Citalopram hot flushes and feel weird
Posted , 7 users are following.
Hi , have been on citalopram about 3 weeks , only 5mg it's been awful . I started at 2.5 mg but now upped to 5 over a week ago and I'm having bad anxiety , hot flushes , and just feel like I can't stand being in my own skin ? I keep needing to go outside for fresh air. I feel jittery , my hands shake.
I'm like this all day now it just doesn't improve. From the minute I wake up until bedtime. It's awful. I'm wanting to increase to 10mg but I can't take being on 5 . I've been given beta blockers but took one last night and felt dizzy and off on them
0 likes, 16 replies
kathkat2016
Posted
Forgot to add I've got constant stomach ache , feel sick , no appetite and the runs
gillian_1961 kathkat2016
Posted
Hi. I very much doubt that the citalopram is causing your physical problems at such a low dose. It is just a quarter of the recommended therapeutic dose so won't do much at all to be honest.
Did you scan the patient information leaflet for a list of Ade effects by any chance? It is possible that you've frightened yourself into thinking you have all these symptoms when in fact it is just your anxiety, and the citalopram won't help with that because your dose isn't high enough.
Also so they don't come in 5mg tablets, so I'm guessing you are splitting a 10mg tablet? Does you doctor know about this?
kathkat2016 gillian_1961
Posted
Hi , yes my doctor knows I'm on 5mg and I saw her yesterday and she said citalopram can make you feel worse even on a low dose (I'm super sensitive to any medication)
I'm trying to persevere and will be trying y increase more shortly. I'm wondering if taking it at night / evening just isn't agreeing with me ?
katecogs kathkat2016
Posted
Yes these are all typical side effects of this medicine. Some people are more sensitive to it than others. This should however all ease off in time - each dose increase will give you side effects all over again so its important you let each dose settle completely before increasing to the next dose.
Your body is adjusting to the meds - it can take a while. However, persevering on these meds really does pay off.
Some people find they're better taking Escitalopram which is similar to Citalopram. Escitalopram seems to be kinder to the body and apparently works quicker. I've only read about it online and people's reports of it on here - but it does seems to be a good one.
It is worth persevering with he Citalopram for now though.
Some people take their medicine at night - I take mine in the morning. You could try taking it at a different time of the day to see if it helps, but I really think it doesn't matter when you take them. Try it anyway - it might make a difference.
K x
kathkat2016 katecogs
Posted
Thank you so much I appreciate it. I also feel very hormonal which doesn't help (I'm sure my hormones arnt right but nhs not very good with these sorts of things ) hence why I'm now trying citalopram. I started on 2.5 abd had worse anxiety on that which improved a bit and I've found since I increased to 5mg the symptoms are bad again so I will try and persevere. I was given beta blockers but Took one yesterday and felt awful , really dizzy at first and weird so I'm trying to manage today without a beta blocker,
katecogs kathkat2016
Posted
It sounds like it was starting to settle then when started on 2.5mg and felt it had improved a bit - increasing any dose will set it off again - but if you wait you'll find it will improve. Sounds like all is happening as it should be
Beta blockers can make you feel weird - I took some eons ago and felt i wasn't on this planet. Everyone is different though.
Yes, try and persevere a little longer - you might find next week you'll feel entirely different. When the side effects have settle, up the dose a little more and again wait for that to settle.
Keep in touch.
K xx
john059 kathkat2016
Posted
katecogs john059
Posted
Aww thanks John xx There's lots of good advice from many people on this site - I'm just one of many
Hope you're doing ok John - you sound as though you are
K x
john059 katecogs
Posted
Hi there Katecogs. Doin much better, thank you but still have my days. I find if I have a crappy sleep then I dont feel the greatest on the next day. I'm now on 40 mg's of Cit and it seems to be working.
katecogs john059
Posted
Glad to hear it John - yes you can still have those 'days' at times. I think when I had recovered I'd still get the occasional day when I felt it, but they did get few and far between. And exactly as you say - when I had bad sleep I'd feel none too good the next day. Weird isn't it. I don't get any bad days now ... even if I've had a rubbish sleep (just feel exhausted the next day instead).
Life certainly gets better.
K x
john059 katecogs
Posted
kathkat2016 katecogs
Posted
Thank you so much for the help. I'm having more trouble though , I took slightly less citalopram last night thinking it may help but this morning I've woke up with very bad anxiety and a fast heartbeat , much worse than normal and keep feeling hot / cold / funny headed as if I might faint ? I'm wondering if it's withdrawal or slight change of dose ? I feel awful
katecogs john059
Posted
Glad I could help
xx
katecogs kathkat2016
Posted
Hi kathkat
Taking slightly less won't have an immediate effect unfortunately - it usually takes a little while to adjust. It could be that the slight change in dose could have made you feel a bit unwell - I know when I've missed a dose I used to heady and nauseous.
The first few weeks on a new dose is a really difficult time, but it will pass. A little exercise may help, as exercise helps to burn excess adrenaline - a daily walk is good. I'm sure it'll ease as the day goes on.
I've just been reading others posts who started recently, and already they're feeling over the worst.
K x
Misssy2 kathkat2016
Posted