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Citalopram 6th week for anxiety

Posted , 7 users are following.

stannis
stannis

Hey guys,

I've been on citalopram 10mg for 4 weeks for anxiety. It started getting a bit better at the end of the 4th week but I could still still feel a lot of anxiety. My doctor upped my dose to 20mg so it's been now 2 weeks that I'm on 20mg. I had lots of side effects on 10mg for the first three weeks, and for around 10 days on 20 mg. But now it's as if I'm not taking the medication at all ... I'm still anxious when I think about work/what I have to do, responsibilities, etc. Even if I skip the pill for a few hours nothing major happens.

It's really as if there's no effect lol. Should I wait for more time, it's only been two weeks on 20mg. 

How did you feel when citalopram started working for you - what was anxiety replaced by when it kicked in? Did you feel more energetic, outgoing, positive, calm?

I don't know if I should change medication or just wait and see what happens. 

Any help is appreciated.

1 like, 20 replies

20 Replies

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  • Violetlily
    Violetlily stannis

    Posted

    Hi stannis. Stick with it. It does take time to build up in your system. I was on sertraline first but switched to citalopram as the side effects were too bad. The citalopram kept my mood stable and I had the courage to start doing things I never thought I would do. I had always had a knot of anxiety in my stomach and generalised anxiety in social situations but learned to live with it. It wasn't until I went through a period of great stress that triggered anxiety attacks that I went to my gp. I can honestly say that a year down the line I am med free and been off them for a month now after tapering off. I am out running, socialising, can cope with stress at work. I honestly feel better and stronger mentally than I ever had. It's worth it. Just give it time to do its job. Wishing you the best.
    • stannis
      stannis Violetlily

      Posted

      Thanks, it's good to see that SSRIs have actually helped people change their lives for the better!
  • Guest
    Guest stannis

    Posted

    Hi Stannis

    I have been on Citalopram for 8 weeks now - 1 week on 10mg and then 20mg after that. For the first week I felt a little anxious but nothing major but once the dosage was upped to 20mg I started to have insomnia quite badly. My doctor gave me some sleeping pills and after about 10 days that settled down. I still dont sleep brilliantly but but get to sleep ok and then wake a few times in the night (mainly to go to the toilet which I didnt need to do before, is it a diuretic?) and then go back to sleep ok.

    About 2 weeks ago I woke up with a sore jaw and headache and realised I had been clenching my jaw in my sleep, that continued for about a week but is lessoned off a bit now.

    I think I feel better? I didn't have anxiety or depressed thoughts as such but just couldn't be bothered doing anything, was always tired, lethargic and a bit "glass half empty". I was hoping for a big chance - suddenly full of energy and positivity - but I guess that was a bit unrealistic. My partner has noticed a change and says I am definitely less moody and snappy.

    I am hoping that the last of this jaw clenching will be gone soon and that will be the side effects done and dusted.

    Try to stick with it - my doctor told me that side effects are very common.

    • stannis
      stannis Guest

      Posted

      I'm pretty much in the same boat, change takes time. My wife also told me that I'm getting better, less irritable, more outgoing. I guess the change is so subtle and slow that we don't realize it by ourselves.

      I went to a coffee place that I hadn't been to since I started the meds. I realized I was much more calm than before. So if you need to "meter" your progress, go to places you haven't been to in a long time smile

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