12 weeks on citalopram. Looking for reassurance
Posted , 4 users are following.
hi all. im new to this site although ive been reading the forums for a while. so heres my journey. i was on citalopram for about 12 years for GAD. i get that plus somatic OCD where i feel like im going to stop breathing. i felt 'normal' for years so just after xmas i made the decision to go it alone and stop taking the cit. fast forward to the end of june and i had a horrific attack and was in a constant state of anxiety afterwards to the point i truly believed there was something seriously wrong with my heart or i had cancer etc. i saw the gp who told me to start taking my cit (20mg) again and had a range of blood tests which all came back normal apart from a folate and vit d deficiency. now 12 weeks on i feel better some days, still have no appetite really and ive lost over 2 stone. ive also noticed my toes seem to 'tap' a lot when im sitting and altho the anxiety is better the ocd and intrusive thoughts seem to take over. when i first took cit all those years ago i felt better in a matter of weeks so im just after reassurance from people who have been through similar.
0 likes, 15 replies
nataliya.k Zigmundo
Posted
i am on 20mg fluoxetine, just completed 9 months. very long and rough road, up and down , going through terrible "blip" right now, feeling like back to square one.
first time on meds was good within 4 weeks, but this time progress is very slow.
Keep going and take one day at the time. You will get there
emma1110 Zigmundo
Edited
Hi there! We have super similar stories. I was on cit for about 7 years when I decided to stop taking it because I felt normal as well. A few months later, every symptom from before taking the cit came back - panic attacks, general anxiety, depression. I went back on the 20mg I had been on, had terrible side effects but also starting seeing improvement right away. I had no appetite either, lost about 15 lbs. I definitely thought it would be a faster process like the first time I started the meds. My doctor recommended 40mg eventually since I wasn't seeing progress at the rate I was hoping. It's been about 3 months since I started on 40mg, and I'm doing so so much better. Appetite is fully back, no anxiety, enjoying things again. It feels like forever when you're in it, but be encouraged, you will get back to your 'normal'. Every day you're a day closer.
Zigmundo emma1110
Posted
so woke up this morning at 2.30am. foot tapping uncontrollably, hot, struggling to breathe. i know this is going to sound a familiar story but i just cannot stop thinking there's something wrong with me
emma1110 Zigmundo
Posted
Totally understand. Are you able to ask your doctor for some lorazepam for the difficult times? It was a life saver for me.
Zigmundo emma1110
Posted
im on propranolol alongside it. I'm ok in the afternoons usually. its just developing these leg shakes have really freaked me out. is that something you experienced at all? tiday has been the worst day ive had in about 8 weeks and I had to drive 200 miles.
emma1110 Zigmundo
Posted
200 miles doesn't sound fun! I never got leg shakes really. My anxiety definitely found different ways to manifest itself before it got a lot better, I wouldn't be surprised if this is just the way your body is choosing to manifest that anxiety right now. Don't forget to remind yourself these leg shakes aren't dangerous, and it doesn't mean there's something wrong with you. It's so hard when you feel like you're taking so many steps back when you have a terrible day. As much as you can, look at those days you've felt better, and know that there will be plenty more in your future.
Zigmundo emma1110
Posted
feeling slightly better today. not 100% but less anxious. feet still tapping away so maybe you are right about different ways to manifest. on your recovery did you just feel better one day or was it gradual?
emma1110 Zigmundo
Posted
I'm glad you're a little better today. My recovery was ultimately gradual, but there will definitely some days I'd wake up feeling soo much better than the previous day. It's a weird journey, not linear by any means. But slowly and surely you just get better and better ❤️
Zigmundo emma1110
Edited
then last night i had possibly one of the worst panic attacks I've ever had. literally made me think if i went to sleep id die. spoke to doc this morning and we're going for an increase
emma1110 Zigmundo
Posted
I'm so sorry that happened. An increase sounds like a very good idea. It was for me. Hang in there.
Zigmundo emma1110
Posted
hi. so a full week on 40mg. anxiety has lessened. still foot tapping like crazy. slightly less appetite but i can eat. worst bit is i get indigestion like pains on my sternum (doctors assure me theres still nothing wrong with me 😁) and i get nauseous a lot late morning fir an hour or so
emma1110 Zigmundo
Posted
So glad to hear the anxiety has gone down! That's a total win. Appetite still low & morning nausea definitely makes sense. If the nausea is too bothersome, there are great OTC medicines that can help with that. Here's to things looking up! ❤️
Zigmundo emma1110
Posted
definitely agree. so am feeling better everyday. started eating more Which feels better. now the only real symptom i have is a tight chest above my sternum. did you experience this and if so how long did it stick around? not that im trying to tie myself to a timeframe.
emma1110 Zigmundo
Posted
Such good news. The tight chest is definitely an anxiety symptom. I would get this before I started citalopram, I can't recall having it after - I had a bunch of other nasty symptoms, though. Try not to worry about it too much (I know easier said than done). Just know it's a normal stress symptom in the body and is not harmful. It should dissipate more and more as the weeks go on 😃
ayassresearch Zigmundo
Posted
Facing GAD, somatic OCD, and stopping citalopram is challenging. Restarting it has eased anxiety, but intrusive thoughts and physical symptoms linger. Weight loss and toe tapping raise concerns. Similar experiences from others could offer comfort, yet consulting a professional remains crucial for tailored guidance and support.