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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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  • elizabeth00077
    elizabeth00077 M68

    Posted

    Hello everyone I'm Liz. 

    I've been following this thread for a week or so and decided to bite the bullet and join in! 

    I've suffered with anxiety on and off for about 10 yrs now but it really began to get in the way since Christmas. My anxiety manifests itself with a churning tummy, pounding heart and then vomiting. It's so horrible and I want to get My life back. I saw my GP 2 weeks ago and she decided to prescribe me 20mg citalopram straight off, I felt nervous about taking meds but decided I needed to get this sorted once and for all. Wow talk about being dragged through a hedge backwords!! Sick, increased anxiety the works! Your posts really got me through as on so many occasions I just needed reassurance that is was "normal". I have to agree with everyone on her it DOES get better - honestly. I felt like death this time last week whereas now I'm eating, functioning and going to work. Progress!! Please, please hang in there with the meds. 

    I run my own business and a single Mum so I've really taken this as a sign that I need to step back and get well. My sister has stayed with me and helped me get through but she goes home today and I'm nervous about tomorrow and normal routines etc... 

    Liz xx

    • louise1974
      louise1974 elizabeth00077

      Posted

      Morning Liz

      welcome to the forum. I've found it really useful the last few days since starting Citalopram. Like you I've suffered with anxiety on and off for a long time. I've had some terrible spells where I've been really ill with it and on a different AD. You sound like you experience it very much like I do and it is awful. Glad the worst of your side effects have gone and hopefully you will start to see a really good effect on your mood soon. I wish I had started on 20mg now but this is day 7 of 10mg for me. The worst side effect being increased anxiety. So I'm terrified of upping it tomorrow!! 

      I think ink when your sister goes home you will get a bit nervous but it will go once you realise you can cope. I've been a mess this week as my daughter is off school still and husband at work but you know what, I've got through it and you will too. Feel free to chat whenever, it helps to know we aren't on our own.

      Louise xx

    • laura85157
      laura85157 elizabeth00077

      Posted

      Hi liz

      Yep all sounds too familiar for many of us on here. Keep coming on as always someone to reassure you even on the dark days. You will be fine Hun trust me. 3 months ago I didn't think I could get anymore anxious. I actually thought I'd gone mad. It's awful. But things do improve. Very gradually. Take care and keep strong. 

      Laura xx

    • tamsin13
      tamsin13 louise1974

      Posted

      Hi guys 

      I am in NZ so miss all these posts until late in your evening! This is day 9 for me, 2nd on 10 mg ( I have worked my way up from 5). Had an ok day! Didn't feel much nausea, anxiety a bit better, took a paracetamol with the tab so didn't notice the pressure headache. Now a cold with a really sore throat which didn't help with the sleeping but I am feeling hopeful. Think I will stick with the 10mg for a while. Has anyone had success just on the 10 or do I really need to work up to 20? Louise - I'm sorry to hear you had a bad day. It certainly seems to swing at the beginning ie one good day then one bad but everyone says it does level out. I am only one week in and everyone seems to say two so I am holding out for 2!

    • JRo
      JRo tamsin13

      Posted

      Yup I'm on day 6 and that seems to be me too - one good day, one bad. All mornings are horrible - bad days seem to be worse. Evenings seem to be better. Hang in there - seems we are all in this together, but the results seem to be worth it.I have a friend on it for 8 years who said it changed her life - for the better.
    • louise1974
      louise1974 JRo

      Posted

      Hi tamsin and JRO

      My day did get better and on the upside was nowhere near the disaster Wednesday was. Seen my therapist today and he said he could notice a difference already in my thought processes and the way I was talking. Upping to 20mg tomorrow so fingers crossed. JRo mornings are defo the worst, fear for the day I think.  Like you say se are all in this together so at least somewhere to come to chat to people that understand. We will get there x

    • JRo
      JRo louise1974

      Posted

      Thanks so much and best of luck. Let's keep each other posted. :-)
  • louise26018
    louise26018 M68

    Posted

    Hi Laura, Hi Louise 1974

    Just reading your recent posts and i have panic days they are horrible aint they mad

    I use Annes deep breathing tips and it tends to help me!! read back through annes posts or send her a message and she will tell you how its done!! lol

    Keep going the bad panic days do get few and futher between xx this time 3/4 months ago i was a complete mess!! couldnt sleep full of anxiety thoughts and panic now im near back to norm so there is light at the end of the tunnel xx

    Welcome elizabeth00077

    I stayed with my parents for a few weeks when i went on cit and the thought of going home to an empty house scared the hell out of me!!

    but i did it!! and i had bad moments but just took a day at a time and kept myself super busy to pass time and tire me out!! good luck xxx

    Hi tamsin

    Go back to docs and speak to them i think they will up you to 10mg, thats what i started on and im bobbing along quite nice on them 75% better than i was 4 months ago!! still have bad times but not half as much and not half as bad!! biggrin

    This site was a life saver it gave me support and advise when i felt alone with this

    Good to hear off everyone!! keep posting so we can all help and advise xxx

    • anne2953
      anne2953 louise26018

      Posted

      Hi Louise,

      Good to hear form you and glad you doing well, happy your still getting help from the deep belly breathig xxx you did it lady and were very strong at such an awful time, well done so proud of you xx

      Take care and keep in touch,

      Anne smile

  • elizabeth00077
    elizabeth00077 M68

    Posted

    Does anyone else find the Citalopram gives them heartburn??

    Liz xx

    • Pudjesty
      Pudjesty elizabeth00077

      Posted

      No, but I have a hiatus hernia anyway (bad reflux). Ask your doc for Omeprazole - it stops the acid in your stomach. Heartburn is really miserable.
  • JRo
    JRo M68

    Posted

    .I too and happy that I found this forum. I am in the US an just started CIT on June 1st. Today will be my 6th pill. I had a terrible 2 years of losses, my Father, Godfather, broken engagement, finances, loss of home, left with a grown developmentally disabled sister to care for etc. I had been working with several councelors and fighting going on something, but recently it all became too much and I caved in. All I am doing is crying and crying and finding myself with LESS motivation to get up and out of bed in the morning. Mornings are the worst. I thought it was our long dreary winter, but now the weather is gorgeous and I am finding myself even worse. I feel not only MY sorrow, but also the sorrow of my friends and all the bad news I hear around me. Last Friday I decided it was time to talk to my Dr about going on something, so she put me on 20mg of the CIT. I am also on a couple of High blood pressure meds, that I've been on for years and Clonapene as needed. I am also self-employed and my business has suffered because of all that's gone on in my life and my lack of motivation to do anything. I started the pills on Sunday and feel EXHAUSTED. I can not keep my eyes open. The anxiety does feel a little hieghtened, as does the sadness and crying. But honestly, it's hard to tell as I was so sad, tired and unmotivated before. I am nauseus in the morning and do have the bowel issues as well. The clonapene helps with the anxiety. It seems every other day is one good, one bad. Again, hard to tell as this is how I was feeling just being "depressed" before I went on anything. I just want it to kick in - QUICKLY and want my life back. I am KNOWN as a happy person with a smile on my face all the time, but life has thrown even me too many curves and even the strong have their weak moments. I feel EXACTLY like the commercials I see on TV for depression meds - where someone is walking around in a "cloud" or staring off out a window looking sad. That's me. Rationally, as I lay in bed in the morning especially, and can't move - I KNOW I need to get up and this too shall pass, but I can't seem to get my body to connect with that rational thought in the back on my mind. I live alone and have no family left. My friends are worried that I will "do" something to myself. Which I won't... but I am very depressed and sad, and could't tell the side effects from the actual depression. I hope this passes quickly and I get my life back soon. I want to be that happy person again. I hate this! Thanks for the support.
    • anne2953
      anne2953 JRo

      Posted

      hi JRo 

      you will be grand, just stay strong, persevere and you will get there, however i am sorry there is no quick fix, God knows its what I wanted and all I could think of, but it takes your body time to adjust and it takes patience, remember deep belly breathing helps at the worse times, everyone has felt like you so ur not alone, so keep in touch you will be glad you were strong, and will get back to normal.

      Take care,

      Anne smile

    • JRo
      JRo anne2953

      Posted

      Thank you Anne, you made me feel better already. I will keep you posted! :-)

       

    • tamsin13
      tamsin13 JRo

      Posted

      Hi JRo like you I was determined not go on the medication and do it alone but in the end caved in. Only a week in but figure it can't be worse and maybe can be better! You sound like you have had a hell of a time. I have only just joined the forum but it seems like such a supportive bunch of people. PM me if you are feeling really bad. Hang in there - you have taken a great step and things will improve, you will just need to be patient. I find yoga and walking very therapeutic and massages are great too of you can afford them! You are not in this alone. Hugs xx
    • tamsin13
      tamsin13 JRo

      Posted

      Hi JRo how have you been feeling the last few days - any better? Remember we are all here for you!
    • JRo
      JRo tamsin13

      Posted

      Hi Everyone

      I started my CIT on June 1st. The first week was rough and basically, one good day, one bad. Wednesday and Friday of last week was HORRIBLE. ALL mornings I am weepy. The weekend was great, but I kept busy. Monday and Tuesday were weepy mornings, but they were good days. Today is day 11 and I was USELESS - completely USELESS.... couldn't move off the couch all day, cried, neausea, bowel problems, loss of appetite - all of it.. the mornings are horrible, but the day does get better as it goes on, but even today, just couldn't get going. I finally managed a shower at 4pm, but still didn't feel like doing anything after that, other than going back to nap on the sofa. This is bad as I am self employed and have a LOT of things on my plate, besides work, that need to be tended to. I hope today is better, as I HAVE to get moving. Not necessarily panicky - but very lethargic, sad and depressed...which is why I went on the meds in the first place! LOL  We had a rainy day here, I am in NJ, and spoke to at least 4 other friends, who are not on the meds but all going through something as well, who felt the same way, so maybe that contributed to it as well? I don't know, but I am sticking it out, as I felt much better this past weekend and am hoping it is just a combo of the weather and the "11 day" mark side effects that many of you on here seem to be hitting. I also do not think this is going to solve "all" of my problems. I still had a lot of loss in my life recently, and many things on my plate to stress me out, as I said. I am GOING to have sad or stressful days - I just am on this med hoping it at least takes the edge off - there is no miracle cure all for everything. So I am keeping positive that this will help, along with everything else I am doing to "cope".

      I am a massage therapist - which is funny - because I relax people for a living and am a wreck myself right now. I know how helpful the massages can be - now I just need to get one myself. My boyfriend tried to the other night - but he just needs to stick to HIS day job - which is in IT, not masagge...bless him for trying though.

      That's where I'm at - good days, bad,,,,,hoping for the scale to tip more on the good sign soon. I'll keep you all posted. xoxo

    • louise1974
      louise1974 JRo

      Posted

      Morning JRo

      Im on day 13 today. Like you my mornings are dreadful. I suffer with really bad anxiety first thing and usually have a good cry too. Ive just gone back to work yesterday but no idea how Im going to cope today as Ive had no sleep whatsoever. I have PMS this week to add to my troubles. Like I needed that!!!! Usually when I cant sleep I feel fairly relaxed still but last night I was so tense. Hoping thats the side effects. I cannot wait for them to start working because I just want to feel some kind of normal. Ive only been on 30mg for 6 days though so I think it may be over a week for me before I feel anything.

      Hope you have a better day today xx

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