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

For those who are on it, have you experienced any sexual dysfunction? I did with sertraline so planning on switching to citalopram

I didn’t take one today as I couldn’t fall asleep last night until it started getting light again .I was busy yesterday so think I was a bit overstimulated sociallybut today I am feeling I don’t want to take it especially as it made me feel like I didn’t want DH touching me . Only on half a tablet and started last Friday.
I wish I was a normal person who doesn’t feel things so much and could relax easier.

You are a normal person - millions of people are on an AD of some kind.

I am not a doctor but my understanding from my own doctor is that anxiety tends to require a 20-30mg dose to see a difference whilst depression can be impacted by 10-20mg

I would therefore be surprised if 5 was having a positive effect - were you advised to taper up slowly?

Yes mutual with dr as I preferred to start lower to see what nausea was like . Up to 10 mg after two weeks.
My dad got hooked on Valium for years and the drs told him it wasn’t addictive. I have issues with medication even though have had positive results in the past . Got off them asap

@MoreThanThis78 I think a little bit, at first, but I was hyper focused on that as a possible side effect

I was also randomly sleepy for a bit which curtailed opportunities anyway 😀

What time of day do you take the Citalopram? I have been taking after breakfast with an actimel.

I took it in the evenings because it made me sleepy

I have been on citalopram for 3 weeks now and it’s made my anxiety so much worse. I am now getting hot rushes of heat down my back and arms, random thoughts of guilt over things I’ve not done, lots of nervousness and panic around losing my children because I’m taking anxiety meds so am I a bad mum for taking them etc, which rationally I know I am
not A bad mum at all, but the pills are making me so anxious about everything and anything, please tell me someone else has had this side effect and how long it took for it to stop making the anxiety worse !

I have been on citalopram and escitalopram for anxiety and depression on/ off several times - each period for about 2-3 years. Its a lifesaver for me, the only side effect (apart from general emotional numbness) is a slight weight gain.

I also found it very difficult to come off it gradually. It never worked - I get too emotional, all over the place, crying and not sleeping. I can only go off it if I go cold turkey, for some reason this works really well for me. But obvs this is totally against all medical advice.

Please discuss these side effects with your doctor. Sometimes it may take trying a few different things to find the right one, or it may just be your body adjusting. Either way, please discuss this with a medical professional.

I had horrible hot sweats for the first 6 weeks, but then it all levelled out.