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Health anxiety 1 week on Citalopram

Posted , 7 users are following.

graham69986
graham69986

Hi all new member here, I was previously on this medication about 5 years ago whilst going through a divorce but was only on it for around 3 months before coming off but it really helped.

Fast forward 5 years and following a health scare last summer (which turned out to be ok) ive been struggling with bad health anxiety to the point where I was constantly checking my moles and occasionally feeling for lumps in my body. I finally went to the drs last monday and was put on 20mg however since the first day I seem to have got worse, ive even been checking parts of my body that ive never worried about before such as under my chin and neck and my overall anxiety seems to have got worse which thanks to reading post here i see can happen for the first few weeks, im only on pill number 7 today. The worst is in the mornings waking up early feeling sick, heaving and having bad anxiety.

I feel like im rambling so appologies, my question is does anyone else here suffer health anxiety and does this medication help with it? Would love to hear some positive stories

Thanks

0 likes, 17 replies

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  • carla88
    carla88 graham69986

    Edited

    hi graham what your experiencing is completely normal in the early stages of taking citalopram. its all part of the side effects. i suffer terribly with health anxiety. i was on citalopram 3 years ago and it helped massively!! ive been back on it for almost 7 weeks now (20mg for the last 5 weeks) although im still anxious about my health ive not had that sudden urge to run to the doctors to get checked and ive stopped constantly checking every inch of my body. ive got pains everywhere at the moment from all the tension thats built up from anxiety, but im trying to rationalise this. its a slow process so try and bare with it, i find youtube videos on health anxiety helpful to watch in the mornings when anxiety is at its highest, amd nibbling on ginger biscuits for the nauseous feeling. hope this helps x

    • graham69986
      graham69986 carla88

      Posted

      Thanks Carla glad to hear im not alone and the increased health anxiety is being caused by my body getting used to the medication and thanks for your advice it really helps as i keep getting myself into a state with worry x

    • carla88
      carla88 graham69986

      Edited

      you're definitely not alone. this is a great forum and its helped me alot the past few weeks with reassurance. its easier said than done but try and remind yourself its anxiety, i still struggle with it but im finding the more i tell myself its amxiety the easier the days are getting. as long as your doctor has told you everythings ok, give the tablets time to work and settle x

    • june13407
      june13407 carla88

      Posted

      I also suffer with health anxiety can I ask why you came off of citalopram. I am now 18 weeks in including 10 weeks on 30mg and have good and bad days but overall alot better. as initially I was off work for 3 months went back beginning of November. Side effects are awful.

    • graham69986
      graham69986 june13407

      Posted

      I was only previously on them for a short time as just needed a bit of help whilst dealing with divorce i then went 5 years without any problems before this health anxiety started. Im having to fight battles at the moment not to feel parts of my body as when i do i always worry ive found something to worry about. Is your health anxiety under control now?

    • toria_07298
      toria_07298 graham69986

      Posted

      i can totally relate, i have bad health anxiety caused by withdrawal its horrible bless you x

    • june13407
      june13407 graham69986

      Posted

      It has improved greatly but still suffering. I have had so many physical symptoms probably alot of them due to the side effects of citalopram. Muscle twitching and weakness, tiredness, no motivation,excessive saliva and panic attacks was off work for 3 months went back beginning of November. I also could not swallow properly for a couple of months and again has loads of tests all normal. I existed on shakes and soup. It has improved but I still find it uncomfortable. It has been a nightmare for the last few months as this started in June.

  • tamsin07572
    tamsin07572 graham69986

    Posted

    hi graham. i have bad health anxiety too - this is my second time on citalopram. It worked really well and i came off it because i felt so much better. it hasnt worked as well this time unfortunately and i still have it - in fact have swallowing issues too at the moment. its so awful isnt it! such a hard thing to manage.

    • graham69986
      graham69986 tamsin07572

      Posted

      Hi Tamsin, sorry to hear that how long have you been on it this time round?

      The first time i was on it was for a different reason, ive only had health anxiety for a few months so good to hear that it helped your health anxiety previously.

      The side affects are awful at the moment especially in the mornings, ive been waking up with nausea and sweating in the early hours and up heaving by 6 so my sleep is terrible at the moment whereas before the medication i slept great

    • tamsin07572
      tamsin07572 graham69986

      Posted

      hi graham when are you taking the meds? maybe experiment with when you take them and make sure you take them with food. If the nausea carries on you may be better to drop the dose

    • june13407
      june13407 tamsin07572

      Posted

      I still have the swallowing issues 18 weeks in which really does not help the health anxiety and I have had all the tests they say it is all down to anxiety. I find it all very hard to belive. I also feel quite emotionless as well just want to feel happy again for my family

    • graham69986
      graham69986 tamsin07572

      Posted

      Hi Tasmin I take them in the morning but i only have the nausea during the early hours but usually around 6am but then this goes once im up (and heaved a few times). Been back to see my dr this morning and she said my increased health anxiety is normal as my brain adjusts to the medication, she had also checked under my chin that id scared myself about and said everything is fine although im still anxious even after the reassurence. She has just perscribed some propranolo which will apparently help with my anxiety symptoms

    • graham69986
      graham69986 june13407

      Posted

      Hi June, what swallowing issues are you having? I occasionally have a sore throat since starting these meds but its mainly just in one side

    • june13407
      june13407 graham69986

      Posted

      I have been having swallowing issues for months have had many tests all normal they say it is all anxiety related I can eat more now but find it uncomfortable

  • Maddy50
    Maddy50 graham69986

    Posted

    Hi there, I suffer from health anxiety it's a damn nuisance. It started after a tummy problem a few years ago, then breast cancer, which i have now recovered from. Have been on citalopram 10mg for 5 weeks then increased to 20mg for 2 weeks now. i feel worst in the morning very depressed and kind of scared of facing the day. I am waiting for it to start working so cant answer your question right now but would like to follow you and respond if things improve for me.

    Thanks

    • graham69986
      graham69986 Maddy50

      Posted

      Hi Maddy yes it would be good to chat with someone at a similar stage, im only on pill number 8 so at a very early stage. Hopefully we will both start to feel better soon x

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