Citalopram 18 days in and need advice!

Posted , 8 users are following.

i started Citalopram 18 days ago (20mg). After 7 days i felt better (a bit hyper) bit better. Then after a week of feeling good i crashed back down.

i get the odd spell of feeling better but am bow generally feeling worse!

i dont know if its normal to feel better then worse again in the initial weeks? Really disheartening!

ive got a follow up appointment with mt GP in a few days. Dont kniw whether to stick it out on 20mg or increase?

i suffer r from major depression and anxiety. i switched to Cit from Paroxetine which appeared to stop working after 17 yrs. Anyone else had similar experience of feeling better then worse?

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • Edited

    yes i felt terrible on and off for a good 5 weeks. its the tablet just adjusting thats what it is you will be okay just stick it out

  • Edited

    Like James, I felt awful for the first 6 weeks. The worst of it was probably in the first month, but I'd say 6 weeks was when I started to feel better.

    Make sure you keep in communication with family or friends about what you're experiencing. Even the Samaritans if you need to hear a friendly voice.

    These symptoms are not you and they will pass. Whether you stick with them or move on to something else.

    • Edited

      great advice ange couldnt of put it any better myself 😃

    • Edited

      "these symptoms are not you and they will pass."

      These words spoke directly to me. I needed to hear that!! Thank you! 😃

      In church this week our pastor said,

      you never know how or when youll be used to help the needs of others. God can use you all the time, wherever you are, whatever situation you're in. Thanks for being a light and sharing words of encouragement!

      Im 3 weeks in to 20mg. Didnt think i was having many symptoms aside from nausea at night but the lows today seem extra low and my lovely "rage response" to any little frustration is alive and well.

    • Posted

      Thank you so much! ♥ I'm glad I could help ease a bit of the worry you're feeling.

      I totally understand. Honestly, nothing could have prepared me for the symptoms at first. I felt very sensitive. Not so much angry but just scared of everything! But at the same time my anxiety was bad before taking Cit. It felt like a lose/lose situation. But it turned out well 😃 When it started working I knew it was worth pushing through. In fact I'm a much stronger person now. They're not a cure-all, but they help. 😃

      My advice would be to do as little as possible for the next few weeks (easier said than done). Lots of self empathy and self forgiveness. Minimise stress, do things to help you relax and distract your mind. I spent a lot of time in front of the TV with cross stitch patterns. The power of crafts should not be underestimated when it comes to adjusting to medication. lol

    • Posted

      im weeks 7 and nausea and anxiety has hit again it scares me.

    • Posted

      crafts are great arent they, i crochet to distract from withdrawal 😃

  • Posted

    Hi

    18 days is early on this Celexa it takes for many 3 month to balance out and the 20 MG is the right amount for people to come out . So I don't think u should up it yet but not telling u what to do because I am not a Dr . Most people on the blog say it's the right dose 20 MG

    u will have many more up and downs sorry to tell u see how u feel weekly and watch for chances positive once that means the meds are working . They are very slow working because they are working inside ur brain and on and with ur serotonin

    hope I was able to help u out a bit , write me back if u like or have ?????? Okay

  • Posted

    Hi guys. Thanks so much for taking the time to teply! i guess its been hard as i had a really good week and thought the tablets were working. Then i crashed. Just so scary!

    Just feels like its never ending! xxx

    • Posted

      it feels like that but i can assure you it gets better if just takes time bare with it lisa x

    • Posted

      Thanks James! My doctor has just upped my dose to 30mg so feeling more hopeful, xx

    • Posted

      do either of you still have anious thoughts in am or nausea still

    • Posted

      Yes i still have anxious thoughts. in terms of side effects, i have been really lucky. i havebt had any nausea etc. The anxious thoughts are difficult, but i just remind myself that they are just thoughts and not reality, im having some CBT which is great, xx

  • Edited

    hello I'm new on here I took celexa like 22 years ago and started at 25mg I had side effects at first but went away took it for 8 months. now I'm taking again but dr started me at 10mg thinking to going to 15mg

    • Posted

      Hi

      did u have any questions

      if so we here for u

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