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Anyone NOT had any side effects on Citalopram?

Posted , 526 users are following.

M68
M68

Hi there,

After much deliberation, talking to just about anyone I could find and generally scouring the internet for information, I have decided to go with the Docs advice and take Citalopram, starting today. And then I found this site....

Has anyone NOT had any side effects on this? It is making me feel very worried about taking it. Am I just going to have to sit tight and presume the worst? Are there people who take it and dont feel nauseous and tired or even worse to begin with?

I would really appreciate any comments.

Thanks

M

38 likes, 5315 replies

5315 Replies

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  • marielle82703
    marielle82703 M68

    Posted

    I am a mother of a seventeen year old girl, who suffers with a depression after an concussion which caused headaches. She was at home for nine months, there was no brain damage seen at the X-ray but she went more passive in the time. Now she is at a rehabilitation centre with a special programme for adolesents with pain and energy problems. They want to start giving her Cit because the mood problems obstruct her rehabilitation programme. In the newspapers and on internet I read that Cit is not recommended for children under 18, it is not proven and they are not sure it works at all. So, I really want some information of the forum about young users of Cit. I read the first 9 pages of the forum and then I discovered that there are more than hundred pages with information. So, it can well be that the information I look for is already in the list...

    Forgive me my bad English, I am from the Netherlands.

  • amy_06092
    amy_06092 M68

    Posted

    Hi Loulyn, Anne, Doug, Mike, Spence, Inthewoods and all the new people on here!

    Not posted for a few days been really busy! 

    Shopping trip to norwich with my sister thursday to get stuff for my holiday in june, normally dont like clothes shopping but had a really good day.

    Friday was my little girls first morning at preschool  and she loved it and didnt want to come home with me when i picked her up!

    Yesterday was my brothers 40th birthday party which all the family went to and it was lovely - i cant remember the last time we were all together.

    quick update on me - things are definately improving the shakes are easing off although i do seem to find i only get them when im starting to get hungry, once i have eaten something it passes - never experienced it before but now thinking it may not be a side effect but just my body telling me its time for food, i never really got hunger feelings before i started on cit i used to eat lunch / dinner because it was lunch dinner time however now i actually get hungry. Sleeping is definately improving, im still waking most nights however its only briefly and i go straight back to sleep. still have the toilet issue but that again is improving. my mood is so much better, i found myself yesterday dancing round the dining room with my little ones and it felt so good, last night before bed i was sat having a hot drink and i thought to myself what am i thinking about, and then i realised nothing! its so nice not to be stressing and having rubbish going round my head constantly.

    Welcome to all the new posters on here now starting out on cit, i will be starting week 5 on tuesday and have improved no end, like i have said above nearly all side effects have gone (and i had what i felt at the time horrendous side effects and at one point thought they would last forever and there would never be any improvement) but believe me it does get easier and you will feel so much better once the side effects ease off.

    Doug, Spence, inthewoods - are things settling for you now?

    Anyway now having lunch then off to the allotment whilst the sun is shining.

    Hope your all having a good weekend :-)

    Amy x

  • nicole2314
    nicole2314 M68

    Posted

    Hello all. Today will be my day 6 on 20mg and everyday feels alittle different. Yesterday I was anxious ALL day long! Had a hard time sleeping where a few days earlier I had actually sleeper alittle better. In reading some of the other comments and stories these side effects that make me feel so broken will start to go away, but does anyone have a "about" time that happens? My dr wanted to see me 3weeks after I started the pill so I assume I will be "normal" (don't know what other word to use) by that visit? I would love to hear what other people's time frame was for the side effects to leave. Thanks
    • anne2953
      anne2953 nicole2314

      Posted

      Hi Nicole,  there is no set time as every ones bodies are different, but a lot of folk see the good changes after 6 weeks, the doctor will get you back at 3 weeks for support which is when I went back too, but stay strong you will get there, please dont expect to be back to normal at 3 weeks, just be patient and it will happen,

      Anne smile

  • Jon1980
    Jon1980 M68

    Posted

    Reposting my question would really appreciate any feedback from people who have come out the other side...

    ____

    First time poster here... Its been four weeks since I started taking citalopram (2 weeks at 10mg and 2 weeks at 20mg) I was prescribed it for generalised anxiety and panic disorder. The last three weeks have been horrible aside from the constant headaches and nausea, from the moment I wake up my body is just rushing with horrible nervous energy, muscles cramp and my teeth are continually chattering ALL day. I had hoped this was just a side effect that would pass, but after a month of it I'm starting to worry that this particular SSRI just isn't for me and I should maybe be thinking about trying another. I so wanted this medication to work for me as it was a miracle drug for my mother, she was literally back to her old self within two weeks, I know it can take longer than a month to start working and I know they say things can get worse before they get better, but my anxiety and panic attacks are ten times worse than before taking the medication and this constant teeth chattering morning, noon and night is just wearing me down. I don't actually suffer with depression but what I've been through the last month is definitively making me feel the lowest I've felt since my anxiety problems started two years ago. My sleeping has also become a lot worse since starting the medication, I wake up at 4am every day and can't get black to sleep. 

    So my question is do you think I should hang in there for a few more weeks? Or do you think given all the above it just sounds like Citalopram isn't for me and I should consider trying a different SSRI.

    Finally, my doc did say that I could take Xanax to help me through this initial period, but personally I just don't feel comfortable doing that, it was already a big thing for me to finally start taking a SSRI and I don't want to really be using ANOTHER type of drug just to mask the symptoms that the SSRI is causing. If I had listened to him that would have meant I would have been on Xanax for four weeks now, when I hear it can be very addictive.

    Confused.... Help... Thanks 

    • david260660
      david260660 Jon1980

      Posted

      Hi Jon. I cannot answer your question and  can only empathise with your situation. I am in my 4th week on 20 mg of citalopram and have had some awlful side effects. sweaty hands and feet, hyped up anxiety, insomnia waking beteen 2am and 3am every night and generalised muscle and joint aches. I spoke to my doctor last week about this and she said I should give it another 2 weeks. in the mean time I have started taking sleeping pills 3 nights so far and this has helped with the anxiety of waking every night and I started trying warmed milk before bed last night which did help relax me a bit. I know exactly how your feeling right now because i am going through the same. You start thinking you are going mad or your have some serious illness of the body or brain. in my case I convinced myself (thanks to google) I had had arthritus because of the constant join aches which all helps to up the anxiety. you are not alone, at least you know someone else is in the same boat this sunday evening! waiting for the citalopram lift to come in the meantime try hot baths and nothing on the TV that is scary or otherwise mentally arousing. Keep in touch Dave 
    • anne2953
      anne2953 Jon1980

      Posted

      Hi Jon

      its the anxiety thats making you feel so bad, I was just the same as you when I started CIT now I am so glad I persevered, it depends on ur body how long it takes to kick in so stay strong you will get there, the normal in my experience is about 6 weeks but it really does vary, spme folk need diazapam for the really bad days I got them but didnt use them, as was afraid to, however I persevered witht he Cit and boy what a difference. back to the sunny days. (normality whatever that is lol)

      so proud of you getting this far without the xanax, so u have proved ur strong enough to give it more time, then u will be so happy u did, take care and keep in touch

      Anne smile 

    • Jon1980
      Jon1980 david260660

      Posted

      Thanks for the support, sounds like we're in exactly the same place, when your body is reacting in this way, it just takes so much will power to keep telling yourself it's part of the process and things will get better. I'll keep in touch... 
    • Jon1980
      Jon1980 anne2953

      Posted

      Thanks for your kind words Anne, this is the first time i've ever been on a forum, and it's so nice just to hear from people that truly know what i'm going through. What i'd do for one of those 'sunny days' right about now, going to give it another couple of weeks, which will have been six weeks and see where i'm at. If i could just see the smallest of improvement, it would make the rest of the journey that much easier for me... 

       

    • anne2953
      anne2953 Jon1980

      Posted

      hey Jon, 

      It will come, really it will, no one is beyond help, be strong and in tough times try the deep breathing count in for 5 and out for 7 sunshine in and darkness out, 

      Anne smile

       

  • Mike_O
    Mike_O M68

    Posted

    Hi guys,

    really stressed out just now.

    got the docs this week & I don't know to ask them to up mt CIT to 25 or 30mgs, as the 20 msg I'm on just seem to keep me flat.

    Still not back at work. & that's not helping, I thought by admitting I had a problem would be beneficial, but it seems my employer don't want me there in my current condition.

    oh what to do!.....

  • anne2953
    anne2953 M68

    Posted

    Hi Mike,

    Stay off, dont worry about work and get yourself well, nothing else matters and when ur well then u will be able to manage everything else including work and your return. for now you need to think only of you, and how to get yourself back on track.

    Go to the doctors and speak with him, but stay strong and persevere, as its the only way back to yourself...

    Anne smile

    • Mike_O
      Mike_O anne2953

      Posted

      Hi Anne,

      thanks for for your reply, I know I need to focus on me but if I don't go back to work soon then it will effect everyone else, where I won't be able to contribute by paying the bills etc. 

      why is this so difficult go get over!.....

      Do you think I should ask to go up to 30mgs, I don't feel the current. 20mgs are doing anything or am I just being to impatient?

      Thanks

    • anne2953
      anne2953 Mike_O

      Posted

      HI Mike

      how long does your work pay for you to be off, mine was 6 months, however I did reduced hours rather than be fully off, as was too scared to stay home alone, when my partner was at work, so I was on reduced hours for 9 months, with no loss of earnings.

      Anne

    • Mike_O
      Mike_O anne2953

      Posted

      Hi Anne,

      I think its 3 months, I haven't yet discussed going back full time or even on reduced hours/phased return, how & who would I go about asking for this?

      I have opened a new post at or near the top.

      Tanks

    • anne2953
      anne2953 Mike_O

      Posted

      phone HR and ask, u dont need to give ur name, is it just a small company as most companies i know its 6 months then u go to half pay, its down to ur doc how long u should be off, even ask ur manager or OH u can say u dont want worry about pay over shadowing ur recovery. 

      Anne 

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