Can Citalopram cause panic attacks?

[bandgeek]

I've been on citalopram 10mg since around the start of November for anxiety, and last week my dosage was increased to 20mg. Since then, I have felt much worse than normal! I've had a few panic attacks which cause my mouth and tongue to go numb and I can't stop crying. I was back at the doctors yesterday and he told me to stick with it at the moment, and prescribed me diazapam to help in the short term.

Has anyone else had this? I feel like I'm going mad and just really want some sort of reassureance that it will get better

Hi Bandgeek,

Sorry your feeling so crappy at the moment. Have you not been feeling better since going on AD;s at all?? If not then maybe you need to try a different one altogether. I suffer from anxiety too, but have managed without AD's so far! but have heard of other on MN saying that sometimes they can make you feel worse, before they start to help. I would let it go on for more that 2 weeks 3 at max probably.

Hope you feel better soon! Don;t be scared about telling your GP what you want though!

Hope someone with better advise comes along soon x x x

Thanks YommyMommy, the way I am feeling at the moment I just want to come off everything as it wasn't quite as bad as this even last week! Yes I felt anxious, but not to the point of being scare to leave the house!

I don't know how much longer to give it tbh

Awe Bandgeek,

Thats a real shame! I know what to feels like to be scared to leave the house. Not sure AD's should make you feel that much worse! Maybe you should tell your GP you want to try soemthing new?? Do you feel that they have helped you any since you have been on them when it was just 10mg??? I know there are a few out there aimed more at anxiety. I think its a case of trial and error until you find one that suits you - which you probably don;t want to hear right now

((((massive hugs for you from one anxiety suffer to another))))

Here to catch if that helps any x x x

God, it's a horrible thing isn't it? To be fair to my dctor, he was really sympathetic and nice yesterday and said t does sometimes get worse before it gets better - I just have this fear it never will. I've noticed now the pamphlet does say anxiety as a side effect- how weird!

I think I'll give it another week and if it's not any better go back to the docs. I think I'd rather go back to 10mgs and feel a bit more anxious, but not have the bloody panic attacks!

Hope you feel better too YommyMommy