Advice re anxiety and Citilopram...

So sorry to read of your problems....must be awful for you.

The only think I do know is that most of the meds take 3-4 weeks to start to take effect (that is to ease the anxiety and start to climb out of the black hole ) Could you not ask your GP for some quick acting med to help you over the next couple of weeks.

Lots of people seem to be in awe ( or scared stiff ) of their GP and don't ask many questions. Also there is that feeling that we must not take up too much of our Doctors time. What is the use of seeing the GP if one leaves with questions un adressed.

My problem is GCA for which the only treatment is Prednisolone, which has it's own awful side effects. But from the very start of this disease I write questions and answers in a book that I take with me to see the GP.

I also write a resume of how I have been feeling since my last appointment...........it does help, as I can give a clear account of how things have been going for me

Hope this helps a little...........don't forget the meds will \"kick in\" it just takes time, and you will feel better.

Keep faith that there will be a turnaround.

Tereza, I know the finally broke feeling,

8 weeks on still trying to mend it....

Had several months of not giving in to the 'I'm now totally broken', but it happened.........

And yes I'm also on the 20mg cit., not sure if its working or not!....

I can go more than a day without crying, as long as I dont think too much. But I also don't seem to achieve too much either

All said and done, I am improving, and hopeful of getting back to being me

Wish you well M x

Thankyou Mushroom and Milly07 - think I might go back to my GP after having terrible anxiety this morning verging on panic attack & all I was doing was lying in bed!! But such a horrendous feeling....as you suggest Milly07 I think I need a little extra to help me out a bit! x Good luck to you both with the journey ahead! x :D

Sorry to hear your having a bad time

I don't know if you've read many post about Cit, but it does seem for most people the anxiety does seem to get worse initially! It did for me...

The first 24hrs for me was good, I think it was because I had take a positive step to try and get well. Unfortunately, I then got a lot worse, more depressed, more anxious, and yes close to panick attacks.

It was a week to ten days on cit before I felt an improvement, and still the improvement continues, its just very slow and plenty of blips where I find myself sobbing on the sofa for no real reason. I did go back to my GP after the first week, (had a hard time speaking to him as could not stop crying), he was very reasuring, also reminded me that I could request a phone call from him if I was finding it difficult to go to the surgery. Bless him, next time I spoke to him was via the phone, and, it meant I could talk and ask questions without sobbing.

I have started to see a counsellor, and her big theme is don't beat yourself up, and it takes time to get back to an even level.

What helped me through the first week of Cit was getting up when I could not sleep any longer (which was usually around 4am), going on line, sometimes this forum, other times just a site about Cit or depression. It just reasured me that what was happening to me was ok. Also watched endless, mindless daytime TV. Once I got to grips with switching off from the guilt of being off work, I did start to relax (well a bit).

Now started back at work (phased return), the anxiety has returned, but some how, a little voice in my head is telling me its ok, (backed up by understanding sisters and my counsellor).

Still not able to go to the gym, or supermarket and still being very lazy (its so hard to get on and do stuff), but slowly and without a doubt, am getting back to being me.

OK, I've rambled on enough now.... but I hope it helps, and yes good luck to us all with the journey

M x

Thank you for your advice, its exactly how I feel, no energy, don't feel like doing anything, and if I try to force myself, I get headaches. Thinking of coming of citalopram, but reading your views I think I will try a little longer. Have been on 10mg for 4 weeks, not a lot of improvement so doc has put me on 20mg been on that dose for a week, feel worse. Sweating all the time, migrane every morning, getting very depressed. Night time always feels worse

Hi sjogren,

How are you?, was just wondering how your getting on?

All the best M :wink:

Still feel the same, had a few days holiday and felt slightly better, but still tired and headaches. Now its all just as bad and the sweating has got worse especially at night. I was on Dolsulpin and doing ok, but because the doc said it was an old fashioned drug, I should come off it and try citalopram. Why do they have to do this, I was ok, not brilliant, but not bad, now I am in a mess. A friend once said to me perhaps Dolsulpin worked cos I had an old fashioned illness!

Going back to doc, hoping to see a different one who might listen, present doc wont even entertain I might be having problems cos of the citalopram!

Good,

Don't know if you've seen all of my posts, but my Dr changed me to venlafaxine as the side effects from the cit did not improve, and the depression and anxiety started to get worse.

I also had the sweating.... its horrid. But now 3 months on (on the venlafaxine) that seems to have settled. Still can't bear hot stuffy rooms tho.

I hope your friend was joking about the old fashioned illness! its a very current affliction that is fueled by modern times.... the stress and pressure of who and what we should be and or achieve!

For most of us, it is a chemical imbalance of the brain......! modern meds do work for many peeps, its just finding the right one. Its still odd that everyone seems to react differently to the meds!....

And your right to try and see a different Doctor. My practice is quite large, and only by chance ended up seeing a great Dr. She was very understanding, supportive and I think, the link to me being well again.

So good luck, and wish you well,

M :wink: