Citalopram ? Anxious and emotional side effects.

It would be very unusual for 5mg to have such a physical impact but I could be mistaken. While you are waiting for beneficial therapeutic effects of meds to kick in which could take several weeks perhaps you could consider mindfulness meditation or just plain deep breathing to overcome these anxious feelings? Good luck Kathkat

Are you sure it's a side effect? It may be just your anxiety itself? I've been on citalopram for 2 days now as I have been have bad anxiety where my heart is beating fast, it scares me that bad that last night I only got 3 and a half hours sleep, try to keep telling yourself it's just your Anxiety and try and try and try to just relax.

Don't be afried it all becz of anxiety sied effect

it will go away gradually

but the worst if first 2/3 weeks

u will start feel batter between 6/7 weeks

but u combletly recover at 12/13 weeks

it's need time so be pation

Hi Kathkat, it sounds like it could be side eff cuts to me but I'm no doctor. I am on 10mg and when I started I had panic attacks on the second day and my anxiety had me feeling wired with it! So for some of us the side effects can be quite awful but I was told this can be a positive thing as in the long run the medication will work well. I have stayed at 10mg and after 3 months my symptoms are much better. So it might be worth hanging in there as you'll hopefully feel better after a few weeks. Stephen

Hello Kathkat,

 

I’m sorry you are going through the side effects, but that is what is happening, and it is normal.  Cital does tend to enhance your anxiety and depression at first, as does most of the meds do.  You are still very early on, and it WILL go away shortly.  But, remember it is normal.  It is hard to say exactly when, as everyone is different.  It can be a couple of weeks, or it can be less, or more.  But slowly you will feel it melt away.  You will start to feel like you are taking steps forward, and then you may feel you have taken a step or 3 backward, but this is ALL NORMAL, and it means the Cital is working. 

I have been on Cital 20 mg for 3 years and I will still have what I call a “off” day, but I know what it is now, and I know how to handle it, and it might last as long as 24 hours, and it is gone.  But think of it this way...anyone can have an “off” day, and they are not on Cital...so not to worry!  Now I don't know if this will help or not, but my doctor told me to take mine 30 minutes before bed, with a small amount of food.  This helped me with sleep as well, as I was not getting much sleep at all prior.  I was lucky if I was sleeping 2-3 hours a night.  I did not have a lot  of the side effects a lot of others have during the day.  You might want to give that a try...see if that helps you.

I can tell you this...drinking and taking Cital do not mix, especially at first, as alcohol is a depressant, and Cital can not do it’s job as they just work against each other.  You may as well not take the meds if you are going to drink.  There are people that say they drink, and have no problem, but those people have been on the med a lot longer, and I don't know if they don't have issues after drinking.  I like a drink now and then too, BUT, for instance on Mother's Day, I had one drink and one glass of wine with dinner, and I had a awful day the next day, so you have to ask...is it worth having a day of anxiety and depression, just for a drink?  I didn't think it would hurt me, after being on Cital for 3 years.  I was wrong.  I just wanted to enjoy the day with my daughter.  If you want to get better, one has to commit to it.  Same goes for recreational drugs.  I am not saying you do any of this, it is just information people need to know if they are going to take this medication, as it is a very powerful med!!  And not to be taken lightly! 

While you are taking Cital, you need to stay in contact with your doctor, make sure they know your ups and downs, concerns, and if you are really struggling they need to know, as they may need to up the dose, give you something to help you with the side effects, or maybe even change to another med.  The other thing is, you can not just stop taking Cital, or up the dose on your own either...as it has to be done with your doctor’s knowledge, as you will go through one heck of a time, with either withdrawal symptoms, or bad side effects again.  Either way, it must be done very slowly.  

Lastly, we are here for you.  Feel free to post here any time, there is no judgment, as we all have been through, or are going through pretty much the same, or similar things, so we understand what others are going through.  There are a lot of wonderful people on this forum with a lot of great advice, that are really helpful.  I know I am so glad I found this forum, I just with I had found it sooner!!  It has been very helpful for me!!  You are not alone if you just need to vent, or talk to someone!  I wish you good luck!  You will get through this rough first part...the side effects!!  I know it’s hard...just try to hang in there!!  Read the responses from the others, they will give you good tips to help you through!!  God Bless!  In the mean time...Here is a BIG {{{{HUG}}}} for you...as we sure can use those any time!!! 

 

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