Citalopram

[Myboysmyworld666]

Hi I am reaching out for support before I lose my mind, so I have a anxiety disorder where any time I try to go somewhere busy like a shop or appointment etc I have extreme anxiety the physical side effects are crippling me the doctors have put me on citalopram after venlafaxine and sertraline were not good for me, I am 3 weeks in and just looking for reassurance please, before starting citalopram I could walk my dogs or walk to my mums now my anxiety is so heightened I struggling to leave the house please looking for positive feedback

Hi, I've been on it for many years. I had to slowly increase to 40mg and I'm still on that dose now.
It's worked best for me out of the many anti depressants I've tried.
I have no side effects. I just feel like I can cope better.
Feel.free to ask me anything.
Good luck, keep going

Thanks for you reply I just feel so lonely on this journey x

I had really bad side effects for about 3 weeks when I started. Give it another week and if you feel no better give your doctor a call.

Youll be ok. You're doing the right thing. Just keep taking the medication every day, keep up with your appointments and don't be afraid to increase your dose.
You should be very proud of yourself.
I know how hard a GP appointment is when anxiety is eating you alive x

Thank you so much x

Thanks for reply I am 22 days today just feel lonely and scared and that no one understands how debilitating anxiety is x

It'll be ok. Reach out and get as much help as you can.
I totally understand how all encompassing it is and I know you can't see it now, but it gets better, easier or more manageable.
You can message me if you need x

And Happy birthday. Do something nice for yourself today x

Sorry I meant 22 days into citalopram wish I was 22 again I am 43 lol x

Thanks so much xx

Oh sorry that's my misreading!
22 days is still early so give it a good chance x

So after a really good anxiety free day yesterday and a walk to top of street today the anxiety is back and had to take 2.5mg diazapam I am trying to look at this in weeks and not days but hard sometimes wish I could just put my shoes on and go walk in sunshine but my legs feel like jelly and so scared of fainting whislt out, this time last teat I was a end of life carer for dementia patients just makes me sad x

It will get better. You’ve just got to push through at the moment. When I first started citalopram my body was so shaky my legs could barely walk across the room. It took about 6 weeks to really kick in. Three years now and it’s changed my life. Honestly, you’ll get there x

Thank you this just me made cry because I know there is light at the end but it seems so far away I am also having therapy via face time and I meditate and do breathing exercises, I havnt touched alcohol for 4 years have a cleanish diet and don't do drugs, I stood at my front door today and watched a lady walking down the street she was happy and smiling and had been shopping and I just burst into tears because I want that feeling x

Bless you. I know exactly what you mean. How comes everybody is out and about? How comes they’re able to do that and they haven’t got a care in the world? I want to do that. I had problems caused by menopause as well which is now sorted. I barely left the house for over two years before that and the citalopram. Now I go out every day and I’m disappointed if I can’t. I couldn’t have dreamed of feeling so “free”. Keep going. It’ll be worth it x

Thanks so much I am also perimenopause have been since 39 tried hrt but had reactions so now they have gave me citalopram for the mean time then when it's kicked in they will look at another hrt, all I have done today is cry and kick myself for relying on a diazapam my doctor is confident that by week 6 I will feel different just seems so far away x

You deffo will feel better. Say on the off chance you don’t then the doctor can tweak the meds or try you on a different antidepressant. The menopause has some very strange effects. I used to spend a lot of time crying. Looking back now I can’t believe that was me. X

Yes I have cried loads today feel like I am letting everyone down because I just can't face the outside world at the minute I am. Not depressed never have been I see the good in all things just feel deflated today x

Same. I’ve never suffered with what I suppose you’d call depression just a general anxiety. Hard to explain. Easily overwhelmed. Sometimes we all need a little lift x

So I spent most of the day in bed yesterday my legs felt so weak and all I did was cry my doctor keeps saying to persevere because I not even a month in but having my 2 grown sons lay in bed with me and just hug me absolutely broke me I have had every side effect going and lost a stone and half although appetite is slowing returning, I just feel so shaky and jittery, I feel like the only person in the world going thru this I feel like there is something so wrong with me even though rationally I know there isn't x

Keep going @Myboysmyworld666 It’s a good sign that your appetite is returning. My DH used to say to me you’ve got to eat but the thought of it made me want to be sick. You’ll feel amazing once you’re out the other side. Make sure you get up, open the blinds, have a shower and hair wash and get dressed. It really helps x

Thank you I have been showering and getting all my cleaning done i refuse to let this depress me I just want this anxiety gone I don't have a stressful life it's just me and my boys always has been my 17 year old is autistic but no problem what so ever he is also on citalopram and never had one side effect it's crazy how it effects us all differently isn't it, I have a partner we don't live together and he is very understanding but I just feel like I am holding him back from life, my eldest son does the shopping and things like that but that frustrates me I should be doing it he also holds down a full time job, we was meant to go abroad next month and I had to cancel because of my anxiety hence the reason starting citalopram but I feel I have let my boys and my mum down as it was just us going x

How many mg are you talking? The first month was awful when I was first on it, felt worse before I got better, I started on 10mg than went up to 20mg after a month. I didn’t feel the benefit until 3 months after starting. Hang in there but contact your GP if you’re concerned to go on something else, citalopram isn’t for everyone

Hi am on 10 mg doctor don't want to up dose till 6 week in if it hasn't worked I have tried sertraline for 9 years highest dose it stopped working then venlafaxine which was awful my doctor is adamant this is the right one I suppose I just trying to rush getting better although I know it won't work straight away she gave me a month worth of diazapam but am really trying not to take them but yesterday was a bad day just made me really sad as I have had sown good days in between

Woke up super anxious again all I seem to do is get up feed the dogs do the washing hoover and then go lay in bed before citalopram I could easily walk my dogs round block or go to my mums I havnt left my house in 3 weeks please someone tell me this gets better was put on it for anxiety attacks in public places, shops, walking to work which I have now left my job a while a go as the attacks were debilitating never had depression at the minute I just feel sad crying for the life I see everyone else having, spoke to docs again she probably getting fed up of me now but she keeps saying wait till week 6 😔😭