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Citalopram first 2 weeks - help!

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tessa09610
tessa09610

Hey all!

Was wondering if anyone had a Similar experience to me and could offer some help.

I'm on day 7 of 10mg of Citalopram for panic disorder and GAD. I was on Sertraline last year and it made me so much worse, so it took awhile to try a different med, but after therapy wasn't quite helping enough, I thought it was time to try something to give me a push to help alongside my therapy.

My doctor recommended citalopram as the next option, especially as both my sister (depression and anxiety) and mum (depression) had success with citalopram.

I was really scared due to my experience with Sertraine. However, bit the bullet and tried it, days 3-5 were pretty bad with very intense anxiety. However, day 6, I felt a lift and thought the side effects had gone. Since starting my sleep was good - I'm naturally an awful sleeper, however, last night I just couldn't sleep, today (day 7) I feel awful again. Side effects are all back. I know that the first 2 weeks can be awful and then get better but is it normal that side effects can completely go and then come back again?

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • lorraine90511
    lorraine90511 tessa09610

    Posted

    hi tessa it can be very up and down when starting out on citalopram, im on day 16 and although i dont feel as down as last week its not helping my anxiety yet. do you take it morning or night? have you found anything that helps you at all during the anxious times?

    • tessa09610
      tessa09610 lorraine90511

      Posted

      Hi Lorraine,

      Ok, I'm glad to hear that it's normal that it goes up and down, horrible though it is.

      It's weird because my anxiety is both better and worse. Like I can sit and absorb myself in stuff better at times but then I get hit by this wave of like heat and my skin prickles and then I get a really bad sense of panic. So it's really hard!

      An ice pack, chewing gum and just confiding in my support network helps, but sometimes panic and anxiety is all consuming. Praying for relief from these tablets

    • tessa09610
      tessa09610 lorraine90511

      Posted

      Sorry, I also forgot to say I get it at random times. Do you find anything helps you? I think I've got it in my head the tablets are doing this to me and therefore, I can't stop the anxiety haha!

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