CITALOPRAM experiences -Positive please

[Bookkkeeper]

Hi there I have had terrible anxiety after a few traumatic things, my anxiety has been simmering along for the last 8 months, This week my family have had Covid and since stopping & not having my constant distractions swimming lessons, kindy, work etc.(I have two kids) my anxiety has overcome me, to the point I am scared to be alone, I started citalopram on Tuesday (23rd July) and my anxiety is worse, I took 2.5mg on Tuesday, 5mg on Wednesday & 10mg last night. How much longer will the nasty side effects last? I am foggy/light headed, nauseous, overwhelmed, helpless and really needing a reprieve from these feelings, what was everyone else’s experiences? How many days until I can actually function again?

I’m on Escitalopram rather than Citalopram, but they are very similar. I remember feeling very odd for several weeks, but then one day, about a month or so in, I woke up and just knew the medication was working. All the anxiety felt like a bad dream, and I felt close to normal again. Honestly, it’s been a God-send to me.
Good luck. It’s definitely worth persevering with.

@Bohomovies thank you so much for your reply, did your side effects slowly get better after a few days? What side effects did you have? I am desperately over this feeling 🥴 I can’t function normally or even care for my children

@Bookkkeeper I had to increase very very slowly as I had problems with vomiting in the first day or two. I also remember having dizziness, daytime sleeping, a very fuzzy and confused feeling in my head, digestive upset. The start-up effects can definitely be brutal.
You are very early days, so the effects will be at their worst. They should improve soon. Wish I could remember how long it took me to feel better.

@Bohomovies thank you so much, I am hoping each day it will get easier, thank you so much for your replies, I definitely need the reassurance at the moment

I have been on citalopram on and off for probably 10 years in total. it literally saved my life. I had counselling, tried every thing under the sun to avoid taking medication but ended up self harming and suicidal. I started on smallest dose citalopram and was amazed at how much better I felt within less than a couple of weeks.

The downside was the numbness and the lack of any strong feeling. Also, I struggled to get off it, and put on about 2 stone in weight. But it was totally worth it, small price to pay for getting my life back. Its a great medication.

How many days of side effects did you have? And what were they? I am really struggling at the moment

I've been on it for maybe four years. I've also got a chronic pain condition which makes everything feel double shit. A pain doctor told me it should be in the water!!

I feel it's changed my life. But have you had any weird bladder issues? I felt like I had a water infection and my brain couldn't tell my bladder to wee. It was horrible but I'm so glad I held out because it's changed my life.

Obviously we're all different but I'm so glad I toughed it out. I felt it settle down after about four weeks. But with hindsight it's totally worth it.

Now ask me why I'm up at 4:21? It's because I flipping forgot it this evening. It's definitely habit building. 😕

I've been on it since May, slowly increasing the dose no where near as quick as you have. I did 2 weeks on 5mg, then 4 weeks on 10mg where my GP then reviewed me and it wasn't having enough of an effect so decided to increase - the doctor told me 10mg would be for mild-moderate anxiety not severe anxiety with panic attacks like I have. So I just did 1 week on 15mg and I'm now on 1 week today of 20mg. Tbh I've experienced side effects every single time I've increased the dose and the side effects last sort of 10-14 days each time and they are increased anxiety, hypnic jerks, muscle twitching and tremors/shaking.

Been on it on and off since I was 18 (I’m 40). I’ve luckily never really had any side effects, it works so well for my anxiety and ocd. I feel able to function normally whilst talking it. I find life without it very overwhelming.

I never had any side effects apart from reduced sex drive (but it was not a problem, ever - I did not care) and some weight gain. I put on 2 stone but it happened over the years, very slowly, and could potentially be due to me feeling happier and eating better, not to the drug itself. I was very underweight when I was depressed.