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Advice or help please

Posted , 3 users are following.

nicky39064
nicky39064

For the past two days I’ve been waking in the night with palpitations and feeling like I’m going to pass out. Today I am currently sat at my desk and I have a banging headache, palpitations, sweaty hands, bubbling chest and I totally don’t feel with it. Has anyone else experienced this or should I be concerned that it’s not normal? Any advice would help. X

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • nigel45109
    nigel45109 nicky39064

    Posted

    Hello, take it you are recently put on citralopram? Yes, the symptoms you mentioned are normal and very common, for most people that have recently started on an anti depressant, or had their dose upped. If you look on all the other posts, it's almost all people are talk about. Try to take reassurance from this, and accept it as the price to pay for recovery. Recovery is very slow, and improvements very small. After about 5 weeks on a happy pill, the symptoms gradually die down, although they do flare up from time to time. It's perfectly normal when you have some good days, that you temporarily go backwards, ie have a blip. Try to reduce or cut out caffeine, as it fuels anxiety. Best thing is try to accept you are likely to feel like this for first 5 or 6 weeks. Then improvements start, and another 6 weeks before feeling anywhere near normal. Gentle yoga and meditation work well.

    • nicky39064
      nicky39064 nigel45109

      Posted

      I’m on week 7 and only just started with this. I’ve had a look and my symptoms are coming up similar to GERD. Having said that I will try to cut out coffee as todays episode started after my morning coffee. However I don’t understand why I’m being woken up with it x
    • nigel45109
      nigel45109 nicky39064

      Posted

      You are in an anxious state with being on week 7. Your anxiety levels will be elevated in general, and things that happen to you during the day will contribute. I'm on week 8, and still get intensely anxious, though not at night, and I don't touch any caffeine. Getting your anxiety levels down is important. I think they will gradually come down over the next 4 weeks from the cit, as your brain chemicals settle down and become balanced. Any caffeine, check soft drinks, will immediately elevate your anxiety levels. Thing is, an accumulation of one or two coffees a day, very slightly elevate your longer term anxiety levels, not just in the short term. I used to have 1 diet coke a day, and after a week, was all over the place. Took a week or 2 to come back down. Spent years trying to control caffeine intake, until I finally realised I couldn't have any. I'm having anxiety issues on week 8, and no caffeine. I know it would be worse if I did have some.

    • nicky39064
      nicky39064 nigel45109

      Posted

      Thank you so much for all your advice it’s massively been appreciated. Nice to know I’m not alone x
  • laura36585
    laura36585 nicky39064

    Posted

    It’s totally normal to feel like this starting an ssri.   I defo felt like this for the first 6 weeks or so on sertraline.  I am only just starting citalopram but I expect these will be the same.   Do you have a fan, try some cool air, do some shoulder rolls and neck stretches, you are probably holding yourself really tense which won’t be helping your headache,  check your breathing, are you taking shallow chest breaths instead of deep belly breathing, are you hunched over, sit up straight, that will help you breathe properly and lessen muscle fatigue.   Have a big drink of cool water, proper hydration can help.   It just sucks, I hope you feel better soon.  Xxx 
    • nicky39064
      nicky39064 laura36585

      Posted

      Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I appreciate all of your help in ways to help me. I just want it to stop now. I’m on week 7 and it’s like things are getting worse not better. Constant battle everyday xx
    • laura36585
      laura36585 nicky39064

      Posted

      I would think 7 weeks in you would be feeling some benefit from your meds.  Perhaps they are needing tweaked.   Perhaps have a wee chat with your gp and see if your symptoms can be improved.  It is hellish and a constant battle which is exhausting.   Hold on to that light at the end of the tunnel, it’s there. Xxx 
    • laura36585
      laura36585 nicky39064

      Posted

      I give great advice, pity I forget it all when I’m in the throes of panic.   Lol.  I have taken time off work right now to start meds again.  I take my hat off to you being at work and toughing it out, you are stronger than me.   Big hug xx 
    • nicky39064
      nicky39064 laura36585

      Posted

      I’m the same I give advice and my experience on what I’ve over come to others, then when I freak out I’m the one that forgets all my advice and then needs reassurance from people like you. This group has been a blessing to me, so many people have given me strength to keep fighting and without them I would be in a worse place. I am forgever grateful to you and others thst have given me courage and great advice thank you. For me being at work had to be done and at times I wanted to go home and hide in my bed. Fortunately Work took my mind off as to how I was feeling and therefore not over thinking sat at home alone. Everyone is different in how they cope with it though. I hope you don’t have much of a rough journey starting your meds again, if ever you feel you want to talk you can always message me☺️. Big hugs to you on your journey too xx
    • laura36585
      laura36585 nicky39064

      Posted

      Aw, thanks Nicky that’s really sweet.  Hopefully we can all look back on how we feel right now and be glad it’s all in the past, I have had anxiety for longer than I can remember.   When I was younger it didn’t dominate my life like it does now, if I could get back to that level I would be happy.   Hope tomorrow is a calmer day for you xx 
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