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How long does Citalopram take to work?

Posted , 148 users are following.

disco123
disco123

I've been prescribed Citalopram 20mg and have been taking it for 3 days now. I don't quite know how this works, but it's making me very anxious, gives me a dry mouth and fatigue. Is It to soon to see any changes? Should a give it a week or two?

16 likes, 165 replies

165 Replies

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  • angela45214
    angela45214 disco123

    Posted

    Hi, I have been taking citalopram for four days now, this morning I'm feeling numb and panicked, my husband helped me breath through the panic and I feel better now, just never had this feeling before. I'm on 10mg and need something for depression so I am going to stick with this as all comments on here have been quite positive. Hope you feel better soon. X 
    • lori82
      lori82 angela45214

      Posted

      Angela, I feel the same way. Lets stick with it. I may be a long 6 weeks. sadwink
  • Magicb422
    Magicb422 disco123

    Posted

    Hi

    I had been on this med for 13 years and worked very well  I was taking 40 mg. I went to have it filled a month and a half ago. Doctor said I needed to come in and see him.. I went for appointment he ask how long I had been on it , I told him 13 years that he had put me on it, he begins with the way it should be done isNo it for a year and then try to come off to see if you still need it. So I started to wean of 1/2 dose for two weeks then 1/4 dose for a week and then stop.  I thought things were good until last Friday everything just seemed to be over whelming the job,taking care of elderly parnets then through in to the mix kids and grandkids was way to much.. Thought I could work through it all but started to feel ill stiff neck nausea pain between should blades  and trouble chat hong my breath.. So I think a visit toafter Hours care center would help find the cause.. I got there took my blood pressure and before I knew what was hopping in an ambulance on way to hospital with np 200 /102. After a full blown heart check up they say nothing is wrong and send me home on anxiety meds and muscle relaxers. Back to primary doctor today. So heis like yes let's get you back on the citatopram at20 mg hoping it works this time as well as last one. Good luck

  • mike96102
    mike96102 disco123

    Posted

    Hi, I'm new on this forum, Ive just been prescribed Citalopram 20mg, after a relationship breakdown, feel real drowsy, but sort of dulls the anxiety I was feeling, worried about the effect it may have on my sexual function ( especially long term )
  • lori82
    lori82 disco123

    Posted

    Hi Disco, I just started 10mg three days ago also. I feel the same way. Very scared. I am taking it for anxiety and depression. I do feel different, but not better. I was not sleeping well before but now my insomia is worse. I am going to stick with it, but six weeks is a long time. Nice to have support. I will keep intouch with you, hopefully we start to feel better soon.
    • lori82
      lori82 cristina87613

      Posted

      Yes, dry mouth, more anxiety. I'm told this will eventually stop. I am hopeful. I have been drinking more water and chewing gum. It's tolarable.Stick with it. Keep intouch.

      Lori

    • cristina87613
      cristina87613 lori82

      Posted

      I have terrible heartburn and the antiacids interact with cit.I don't know what can I take to reduce the acid.Any advice?
    • cristina87613
      cristina87613 mike96102

      Posted

      Thanks Mike. I thought omeprazol interact with cit but if works for you, I will try it

       

  • melanie073
    melanie073 disco123

    Posted

    I'm 2 tablets in. The first made my hyped & i cudn't calm dwn so i decided night time, once im in for the night wud b best! I mananged to sleep & even got up b4 the alarm!!! Never happens. Hav really bad shakes & im jittery. Ive been doing a bit of reseach & i think by the sounds of it tht i am type 2 bipolar in which case the seritonin boost alone cud make matters worse by keeping me hyped!... Im afraid to go back to the doctor & ask for this to b looked at because the doctor was horrible & didn't really listen. I am angered a little because wen i told him how i was feeling & wht led me to him it is all in the classic bipolar type 2, shudnt he being the professional hav picked up on this?? Sorry for short hand im all over at the mo & struggling to type.
  • Bubblebaby
    Bubblebaby disco123

    Posted

    Hi All,

    I am also new to this forum, however i did read A LOT of reviews on Citalopram while i was going through my 'dark time' (the 5 weeks it took for the Citalopram to kick in) when i was suffering from severe Anxiety and Depression as a result of an intense work environment and a narcissistic boss. I suffered a big panic attack and subsequently resigned from work a few weeks later. i was then put into Citalopram (starting on 10mg per day, and going up to 20mg after a week). As mentioned by many people on this forum, the anxiety definitely increased in the 1st week or so, which i tried to counter act with Benzos, but then read about how addictive they were, and flushed them down the loo and decided to work through the first 2 weeks without any other meds beside the anti depressants. This was hard, but i did it, i just made sure i was not in any overbearing situations, and went for walks regularly as that seemed to help. I lost my appetite completely and lost 8kgs over 4 weeks, got dry mouth, suffered from insomnia (which added to the anxiety because i was worried about going to bed), felt extremely low and like a failure as i couldn't look after my baby boy as well as i should be (but got help from my husband and Mum), had horrible thoughts and hated being in situations where i could let those thoughts overtake my mind i.e. watching TV, knitting, worried that i was going crazy and that this would never pass, Hands shaking, no motivation, sweating and feeling of overheating, irritable......(most side effects that are mentioned commonly). After week 3 and week 4 i was beginning to question if i was ever going to feel normal again......and lo and behold, by week 5 i was feeling like the old me again, i was taking back control in my life, getting out for lunches, meeting friends, joined a yoga class and craft class and pulling myself back on track. I am now enjoying my little boy again and even hosted his first Birthday party this weekend, which went without any feeling of anxiety...just joy! I have no more problems with sleeping, i feel like i am back to normal, no more overheating or sweating, no other side effects as mentioned previously, the only thing i would say is that my hands do tremble slightly, but that is a small price to pay for my sanity being restored! Sex drive is as it was prior to my panic attack, and i am simply enjoying being back to the old me again, and i will never take my mental health for granted again!

    Those first few weeks do feel endless and will take a lot of patience, but please, just take each day as it comes, and you will gradually feel like you are taking back your life slowly but surely. You must understand that it is not a quick process and does require time (which differs from person to person) but I would just like to tell my story as an encouragement for you to continue with the Citalopram, because it WILL kick in at some point (give it 6 weeks and anything sooner is a bonus) and you will be so happy that you persevered with the first few weeks of 'hell'.

    I would also like to point out that i did go to see a Phychologist once a week for 5 weeks, which really did help, but i am only on the Citalopram now and i am coping perfectly fine since the meds kicked in.

    I really hope my story helps and is an encouragement to anyone going through what i went through, as i found any positive feedback about Citalopram a huge support and motivation for me to stick with it. If you have any questions please just ask, i will be happy to answer where i can. Good Luck and stick with it, it is sooooo worth it!! xxx

    • cristina87613
      cristina87613 Bubblebaby

      Posted

      Hi Bubblebaby I am on cit 10 mg for 25 day and I am still wondering if it's going to work.First 2 weeks I had all the symptoms you described .My appetite still not back I lost weight too.It's your appetite back?I am tired waiting for cit to kick in.I just want to feel normal again.
    • Bubblebaby
      Bubblebaby cristina87613

      Posted

      Hi Cristina87613,

      Thanks for the reply. I was told to increase from 10mg to 20mg after 1 week, and was on the 20mg dose for just over 4 weeks (so 5 weeks on anti depressants all together) before i started to feel a difference. I can totally empathise with how you feel, because i just kept wishing my days away hoping that tomorrow i would feel better.....but tomorrow would always be the same as the day before. Only on about day 32 did i wake up feeling like a weight had been lifted and i had a glimmer of 'slight excitement' about going about my day. Slowly but surely the next day got better and i clung to that feeling of some sort of 'normality' being restored and used that as encouragement to incorporate more activities into my day.....i.e. meeting a friend for lunch (someone that knew what i was going through), a bit of window shopping, a drive to a different park for a walk etc....remember to only take baby steps as to rush this process will only hinder your progress as you could end up getting overwhelmed and it's straight back to square one.

      I would give it another week or two and see if things start to become a little clearer, bearable and lighter, however if you still don't feel any different i would consider going to visit your Dr and get the dose increased to 20mg. Just remember that this 'dark time' IS FIXABLE and YOU WILL return to life as you know it, it just takes patience and time (i know it's extremely difficult to maintain that patience when you feel so low....but it will pay off). Keep me posted on your progress and just shout if you need any other information, or just some positive support.....you will get through this!! xx

    • Bubblebaby
      Bubblebaby cristina87613

      Posted

      P.s Yes, my appetite is back to normal again. Don't worry.....once you start to feel like things are getting back to normal, those hunger prangs will kick in again smile xx
    • claire18180
      claire18180 Bubblebaby

      Posted

      Hi bubblebaby I was on 30mg citalopram I suffer stress I've joined yoga,tai chi and gym but I recently I haven't been very motivated plus I've been moody and snapping at people.
    • Bubblebaby
      Bubblebaby claire18180

      Posted

      Hi Claire18180,

      First things first.....how long have you been taking the 30mg of citalopram? It could be as simple as giving it a bit longer to kick in, or getting your dose upped to 40mg?

      Joining yoga and the gym etc are good for the motivation, but remember that you need to think positively about getting through this 'dark time' too. Maybe if the physical side of things aren't working for you (i.e gym Tai Chi) maybe try a craft class (I did and I loved it and found an inner skill that i have wholely embraced and love to do), art class, book club etc. This way you get to meet lots of people, and once you find something that could be more linked into you interests it could bring your motivation levels up which will really help with your progress back to normality.

      Let me know your thoughts on this, and don't worry....there is a light at the end of the tunnel...it's just finding the correct path to get you there smile xxx

    • claire18180
      claire18180 Bubblebaby

      Posted

      Hi bubblebaby I've been on citalopram 30mg for 2yrs, I do find colouring helps alot, yoga.has been helping me but I haven't been going recently but I'm going to tai chi on Monday morning and yoga on Wednesday night.

    • jane_2016
      jane_2016 Bubblebaby

      Posted

      Hi ya my little boy is 3 weeks old and for some reason I've been getting panic attacks and aniexy sad doctor gave me cit and feel feel really rough I'm on day 4 I hope it passes soon x

    • sarahv80
      sarahv80 Bubblebaby

      Posted

      Hiya, I've stumbled across this forum and found it very reassuring. As it's over a year since your post I was just wondering how it has been for you? I'm on my 5th week of 10mg citalopram and am still having bad days. Thankyou x

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