Anyone NOT had any side effects on Citalopram?

Hi all,

I was just wondering the initial timescales in CIT, I've just started on 10mgs on Wednesday, I've been on for 4 days now & tomorrow will be 5 days, but apart from not having much of an appetite, I don't seem to feel anything else!...

I seem to be waiting for something to happen, but I just don't know what, this is stressing me out as every tablet & day passes, nothing different happens.

I have yo return to my docs in 2 weeks but surely something is going to happen soon? I'm still struggling on &I still feel the same as I did before starting the meds.

I know there isn't a magic pill but I can't continue like this for much longer!......

Thanks

Sorry, I should have said in my above post, that in new here & this is my 1st post.

Thanks

Hi Everyone

First of all, congratulations on reaching over 100 pages of this discussion! It is helping a lot of people and we are all a good gang supporting each other. I've been around for a lot of it, but Anne beats me by a few pages!

Anyway, welcome Mike - good to hear from you. A couple of things to say. Firstly the words you don't want to hear - it's not a quick fix, I'm afraid! Everyone is different, but generally it takes the first 2 weeks to get accommodated to Cit and let any side effects settle down. Then there is often an improvement gradually taking place from around 3 weeks.

What is certain - it will work, but you have to stick with it, be strong and run the course. This forum will help you through it. Post as often as you want - there's usually someone around who can give you help, and quite often at the same stage as you and experiencing the same feelings.

Also 10mg is a small dose, often given first to help you acclimatise. An average dose is 20mg/day. So be prepared to have it increased.

Hope this helps - good luck.

Chris

p.s - to the moderator...

Your clock is still on GMT - the UK is now on BST. The time now 12.23 am!

Chris

Morning all awake early again, still feeling like I'm elsewhere. Why does the scariest side effect have to be the longest lasting. Still feeling shaky, nearly didn't take my pill today but I have done.

Got nothing at all planned today but I just struggle to relax at home now.

Going to try and get back to sleep now.

Hope you all have a good day x

morning all. well ive had a strange morning, woke at 7am and took my meds as usual. because its Sunday I decided I wasnt getting up yet and dozed off back to sleep. when I did get up an hour later I felt like my brain was still asleep, after about 10mins I started to feel sick and dizzy to the point I felt myself passing out and had to lie down with my eyes shut. it passed after a cpl of mins and now im really pale my arms and hands hurt and shaking like a leaf. I dont know what the hell it was, anyone got any ideas ? I have suffered major panic attacks in my life and im sure this wasnt one. I didnt have any of the usual symptoms. lay on the sofa feeling sorry for myself now.

ally xx

Good morning all,

How's everyone doing today? It sounds like quite a few of us have been having a rough old time recently, and I'm afraid that I'm also in that camp. I've had an awful few days of really strong anxiety and feeling out of it / detached. It's weird because I'm going out more and trying to get back to 'normal', but I'm still feeling way more anxious than before I started Cit.

I'm now on Day 39 (five and a half weeks) and am desperate for an improvement as just day-to-day life is so difficult at the moment.

Sorry to sound so negative but I feel really defeated and scared and am not sure what to do next.

I'll hang in there for another day but am thinking of calling my GP tomorrow to talk about my options.

Take care of yourselves all, and I hope you're enjoying your stag do Paul. Lots of hugs and strength to all.

Spence x

morning everyone :-)

MikeO.... its very early days for you. all will get better but it takes time which we all find difficult and very frustrating. Stick with it, things will improve as Chris said (thanks for the encouragement Chris!)

Matilda.... sorry ro hear you woke feeling rotten. The shakes are one of my worst morning symptoms too, plus just that feeling of weirdness. I tend to feel desperately weak like my legs wont work sort of thing too. Its horrible. I hope you get a sleep and can relax today.

Ally.... I have similar things going on this morning. I woke actually not feeling too shaky (first time for that so I suppose that's good) but feel dizzy and weak with a touch of nausea. I also had to retreat to the sofa. I do know the physiological explanation but its a touch boring! it is all down to the drug and its effect on many systems. Why it can't just steadily get better I dont know. Its so very frustrating seeing improvement then taking a backward step.

For me... well, only minor shakes waking up but I'm so sick of feeling the myriad of side effects. The weakness and shakiness have hit me a bit again. I did manage to get out on my bike this morning but came back and had to lie down. Immensely frustrating to say the least. I dont have much planned today either. If I feel up to it I'll do some work on a guitar for a friend (I build acoustic guitars, or I did before this rubbish started). Then I'll watch the Grand Prix, make dinner and crash out again. Thrilling!

I hope you all have a good Sunday, we'll get there in the end :-)

Rick

Hi Spence

On day 38 myself so at a similar stage. Im starting to bore myself saying this but hang on in there. im up and down and only making slow progress myself. My doc upped my dose on friday to 30. On a real low Friday.night and most of Saturday. Went out on a mates stag do last night which I was dreading but actually had a

really good time.

Woke up this morning feeling not too bad but yesterday felt like one of those days I had in the first 2 weeks - horrendous

I guess it's a roller coaster ride for all of us

Keep strong

Mike

Hi Spence... must have posted at the same time there. I know how you feel, its murderous dealing with this. You say scary. Im with you there too. I keep asking myself "what if I dont improve... what sort of quality of life is this?" Its a miserable feeling and as for the anxiety. I started Cit for ME as I said. I was very stressed and probably depressed due to that and the ME. I never, ever had anxiety to any great degree before starting Citalopram. Actually before restarting would be more accurate.

It will improve. Really, it will but I completely understand your frustration and worry. It could take us 2 months, maybe even a bit more. One thing. If you get these effects apparently it does mean that the drug will eventually lly work well. That gives me hope.

I was wondering how you were doing but honestly, it'll improve.

take care, us 39 dayers have to stay strong :-)

Rick

Hi again well I managed to get back to sleep til about 10. I have prepared a roast as thankfully my eating is ok again now, but the depersonalisation I am feeling is horrendous. I'm worried it will make me go mad. It's so frustrating and scary and I think I echo everyone else when I say how horrible this is and how we all just want to get back to normal.

Rick well done for getting out on your bike, making guitars is cool. My brother used to do that. He made one for me once but I never learnt. No patience, hence why I'm so frustrated that the cit isn't working straight away. At least Masterchef isn't on today and yes I agree the voice is awful and Will I am scares me! It's his eyes.

Day 2: Didn't react as badly today. Still got really depressed yesterday though. Fell out with a close friend too.. that really got to me. I just hope the citalopram starts to kick in too so my depression doesn't damage any more friendships.

Just stick in there and I hate to say it but for many of us the first 2 weeks were really tough so you might need to prepare for that but it will get better honest

You just need to grit your teeth in those first 2 weeks. I'm taking it for depression also

Take care

Mike

Mike, Rick, thanks for your supportive comments. You're right that I need to stay strong and keep at it, and I will do my very best.

Rick, that's particularly encouraging what you said about the meds eventually working if they give you the side effects first. I'll hold on to that one in my darker moments! Cool that you make guitars too, that's a great skill to have. (I play a bit of guitar myself, but not very well....)

Matilda, I really sympathise with you having bad depersonalisation. It's one of the side effects I'm struggling with the most and I've also been worrying about losing it. It's such a weird sensation isn't it. I'm having CBT at the moment and my therapist has encouraged me not to worry about it as it makes it worse - he said instead to try to accept it and think of it as a set of "unusual sensations". Easier said than done, that's for sure!

Thanks again guys for the encouragement and support, it's absolutely priceless.

Take care everyone,

Spence

Guys please tell me what depersonalisation is? It's frightening me a bit