Citalopram

[Emmanna]

Hi everyone. I'm 11 months in losing my partner to cardiac arrest and having a mental breakdown with severe anxiety not only caused by grief but other things going on in my life, especially with my teenage son. Been prescribed Citalopram by the gp yesterday and was wide awake all night long after taking the first one. I don't normally sleep a lot but this was awful. Also have bad headache and feeling a bit shakey. I work full time as claims manager and not sure how I am to get through the next few weeks. Has anyone taken this medication and if so, has it helped? Was it bad to start with then improved? Thanks x

DH has been on it for many years. It took about 4-6 weeks to see the first signs of it working, then he got better every month until the 6 month mark.
It might be worth taking it in the day if it’s affecting your sleep, but it might be that physically taking it increased your anxiety.

Thank you for your reply. Much appreciated.

I'm very sorry for your loss ❤️

I had a breakdown in March and was prescribed citalopram for depression. The first few weeks are hard (could you get signed off?) I found taking it in the evening really disturbed my sleep. So I gradually took it earlier so now the latest I take it is 12pm and my sleep is so much better.
It does knock you about at the beginning, I felt very hungover for a couple of weeks and just 'rough' but it does pass.

I'm on 20mg now and it suits me, I feel like myself again.

I did gave a cancer scare in the summer and my anxiety was horrendous and I'm not sure the meds did anything but they didn't change my dose, I was just monitored by the mental health nurse at the surgery and it did eventually start to comedown.

Give yourself time and be kind to yourself x

The effect on me was instant but the side effects took a couple of weeks to settle. I take it first thing to alleviate the sleep disturbances. Try not to focus on or anticipate the side effects though, it's different for everyone.

i am so sorry for your loss and how terrible you are feeling. I hope you have in person support too.

That’s not the one I took when I was very mentally unwell but a few things.

The medicine could be making you feel rough initially so do change the time of day you take it.

You might need something else for your symptoms until the medication kicks in. I was on propranolol at the same time for all the e physical symptoms. It might help for a few weeks?

One of the most important things I had was an instruction from doc (I was very reluctant) to take a sleeping tablet every night. My body desperately needed to rest and the illness had me awake and wired and anxious all night long. It was the insomnia that made me slip into such a state in the first place. In the end I took them for 6 weeks and it was a total gift to rest my head for 4-6hrs a night under the sleeping tablets. Once the other medication kicked in I was able to come off the sleeping tablets.

So sorry OP.

I recall the first 2 weeks being awful. I remember calling my friend who had recommended in tears saying 'I thought this was going to make me feel better not worse!' She told me to stick with it and it will get better.

It did and I have been on it (20mg) ever since.

I have lots of stress going on in my life and it just makes we feel more able to face whatever life throws at me without getting too overwhelmed.

My only issue with it (not uncommon) is sometimes I worry I don't react enough to things. I am quite emotional naturally but I can't remember the last time anything made me cry.

Anyway overall I would say it's really worked for me and I hope it dies for you too. Keep going if you do want to be on it.

I’m so sorry you’ve been having such a tough time.

I’ve been on it for years. The first couple of weeks are difficult - it feels as though it makes all your symptoms worse. It does then settle though, and it’s been a big help for me for a long time.

Definirely take it first thing in the morning to help with the sleep issues.

I really hope things get better for you soon.

Thank you everyone for your kind replies. It helps a lot and I will continue and try to take it in the mornings xx

Just to add my experience @Emmanna, I've been on Citalopram since 2016 and it has genuinely transformed my life. I take it in the mornings with my vitamins and haven't experienced disturbed sleep, but that might just be good luck in terms of when I chose to take it. Agree with other PP in that it takes about four weeks to settle down each time you change the dose. I've ended up on 20mg and it is superb.

I've always been a very anxious person, and it just calms things down. The reason I started however, was a series of several family losses in a short period of time, plus work stress. I have tried to come off a couple of times, but ultimately life is calmer and simpler with that little extra bit of help.

I'm so sorry to hear about your circumstances and hope that it brings you the same calm it did me. Ultimately, however, different brands of medication work better for different people, so there will be an alternative if you get a few weeks down the line and it still isn't working.

Good luck! 💐

@urbansquirrel many thanks for sharing your experience and kind words.

Hi OP
How are you getting on now?

Hi Citalopram has improved my mood a lot since my las post but now and then, I still get bout of anxiety out of nowhere. Is this normal? I'mon 20mg now.
Thanks

Hi OP,
I am so glad it has helped your mood. The anxiety, for me, got worse before it got better. I was on this med before, and I do recall having the odd bout of anxiety, then it eventually just disappeared to the point where I had none. A bit like a light flickering out eventually. Did your GP prescribe you, for example propanolol, which can help with physical symptoms of anxiety, which in turn (for me) tends to turn the anxious mind down a wee bit. Obviously your circumstances might create a little more anx. The other thing is whether there is also a hormonal overlay from i.e peri>>meno. I wish you well. I hope life is kinder for you. Xx it will go in time.

Thank you @Milkybob . No propanolol but yes, definitely a perimenopause issue as well!