Citalopram 20mg, now into my 4th week - feeling worse/anxious/headache, pressure

Posted , 3 users are following.

Hi there!

I started taking Citalopram (for GAD) 25 days ago - took 10mg for the first 10 days and then upped to 20mg. I didn't think I had any bad side effects... a bit of nausea in the first couple of days and some insomnia in the first week but things seemed to get better... Well actually they were quite on and off but the doc also gave me oxazepam so I took it whenever I felt REALLY bad. Anyways, for the last four-five days I have started to feel much worse. I feel super anxious, shaky, dizzy and often have this really weird intense head pressure (along with a headache but that is not as bad as the pressure!). Just feels like something or someone is squeezing my head and it is freaking me out. I get that it could be from anxiety (and my anxiety is severe!) but I feel like I'm constantly on the edge and about to have a panic attack.

Has anyone else felt this way? Is this normal? I'm so impatient and just want to feel better but at the moment feel like I'm getting worse and worse...

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • Edited

    hey sorry your not in a good place at the moment your in the acute faze where all is heightened your very early in and it comes with alot of very strange feelings and sensations i had the same and others it is something that happens well taking these meds it does lesson over time . but it does take time iam on 5mths on 20mgs and a hell of alot better than i was but still getting side effects but as time is going on iam seeing changes for the better keep going and be strong this part does pass

    • Posted

      Really appreciate your reply! Glad you are feeling better 😃

    • Posted

      your welcome if you need any advice or help message and i will see if i can help you keep well

    • Posted

      hey lloyd! sorry to jump in, i am in my 4th month and still getting 1 bad week and then like 10 good days. when did your blips start getting shorter?

    • Edited

      hey mine started a week ok a week not so good at the moment iam starting to see i get a about 10 ok days then 2 off then ok again . its just got to take the time it needs . i also use the dare response which helps alot and take L' theanine 400mgs three times a day to help aid the recovery . it sounds like your doing ok if your getting good days like that just keep pushing and don't engage with the thoughts and sensations when you have a bad day hope this helps you alittle keep stong lloyd

    • Posted

      thanks so much lloyd! when did your not so good days reduce in length from a week to a few days? cheers again

    • Posted

      for me it was from the middle of my fourth month but remember everyone's time line isnt the same for me it may take longer as before citalopram i came of sertraline for 4 mths and had awful side effects which caused a relapse so had to start all over again on citalopram which for some reason takes longer to level the next time around it took me 3mths on sertraline to be sort of back to me but it works alot quicker than cit but that may not of been a good thing but sertraline made me really ill . anyway hope this is of help . lloyd

    • Posted

      similar story here - i had my baby then went on sertraline for 3 weeks and it made me ill so i went back on escitalopram for the second time and it has been a completely different and long experience this second time round - like many people my first time it worked quick with no side effects and this time it has been slow with lots of side effects and the blips - i am now in my fourth month

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