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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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  • nicole2314
    nicole2314 M68

    Posted

    Hi all. I just passed week 2 on 20mg n the lump in my throat has lessened. Which is a good thing but anxiety still very high. Things that I used to just do cause me to be in a state of panic (things/activities that just need to get done). It's very hard. An I'm sad to say my sexual side effect is still there sad I'm trying to keep up faith by reading everyone's comments here but I feel so anxious all the time!! I have my 3 week follow up with the dr next thurs. hope I'm feeling better by then
    • loulyn77566
      loulyn77566 nicole2314

      Posted

      Hi Nicole,

      The book I have just read, Overcoming Health Anxiety, states that the sexual problems with SSRI's are more or less long term & they recommend taking Ginko Biloba as it can help with this. But if it's important to you honey then I would discuss it with your doctor as there are other anti depressants you could take that would suit you better. It's worth asking him & mention the Ginko Biloba too & see what he says as the book also recommends a doctor's advice before you take it.

      I hope you get it sorted,

      Love Loulyn x

    • nicole2314
      nicole2314 loulyn77566

      Posted

      Thanks loulyn. I was hoping that side effect would pass but I will deff talk to the dr next week!
  • hayley55901
    hayley55901 M68

    Posted

    Hiya, 

    I have been on citalopram for over a year now, not had even one side affect, and if anyone was to get one it would be me as I am intollerant to so many things!!! They are brilliant, please start them

    thanks 

    H 

  • Mike_O
    Mike_O M68

    Posted

    Hi,

    I'm thinking of asking my doc to up my dosage to 30 mgs, I started on 10 mgs for the 1st 14 day & I'm now on 20mgs for the last 4 weeks, but I'm not really feeling any benefit, I'm still trying to get through each day.

    I'm currently off work & keep thinking if I should take a little more time off or go back ASAP.

    appreciate your comments.

    thanks

    Mike

    • hayley55901
      hayley55901 Mike_O

      Posted

      Hi mike, I started on 10mg for 2 weeks, no change, then 20mg for few months, had family stress so asked gp to up dose to 30mg, perfect, feel very calm, positive,and feel great on this dose. My gp was more than happy to up the dose, I know people on 60 mg! I had sertraline a  few years ago, never again! But citalopram has gotten me through hard times, and the 30 mg got me back to work!!!!  hope this helps, 

      H

       

    • Mike_O
      Mike_O hayley55901

      Posted

      Hi Hayley,

      i will deffo have have that chat with my doc next week when I see them.

      im currently still off work, do you think I should take a little more time off? Or jump back into it where my stress levels will be tested to the max?

      mike

    • hayley55901
      hayley55901 Mike_O

      Posted

      Hi Mike,

      If I was you I would wait till you have seen your doctor, and hopefully he will put you up to 30 mg, let them get into your system for a few weeks, you should then be able to tell if you feel ready for work again, that's how it worked for me, I just started to feel so positive! 

      Let us know how you get on! 

      H 

    • Mike_O
      Mike_O hayley55901

      Posted

      Hi Hayley,

      thanks for your reply.

      i really want to get back to my work as I know structure & routine is good, also I've been trying to keep busy whilst I've been off & on the days I've managed to be busy all day I've felt not bad, it's just the dark days which I probably have more of than good if I'm honest.

      i just don't feel I'm living right now but surviving, I will take your advice & see how the 30mgs work out for me if my doc ups my dosage & dependent on the cit, that may allow me to get back to some sort of normality (whatever that feels like).

      thanks

      mike

    • hayley55901
      hayley55901 Mike_O

      Posted

      Hi Mike, 

      you will get back to normality very soon, on the days you are not busy, maybe get out in the fresh air as much as possible ( I know uk weather is crap!) but just going for a walk or doing some kind of exercise can help. I just replied to another Mike, saying how good relaxation c.d's are, I have one where a lady talks you through deep breathing then takes your mind on a journey to say, a cabin in the woods where you relax in a comfy chair in front of a warm fire, so relaxing to listen too I often fall asleep before it finishes! Keep your friends close and try and see someone everyday, it will get better 😊

      Hayley 

  • charlotte12343
    charlotte12343 M68

    Posted

    Hi everyone/anyone

    Am still on my yo yo ing and seem to be having more bad days than good, if honest the weekends are ok but week days are the worst (which is when I am at work BUT am REALLY STRUGGLING) I am still getting all the anxy feelings and the CIT is only semi working. I still get that sour/fizzy taste in my mouth and think its the anxiety that makes this happen and not a side effect from the CIT.

    What do I do as I have just read Mikes post to say about upping to 30mg which I was hoping to bit GP a few weeks said it was too early and needed to let the ")mg to kick in. Well that was 3 weeks ago and I still dont feel on top of my anxiety to deal with things. I understood the CIT would help me to do this! I know it wont take the problems away but give me the confidence to handle it!

    Anne and Loulyn thanks for earlier advice-I need some more of it as am loosing it and rapidly going down hill again. Seem to be having 2 good days out of 7 and not feeling that great which I thought I would at the end of week 6 and the start of week 7.

    Charlotte x

    • charlotte12343
      charlotte12343 anne2953

      Posted

      Hi Anne

      Have been on CIT now for 7 weeks, started at 10mg for the 1st week then upped to 20mg, so now have been on 20mg for 6 weeks. x

    • carman
      carman charlotte12343

      Posted

      I recommend trying tea that is caffiene free and contains valerian root, passion flower, and lavender. This teas really help me with nausea and anxiety and they are completely safe. Please try it if you haven't, before considering an increase of dosage. Citalopram is meant for depression but as a bonus helps a little with anxiety that is caused from depression.

       

    • anne2953
      anne2953 charlotte12343

      Posted

      Hey Charlotte you could try the 20mg for another 2 weeks and then if you dont see the light ask about upping your dose, as your on the verge of the timescale for feeling better, as you know we are all so different and we all vart but a lot of folk feel the change from 6 -8 weeks, so mayby worth waiting another 2 weeks. let me know what you decide, and stay in touch we will get you thru this, have you been practicing deep breathing?? it is the best thing for when anxiety gets bad, you breath in slowly for a count of 5 thru ur nose, deep down into ur belly, till u feel ur belly moving out, then slowly breath out for a count of 7 thru ur mouth, its nice to picture bright sunshine breath in and dark grey breath out. 

      Take care x

      Annesmile

    • Inthewoods4
      Inthewoods4 charlotte12343

      Posted

      Hi Charlotte, I understand, I've been on cit since jan, and 3 weeks ago went up to 30mgs. After a few bad days I felt a lot better, and have felt a lot more grounded and level since. I agree with Anne, try a bit longer then speak to your Gp. On 20 I was having a few good days then a flurry of bad. It was too up and down for me. I still have the odd wave of anxiety/feeling low, but it's an hour rather than a day xxx
    • loulyn77566
      loulyn77566 charlotte12343

      Posted

      Hey Charlotte wink

      Hang on in there chick, it's a pity cit takes so long to get off the ground but you will get there very soon. I would give it another couple of weeks because, as Anne says, you are on the verge of feeling good. Just don't go looking for it every day, it will sneak up on you when you're not looking wink 

      I'm dead beat tonight after working all day so forgive my short reply honey, my brain is comatose frown

      Love Loulyn

    • Mike_O
      Mike_O loulyn77566

      Posted

      Hey Charlotte,

      thanks for for reading my post.

      im not not one to really give advice seeing as my 20mgs aren't doing much for me just now, but I'm deffo going to have a chat with my doc to go up to 30mgs, the worst they will say is NO, I suppose.

      Im also also off work just now, but I know that the routine of work is good to battle against stress,anx & depression, but I just can't bring myself to go back & I'm undecided to take further time off, ax I know when I go back I will be pushed to the limit mentally & I will come home mega stressed out. I suppose I don't want to be in a worse place for returning early, I just can't seem to make decisions!, I never had this problem before!....

      stay strong

      mike

    • germanterrier
      germanterrier charlotte12343

      Posted

      Hi,

      I have been on Cit 20mg for about 8 months. I did not want to have but my wife was worried for my depression and mood swings. When I started, it worked very well apparently but after couple of months I started having muscle aches, lethargy, no libido at all, and memory issues. Now sometimes, when I open my refrigerator, I dont know what i am looking for (scary). So at the begining of this month, I decided not to take cit and i quit taking cit cold turkey. Its been 16 days, and i am having withdrawl sideeffects like I am most of the time dizzy, can not concentrate, little headaches, want to cry, want to eat more, teary eyes. 

      Although I have these terrible sideeffects but I have made my mind not to take cit again in my life.  It is a vicious cycle and once you are traped, it is very hard to get out of it. Funny thing this even doctors dont know much about this drug. They know what they have been told by pharmaceutical companies and treat only symptoms not the real problem.

      I will never advise anybody to take these pills.

      I have started gardening, cycling, i just dont stay at home, go out to some store or park even if it is hot outside just to keep myself busy.

      Kash x

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