Citalopram - wonderful outcome

[LifeInTheDogRun]

Just making this post in case anyone is starting/thinking of starting Citalopram.

Have now been on it for 1 month and my life is 100% different; I'm enjoying life again, going out with friends and family and no longer feel 'unsafe' all the time (as though I need constant help).

I really was at an all time low before taking it, not going out by myself, no longer enjoying things I used to love and bursting into tears constantly. My anxiety was ruining my life.

First few days of taking them were hard going, was tired all the time and had terrible dry mouth, however my life is now happy again - if you're considering them and unsure, please take the leap, it's worth it in the end.

@walkinthewoodstoday I’m so sorry you’re feeling like this but please believe me, the doctor can absolutely help you and you do not have to do it alone. Tell the doctor everything you’ve said here, don’t leave anything out. If you think it would help then take your mum or someone else to the appointment with you.

The only thing I would say is don’t be fixed about wanting one particular medication. Citalopram might be the right one for you but there are lots of others that the GP might think is better. Try whatever they prescribe and you might have to wait a few weeks until you feel the effects but just know that you’ve taken the first step to getting better.

I’m really struggling at the minute too and I took my first beta blocker a couple of hours ago that have calmed my physical symptoms of anxiety enough to consider eating something. I’ve also lost my appetite and just feel sick all the time. I’ve also got a triage counselling appointment tomorrow which might be something your doctor also recommends. Good luck and sending unmumsnetty hugs.

Oh thank you so much for replying. I agree not being too fixed but I'm worried she might just say try counselling. I am beyond that. But I don't want to be some demanding patient stating what I need! My mum is in medicine and she clearly thinks k need to try something because I can't see a way out.

Please, please talk to your GP. They really will want to support you.

Your situation sounds similar to mine 2 years ago. My anxiety began after I gave birth, and like you I stopped attending classes, slept during the day (normal with a baby regardless!) and started to feel generally down. It manifested into health anxiety where I would worry about every tiny thing that was wrong with me and genuinely think I was going to die. I had awful, frequent panic attacks too and had other physical symptoms like dry mouth and my jaw would also lock from teeth grinding! I spoke to my GP a few times and I was sooo reluctant to take medication to help. Eventually, I began citalopram which helped me massively.

The turning point for me was talking to a charity over the phone called PANDAS. If you Google them, all their details will come up. They support parents and they are just a listening ear. It really helped me talk through my anxiety and validate my feelings. I really, truly recommend them.

Take care x

@walkinthewoodstoday I’ve tried medication a few times over the last 10 years (my problem is thinking I’m fixed, everything is fine and stopping taking them). Every time I’ve been struggling with depression or anxiety the GP has been happy to prescribe me something in addition to recommending counselling.

You sound like me. No appetite at all through anxiety. I’ve started back on Citalopram today, was prescribed then last week and have sat thinking I’m some kind of failure if I need them, which is wrong.

Keep going, it’s all we can do. ♥️

@walkinthewoodstoday your GP should prescribe something as well as referring for counselling or CBT.
Please tell you GP how you're feeling and make sure to check in a few weeks later.
I'm new to citalopram as you'll see from my earlier posts and I'm in the thick of side effects (mostly worse anxiety and no appetite) but the reassurance on these MN threads has kept me going.

I was on citalopram 20mg for years but felt that it stopped working for me so GP has started me on fluoxetine 20mg , I have really bad anxiety.
I feel really jittery and on edge with awful insomnia. Hope things improve soon.

Good luck everyone, thankfully the stigma around mental health and meds is starting to lessen.

Hi everyone

I'm really after some support. I'm on day 7 and I'm really struggling with heightened anxiety. It's definitely worse than before I started and I'm really struggling to see how I can get through it.

I just feel constantly like the worst will happen.

Before I'd feel okay in the afternoons/evenings but now I feel anxious up until about 8pm which is no good.

I have little appetite and nausea but physical symptoms are okay. It's the increased anxiety and feeling like I'll never cope that's getting me panicked and down.

Please could i have some support?

Game changer for me too.

Wishing - I would give yourself a set date (another week or so, less if you cant manage that) and if you don't feel better go back to your gp and ask to try a different antidepressant.. they work differently on different people.

I've posted on here before, was initially giving setraline to try and the side effects were horrific, I was so ill I assumed I had covid. I had to stop after 2 days. Then I tried mirtazopine which was similar side effects but not as strong but made me sooo hungry so asked to switch to citalopram - literally had 1 day where I felt a little bit sick then after that no side effects at all and felt better almost instantly. So don't feel you have to struggle through really bad side effects forever....usually they should be easing within a week or so so if you're still feeling no different I'd ask to try something else.

I've been prescribed so will start soon. I wasn't told when to take them but some people said at night time before bed? Any thoughts?
I've also realised i have low blood pressure and this makes me dizzy etc so hoping this doesn't exacerbate this.

@walkinthewoodstoday I take mine in the morning and that's what the doctor recommended because it can interfere with sleep. I generally feel better in the evenings as well so I don't want to risk ruining that time as well by taking the tablet!
I know some people do take at night though and try to sleep through potential side effects.

I'm nervous to start now. Feeling OK ish. What if I don't need them. Someone reassure me to give it a go

@walkinthewoodstoday Only you can decide whether they're the right thing for you. My fear of side effects stopped me taking them for around 2 years but now I wish I'd just done it sooner.

Life is so short to live in fear and be miserable. Yes, I had a dry mouth for about 3 weeks after starting and yes I felt a little more anxious at first but that's well worth it for me.

No one should tell you what to do, but don't let your fear tell you what to do either. Sending un-mumsnetty hugs!

@walkinthewoodstoday as others have said it's completely up to you but if you've been feeling bad on balance for a while then giving them a try might be a good idea to see if they help.
My fear of side effects has stopped me taking them previously and although I haven't felt them working yet (day 8 for me) I'm keeping faith! I feel like if they work then there will be a relief from panic and worry faster than if I didn't.
Whatever decision you make is the right one.

I find the first 3-4 days really intense and worse at points, more agitated and no appetite, but then I feel noticeably better by days 4-5 and it improves from there. I grind my teeth when I start it which is annoying. Make sure you drink plenty of water with it... Just my experience but I found that when starting it I felt really sick and had an awful headache if I didn't take it with a pint of water!

I'm on day 6 and feel so much better than I did it's remarkable.

@Wishing1988 how far in are you now and how are things? Day two and feeling so so dizzy and struggling to eat. Could just be post flu symptoms though.

@walkinthewoodstoday physical side effects have died down really but morning anxiety (like literally right now) is really bad still. I'm on day 13. I couldn't start to eat much/properly until about a week in.

I do start to feel better in the afternoons and evenings and I think 'what was I worried about!?' but honestly my mornings are still really hard. I have to let my wife look after our son and come to bed for a bit because I just can't be up.
I don't know how much is the tablets and how much is my own anxiety and whether it's worse than before.

Hang on in there! How are you feeling in yourself?

This is literally me right now, I’m just a week in on Citalopram 10mg and the morning anxiety is absolutely crippling. I’m signed off work until the 25th and am now worrying that will be too soon, I feel absolutely horrendous :(

Getting nosebleeds (sort of) now when I blow my nose. Hope that doesn't last

I'm day 3 btw

Things are really bad for me now. Have a awful headache and bloody nose. Is this normal. Please please someone come back

Also I wake up at 2/3am and can't go back to sleep

I think the headaches are fairly normal - dh has a lot of them anyway and they were worse for a couple of weeks when he started. The side effects usually settle after 2/3 weeks. But the nosebleed thing does seem a little unusual - I’d try and ask your Gp about it, if you can’t speak to them I’d ring 111 for advice. It may not be related and may just be a coincidence.

@walkinthewoodstoday just seen your messages. The headaches I've seen can be normal but the nose bleeds shouldn't happen. Definitely get an appointment with your GP and discuss it.
What time of day do you take your tablet that might be affecting your sleep if it's evening time? But again sleep disruption can be another side effect.
Ask if you can get any diazepam or propanol alongside the ADs to alleviate physical symptoms. I have to take propanol when I feel really panicked after taking the citalopram.
How are you feeling now?