Anxiety still so high

Did you find you were up and down in those first 2 months till you felt better or was it a linear improvement.

I get good a bad days all over the place. The mornings are awful.

Robin when you went up to 20mg how long did it take for side effects to go and particularly the anxiety. Did you still have bad days and was it ever suggested for you to increase again. Sometimes I don't think one dose is given long enough before increasing again.

I was on 10mg for 3 weeks and now nearly 3 weeks on 20mg. I've told my gp I just want to weather this dose and give it time so hope I don't get flare ups cause that's where the temptation is to increase.

Hi I've had a better day today, still had an awful morning, but got up and got on with things. Anxiety was there most of the day but practice some acceptance exercises from cbt. I just dread the mornings. Feel ok in the evening and try to drag it out as long as I can.

How long should we give the citalopram to work?

I really don t know how long to give it can t bear the thought of this being for nothing.

This is so hard. I m not sure I could go through this with another med.

How are you today ? I can t tell as me and my son have a bad cold so feel crap anyway.

I've heard it's around 3 months too! So I'm hoping this is the case as like you I don't want to change meds and go back to square one as its been bad enough getting through the side effects of this one!

How awful for you. There are many of us going through this nightmare at the.moment and we all dread what the mornings will be like. Like vicky has said previously, evenings can be OK and it's hard to believe how things can change by the morning.

Did you follow the same pattern of side effects last time and how long did they last?

This is my first time on citalopram, I was on mirtazapine before but I put 3 stone on using that particular med. I did have nausea and bad mornings on that anti d as well but it does go eventually. The main difference is that mirtazapine helps you sleep and I've found with citalopram that I had weeks of major insomnia which made my anxiety a million times worse. That's why I'm cautious to change meds as I think they all have a lot of side effects. So I'm just trying to push through at the minute and hope things stabilise more as it feels like forever!!

I'm finding the insomnia very difficult I only usually get 3/4 hrs sleep each night so drained the next day. Like you say it makes the other side effects feel worse too.

I'm hoping that things will just settle down. First 2 weeks in particular are really difficult. I was given diazepam to help with the anxiety, don't need it now but it got me out of a very difficult time.

The insomnia is a terrible side effect and some nights to begin with I got no sleep at all!!!!! Tried Nytol (not the herbal one) which worked if I wasn't too anxious but sometimes it therefore did nothing. Have you tried taking diazepam 1/2 hr before bed as that can help too, what mg have you got? My doctor also told me about sleep hygiene, I stopped watching tv and using my iPad at least half an hour before bed and read a book instead which seemed to help a bit. When youre awake at night though it feels like the rest of the world is asleep and a few hours seems endless! Rest assured though it does get better, I normally get at least 6hrs unbroken sleep now it's just that I wake early around 5-5:30ish. How long have you been on citalopram??

Been on citalopram 10mg 3 weeks and then it was upped to 20mg 3 weeks ago so 6 weeks in total. I've got zopiclone but still kept waking up and then felt even worse next day. Too scared to use valium although I would if my anxiety levels hit the roof like it has done on the start up and dose increase. 2mg tabs but at its worse had to take 3 tabs!

I'm off work sick so can ride it out esp as the anxiety has greatly minimised it's just frustrating but reassuring to know it will hopefully settle down. I am feeling better in myself overall so the citalopram must be doing some good! Still hoping for further improvements- how long do you think?

Well I'm on week 10 and I have been sleeping better for 2-3 weeks so I would say you should hopefully not have too much longer to wait. Problem is that you are worrying about sleeping and it makes it worse (I know) so try not too analyse it too much (very hard I know). Say to yourself I can sleep and if I don't it will happen eventually. I don't think 2mg of diazepam would hurt as it may calm down your fears of sleeping and help you to go off. I've taken 5mg before bed before and slept through!

I know what you mean I wake up before 1am and usually get back to sleep. I don't look at the clock again!! How are you feeling in yourself on week 10! - it's a hard road x

It is a very hard road and although we often feel weak for feeling like it we're incredibly strong for getting though each day! I'm still very up and down although I have more good days than before. I think I've struggled a bit with side effects since going up to 30mg. I pretty much live on toast and tomato soup when I'm bad!! When I come through the other side I never want to eat tomato soup ever again 😂😂! I still struggle with mornings and negative thoughts but music helps me a lot and I have two young kids to look after which means I have to try and get on with things!

I am on Mirtazapine 45mg....have been for a, few months.....it helps me sleep but does not seem to help with my anxiety or depression. I have had the cit added to it. No weight gain for me in fact I have lost weight on it. I have 5mg of diazepam which I take daily. One tab but last couple of weeks it has been 2 tabs. My doc prescribed them in high doses years ago when they were allowed. I have got it down to 5mg daily but have to withdraw from them when I am more stable. Despite all of that I have broken sleep about 10 weeks into cit. I fall asleep fine but wake up through the night.

I feel a bit better today but am aware I am becoming a bit agoraphobic since I went to 40mg. I really hope it passes as I hate being in all day. Anyone else had this ?

I'm the same with cold chicken and pasta - had it solid for 3 weeks but appetite improving now !

Fortunately I haven't suffered with insomnia, think I've had every other side effect though! I haven't eaten properly since the first day of citalopram over 7 weeks ago. All I can manage is a protein shake sipped through the day and if I can manage it I've tried to eat toast at night time. I feel nauseous, had diherrea and high anxiety. Some days the anxiety just hasn't let up at all. I think the side effects were settling on the 20mg at 5 weeks, but then increased to 30mg and the side effects came back again.

Mornings are just awful, as soon as I wake the anxiety is there and then I wretch, had this every day. The last 2 days I've been ok in the afternoons and evenings which had been a relief, but I dread mornings. I'm 2 and a half weeks in on the dose increase so I'm hoping that things are starting to settle and I might start to see improvements. Xx

It makes me feel agoraphobic too as I worry about panicking in public or people being able to tell there's something wrong! I think it's a normal way to feel when you're suffering with anxiety and it went away last time I recovered, I'm just waiting for it to improve this time too!

I am experiencing everything the same, all I keep wishing is to feel relaxed and like my old self again. I hate leaning on others as its not in my nature and I keep thinking what if the citalopram isn't working?? Anxiety is cruel and debilitating! I'm coming up to 2 weeks on my new dosage of 30mg and am hoping that the way I feel is just the side effects again. I have to try and wretch without my kids not hearing in the mornings as I don't want to worry them and I feel like I'm putting my family under pressure!

I'm 2 and a half weeks on increase to 30 and just want everything to settle down. I know exactly what you mean about feeling like relying on others all the time. I just want to feel normal again

I know exactly how you feel, I keep thinking when am I going to be me again!!?? My new motto is everyday is a step closer to being better. (Let's hope). It's a rough ride, have you suffered with anxiety before??

Unfortunately I don't think you can tell! 

I suppose that's why we have to give it the recommended time to see if things settle down rather than rush into a dose increase !

Who knows what tomorrow will bring !!!

Sarah you could have been writing my exact story there! It's so hard to stay positive but we have to try stick with it. The last 7 and a half weeks have been hell I just hope things settle down soon.

Mornings are so awful as soon as I open my eyes the anxiety starts and I end up wretching. I haven't eaten since I started on citalopram and I'm surviving on protein dhakes. I've lost 2 stone in 7 weeks! The dr doesn't seem concerned about it though. I can't wait for the day I can eat and function normally.

Hope you are feeling ok?

Vx