Anyone NOT had any side effects on Citalopram?

Hi All,

I'm sorry to hear that your not feeling so good today Emma, I hope it is just a one off and you will be feeling better tomorrow.

I know it sounds strange but I have almost forgotten about my anxiety as I have so many physical things at the moment, feel really really tired, it is an effort to do anything and when I do I get a very dry mouth, sweating, heart pounding and breathless, my mouth is very dry most of the time, has anyone else had this? it seems to be getting me down more than the anxiety now and I am just wondering if the tablets are doing it or it is all part and parcel of the anxiety.

Take care all of you. xx

This sounds very familiar. These are symptoms I've had for months. The gp I saw decided to try citalopram because he thought I might be stuck in a post viral anxiety phase without even realising. He said things might get worse before they got better. I'm still having sweats and pounding heart but it does seem to be getting better. He said citalopram often brings out your "anxiety symptoms" before it improves them. So could be a combination of the medication and how your anxiety shows itself.

Does this make any sense to anyone else?

Hi Dianne, Thanks for your reply and yes it does make sense, my anxiety all started 2 years ago after having food poisoning, I finally started to take citalopram in July 2012 and I was feeling better in 6 weeks, I stayed on 20mg for 8 months then decided to try to come off, that was the worst thing I could have done, if only I could put the clock back.

It is good to be able to come into these forums and realize that other people are going through the same, it really helps.

Thanks again Christine.

Hi All,

Just checking back in after 14 days away in Ireland, hope everyone is doing well and improving, I am on day 15 of my increased dose to 20mg and headaches now getting fewer, but had a few brain zaps which I haven't had before, hope the zaps stop soon, however with regards my increased dose I don't think they are doing me any better than the 10mg. ?? start my CBT on Tuesday so am happy about that,

How is everyone ?

Chris not heard from you for a few days so hope that means ur doing well x

Paul glad things are going well for you and thanks for the ongoing support.

Beco I hope your ok and feel back to normal soon, I hate that this woman has such a hold over you, keep a log of any bother with her as Paul did with his neighbour, it may help down the line, but try to make her a nobody in your life !!!

Grace if u log in let us know how your doing please xx

Mrs VN you seem so much more positive as to when I spoke to you on the other thread, that's great news xx

Take care and stay strong everyone xx

Anne x

Hi,

Really need some support today. I feel like a nervous wreck. How can this be happening after two really normal weeks.

I am concerned about telling my hubby as he is back to work tomorrow and I don't want him to be stressed about me again.

I hope that this is just a little blip? I just want to sit and cry :-( I have tried to go back to sleep for an hour but that didn't work.

I know it is just anxiety but I can't get myself out of the cycle today.

X X X

Hi everyone,

Feeling like Emma,after 2/3 good days particularly afternoons I thought I,d try without my sleep meds what a bad move that was didn,t go to sleep till 1am and woke at 4am i now feel rubbish!!Have arleady upset my husband stupid stupid!!! Okay girl onwards and upwards going to clean bathroom and out for a walk this pm. Wish me luck.

My thoughts are with you Emma.

Hi Anne.

xxxx

Sorry to hear this Emma, but I was like that at day 42 on cit, but I did some deep breathing and walking and got thru it, its so difficult as its the worse feeling ever, get some fresh air, it will help, we have all experienced this set back at some stage when u think will I ever get there? but you will, speak to your doctor about it too.

Take care and stay strong

Anne x

Hi farawaygirl, we posted at the same time lol your husband will understand, worry about getting yourself right, and what a great idea cleaning and going for a walk, make sure you do some deep belly breathing too, as this really helped me. and do it every time you start to feel anxious.

Good luck for today and dont be hard on yourself remember you are going thru an awful period in your life and other folk find it hard to understand as have not been there, so explain this to your husband even let him read stuff on here to help him understand, he will stand by you and understand when you are a bit upset by it all.

take care and stay positive and strong !!! we will get there.

Anne xx

Thanks farawagirl and Anne for your replies,

I am still so scared off this whole thing. Deep down I Know I am getting better slowly but for some stupid reason I let the anxiety get me.

I am back at work in a week after 3 months off so maybe that is contributing. Back to my normal pre christmas routine tomorrow after such a lovely xmas and new year. I have also reminded myself that I'm 5 weeks into my increase so maybe I am not quite there with the benefits yet.

You are all such a great support network and I hope anybody that reads this today feeling the same as me, that it doesn't last too long.

My best friend is coming over for a chat and coffee so that should help.

Emma x

Hi Anne. I hope you enjoyed your trip to ireland. I'll be flying over to England for my uncles funeral on Friday week.

I'm getting nowhere on these tablets. The psychiatrist rooms don't open till tomorrow so won't hear about my appt till then.

The children are back to school tomorrow and I'm already sick with worry over the school runs and the thoughts of trying to dodge the neighbour.

I I got upset in my parents the other day. Dad is home from hospital. He needs a few follow up check ups but should be fine. My mam asked how I was and I just started crying. I told her I had to see a psychiatrist. I wasn't going to tell her, but my parents are worried sick about me.

I got upset with my husband last night too. My heart was pounding and my stomach felt sick. I just want to curl up and die. Escape this pain.

Hope everyone is doing ok.

Talk soon

Beco

Hi Beco,

I think this woman is stopping you getting better, I am glad you opened up to your folks as they will be very worried about you as is your husband, they just want you to get better, and feel normal enough to live ur own life happily, does this woman approach you or anything? or is it mainly your fear of her, I hope she packs up and moves away, far away, but for now remember ur so much better than her, I know its really difficult to up sticks and move and will bring problems but your sanity and life with your family is worth more than that !!!

So glad ur Dad is doing well, that will be one less worry for you and remember he is getting check ups so he is in safe hands, you husband will be ok he understands how hard it is for you but it is hard for him too as he doesn't know what its like to feel this anxious, its not just normal anxiety its downright life destructive anxiety !!! and we know its there and is just our minds but that doesn't stop it affecting us so much that we feel so distraught and weak and in pain, I would rather have an illness with just pain that I can handle. so please stay strong, we are all behind you, do what is right for you, when you go out tomorrow tell yourself your so much better than this woman she is nothing to you or your life and just hold ur head high and carry on.

Take care and keep in touch Anne xx

Hi everyone,

I'm so sorry you've taken a dip Emma. It sounds like the combination of your hubby returning to work and you going back could be contributing. Also, you said you're feeling under the weather, being run down and ill can make everything seem so much worse. If you speak to your husband and let him know how you're feeling it might make you feel better. Could you ask him to call you at lunchtime to see how you're getting on? I did that and I did feel better. I found the worry was worse than the reality. Anne is right, deep breathing exercises can really help as it gets more oxygen to the brain. I also find it helps to remind myself that the anxious feeling is a rush of adrenaline which takes about 40 mins to work it's way around the body. That's all it is, you're not in danger but your body reacting to a scary thought/worry in the only way it knows how (Ie in the same way it would react to physical danger) the reason prolonged anxiety happens is because people worry about the reaction thinking it won't stop so it causes more adrenaline to be released and keeps going in a cycle. The adrenaline is to give you the energy to fight or run from danger but obviously as you don't need to do that it just courses round your body prolonging the panic. It still feels crappy when it's happening but I found it helps me to rationalise it!

Faraway girl, I was the same last week, I would have a few good days and then feel gutted when I'd have a bad day. It's all part of the process I think. Even yesterday, I'd had a lovely day, we took a friends dog for a nice long walk, had fish and chips and then went to an other friend's in the evening and everyone was amazed at how much better I seemed. (So was I!) When I got home my husband said something small that I took as him being cross at me (he wasn't) and I just burst into tears! It really reminded me that I'm still 'getting' better rather than completely well.

Beco, it sounds like you're really struggling but don't give up hope, I know you just want the pain and turmoil to stop but there's so much more that can be done for you. Do you know what model your counsellor uses? Some counselling can open up a 'can of worms' and make things feel worse before they get better. It can make you stew and ruminate on things that you might not have thought of for years but again, that's part of the process. Do you have someone who could help out with the school run? Either to meet you on the way if you walk or who could take the kids in for you/come along with you to walk them in to school. You could always tell a little white lie and say you have a virus and don't want to spread it round the playground or that you don't feel up to it.

Anne, you're right, I am feeling like 'me' again! I thought it'd never happen! I'm signed off work for another fortnight to make sure I'm properly well but fingers crossed I'm getting there! I'm actually beginning to look forward to going back to work too. Hope you're okay too?

Christine, my mum had a really dry mouth at first when she was on citalopram, and I did for about the first week. I found just carrying a bottle of water round and lots of cups of chamomile tea helped me.

Diane, I'm so glad your side effects are improving. I remember we both came on here at about the same time and had similar side effects so it really helped to have someone in the same boat to offer and to give support to! (I think the giving support is also so helpful because a) it's interesting how kind we can be to others when we're beating ourselves up inside so it really helps to rationalise it and b) feeling helpful and useful to someone when we have an illness that makes us feel so helpless and useless is so valuable!)

Hope everyone has a calm and peaceful Sunday!

Xxx

hey Emma,

It will be good to talk with your friend and have her support, remember the increase can take 6 to 8 weeks so your getting there, I know its a slow process but worth it in the end, I went back to work but did reduced hours and was really happy to be back, for the support and something to occupy my mind, I believe it really helped me get there, as also your not alone. My worse bit was driving there as I was claustrophobic in the car, but I practiced my deep breathing and now I am fine, just drove to Ireland and back so that was a big hurdle for me.

so hope your day improves and you feel better soon hang on in there, remember we have all been where you are at some stage of getting to here,

Anne x

(I meant that we offered each other support, Diane. I just re read that and thought it might sound like I think I just offered you support!... Or that could be my anxious brain telling me you might think that!)

X

It's fine, I knew what you meant.

Had a really good day from lunchtime yesterday. Went down to work to say hi and into Tesco with no problems then made food and did housework. Totally felt like me.

However didn't sleep well last night. Not anxious or "busy in the brain" just couldn't get comfortable and I find if I roll onto a side it brings my sweats on (odd).Today has been spent napping on the sofa and being a bit sweaty. Hopefully it will pass and the afternoon/evening will be better. Maybe I overdid things yesterday? Tortoise tortoise tortoise.

I also might subconsciously worrying about my other half going back to work tomorrow.

Hope everyone else is getting on with their day and this is a great place for support. :-D