Talk me through citalopram

[Nogodsnomasters]

I have so many mental health problems I don't know where to start, health anxiety, emetophobia, PTSD, germphobia and more. I've tried everything except for medication because I am terrified of medicines and their side effects. I've had counselling several times different types including being in therapy right now but it's not stopping this and my anxiety is getting worse year on year as well as physical health (IBS, acid reflux etc) and I'm struggling to cope.

I've decided today that I am going to ring the GP tomorrow and ask for medication. I've been warned off sertraline by 3 different people and recommended citalopram by a few friends plus hubby takes it so I'm going to specifically ask for it.

I am genuinely scared shitless of putting this in my body and it making me feel worse than I already feel right now as I'm honestly hanging on by a thread and can't afford to feel any worse than I already do. Nausea as a side effect scares me due to my emetophobia. I was wondering if it's worthwhile cutting a tablet in half and starting off on 5mg for a while to start off with.

Can anyone give me any good stories?

I took my 5th day dose but I'm not sure I can carry on this way. I am a literal mess this morning which is exactly what I feared about starting these meds! I was going to go up to 10mg on Saturday after 1 week but I am travelling abroad on Mon and I will not be able to cope travelling with 2 kids feeling this way or worse so if it doesn't simmer down then I'm not going to have the bravery to up the dose until after I come back from the holiday.

Honestly your symptoms sound like anxiety! Not side effects. It's also just the tiniest dose; I don't even think such a tiny dose could cause side effects like you are describing.
However.... if it IS side effects, you must understand that a lot of side effects go away all by themselves within a few days or a couple of weeks.

So. Either, the medication is NOT causing the side effects, hence, keep taking it!
Or, the medication IS causing side effects but they'll likely go away, hence, keep taking it!

Most of it IS anxiety but increased anxiety is a common side effect and this is absolutely definitely increased.

A horrible thing about anxiety is that worrying about it can make it worse. You were expecting to feel awful on these tablets which has probably increased your anxiety. I would 100% persevere, 5mg is a very small dose so how about keeping that going for a couple more weeks until you're feeling a little better and then increasing it. Find ways to calm yourself. Take a bath, read, find some space for you, watch a film, do something you enjoy doing even if just to take your mind off things for a little while.

Thank you I agree, plus diarrhea gives me anxiety as I have health anxiety and existing IBS-C so that side effect is giving me more anxiety plus the nausea cause I have emetophobia - I'm just going round in fucking circles the last 3 days. Trying really hard to rough it out, husband is encouraging me. Just want to feel well, physically and mentally which I haven't done for a long time now.

Hope you are feeling ok today OP. Anxiety is a constant mental battle and it feels inescapable a lot of the time. I still haven’t been brave enough to take mine, so you have more courage than me!

Have you ever read the DARE book on anxiety? I found it helpful. I listen to it on Audiobook when I’m feeling awful and the author has a lovely Irish accent which is quite soothing to listen to.

I feel horrendous. My IBS is usually quite severe constipation and I take daily laxido as a maintenance however because I had diarrhea for 2 days I decided to stop the laxido for 2 days and my god what a mistake, my constipation is now back with avengance - I feel the constant urge to go but straining and raised feet only produces a tiny amount. I am barely sleeping, last night just 4hrs, Tues night only 2.5hrs, I am nauseous, forcing myself to eat snacks as that's all I can face and my anxiety is constant all day long for the last 3 days. Today will be day 7 on the citalopram, I am really really struggling to cope. I need this to settle down ASAP.

Have you thought about taking the diazepam you said you had (I think you said that?) or asking the Doctor for some? They will only give it short term but it really is amazing for sleep and taking the edge off anxiety. It may get you through the worst of it.

I have a 2mg diazepam in my drawer yes but no I haven't considered taking it as I'm too scared too. I know that sounds so stupid at this point but I can't help the severe fear.

Honestly, diazepam is brilliant. That is such a low dose as well, you won’t feel anything ‘odd’ on it, it just calms the anxiety and can make you sleepy. I was scared to take it too but it really helped.Maybe contact your doctor and see if it’s suitable to take with the Citalopram.

I think I've seen other threads where people's GP's have actually prescribed a short dose of diazepam to go alongside starting an SSRI to help combat the side effects. I'm really not sure I'll be brave enough to take it. Did you take it for anxiety and was it 2mg?

I've probably put you off trying yours now, sorry.

Stick with it. The ups and downs lasted a fortnight for me, I think it’s the body adapting to now having a steady level yet but once you’ve taken it long enough it’s amazing! I also found it helpful to note the brief periods of calm I had amidst the awful downs

Are you taking it in the morning? I found I slept better if so. Also the downs then didn’t come til later in the day quite often

Also you’re well into it now so you’re nearly there ! I sleep amazingly now ! And so much less tired

@Elisabeth3468@Countrylife2002

Sorry don't know what I did with that last message. Yes I'm taking it in the mornings, my sleep is worse than ever it was already bad to start with. I'm not sure I can hack another week like this as I have to travel abroad on Monday and I really don't want to go but I don't have a choice as I can't let my kids down. And this is it on 5mg only, I've still to somehow manage an increase to 10, it seems like it'll only get worse.

Yes, I took it for anxiety and panic attacks, 2mg and it worked brilliantly for me. Very subtle effect that lasted for a long time.

The box I have says take one 3 times per day so I'm assuming they're not that strong if you can take 3 a day. How long did you use it for?

Citalorpram worked very well for my depression and anxiety but I switched to sertraline as it helps more with my ptsd

I used it about 3 times a day for I think….a week or so but not every day. It’s really not strong don’t worry, I was still able to go about my day as normal. It just slowed my mind down and stopped the repetitive, anxious thoughts. It was great.

So it didn't make you feel drowsy or woozy? I think I hear "sedative" even mild and just worry I'm going to be spaced out which is a feeling I don't like and honestly can't bear to feel any worse than I already do.

I am much much less tired on it. In fact I came off it for a while as no longer anxious and I am now back on it simply because it relieves the fatigue. I don’t need it for anxiety anymore .

It made me feel a little tired, I’m not really sure about spaced out as anxiety makes me feel like that anyway. Maybe take it in the evening and then it won’t matter if you are tired and it may help you sleep.

I'd love some more energy but so far still in the depths of hell. Glad it works so well for you.