citalopram made me feel kinda worse is this normal

Posted , 6 users are following.

hi been on citalopram since friday 20mg on monday called ambulance out as i was feeling really bad lightheaded arms and legs felt so weak was checked ecg,blood pressure which were fine so following day only took 5mg as did not want repeat of feeling bad again not feeling to bad but now and again i have a surge of fuzzy head and uneasyness really dont know what to do should i stick at this or give up help.......

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • Posted

    20mg is a high dose to start on, you could try sticking to 5mg for a few weeks until you settle, expect some side effects with dropping the dosage.
    • Posted

      hi paula im on day 3 of 5mg woke up this morning feeling full panic racing heart feeling as though im loseing it got doc appt this afternoon and i know for a fact she gonna go mad because i dropped dose on my own accord
    • Posted

      Everyone is different, you maybe sensitive to these, starting on low dose could be better for you, your doctor should take this into account. Its normal to get side effects when you start and especially if you swap dosages. Try not to panic and just go with it.
  • Posted

    I’m on citalopram 20mg they do make you feel worse for the first week but the symptoms do subside they do take 4 to 6 weeks before they are fully working. I started with 10mg and the was upped to 20mg. You need to just give them time. I know it’s hard when they make you feel worse, but it does eventually subside
  • Posted

    hi Wendy,like the others have said,this dosage is too high to start with,so get your doctor to change your dosage too a lower mgs ,and when you take that level take it 1/2 hours before you go too bed ,so that any side effects will be working whilst you are sleeping,and remember that citolopram will have side effects  until the medication starts to build up within your body.This will be like 8/10 weeks 
    • Posted

      hi marsh thanks for reply really cant go another day feeling like this i think i was on these years ago and had bad episodes then doc put me on amytriptaline which were better but took me off them few months ago cause think i was getting to used to them had a few anxiety attacks then told me to take citalopram, lost my appitite and lost a few pounds is that normal on these meds 
  • Posted

    i think you might find that because your doctor keep changing your dosage and medication ,that that might be 1 of the reasons you are getting side effects
  • Posted

    Hi Wendy, as has been said already, 20mg could be much to high a dose for you.

    Much better to work your way up, you will probably get some side effects when you increase the dose, but not as severe as you are feeling now.

    I would speak to gp, stick with the 5mg, work up to 10 mg. Give that time, and see how you go from there.

    People recover at 5mg, 10 mg, etc. I think sometimes GPs just prescribe 20 because of the label 'therapeutic dose.' But it's not that simple. We're all different, and what's therapeutic for one person may cause intolerable side effects for another. Good luck. Let us know how you get on.

    • Posted

      hi went back to docs y'day had total meltdown she was lovely took me straight off citalopram and prescribed 2mg diazapam and 10 mg propranolol to take straight away, my health anxiety hit the roof before i took them but now ok still feely woozy headed and had breakfast this morning even though i have had no appitite properly for 2 weeks lost 8lbs thinking i have cancer because i lost weight but doctor said its normal with anxiety,had bloods done in november and she told me if it was somethinig it would have shown in bloods and anxiety does have a big impact on your tummy when stressed i'm just hopeing i can get my life back

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