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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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  • charlotte12343
    charlotte12343 M68

    Posted

    Hi Everyone/Anyone.

    Am on week 6 of my Citalopram journey and still am yo yo ing so so so much its exhausting!! Am in a quandry wether or not to go back to my GP or to try and sit it out for another 2 weeks for what most of you guys say is the 8 week period where you start to feel the true benifits from Citalopram. Is this really true( 8 weeks to feel the benifit?) or should I go back sometime this week to ask to up my dose to 30mg from the 20 I am on now. I so want to be in a place where I can start to live again and not exisit.

    Sleep continues to be a problem, have tried sleepy tea and kalms- not sure if they help as still wake after a few hours sleep and then PING am wake!!

    Am still too anxy to face my problems which are work related and relationship based.

    Charlotte

    • anne2953
      anne2953 charlotte12343

      Posted

      Hi Charlotte,

      It varies form 6 - 8 weeks everyone is different, have you been on the 20mg for 6 weeks? I would give it a bit longer however still go see your doctor and discuss with Him/her to see whats best, maybe get involved in some CBT as well to help you adjust. Try deep breathing, slowly in for a count of 5 then slowly out thru ur mouth this time for a count of 7 really helps u relax and reenergise ur body aslo helps u sleep. 

      Stay strong you will get there,

      Anne smile

    • charlotte12343
      charlotte12343 anne2953

      Posted

      Hi Anne

      Yes have been on 20mg for 6 weeks now, its so difficult as the bad days seem more extreem than when I wasnt on the citalopram. Am willing to give it another 2 weeks and realise that it wont be easy.

      Have started Mindfulness ( day 4 of meditation exercises) am reading the book alongside doing the meditation, think its too early to say if I've noticed a difference but am willing to give anything atry to restore back to being me!

      Thanks for your reply

      Charlotte x

    • anne2953
      anne2953 charlotte12343

      Posted

      You will get there Charlotte, your doing all the right things, just your body adjusting, it is difficult and so is the anxiety, isnt anxiety the weirdest thing of all, makes u feel allsorts of stuff thats not really there, so persevere !!!! and remember every day is another day nearer your old self. you have done really well getting to here so stay strong xx

      Anne XX

    • charlotte12343
      charlotte12343 anne2953

      Posted

      Awe thankyou Anne, It really helps to read reassuring things like you have just said, gives me hope for the future.Yes anxiety is the weirdest thing in life!! Most people I know don't understand it-or suffer from it. I understand we are all individuals but I would like them live in my head/anxiety just for a day! Then they may be more sympathetic to it and how it effects me.

      Hope you are doing well on it-assume you are as you wouldnt be on here!

      Hope to keep in touch with you

      Charlotte xx

    • anne2953
      anne2953 charlotte12343

      Posted

      Hi Charlotte,

      Your so right, its difficult to explain this to someone whom has never had it, theres no way they could even imagine it, I know I didnt before I got it myself, think that was my biggest shock, I really didnt know this could happen, I am a lot more understanding now with everyone, and folk in my work, that before I maybe thought were exaggerating when they were so not !!! I feel bad about this now, but as u say if everyone could know what its like folk would be more understanding, I am doing really well now, which is why I still come on here so I can reassure folk they are not alone especially when just starting out, as others were there for me when I started on this forum in October, it really helped me to know others had this too and CIT wasnt going to kill me lol in fact it would help me, and it sure did, sometimes we just need reassurance from someone whom has been there.

      So stay strong you will make it, speak soon

      Anne XX

  • carman
    carman M68

    Posted

    Hello everyone, i have been reading a lot of this forum and i can relate so i wanted to add a little.i have recently had some pretty intense anxiety issues and was initially prescribed zoloft which sucked and also xanax(devil pill) please stay far away from the stuff if you can, or just use it rarely on extreme instances because it is highly addictive at least for me. but 5 days ago i started citalopram and have had minimal  side effects so far. it has helped the anxiety but seems to have increased my depression a little for now. but it is managable.i wanted to ask if anyone has had any heat like rashes on their face from the stuff?  i have no swelling or breathing problems but the "rash" is out of the ordinary. Also, i wanted to add that I found that tea designed for sleep(valerian root, and kava but use kava sparely) really helps calm some of the anxiety issues, i find that it doesn't necessarily help with sleep but it helps with the anxiety in the day time. just thought i would share in case anyone was looking for some natural aide during the gaps of meds.
    • nicole2314
      nicole2314 carman

      Posted

      I started taking Xanax b4 I was put on the Cit and it really helped me ESP at night to sleep or when I had to see my ex in court. I wouldn't take it all the time just when anxiety was real bad. The Cit is actually making me feel worse but I'm only just into week 2 on 20mg
  • charlotte12343
    charlotte12343 M68

    Posted

    Hi Everyone

    Does it make a difference which brand of Citalopram you take? Picked up my prescription a week earlier as I didn't want to run ou over the BH W/end and have just opened the paper bag from pharmasist and noticed they have given me a different brand from last time. Has anyone noticed any difference from this?

    Charlotte x

    • loulyn77566
      loulyn77566 charlotte12343

      Posted

      Hi Charlotte,

      No honey, it's just a different supplier wink I was dead suspicious too when I got a different box & kept the old one til I knew the new one worked the same lol

      Love Loulyn x

  • Beco75
    Beco75 M68

    Posted

    Hi everyone and ESP Anne who never forgets about me

    ive been on this forum since November but have been quiet posting in the last while   I'm on cipramil 50mg and increase for the original 20mg and seroquel 200mg, a decrease from my initial 300mg.  I feel like I'm not getting anywhere on these tablets.  I feel like I want to be alone, I don't want anyone around me and I even don't want any physical contact from my husband.  

    I am am seeing a psychiatrist and am due to see her next week.  She is the one controlling my medicine doses.   My situation is not getting any better and I just live my life everyday worrying about meeting my neighbour when I leave the house.    

    I am having councelling for the last year or so. He says I am very reluctant to talk and open up about my feelings and thoughts.  To be honest I find it difficult to open up to my husband.   

    Hi anne.   

    Hope all is well with you.  Hubby is back driving.   His shoulder is still sore so he's a it slow getting back to the household chores!!! 

    Im still struggling with life each day.   I've no motivation to do anything.  I've got into a habit of going to bed around midday for a sleep, just so I can switch my brain off.  

    I hope everyone is doing well on their journey to become well again.  

    Take care 

    beco 

    • anne2953
      anne2953 Beco75

      Posted

      Hi Beco,

      So good to hear form you, I hope your psychiatrist sees your struggling and does something positive for you, maybe go there this week and let him have it all, tell him everything about how you feel, pretend he is just a picture on a wall ur speaking too, just let it flow, as you have been suffering way way too long, I wish her next door would just up and move, as I knows its so hard just now with the economic climate everywhere, not easy to just up and get away from her, but remember your the better person, you need to let your husband in as you need his support and he has been there for you, so arrange a fun day out or night out with him and see how you feel, nothing too heavy just a meal or the cinema or a walk even. as I feel you maybe need to unload and get some sort of release from how ur feeling, so glad hubby is back driving, he will be sore, from physio etc, but maybe having chores stops u from staying in bed all day, I dont blame you for sleeping about midday as the meds can make you tired, I still yawn an awful lot. LOL do you have relatives anywhere else that you can visit for a week or so just to give you some relief from constantly thinking about her, as you could find she is nothing to you after a break from her, think about it, as you need to get your life back and there is nothing I want more than to see you happy and living your own life.

      Take care and stay strong, try something new, for you !!

      keep in touch B

      Big Hugs Anne,

      PS remember that mug, your the best Mam !!!!!

  • dougied85
    dougied85 M68

    Posted

    Hi everyone, hope you're all doing OK and making progress.

    Been a while since I last posted so thought I would give an update.  Just coming up to 4 weeks of being on 30mg and finally things seems to have settled down.  I'm not really experiencing much in the way of side effects anymore, although still suffer with feeling very tense and shaking at various times, sometimes to the point I feel like my whole body is going to freeze up!  But it doesn't last long and as I know it's just a side effect I am able to tell myself that, and along with some of Anne's deep breathing technique it's manageable.

    My mood is generally pretty good now - ups & downs, but nothing like as bad as I was before I started taking Cit.  I'm doing a lot more than I was before, and am definitely finding it easier to motivate myself to do things that need to be done including work.  It's not always easy, and some days I find it's hard to focus on anything and end up flitting about and not getting much of anything done, but at least I am doing things and feeling better about life in general.

    I'm off back to see the GP on Monday for a review, and I'm hopeful I'll be able to give him some positive feedback.  I'm still waiting for a CBT appointment, but these things can take time so I'm just having to be patient (which is quite tough as I just want to get moving with it!).

    To all of you still in the early days of taking Cit - hang on in there.  Like others who have been there on this site, I know how tough it can be to work through some of the side effects and the ups & downs that come with it, but it definitely makes a difference if you percevere.  Some people will just not get on with it though, so if you really don't feel it's working for you speak to your GP and try something else - everyone is different, you just need to find what works for you.

    Fingers crossed I am now on the up and will be able to get back to a more 'normal' life and deal with the other problems that have been caused as a result of the crippling depression and anxiety I've lived with for the last few years.

    Take care all.

    Doug x.

    • Inthewoods4
      Inthewoods4 dougied85

      Posted

      HI Dougie, I'm really pleased you're feeling better. I too have started feeling more normal. I have the odd bad feeling, almost like a sinking feeling -but it soon passes. I think it will take quite a while to completely forget and not think about things, but I think we're on the right path xx
    • loulyn77566
      loulyn77566 dougied85

      Posted

      Hi Dougie,

      Good to hear your doing well now, my God, you put the work in for it didn't you, it's great to know it's paid off at last wink

      I felt like you regards the CBT, couldn't wait to get on with it. So I found it was worth it for me to go private. The best deal I could find was £35 a session but it should only take 6-8 sessions to complete. This will be week 4 for me & I love it, it's really interesting & I definitely recommend it. Hope you get it sorted soon wink

      Take care,

      Love Loulyn x 

    • anne2953
      anne2953 dougied85

      Posted

      Great news Dougie your certainly on the up !! and you have worked hard to get there, so well done, stay strong and keep up your deep breathing at anxious times, it will get you thru, 

      Keep in touch so good to hear good stories and happy reports after such an awful illness. 

      Anne xx

    • anne2953
      anne2953 Inthewoods4

      Posted

      inthewoods so glad to hear u too are feeling more normal, deep breath when u get a sinking feeling it will soon go, as ur counting in and out slowly and will forget what ur feeling low about lol

      Take care and stay strong xx smile

      Anne 

    • G46689
      G46689 anne2953

      Posted

      Hi Anne quick question...... I am still on 20mg 8 weeks next week, I am yawning constantly and mood still anxious... Do you think moving into 30mg will help my mood but make me feel more tired and spaced out? 

      G.xxx

    • anne2953
      anne2953 G46689

      Posted

      Hi G

      I feel no matter how many mg we are on we can feel tired and yawn a lot, just the nature oif the meds, however I find if I am positive and do stuff I dont feel tired till Much later, speak to your doctor to see if the 30mg is for you, you could try to up for a few weeks to see if it helps, as you should see good signs pretty soon really, did u start on 20mg or 10mg

      Anne smile

    • G46689
      G46689 anne2953

      Posted

      Hi Anne 

      yeah I was on 10mg for  2 weeks and on 20mg 8 weeks this Saturday! Yeah think I might book an appointment and see what the doctor says, If I need to up the dosage to feel the full benefits of the CIT then I'm happy to do iit, it's just I see people post about how good they feel near 8 weeks and at this moment in time I can't relate to this 

      thanks G

    • anne2953
      anne2953 G46689

      Posted

      yes G I suppose everyone is different with how the body absorbs the Cit etc, so maybe 30mg will do it for you?? speak with the doctor he will know best. its time you were feeling good and if another 10mg does it then that should be easy to adapt to as ur on 20mg for 8 weeks already so I wouldnt expect much in the way of side efects at all. Fingers crossed let us know how u get on, remember tho every day counts so it may be u need 10 weeks. speak with the doc

      Anne smile

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