Citalopram for Intrusive thoughts

No wasn'T taking anything else just zops it'S truly awful drug. i'm so worried won't ever fully recover. been reading past posts from lady called Katycogs who said citalopram can take up to 3 months to take effect so maybe expecting too much too soon. CBT was useless as it'S almost chemical damage not behavioural thing. i couldn't leave the house for while at first. i know thoughts aren't true but finding impossible to rationalise things at moment quite low as very slow progress

Once the AD has has time to really level out you will be able to rationalize the thoughts which in turn will make them less and less, then go away, or at least make them very minimal and not bother you like they are now. Ive been through it. Give the meds some time to work, things will get better. It CAN take up to 3 months, some takes less, and for some it may take longer, but that doesn't mean you won't have good times during that period to keep you going. So, just keep pushing forward, and let the down times come and go, don't hold on to them and try not to focus on them.

Best Wishes!

you have to remember that ziplicone and zolpidem are also use for anxiety insomnia and other anxietys related.so by you stopping the ziplocone after all those years of use .your anxiety came rushing back.ziplicone is not an awful drug like you stated .ziplicone was keeping your anxiety at bay until your doctor decided to take you off .and your doctor putting you on cit.was perhaps the best fit for you.i know at times withdrawls from other meds and start up with new meds can get very confusing.but more than likely the ziplicone had your anxiety plus your insomnia at bay for all those years.best regards

Sorry to disagree but zopiclone is awful drug, had it for insomnia never had any anxiety before taking it. Done lot research it can actually cause anxiety when taken long term. lot people's lives been ruined by coming off it. GP's only meant to prescibe it for 2 weeks now. Sorry to rant but so many people suffering from having come of this drug it's harder than heroin to stop. i never had any anxiety before taking it. thanks Grounded for the advice how long before you improved?

well of course you have withdrawls you took it for many years .the ziplocone only good for two weeks at most.yes you took it for insomnia but iam sure along the way it was keeping your anxiety at bay.is very rare in the usa to develop anxiety from sleeping tablets according to my doctors.best regards

cit will level you out .as you know i took ziplicone for one year and had no problem coming off cold turkey.saying many prayers for u.

try googling zopiclone down the rabbit hole an old post on this site about lady's nightmare on this drug. With respect doctors are very ill informed about this drug. i never had any anxiety before it's when you try to stop it problems start. As soon as I started cutting out doses the problems started. after being on it few years unless you keep upping the dose it stops working anyway. i only ever got couple hours on it and had awful cravings on days didnt take it.They are making lot people here in Uk stop it as finally waking up to fact it's very addictive. Sorry to rant but stopping this drug is a nightmare. i never had intrusive thoughts ever in my life before it'' def the drug. apologies for ranting on!!!!t

is ok to rant.i totally understand.your Situation.

Thanks lois just hoping the cit kicks in soon. You were very lucky. I only took it randomly for lot of years then every night for about 2 years after my husband nearly died after cardiac arrest. Psychologist I saw privately thought might be PTSD as well not really sure. But very reassuring it has helped others with intrusive thoughts, as feel like I'm loosing my mind some days. Mental health support over here on NHS is rubbish as well which doesn"t help!

it will kick in you just have to be patience and never think it is not working .because it is working but very slow.i too thought i was loosing my mind at times until it all settle.

Thanks do despair sometimes. Did have few sessions CBT and doing the exposure therapy but not helping stopping the thoughts. Did read somewhere that meds on their own won't get rid of them have to do the therapy but hopefully that'S wrong. Just despair at times but husband thinks I'm improving a bit!

that is great.as long as some else sees it thats all that matters.

It all really depends on the person, getting the right dose, and background, or I guess you could say how severe the anxiety/ thoughts were for starting the A/D. Citalopram unfortunately did not work for me, but it has worked for my mother and aunt very well over the years. Personally zoloft works for me but thats besides the point of course. Sounds like you have been through the ringer with the withdrawl from that medication so it could possibly take a little bit to level out, that is just my guess, hopefully it'll work quickly. I'd say normally if they get the dose right for you usually around 4-6 weeks to just start noticing some good days, but 12-16 before you really realize that you feel better on a more consistent basis and of course that is just a general idea everyone is different. But as I said in the previous post, once it does level out the anxiety/thoughts much much less, and you should be able to function much better, and feel good. It's a rough start but so worth it.

Really not sure what to do whether should increase dose, bit wary after all the problems with zops. The thoughts were awful to start with and have slowly increased over las 18 months since cutting down on meds so guess will take while. i am able to get out more and do actually plan things bit more, and the overwhelming depression has eased. SO do you think best stay on same dose for moment. seems if you change doses end up back to square one and the initial week or so was really awful. Does seem can take while to work and tried everything else!

Hey Lemma, I would stick with it for a few more weeks yeah, and if you don't notice a bigger difference I would possibly talk to the doctor about increasing. Give it a little bit, I know 10mg is a fairly low dose but my anxiety/thoughts were pretty bad and I felt better on a low dose of zoloft. Hang in there! And yes, it's such a slow process and can't be frustrating but once you're there you will know it. You will feel much better. And don't let that scare you about increasing, everyone is different and it may be minimal effects for you. I think when we read these forums all we really get to see are people who have had adverse effects, the ones who handle it well they just don't really come on and post the successes. You got this! Just keep pushing forward 😃

Thanks will do. I'm very up and down still get a reasonable day then not so good one then get quite despondent. Good you recovered on a low dose, if I can will try and stay on lower dose. I'm retired and should be making most of life, instead this year haven't manage to do anything much, went away for 2 nights and had to cancel 2 holidays. Have couple friend who had good results on citalopram which is why I opted for it. i do get really depressed with the thought that these awful looping thoughts will stay forever, find it impossible to just accept *they are thoughts not what has actually happened" at the moment, which people advise. Hopefully this will change with time!

It will change! With the A/D when they level out and the anxiety gets lowered so will the thoughts. Speaking from experience, I've had it really bad in the past and once the A/D started fully working they did get under control and I could think clearly to where they didn't bother me anymore . Stay strong, keep pushing forward and think positive even when you feel its impossible it does help.

Keep in touch if you need any pep talks through this! 😃

Thanks sure I'll be chipping in again does help to know others eventually improved. just uphill struggle at the moment. Had flu jab last week which made feel rough and not helped anxiety. least not dissolving into tears anymore at drop of a hat! I just seem to have turned into this pathetic person i don't recognise anymore. Anyway try and be patient as does seem they take while to kick in and only been 6 weeks.