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Driving anxiety

Posted , 9 users are following.

kathy45393
kathy45393

i have been taking 10 mg citalopram for 2 weeks. Out of the blue I have been having massive anxiety when driving. Dizziness, hands shaking and shortness of breath. No idea why. Usually I only have this while driving but since taking citalopram I am having it at home also. I feel like I'm jumping out of my skin. I have read that this is a side effect in the beginning. Hoping it stops soon. 

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  • tamar80669
    tamar80669 kathy45393

    Posted

    It should start to get better. Remember that it sometimes gets worse before it gets better. Hang in there it's worth it.
    • kathy45393
      kathy45393 tamar80669

      Posted

      Thanks. That's what I've been reading. I didn't really want to start a med but I've tried tons of herbal remedies with no luck so I guess this is the next step. I am not depressed so I was a little leery of starting a antidepressant but was told it should work for anxiety also. Keeping my fingers crossed!!
    • tamar80669
      tamar80669 kathy45393

      Posted

      What are you on? I went on for a combination of depression and anxiety. I've been in citalopram for a couple of years. I also had counselling. Which helped I've just come off citalopram. Hope it works ok.
    • gary20100
      gary20100 kathy45393

      Posted

      Yes!!!! I also had the same driving experience. It feels as if you're going to pass out while driving. Really really sucks.

      I've been on cit 20 mg for 12 weeks. And all has disappeared around week 8. Hang in there. The anxiety gets worse before the med works. Don't give up.

    • kathy45393
      kathy45393 gary20100

      Posted

      Thanks. It's nice to talk to others that have the same issue. This just came on suddenly. I've never had a accident or been afraid to drive. It's starting to affect my life a lot. I live out in the country so I need to drive! 
    • tamar80669
      tamar80669 kathy45393

      Posted

      Your on the road to getting better so well done for getting the help. 😀😀
    • kathy45393
      kathy45393 garyflinn

      Posted

      It's kind of spooky that's there's so many of us on the roads all panicky!😃 I hope this works for all of us! I probably should have done this a while ago but I'm old and stubborn. Some of the herbal remedies helped some ( or I thought they did...placebo effect maybe) but only for a few days. 
  • New85
    New85 kathy45393

    Posted

    Ye I had a really rough time for the first 9 or 10 days. Felt like I was going completely mad! I didn't drive for that whole period - but it was partially to do with the fact I wasn't sleeping so I felt it was genuinely unsafe! If you can avoid driving while you get through the first week or so I would. It does get better Im nearly a month now on 10mg. The side effects have settled right down and my anxiety is definitely more manageable
    • kathy45393
      kathy45393 New85

      Posted

      Glad your doing better. I thought I was going nuts the first week. Second week has settled down some but not totally gone. 
  • David_21660
    David_21660 kathy45393

    Posted

    Hi Kathy,

    As I always say, "Welcome to the club!"

    The symptoms you describe are quite usual for us on this "sticking plaster" for the brain. There are other symptoms that you may or may not get and then there is differing degrees, if you get them, as it is primarily down to everyone being individual and not every one experiences the same.

    When I became ill with "work related stress" and went sick, I did not get behind the wheel of a vehicle for 4 months as I felt it may have been dangerous to do so. Driving under the influence of any drug, especially alcohol, is a no-no! However, as individuals many appear ok with Cita, but I was taking no changes as a Transport Manager! The anxiety in the early days was quite acute and people here explained that Cita causes anxiety to treat it (and I didn't think I had it!), but when it did all was good. It seemed to clear the way to mending that what went wrong.

    I am on 40mg after 6 months, basically rising from 10mg after the first month each month by 10mg. I levelled at 40mg 2 months ago and my Doctor will consider reducing Cita in a month - if I am still progressing.

    I feel I am as, that which made me ill and brought me here is now (just recently) behind me. Whether I have to stay on 10mg, or stay on it for the foreseeable future, for a while after I do not know, but I do know there is light at the end of the tunnel. Something I could not see when I started as I was all over the place with symptoms, especially multiple vivid dreams.

    All youu can do is go with the flow, keep posting and reading here, there are some angels that whatch over us!

    All the very Best,

    David

    • kathy45393
      kathy45393 David_21660

      Posted

      Thanks David. Glad you are doing better. It sure helps talking to others with the same issues. Makes me feel better just knowing I'm not alone  
  • carol87925
    carol87925 kathy45393

    Posted

    Hi Kathy in my case outta the blue I started panicking driving & God forbid if a light turned red & I had to sit for a minute, sweating, shaking, etc. at the same time started not being able to go to the grocery store, got the shakes felt sick. I couldn't drive or go anywhere for 2 months, all this happening not taking any meds. Anyway long story short doc put me on 20mg cit in sept, after a lot of side effects & thinking they would never help I just kept plugging along & now it's amazing I drive no prob, go in stores no prob, I'm back to "normal". I never want to quit taking these meds they have helped me tremendously !!
    • kathy45393
      kathy45393 carol87925

      Posted

      Hi Carol. Sounds exactly what I'm going thru. I refuse to let this beat me. I need to drive! It's just strange that it just came out of no where. If I have someone with me when I'm driving, I'm fine. Today is day 12 on meds and I almost feel good!!! Not as jittery as the last 11 days. Let's hope it continues! Glad you are doing better. 
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