Been prescribed citalopram for my anxiety

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Has anyone had citalopram for anxiety? I suffer quite badly from anxiety and panick attacks and the doctor has prescribed me with 20mg citalopram, did you have any side effects?

to cut a long story short, the doctor first offered me sertraline 50mg and the first night scared me I didn’t react well whatsoever to it had dizziness, heart palpitations, heightened anxiety, feeling hot and cold my husband was quite worried about me I called the doctor the next day and they switched me to citalopram- currently haven’t started yet, so sorry to drone on but really want to help myself and get my life back on track x

I was on it for years for depression BUT it also made me far less anxious :)

I've been on it for 4 weeks for anxiety and panic attacks. I was only prescribed 10mg and tbh I cut the tablets in half and started on 5mg to see how I faired with them. I'm glad I did because the side effects are rough, first few days I was just tired and tense but from day 4 onwards the heightened anxiety was excruciating. I was determined to persevere, I did 2 weeks on 5mg, then I did a 3rd week of alternating 10mg one day 5 the next, I don't care if it sounds or seems crazy, it was the only way I could do it and I really need these to work. I've now been on the prescribed dose of 10mg for just over a week and hoping that 3-6 weeks from now I will see an improvement.

Best thing I ever did to start taking citalopram. Definitely start slowly, use a pill cutter and give yourself time to get use to each level before upping the dose. Same if you come off it, really really slow or you get withdrawal symptoms that aren’t nice.

I've been on Citalopram for a long time.
The only side effects I had to begin with was mild dizziness. Stick with it as it does pass. Within 3 weeks it was fine and has been a life changer for me.

Life changer for me too. Only.sidr effect for me was a little sweatiness that went away.

Yes, it helped. Discuss starting on 10 mcg and ramping up though

I’ve been on 10mg for a week, just starting to go to 15mg then up to 20. I’ve had a few bouts of sudden sleepiness but otherwise haven’t noticed any side effects. I feel like the noise in my mind is a bit quieter already but obviously v early days.

Found it much better than sertraline.

Thanks everyone for your lovely comments, I’m gonna take your advice and start low and slow I’ll go and buy a pill cutter today and start at 10mg, I’ve also now had to get a sick note from work just until I feel more myself again xx

Have you already got your prescription? When I was on 20 they often gave me 10mcg tablets and I just took 2.

Sleepiness was my main side effect so good to start on a non working day eg weekend

That's the dose I'm on for anxiety. This is my third round of taking it in just over a decade. It definitely helps me by taking the edge off the panic without completely numbing me.

Yes got my prescription for 20mg, but just spoken to my doctor and she’s doing me a new prescription for 10mg for a week just to embed in so hopefully that will help 😊 I’m off now this week sadly had to call in work sick but just so I can have less stress to deal with whilst they start adjusting with me x

Oh that’s good

Picking them up in the next hour the new dose and will take straight away ☺️ I’ll keep you posted x

Got my new tablets and have taken 1 about half an hour ago 😊

Well done OP! Keep us posted on how you get on, usually takes a day or two for side effects to show (did for me anyway) x

I'm probably a statistical outlier as it actually made my anxiety worse. I was asked to stick with it for a few months but it just got worse. After speaking to my GP I slowly came off it.

Hey all quick update had to stop taking this med made my chest really bad and anxiety levels through the roof! I spoke with my doctor again and there switching me to propranolol today which will help lower my heart rate and blood pressure to feel more calm

So I started it and had a big turn for the worse. Gp said its part of the process and can take a couple of weeks.

It worked for me (40mg) along side propranolol.

I was prescribed this for social anxiety a year ago but have only just started to take it as I am getting very negative thoughts as I have lost a lot of weight and in pain with my joints which is limiting me a lot .The doctors made me feel unsupported although I am not finally being referred to a rheumatologist I have started on 5 mg by cutting pill up . So far side effects are feeling nauseous , tired unmotivated, taking much longer to get off to sleep which isn’t good. On the plus side I have stopped fretting so much about the pain and it has stopped some of the knawing ache. Only started on Friday so very early days. If you say Citalapram is a life changer how did it help?
I didn’t want to take medication again as fought hard to get off it but feel I have little choice.

How's it going? I'm on 10mg but thinking I may need to increase.

Are you getting any benefit gymngoals ? I feel this medicine maybe helps more with anxiety in my case as my mood seems flat but not even taking full dose yet. How long have you been on it

It does help with anxiety I think yes. And the really low feelings. They said give it a couple of weeks or so. I started on 29th. I had one day where I felt amazing, the really sunny day recently. Everything else has been a bit meh with a bit of dreadful. I just had the covid booster so that probably hasn't helped.

I've always had the best results with ADs when I've also got into an exercise routine. So hard to do when depressed.

I had palpitations with mine, particularly at night, which made me more anxious. Had to come off it. That was only on 10 mg too.