Citalopram Side Effects

Wow!  Robin, you're the first person to ever share these particular symptoms.  Just so we understand each other, would you say my description was really accurate.  It's the weirdest, most terrifying sensation I've ever felt,  Panics the hell out of me. Did it happen only at night with you and for how many nights?  Is there anything that can stop it from happening that you know of, like propranolol or diazepam?

Thanks for replying, btw.  Sorry I see you mentioned after a few weeks!  That's unbearable.  There must be something to stop it surely.

I would wake with a "panic attack" a few times at night.. 3AM, 5AM,, etc.. then when waking in the morning would wake with one again as well.. Heart racing.. feeling like I  want to run away.. scared! All of it!  I tried mindful breathing, relaxation App on my phone.. and Lorazepam too! Finally after my body got more adjusted to the 20 mg of Cit these went away. Do you mind if I private message you? 

Sure go ahead. =)

Oh Felis, thank you for replying to my message. I find it unbearable as it makes me feel like I'm going to have a cardiac arrest! My heart beats so rapidly and the sensation of pressure and intense nerve ending pain in my body is so extreme. It feels really dangerous. It only happens after falling sleeping but I am guaranteed to wake up 1.5-2.5 hours later with these horrible side effects. Do you get it after sleeping for a few hours as well. How did you cope? Did you tell your doctor?

You poor thing .Yes this did happen to me just after falling asleep.i was free of it all for 10 years been off medication then out of the blue about a year ago it hit me again about 3 am luckily my husband was home and he's a trained flight attendant and as I was sitting up in bed feeling like I was having a heart attack and telling him to call an ambulance he sat me down in a comfy chair and breathed into a paper bag after the palpitations eventually  subsided he went downstairs and made me a cup of chamomile tea. The next day I went to the doctor and he sent me back to the Psychiatrist who put me back on Citalopram after ten years off it! Also I might add that I had

visits to the heart specialist to make sure my heart was ok. I still had these

attacks for weeks afterwards and the early mornings were the pits nausea

shaking crying etc which I had never had 10 years ago when I started on cit

but then I was 10 years younger and my doctor explained to me that like

everything in our body the resilience is not as strong and I suffered miserably until the Meds kicked in after 2 to 3 months and then I started to feel better and now I'm fine. Everyone reacts differently but I'm sure you will eventually feel better. It's an awful long journey but remember small steps is what needed here. I found that a sedative helped me with these early morning attacks used to be called Xanax but now known as kalma but of course these need to be prescribed by a doctor. But these were very helpful in allowing me to get back to sleep and stopped the wretched palpitations . A year down the track I'm still on cit 20 mg and it works well.I don't need anything else. Doctors don't give you reassurance but you will get loads of support on this forum. We are here to hold your hand and help you along the way. Just post when you need to but be reassured it will get better so take it one step at a time.xx

Thank you so much Felis. It is a great help to know that I'm not the only one to have felt this horrific side effect, not that I would wish it upon anyone, but it helps to feel less isolated and alone in the experience. Thank you again and congratulations on having made it back to normality. I hope I am there soon as well.

You will get there so don't think there is no end to it because there is .It is a long slow process. if you need support anytime just post and we will be here for you.x