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7th week on Citalopram and not feeling great

Posted , 9 users are following.

Alison_wasNacho
Alison_wasNacho

HI All,

I know I should be avoiding these forums and getting on with my life but I feel like I just need advice/reassurance from people that know how I'm feeling.  I took 10mg cit for 4 weeks for anxiety/low level depression and am now just into the 3rd week at 20mg.  Side effects have sort of passed; main issue is I am exhausted and foggy (no concentration whatsoever), go to sleep at 11pm every night after a bath & reading but then I wake up at anywhere between 2-5am and then have major adrenaline and twitchy body and I can't relax!  Makes me feel like I'm going to gag when I try and eat food for breakfast/lunch but by dinner I am hungry but nothing tastes that great.  I have no motivation and am forcing myself to be 'normal' by going out, exercising, working, seeing friends but I just don't feel'me'.  

Can anyone relate?  Am I trying to rush this too quickly?  I have the desire and want to get back to normal but it just doesn't seem to be happening - oh and I have the most creaky, achy neck ever!  

I'm having hypnotherapy which I hoped would help but although I enjoy it I can't see many effects.  If I buy another self help book I'll be able to set up my own library - it's ridiculous (I can at least laugh at myself!)

Anyone that can shed any light and have anything positive to say would be so welcome. Thanks everyone and let's have a good day. x

1 like, 26 replies

26 Replies

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  • diane524
    diane524 Alison_wasNacho

    Posted

    I an on Citalopram as well but they gave me Ativan to make it through the tough adjustment. I have been on 20mg for 3 weeks and now a,total of 8 weeks. My Dr just moved me up to 30mg.

    Stick with it but see if they can give you something to help.

    Also, if you haven't changed your diet you should.

    Increase exercise and try using CBT.

    I hope you feel better soon xx

    • Alison_wasNacho
      Alison_wasNacho diane524

      Posted

      Thanks Diane,

      I am exercising 3 times a week and trying to eat healthily but I have little appetite and gag a lot when I try and eat!  My doctor didn't want to see me after 2 weeks on 20mg she was very dismissive and just asked me to call her in January to let her know how I'm getting on!  Been referred for CBT through the local wellbeing service but that's not for another 2 weeks....very slow.

      How are you feeling now? x

    • Alison_wasNacho
      Alison_wasNacho diane524

      Posted

      That's good, glad you're feeling better than you were.  I guess it'll be up and down - I have good days and then I don't sleep and the whole cycle starts again.....

      My anxiety seems to have got worse over the past couple of days and I wake up sooo anxious and it doesn't pass for ages (upset stomach every morning).  Urgh it's so boring I just want to snap out of it! x

    • nickymouse
      nickymouse Alison_wasNacho

      Posted

      youll find that your anxiety increases monumentally in certain areas and increases in things such as tension. use tools like relaxation techniques x
  • katecogs
    katecogs Alison_wasNacho

    Posted

    7 weeks is still early days.  These meds can take months and months ...... took me 6 months on 20mg to recover after 15 years of being ill on and off.  Everyone is different though - some recover quicker and some even longer.  The wait is worth it.

    You can't rush this medicine - neither does increasing a dose make it happen any quicker.  It'll take its own time for you.  Let it happen.

    If you find it difficult eating, try having soups and other soft pallatable foods for now.  Your appetite will improve in time.

    Recovery often comes in waves - you might feel you're getting better then find yourself plummeting again.  Don't worry, its quite normal on these meds.  This can happen time and time again as you recover.  

    Creaky achy neck could be because you're holding your body too tense?  

    Best thing I found whilst waiting to recover is to try and take everyday life in a more relaxed manner (easier said than done I know).  Walk slower, drive slower, don't rush about as it causes tension, and tension causes stress.  Exercise is good as it releases endorphins - just a daily walk will do, out in the fresh air, amongst nature is good too.  Yoga is good too.  Try and eat healthily (difficult for you at the mo I know) and above all - avoid sugar.  Sugar is not good for anxiety/depression and it can make a big difference if you try and avoid it as much as possible.  Google it ;-)  Lastly, try and accept this will take a while, and even though you don't feel it yet, the meds are working in the background and will even out in time.  Accept there will be ups and downs along the way, but these will ease in time.

    Applying all these whilst you wait to recover really helps, even though you won't feel the benefit of it immediately.

    It's an awful illness to suffer with and I remember my dark days.  These meds really will help you though but you do need lots of patience and perseverance, even when you feel you want to give them up ..... just persevere that bit longer.

    It does get better - really it does.

    K xx

    • Alison_wasNacho
      Alison_wasNacho katecogs

      Posted

      Thanks Kate,

      It's really good to hear the positives and I know I need to have patience.  I am definitely getting out thereand trying to be as normal as possible but it is hard work.  Plus I feel so agitated and sweaty (side effects I believe) I feel embarrassed.  Urgh I just hope for easier days to come so that I can get up in the morning and not worry about how I feel or how I'm going to get through the day. x x

    • katecogs
      katecogs Alison_wasNacho

      Posted

      It'll happen ...... you will be able to wake anxiety free and not worry about you feel - in fact you probably won't even think of it.  Yes try and carry on life as normal as possible, but don't force it.  Just float along.

      It will get better xx

  • lorraine54774
    lorraine54774 Alison_wasNacho

    Posted

    I started citalopram 10 yrs ago. 20mg for anxiety. They changed my life. They caused 7 stone weight gain.. Bad memory.. Fatigue.. They did help with my anxiety but they are not good. I am in the process of coming off them. I may turn to herbal remedies such as Melissa Leaf or Dandelion Root. Im sorry to be negative but they are not good for you. Believe me i know x
    • katecogs
      katecogs lorraine54774

      Posted

      Sorry to hear you had a dramatic increase in weight.  I've taken 20mg Citalopram for over 15 years and have maybe increased 1 stone in all that time (though probably age related), so everybody is different.

      Everyone reacts differently to these meds, and they are good for the majority of people.  When I was ill (which lasted for 15 years) I would have happyily had my arm or leg chopped off if I could just have been free from the wretched illness ;-)  When I started the meds I didn't care about weight - I just wanted to be well.  

      Within 6 months I had recovered from a 15 year nightmare - these have been my miracle cure.  I've stayed well ever since.

      One herbal remedy to try when you're off these meds is 5-HTP and l-tyrosine.  5-HPT is a natural SSRI and has no side effects at all, and you can start and stop it anytime without any adverse effects whatsoever.  5-HTP acts the same way as Prozac, Citalopram etc but it is natural.  You need to take l-tyrosine with it (both can be bought from Holland & Barret if you're in the UK).  

      K xxx :-)

       

  • tina94789
    tina94789 Alison_wasNacho

    Posted

    Hi it's a waiting game. Try hypnotic cd a bed time or learn some relaxation. Don't wait till you are to stressesed to do them the cd works even if your are not really listening. Take care in will end. Tina

  • louis54885
    louis54885 Alison_wasNacho

    Posted

    I have been on CIT 7months have been feeling pretty good thought I was on my way then boom last couple mornings slight anxiety uneasy stomach first thing in morning then by mid day start feeling good. This med definitely takes time again some longer than others I guess I'm in that category. It's controllable but aggravating never knowing how you will feel day to day. Oh well been riding the train this long gotta stay on. Don't really want to up dose at this time. Stay with be positive and keep your mind busy !

  • guadalupe_32458
    guadalupe_32458 Alison_wasNacho

    Posted

    I take citalopram for 3 weeks now The first two weeks were awful and my doctor gave me buspirone to help citalopram and it work really good for me my anxiety attacks are gone I have a little bit of anxiety bt I can handle that ....
  • jim40867
    jim40867 Alison_wasNacho

    Posted

    Hi nacho

    I've been on citalopram on and off for the past three years. When I first went on it three years i was convinced anxiety couldn't do this to someone. My doc put me on 20mg took about 4 weeks for the fuzzy head,brain fog and low to go. I tried to come off it a few times 5mg a time I was once off it completely. Over the years I have been on 10 mg since. The last few weeks my ibs has kicked off which kicks off my anxiety. My doc put me back on 20mg and I'm sure the upping of my meds has brought back my anxiety symptoms fuzzy head,head fog and no energy. Im currently trying mindfulness look on you tube for it helps for while. Hopefully the 20mg side effects will subside soon...keep pushing on and try exercise and healthy eating

    Jamie

  • john059
    john059 Alison_wasNacho

    Posted

    Nacho. There are people in these forums that will give you great advice. There are also others that will give you negative advice. Opisnions are like bums--everone has one. DO NOT LET NEG WORDS AFFECT HOW YOU FEEL!!!!!!!! Thinking positive is a big part of recovery. It helped me. I'm still recovering but feel so much better than 2 months ago. Hang in there. U will feel better!!!!!!

    • john059
      john059

      Posted

      That shud be OPINIONS!!!!!!!!
    • Alison_wasNacho
      Alison_wasNacho john059

      Posted

      That made me giggle (only a little obviously!!) - onions ????.

      I know, I have been here before and I know things do get better slowly, I'm just so impatient and feel like I'm wasting time being so crap! I know, I know, I need to be nicer to myself!

      Thanks everyone anyway, it really is a help to have people reply and know I'm not on my own - I'm sure I'll pop up here again at some point and you'll have my back (and I'll always have yours) X X

    • john059
      john059 Alison_wasNacho

      Posted

      There you go Nacho--- i'm a poet and dont know it!!!!! Lol. U will feel better!!!!!

    • Alison_wasNacho
      Alison_wasNacho john059

      Posted

      Thank you - at least in amongst all the anxiety I still believe things will get better - they did before and they will again. Patience is not my strong point!!! X
    • jim40867
      jim40867 Alison_wasNacho

      Posted

      Stay with it nacho, it will get better. I have a relapse at the moment and I know it gets better....just look after yourself..
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