christmas but not as bad as in the summer I've finished CBT which helped me alot so atm I'm pretty OK.

I reakon an increase is probably a good thing Elliejane xx

@Sara1235
Hi Sara, I'm so pleased you are doing well, when did you increase to 40 and how soon after the 30? I'm considering upping to 40, I've been on the 30 for 12 weeks now and anxiety is creeping back in, it's really getting me down, I'm trying everything to push through it, I've had really good days previously so I'm not sure if this is just a blip.

Hi @buddyb5

So I started in 10mg in August then up to 20mg October then 30 towards the end of December and then went to 40mg 2 weeks ago which would have been 10 weeks since starting the 30mg.

I have already really felt the difference my night panic has gone completely and I've had no anxiety I am sleeping better and feel back to my old self finally so I'd say increase if you can xx let me know how you get on!

Hi

Thanks both . I think I am scared to increase because then if that not work there is not much higher I can go . I am on 10 and max is 20.

I know that not even make sense but just hoped I could manage on the 10 .

@Sara1235
Thanks for sharing, I do feel quite daunted by the increase as the side effects of 30 were horrendous for me, also I've just started HRT patches, so what I think I might do is wait another week then go for it, I'll keep everyone updated x

@Elliejane
I hear you on that, if I go to 40 and it doesn't work then that's it, try a different one, which i really don't want to do, on a positive note it's working well for Sara, so I'm torn, also I've started HRT , so I don't want to confuse the side effects, think I'm going to wait another week and see how it plays out, let us know what you decide x

@buddyb5

Good idea see if the HRT works first.

@Elliejane @buddyb5

I am also worried being at 40mg and there is knowhere to go if it goes tips up but fingers crossed the 40mg keeps me levelled out xxx

@Sara1235
Sounds like you are already doing well on the 40, I'll keep everything crossed for you, its such a bloody gamble isn't it, I'll keep you posted x

@Elliejane @Sara1235
Hi ladies, just wondering how you are getting on? After a couple of weeks on the HRT I've decided to stop, it made me feel absolutely dreadful, not something I was prepared to put up with whilst navigating this citalopram journey, so I'm now contemplating increasing the citalopram, I'm still having morning anxiety, sleep is so much better but just feel there's some rough edges that need to be smoothed out.
@Sara1235 how's the 40 working out for you?
@Elliejane did you decide to increase?
Hear soon x

@buddyb5

At least you have given the HRT a try I'm just sorry it didn't help.

I'm doing OK my anxiety is around Health and my mum is currently going through a cancer scare, my dad had a very bad angina attack and my partners dad is also going through tests. Normally I'd be an anxious mess but I have to say I've had none around myself a bit of worry for my family which is natural so the increase to 40mg is working well for me xx

@Sara1235
I'm so sorry to hear that your mum and dad are poorly as well as your partners dad, life really does throw up some awful challenges, I'm pleased that the 40mg is keeping you level though, I've been feeling really up and down today and so tired of it now, so I'm going to have a chat with my doctor, thanks for getting back to me, i hope things improve health wise with your family, xx

@Sara1235
Hi Sara, I hope you are doing well, starting my increase to 40mg today, did you have any side effects with the increase from 30 to 40?

@buddyb5
Thank you very much for your well wishes to my family and sorry I haven't replied sooner it's been a little hectic along with the family not being in great health I'm trying to plan my wedding.

I'm really glad you have taken the step and increased to 40mg. I did have some side affects yes I felt sleepy not long after taking them, but ironically, I didn't sleep very well when I went to bed. My anxiety increased a little over the first week but settled quicker than previously and my appetite wasn't great but it all settled in about 7 days.

How are you feeling about the increase? Xx

@Sara1235
Oh congrats on your upcoming wedding! A welcome distraction from all the other life events, I hope you have a wonderful day.
Thanks for the info on side effects, I'm feeling really anxious (weirdly)😂 just hoping it goes a bit smoother than last time, nearly chickened out but if I don't try then I will never know, so here goes, all the best and hope you don't mind if I message you again whilst on this bumpy road x

@buddyb5

Not at all message anytime, it sounds ridiculous but I told myself that the increase would work whenever I got a thought it wouldn't. I felt like I was in an internal battle but I felt it was my way of gaining some control.

I hope your evening was ok? Xx

@Sara1235
Thanks Sara, my evening was good and I slept well, woke with the usual morning anxiety, chest is a bit tight this morning and feel a bit woozy, to be expected though, I know what you mean about thinking the increase won't work but there were improvements on the 30mg so I'm hopeful the 40 will smooth everything out. It is a battle every day, just have to keep positive.
Hope you have a lovely day x

@buddyb5

Have a lovely day too! x

I hope no one minds me joint this thread. I'm actually taking a different drug (an old tricyclic called clomipramine.) Had been very well on it for many years on low dose but debilitating anxiety and lows started a few weeks ago out of nowhere.
Finding it very difficult to function. Off work etc.
have increased dose on advice of GP but things getting harder if anything.
The plan is to see if I can settle on this and if not move to something else possibly citalopram.
I've found it really helpful to read all of your different stories abd hope you are all doing ok.

Hi @kizziee
Of course it's ok to join, it's so helpful to know that you are not alone going through all this.
I've not heard of your ad before, when did you increase?

@kizziee

Message anytime. Thiis thread, people who have replied given me advice and support got me through my darkest days.

Hopefully the increase settles you down I think any increase of meds can make things feel worse for a short time I do hope it works for you let us know how your getting on xx

Thank you so much.
I started increase a few days ago. I had been on a lower dose for a couple of years and ok.
Always had very busy job etc so not sure what suddenly triggered this. (Used to having quite stressful life.)
Also worried because I had only gone downhill previously when on lower dose than that.
I'm terrified that I won't be able to get better again x

@kizziee
It can take a few weeks to see improvements, when you increase your dose it technically restarts from the beginning but because it's already in your system, it may not take as long and don't forget the side effects you may have which can make you feel worse before you get better, I'm on day 4, increase of citalopram, hoping it will hit the anxiety on the head, hang in there it should get better x

Thank you @buddyb5 awful day today. Just couldn't stop crying and I don't know if I've got the strength to fight it again.
(I had said that I would never go off the ADs again or go lower than I was to avoid this happening.)
I hope you are doing ok