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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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  • ZEN.
    ZEN.

    Posted

    Hi Nikkie,

    I have just hit 6 weeks on Cit and am now starting to feel good again.

    Doctors say 2 weeks and they should kick in but it took a little longer for me.

    My doctor prescribed 5mg tablets of Diazepam 3 times a day until the cit started to work but the Diazepam can be very addictive, but it works within an hour.

    No good if you drive though as it chills you out and makes you feel sleepy.

    Ask your doctor if they can give you something till the cit starts to help you.

    Good luck

    A

  • M68
    M68

    Posted

    Hi Nikki

    It took about 10 days and I started to feel better and the side effects went. Headaches stopped, slight nausia went, still havent got back onto tea or coffee though and am constantly drinking water. After 3 weeks and people outside my immediate family started to notice the difference in how I was.

    Stopped crying almost immediately - but that was probably due to me thinking it was going to work - the placebo effect I guess, but havent done my daily "weep from the bottom of my heart till my arms ache" crying session since I started them. I dont shout at the kids, and nothing they do irritates me any more. I have the feeling that nothing is too much trouble and everything will come out ok in the end. No more anxiousness regarding things beyond my control either.

    I have now been on them for 8 weeks. Was the best thing I ever did - I wish I had had the courage to do it sooner. I really am feeling like my old self - and she has been gone for far far too long!

    Stick with it - things do get better smile

    M smile

    • Adeplume
      Adeplume M68

      Posted

      What a success story! Hope that old self is still there, she deserved to be let out. I don't think that disappearance of huge crying comes from a placebo effect and as you say other people notice the difference more than we do. I stopped taking mine for a while and my wife was the early warning that my temper had worsened considerably which was the reason I had started taking them in the first place. Side Effects? I need to sleep a lot more. Suffering? Me and my bed we've got a good thing going and the dogs like having someone to lie around and do bugger all with!
    • cita_D
      cita_D M68

      Posted

      Hello everyone, thank u for your detailed personal experiences. I'm fairly new to this medication so I'm just hoping I'll have the success that most of you have had. Today is only my second day of taking 20 mg. Up from the 10 for the first ten days. I am sooo sleepy. Yawning all day and awake thinking most of the night. I just want to know, does the insomnia and tiredness go away? I couldn't even go to work today. It is now 1p.m. and I want to go back to sleep. Pls advise. Oh n I'm sure my kids will b happy to know if I'm gonna stop yelling at them. smile.
    • sarah80079
      sarah80079 cita_D

      Posted

      Hello, today is also my second day of taking 20 mg, I am taking it as advised in the morning, but wondering if night is better. Is it starting to work for you yet, as I'm also off work and am keen to feel better and go back.

       

    • lou89553
      lou89553 cita_D

      Posted

      I too had the same problem at first so now I take mine about 6.00 in the evening and sleep well and the fuzzy morning feeling has gone too.  I was yawning a lot the first week but I'm in my second week now and feeling much more with it. I too was crying all day, before I took my first tablet , and haven't looked back.  I had a couple of panicky moments last week but much more my old self now. Keep going with it and hopefully you'll get there. 

      I didnt want want to resort to Meds - thought I could soldier in alone doing two jobs - between 60-70 hours a week - as though I was still a youngster. (I'm 62) and my body was worn out and eventually I think my brain caught up and had to have a rest. 

      Glad I did now though.

    • lou89553
      lou89553 cita_D

      Posted

      I too had the same problem at first so now I take mine about 6.00 in the evening and sleep well and the fuzzy morning feeling has gone too.  I was yawning a lot the first week but I'm in my second week now and feeling much more with it. I too was crying all day, before I took my first tablet , and haven't looked back.  I had a couple of panicky moments last week but much more my old self now. Keep going with it and hopefully you'll get there. 

      I didnt want want to resort to Meds - thought I could soldier on  alone doing two jobs - between 60-70 hours a week - as though I was still a youngster. (I'm 62) and my body was worn out and eventually I think my brain caught up and had to have a rest. 

      Glad I did now though.

    • New85
      New85 cita_D

      Posted

      Hi Cita, It does get better it just takes time. I've been taking for about 5 months now and I now have literally no side effects at all now (and they were horrendous at the start!) Everything faded gradually over time, including all the things you mentioned. Although I started to feel much better in terms of anxiety and depression after a month or so, I wouldn't say I felt 'well' until around 3 months in, and a few of the niggling side effects stuck around a little longer, but it's worth persevering. Yawning and sleep related side effects were amongst the first to iron out for me. I had terrible insomnia even before I started taking cit caused by anxiety - I literally did not sleep a wink for 3 days in a row a few times and it was driving me completely mad. Yawning as well - annoying but there are worse things in life! Stick it out and it will fade. The timing is just different for everyone unfortunately so it's impossible to say when! Hope that helps x
    • niketa71812
      niketa71812 M68

      Posted

      Hiya I no this is an old post but in the 1st few days of taking Citalopram did your anxiety attacks get worse? X
    • Marf
      Marf niketa71812

      Posted

      Oh yes!!! I'm on 5 weeks today and the first few weeks were dreadful I won't lie, but ... The last 10 days have been sooo much better, morning anxiety still lurking around and the odd day when I feel a bit yuk but it's doing its job now thankfully, stick with it, every day forwards is a day towards feeling better xxx diazepam is good for episodes when you feel really anxious xxx
    • niketa71812
      niketa71812 Marf

      Posted

      Oh god !!! Im dreading it.

      I take my tablet in the evening and im not sure of its in my head but about 30 mins after I start panicking. Im only on day 4.

      I do have some diazepam I only take it if I really need too which last night o had too.

      Im glad to hear your feeling better now smile

      Thank you xx

    • Marf
      Marf niketa71812

      Posted

      It's not in your head, it is still happening to me! I take my tablet between 8 and 9 (depending on when I remember!) and half an hour later I become all jittery, it's less now than it was but its not nice. I just watch TV and then go to bed and sleep although I do wake up loads in the night 😬. This isn't sounding great but I can assure you that I do feel much better than a few weeks ago. You are doing the worst bit so keep going xxxxxxx
    • niketa71812
      niketa71812 Marf

      Posted

      Thank god

      I really thought I was being silly as I spoke to a family member whos a nurse and she told me that citalopram doesn't make anxiety n panic attacks worse.

      I hope yesterday was the worse I dont no if I can do it again or for much longer.

      When did your anxiety seem to get better I hope a couple of days lol x

    • New85
      New85 niketa71812

      Posted

      Hi Niketa, I had this too. I was taking mine in the morning as I was already having such trouble sleeping and didn't want to make that any worse. I took it at around 8am everyday, and by 9 without fail I'd had a panic attack. This lasted about 2 weeks. It definitely worsened my anxiety at the start it was awful. Everyone's different but for me the absolute worst of it lasted 2-3 weeks and then it wasn't like I woke up one morning and felt amazing - but I just consistantly felt that little bit better, every week, until probably around 10 weeks where I really did wake up and feel like me again. The old me. It's not a quick fix but it's worth pushing through. I've been taking for 6 months now and I'm going to try and come off in the new year. If I can do it anyone can! Hope it works out for you in the end x
    • Marf
      Marf niketa71812

      Posted

      It's just recovering really slowly, some days are better than others xx but I have only done 5 weeks so far xxx 
    • Marf
      Marf New85

      Posted

      hi Melmo, your post has really cheered me up, 10 weeks seems long but to feel that good must be fantastic xxx Ive done 5 weeks and think I've done the worst bit but  I'm impatient! xxx
    • niketa71812
      niketa71812 New85

      Posted

      Im only on day 4 and had such a massive panic attack walking home from playgroup im scared to go out now and petrified of takinh another tablet. Will this get worse or will I stay the same for a bit and then get better?

      Ive only just started work and I don't want to phone in sick or have an attack infront of new employees.

      Thank you for your amazing words it has given me hope x

    • niketa71812
      niketa71812 Marf

      Posted

      Im dreading the next few weeks cant wait till im out of this state and can go outside without panicking and to be quite honest I have nothing to panic over! X
    • New85
      New85 niketa71812

      Posted

      Aw I'm so sorry - a new job is not what you need right now, but I totally understand you wanting to make a good impression. I continued to work through the worst of it and looking back I really shouldn't have! No body wants to be that girl who's signed off with stress though do they, it's such difficult decision to make. I pushed through but I think my colleagues could definitely tell there was something seriously up with me - I was behaving a bit strangely because of the panic attacks and my performance was not good at all but you just keep thinking your better off there than at home! I think after 3/4 days if you stopped taking them you would be fine BUT try and keep going just a little longer - do you have to work over the weekend? It honestly shouldn't get any worse, but it might take a few days to get better. If you can get a few days off that will help I think
    • Marf
      Marf niketa71812

      Posted

      That's the bonkers part! There's nothing to panic about yet we all do it and could win medals for it!!! The first bit is truly horrid but I promise you will feel better soon xxx
    • niketa71812
      niketa71812 New85

      Posted

      I know.

      Its a right night mare

      Im trainnee manager until I learn procedures and policies so it really wont look good if I start phoning in sick now and im not even sure if they will understand or think im faking.

      Im going to see how I feel in the morning.

      I took my citalopram (finally learnt how to spell it) and kept my mind busy straight away instead of waiting for the panic attack so im ok at the moment. Not sure if I will need a diazepam as of yet. I could take 1 before work tomorrow if needed.

      Xx

    • matt85829
      matt85829 M68

      Posted

      I had to scroll down quite far to get to this comment but it's given me a lot more confidence to keep going (only a week in) it would be great for the old me to come back. Thanks x

    • sally_58368
      sally_58368 New85

      Posted

      Did you manage to come off them . I tried but it didn't work .

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