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8 weeks citalopram need some advice please

Posted , 6 users are following.

lloyd50680
lloyd50680

hi all this is the first time ive posted but been reading other peoples messages of hope which has helped . in need of some support if anyone can help. just alittle background ive lost my dad and brother to sucide which in turn has lead to a complete breakdown of my family to the point i have no contact now . then the start of this year i had a breakdown and was put on sertraline and had awful time on it i stook it out for 16 weeks then tapered off for 2 mths . i had 3 weeks of feeling really great then from nowhere withdrawals hit and suffered these for 13 weeks then ended being in bed for 4weeks as just couldnt function physically . spoke to the doctors and they started me on 10mgs of citalopram the first 5 days where rough but subsided and was able to start doing things again . on week three i felt like i wasnt coping well so they upped me to 20mgs and have had quite a rough time since . what i want to ask is i have this funny head not pain but heavy tight packed in feeling with light head and eyes feel like when you put someone elses glasses on and things feel abit strange and my neck gets really tight is this normal for 8 weeks on citalopram . in the mornings i still feel shaky in my legs and hands and this lasts all morning till early afternoon . and eases at night then the same the next day . the head thing makes me feel iam going mad as if feels so strange . has anyone else had this . ? i dont know if the dose is to high. or is this normal still and need to wait for it to level out . any help to stop me worrying would be lovely . iam still worring alot to i thought i wouldnt by now many thanks lloyd

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • lorraine90511
    lorraine90511 lloyd50680

    Edited

    hi lloyd, so sorry that you are suffering? you have been on some journey there well done for battling through. the head and eyes feeling i can resonate with so much, it makes things feel unreal. it helps me to accept it when it happens and it doesnt last as long then. how is your anxiety at week 8? im on week 11 of 30mg and im seeing improvemnts everyday now and i was in a real mess to begin with.

    • lloyd50680
      lloyd50680 lorraine90511

      Posted

      hi lorraine thanks for getting in contact the anxiety is till there at the moment which is worring me at 8 weeks on not as bad as a few weeks ago mind. i just keep questioning will i be ok on theses meds are they working. iam only just starting to go into some shops . . its just the head thing that stops me mostly . its there all the time . glad your getting better . thats all i want to be back to me

  • ian90586
    ian90586 lloyd50680

    Posted

    Hi lloyd,the dose is not too high,20mg is the minimum therapeutic dosage for anxiety and depression and you should continue on that dosage. Considering the extremely stressful time you have experienced,a nervous breakdown is as bad as it gets stress wise,I've had two,so 8 weeks on Citalopram is nothing. I've taken Sertraline for very long periods,and it's not the best for anxiety in my experience. Citalopram is a gentler med for anxiety,though it is still a powerful medication. All the weird symptoms you are experiencing are caused by the heightened anxiety from the medication and your own stress. Anxiety and stress especially affects the muscles in our bodies from tension, and this causes the shaking and headaches. Tension of the muscles around the eyes can also affect our vision,wether that be blurred vision or unable to focus correctly. As the medication does it's job,you will experience many weird sensations and feelings,and that can last for quite a long time if your condition was severe, many months probably. Continue with the 20mg and over time you will see small improvements happening,so slowly you won't even notice,until eventually you will feel a lot better. That doesn't mean you should rely on the medication completely though. You should also help yourself with CBT and maybe grief counseling would be beneficial,exercise and eat properly,take relaxing walks in nature if you can,a local park etc good luck.

    • lloyd50680
      lloyd50680 ian90586

      Posted

      hi ian thanks for your message . i have done cbt therapy and love my walks in nature it whats been my saving grace at the moment . thanks for your advice i know alot of people put on here it can take months to recover . and j understand that. it just worries me with the funny head and eyes mostly and the feeling of un ease in the mornings . i find reading on my phone or i pad the worst and it makes my head feel worse it very strange . hope your doing ok lloyd

    • ian90586
      ian90586 lloyd50680

      Posted

      Yes anxiety causes really weird and strange symptoms,made more so by the medication in the first months of treatment. Being worriers and anxious people, obviously these strange symptoms make us worry more and get even more anxious. That is the cycle of anxiety. Worry more,get more anxious,worry more,like a snowball going down the hill, getting bigger and bigger. That's where CBT comes in,to see that our thoughts cause our problems with anxiety. Don't read your phone or i pad before going to bed.

    • MargsSA
      MargsSA lloyd50680

      Posted

      How is the funny head thing now?

      I stare at computer screens all day and it's almost impossible to do my job.

      In my 7th week..

  • jazmin86904
    jazmin86904 lloyd50680

    Posted

    Hey lloyd im on week 11 and feel like ive been dealing with the funny head thing, lightheaded,dizzy and just weird eye feeling too.

    gets me so discouraged, and i am trying ti just let my mind rest and bypass it but its so hard.

    my mind goes back and forth wondering if its the meds or anxiety. did yours get better?

    • MargsSA
      MargsSA jazmin86904

      Posted

      I have the funny head thing too, it's debilitating. Has it gotten any better yet? I'm in my 7th week.

    • jazmin86904
      jazmin86904 MargsSA

      Posted

      its gotten better verrrrry slowly but its still very much there and when i get anxious its so bad.

    • MargsSA
      MargsSA jazmin86904

      Posted

      End of week 10 and head thing is happening less and less.

      Hope you are making progress

    • matt05488
      matt05488 jazmin86904

      Posted

      do you notice your neck and shoulders are tense? i get this a lot and causes neck and back of head pain. im on week 8 20mg

    • jazmin86904
      jazmin86904 matt05488

      Posted

      i had an adverse reaction. I would suggest a massage, yoga, deep breathing.

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