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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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  • poppy48
    poppy48 M68

    Posted

    Hi, I am new to this forum. I started taking Citalopram two weeks ago. During the first week I felt sick a lot, and lost my appetite, I also had some other symptoms including heart palpitations. That has all passed. But this week I have felt very low and depressed and I feel like it's getting a bit worse each day. Is this normal and will it improve?

    I am taking 10mg at the moment, but I am expecting the dose to be increased to 20mg (what I was told would happen).

    I am taking the citalopram for depression which is the result of a very stressful couple of years. I have never had depression before.

    • elizabeth00077
      elizabeth00077 poppy48

      Posted

      Hi Poppy I'm Liz

      I've been taking 20mg now for 3 weeks and had the same side effects you described for 2 weeks. I'm taking cit for anxiety however I too had bouts of feeling really low, unmotivated and tearful. Lucky now in my third week it seems to have got a lot better. I've found a good routine and plenty of fresh air is keeping me sane!! Hang in there I'm sure you'll start to feel better soon.

      X

    • JRo
      JRo poppy48

      Posted

      hi poppy,

      i stated 20mg of CIT on June 1st, so tomorrow will be 2 full weeks. I am experiencing the exact same effects you described. To the tee! I too had a very bad couple of years and it all finally caught up with me and I slipped into a depression, which is why I went on the CIT 2 weeks ago. Mornings are the worst....but they were very bad before I went on it too. I am hearing positive things about this med, if you just stick it out, which I plan on doing. Will keep you posted on how I feel, please do the same and good luck!

      -JRo

    • linda72262
      linda72262 elizabeth00077

      Posted

      Hi elizabeth,

      haven't spoken with you before.  I am now on day 17 of cit.  I am taking it for big anxiety problems.  I seem to be calming slightly and the side effects are definitely waning, but it sure is a hard road.  How are things going for you?

      Best,

      Linda

  • louise26018
    louise26018 M68

    Posted

    Hi poppy

     i was exactly the same first week feeling sick couldnt face food exhausted tired then week 2 and 3 i felt rock bottom way worse than before i started taking Cit. Then after that id start having a good day then a few bad and then after about 6 weeks i started hsving more good days than bad.

    Now im on my 4th month still on 10mg and doing great. still have the odd off day but soooo much better now xx 

    Good luck xxx

    • poppy48
      poppy48 louise26018

      Posted

      Thank you everyone , it's reassuring to not be the only one! The sickness etc I could tolerate but the low mood has been hard to deal with - that's what I'm trying to get rid of, and instead it got worse. I will stick with it. I think as of next week I will be on 20mg so I just have fingers crossed to not get more side effects with the increased dosage. 
  • cara11004
    cara11004 M68

    Posted

    Hello,

    i had my first panic attack 2 months ago, so severe I thought I was about to die, so called an ambulance and taken to hospital. It was like my whole body was hit by a wave of adrenaline, uncontrollable shaking, numbness, chest pain, felt like i couldn't breath and throat closing in. I had loads of blood tests, chest x ray, ECG, but all came back fine. Went to my gp who also couldn't find anything and was diagnosed as panic attack and anxiety disorder. It's a daily battle with the anxiety, and I'm still having the panic attacks,  but not as bad. Gp gave me diazepam which seemed to help, but now I'm on 10 mg of citalopram. I'm on day 7 and I feel worse than before, anxiety is much worse, I feel sick, tired in the day but can't sleep at night, ringing in my ears, literally can't leave my bed, I've been off work for weeks now, and at the moment can't see this ever ending. It's reassuring to read your posts but not sure i can wait another month for the cit to kick in. Going to gp again this morning for a bit of guidance. Ahhhhhhhhh................

    • louise1974
      louise1974 cara11004

      Posted

      Hi Cara

      Ive had similar problems in the past to you with severe panic attacks and I know how awful they are. I am on day 16 of Citalopram, 9 of 20mg. For first 7 days I was on 10mg. Is your doc increasing your dose? The initial side effects are horrid, I can sympathise. You should start to notice a difference before a month. I have started having a couple of good days already, not totally anxiety free but I can actually enjoy things. 

      In the meantime try walking when you feel at your worst and deep belly breathing. It relaxes your body and lessens the severity of a panic attack. You will get through this x

    • cara11004
      cara11004 louise1974

      Posted

      Hi Louise.

      i do feel so much better reading all your posts, glad I'm not the only one feeling like this and that things will get better. She gave me a months supply of 10mg then decide what to do, do you think I should ask for 20 today when I see her? Or give the 10 a bit loner to work?

      i just want to feel normal again, I can't remember what it feels like, and with a 6 year old daughter it's so hard, I just want to lie down all the time.

      so glad your getting there, it's very encouraging, and the breathing helps, also started acupuncture too.

      cara

    • louise1974
      louise1974 cara11004

      Posted

      I know exactly what you mean with kids, its awful.

      My GP gave me the same exact dose, 10 for a month. However I mentioned to her that I wanted to see a quicker response so she told me if I wanted to I could increase after a fortnight. I am also seeing a counsellor and we talked about me increasing it earlier so I went up to 20mg after a week. Its a very personal thing for everyone but I made the choice to potentially increase my symptoms in the short term. I have to say I didnt notice a big difference in side effects with the increase.

      I promise you it will get better. These tablets will start to work, I know its easy to start thinking your stuck but you arent. Ive had these issues in the past and its always got better so hang in there.

    • cara11004
      cara11004 louise1974

      Posted

      Just got back from gp and she said to stop taking them. I broke down and cried in her room, just feel I'm at rock bottom, she said I shouldn't be feeling more anxious as that's what we're trying to stop and if I felt that bad to come off. She gave me diazepam to tide me over until I see her Friday. I said I'd been reading some forums and that it seemed common for people to feel like me, and perhaps I should give them longer, she said no, she has many patients on cit and I shouldn't be feeling so low. 

      Also got signed off work again, so this is week 5 off, called my boss, who until today as been ok with me, but is now seriously getting pissed off with me and I'm sure she thinks I'm making it up! So this is adding to my anxiety and stress levels.

      thanks x

    • louise1974
      louise1974 cara11004

      Posted

      Hi Cara

      I feel really really bad for you right now.  I'm not convinced here, although I'm not qualified but as you can see from reading this forum MOST people who take it do experience increased anxiety/panic/depression/agitation when taking it at first.  My GP actually told me I was right to worry about the side effects as it was going to make me feel "weird" for a while but to see it through.  Also the therapist I'm seeing said the same.  And it did get worse for me, in fact it's only the last few days when it has started to subside.  Felt like ages at the time but when you think about it I'm only on Day 16 so not that bad really considering I've been a mess for months on end anyway.  I had really got to the stage where I couldn't mentally or physically carry on, I think you know what I mean.  In the past I have been on other anti depressants which also gave me the increased anxiety to begin with but did the trick in the end.  Is there any chance of seeing a different doctor?  If I'm going to be really opinionated I have to say I'm not a big fan of her decision to give you Diazepam either as it is definitely not a long term solution.  I've never taken it nor would I ever take it.

      Of course you are to rock bottom because your brain needs a bloody break from all this anxiety, it's absolutely awful.  Listen regarding your job try your hardest not to let it bother you, your main concern at the moment is gettng yourself well again.  If you had broke both your legs your boss wouldn't be able to judge, it's just a shame that alot of folk really can't empathise with a psychological illness.  I'm here if you want to chat, I can't fix this problem for you but I can be of some support, you're not on your own.

      Louise xx

    • cara11004
      cara11004 louise1974

      Posted

      I don't know what to do, I really want to give it longer and see how I get on as I so desperately want to feel better, but she's my doctor and I guess she knows best. I had diazepam for a week before the cit, only a low dose, and it really really helped, but she took me off it as it can become addictive. She's given me the same dose today but only 3 days worth, I them have to go back to her and try something new, I really dont want to start all over again with a new drug and suffer even more side effects, I feel like I've done a week on cit so should see it through, but like I said, she's the doctor, not me.

      i work in a private hospital and my boss is the ward sister, you'd think she'd understand. I am going to take as long as I need. id be no good in work any way, no concentration, panicky etc etc.

      thank you so much Louise, it's great to talk to people going through the same, also start my cognitive therapy next week.

      cara xx

    • louise1974
      louise1974 cara11004

      Posted

      Hospitals are the worst place for understanding!!!  I also work in a hospital but NHS.  Of course there are tons of different anti depressants out there and one of them will work for you but I don't know of any that have no side effects when you first start them unfortunately.  To me the side effects you are describing are pretty typical for SSRI's.  But like you say she is your doctor and I'm only going off this morning when we have just met.

      I can tell you this though I absolutely promise you that this will get better. I have had a few bouts of this in years gone by and it ALWAYS gets better no matter how bad I feel and no matter how much I am convinced I am going to lose my mind or be stuck in this situation.  

      Louise x

    • cara11004
      cara11004 louise1974

      Posted

      Thank you so much, talking to you alone has made me feel better already :-)

      wish I had found these forums earlier, they really do help put your mind at ease. I may have a little snooze now, feeling exhausted, make the most of 9-3 when my little one is in school. 

      Thank you Louise 

      Cara xx

    • louise1974
      louise1974 cara11004

      Posted

      You're very welcome.  Anytime you need a chat just get on that keyboard.  Enjoy your snooze.

      Louise xx

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