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Original poster

Citalopram 10mg

151 replies

Rainbow1994 · 19/10/2023 11:19

I am 4 weeks nearly 5 into 10mg citalopram for really bad anxiety i have suffered years with it. I have 3 children one been 9month old and it seems to have got worse, i got to where i couldnt eat i was loosing weight couldnt concentrate and just panicky all the time google EVERYTHING, worst case scenario when the children are ill you name it i have done it. I hit a wall and went to the doctor. Now the doctors have tried plenty of times to put me on ADs and i have refused but this time i knew i needed. Anyway the 1st two weeks were awful i wanted to stop. The 3rd week i felt glimpses of my old self and was laughing and had energy. And this week i seem to be struggling again not like i was but its there. is this normal in the first 6 weeks? The doctor wants to up my dose but im so scared of the side effects again.
Please dont give me anything to over think or be scared of as i actually give myself symptoms!
I just want peoples POSITIVE experiences on citalopram.

OP posts:
Original poster
Rainbow1994 · 28/10/2023 08:14

Does anyone know if i can take herbal sleepi g aids while on citalopram? Im very cautious of mixing things.

OP posts:
SheilaFentiman · 28/10/2023 08:19

If you call your GP surgery with that question on Monday, someone should call you back. You shouldn’t take advice on mixing Medicines on the internet

TheBuggerlugs · 28/10/2023 09:02

This reply has been withdrawn

This post has been withdrawn due to privacy concerns

Snowdayplease · 28/10/2023 10:20

@Mummy2Sienna how are you feeling now?

Original poster
Rainbow1994 · 08/11/2023 11:03

UPDATE
So i upped my dose to 15mg two nights ago i felt nauseous last night but thats it upto now.

OP posts:
Kielyflower · 08/11/2023 11:12

Thanks for keeping this thread updated OP. I am following as am a few weeks behind you.

Sorry if you said this, but was the 15mg your idea or doctor’s?

Original poster
Rainbow1994 · 08/11/2023 11:14

@Kielyflower do the doctors want me on 20. To reduce side effects i am doing 15 for a week to see how i go. So im not over my guided limit un actually under the limit they want me on.
How you doing on them? What mg are you on.

OP posts:
Original poster
Rainbow1994 · 08/11/2023 11:16

I had a bad dip and then was brilliant again and put it down to hormones and stuff and then my baby is poorly with his chest and i have realised i still cant cope when my children are ill so decided to go to 15 and gradually introduce 20 what the doctors want me on.

OP posts:
Kielyflower · 08/11/2023 11:37

I’ve been on 10mg for a couple of weeks but think I might need to go to 20mg (whether via 15 or not).

I’m not doing great but am possibly better than I was.

Ive been on 20mg before with good results so I know it will be worth it in the end but this part sucks.

Sorry to hear your baby is poorly, I can well sympathise with that being a trigger.

Original poster
Rainbow1994 · 08/11/2023 11:46

Kielyflower · 08/11/2023 11:37

I’ve been on 10mg for a couple of weeks but think I might need to go to 20mg (whether via 15 or not).

I’m not doing great but am possibly better than I was.

Ive been on 20mg before with good results so I know it will be worth it in the end but this part sucks.

Sorry to hear your baby is poorly, I can well sympathise with that being a trigger.

Yes thats how i explain it "i am better than i was but i know i could be better" everyone i speak to including on here do really with 20 so in hoping i get the same results. I was just so scared of side effects regarding upping my dose (still am but have to do it) as starting out on 10 wasnt pleasant.
Yes i know i have health anxiety and doing CBT for it too and it really isnt nice, cant stop watching his breathing.

OP posts:
Kielyflower · 08/11/2023 12:02

The side effects can be unpleasant but they do pass. This whole anxiety business is horrendous though.

I hope your little one gets well soon and also that we both (and everyone else here) get better soon too.

Kielyflower · 08/11/2023 13:09

I meant to say, that’s really encouraging to hear that people do well on 20mg, I know a few others who are or have had good results with 20mg too.

Stay strong, we can do this! X

Original poster
Rainbow1994 · 08/11/2023 13:15

Kielyflower · 08/11/2023 13:09

I meant to say, that’s really encouraging to hear that people do well on 20mg, I know a few others who are or have had good results with 20mg too.

Stay strong, we can do this! X

Yes and also people on this thread do well on 20. Let me know how you get on if you up your dose. Thankyou for your words im hoping he piccks up soon its so scary when its there chest.

OP posts:
Kielyflower · 09/11/2023 09:17

How are you and how is your little one this morning @Rainbow1994?

warriorofhopelessness · 09/11/2023 09:23

I started on 30 mg and found it really good for anxiety, which stopped very quickly. I don’t think I had much in the way of side effects but I can’t really remember. I’m off it now and my anxiety got worse for a while but is evening out.

Original poster
Rainbow1994 · 09/11/2023 09:39

Kielyflower · 09/11/2023 09:17

How are you and how is your little one this morning @Rainbow1994?

Hello im still ok and its 3rd night last night on 15mg hoping it stays like this. My little one is still chesty but he hasnt got worse i took him to the out of hours last night and they said its nothing serious its just a typical cold with a wheezy chest. My other 2 have it now 🤦🏻‍♀️. How are you ?

OP posts:
Original poster
Rainbow1994 · 09/11/2023 09:40

warriorofhopelessness · 09/11/2023 09:23

I started on 30 mg and found it really good for anxiety, which stopped very quickly. I don’t think I had much in the way of side effects but I can’t really remember. I’m off it now and my anxiety got worse for a while but is evening out.

Hello @warriorofhopelessness thats good to hear im hoping i dont have to stay on them but if i have to then i have to its one of thise things. Upto now im agreeing with citalopram but i deffo need to be on 20.

OP posts:
warriorofhopelessness · 09/11/2023 09:58

Rainbow1994 · 09/11/2023 09:40

Hello @warriorofhopelessness thats good to hear im hoping i dont have to stay on them but if i have to then i have to its one of thise things. Upto now im agreeing with citalopram but i deffo need to be on 20.

Show quote history

I know people who are fine on 20mg and some on 30mg. Sometimes it takes a bit of juggling to get it right. However, word of warning, don’t try and stop them by yourself or drop down quickly as you can get withdrawal symptoms. GPs are aware of this now but weren’t back when I tried to do it on my own. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon. Anxiety is the pits.

cannaecookrisotto · 09/11/2023 10:14

Citalopram saved my sanity.

I started on 10mg after my daughter was born and after taking for a while I felt a positive change.

Covid (lockdown), upped to 20mg. Couple of weeks, again felt like my usual happy self.

Still on it now.

No side-effects except insomnia - which was stopped by taking in the morning instead of night :).

Kielyflower · 09/11/2023 11:59

That’s good your LO is ok@Rainbow1994and that 15mg is going ok for you.

I am still far from my normal self, but I’m functioning at a broadly acceptable level. Things could be a lot worse so I am trying to be as positive as I can.

I am waking up early and anxious and restless but things tend to improve a bit as the day goes on.

Original poster
Rainbow1994 · 09/11/2023 12:11

Kielyflower · 09/11/2023 11:59

That’s good your LO is ok@Rainbow1994and that 15mg is going ok for you.

I am still far from my normal self, but I’m functioning at a broadly acceptable level. Things could be a lot worse so I am trying to be as positive as I can.

I am waking up early and anxious and restless but things tend to improve a bit as the day goes on.

I was exactly the same the morning anxiety knocked me sick that knot in the stomach was awful! But thats passed now. Had it a good 6 weeks. Then it went and came back for a week (hence the reason for this thread) and now its gone again.

OP posts:
Original poster
Rainbow1994 · 09/11/2023 17:44

cannaecookrisotto · 09/11/2023 10:14

Citalopram saved my sanity.

I started on 10mg after my daughter was born and after taking for a while I felt a positive change.

Covid (lockdown), upped to 20mg. Couple of weeks, again felt like my usual happy self.

Still on it now.

No side-effects except insomnia - which was stopped by taking in the morning instead of night :).

So does it take a couple weeks with each dose increase to notice improvement?

OP posts:
Kielyflower · 09/11/2023 19:09

I would say yes it does take a couple of weeks (minimum) for an increase in dose to take effect. It probably varies a bit from person to person but that’s basically what the nhs website info says (not specifically re dose increases but about the medication in general taking 1-2 weeks to build up in your system enough to take effect. It says 4-6 weeks for full effect.

Original poster
Rainbow1994 · 10/11/2023 18:15

So last night was night 4 on 15mg no side effects apart from i think i have heightened health anxiety concentrating on things i shouldnt be. Anyone any advice on if i should up to 20 or give a few more days. Thanks.

OP posts:
Kielyflower · 11/11/2023 17:45

I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer here. In theory side effects will be less if you increase more slowly. But the positive impact of the medication will also take longer to take effect, so you just need to weigh these two things up.

FWIW, I’d get on to the 20mg if I were you - I think you said that’s what your doctor wants you on?