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Just started 5 mg of Citalopram.....scared!

Posted , 33 users are following.

Misdameanor22
Misdameanor22

I have been prescribed Citalopram for general anxiety and mild depression by my doctor. The past few months I have had anxiety and depression that I just cannot shake, and I thought I could handle it without meds but alas here I am. Initially he gave me 50 mg of Sertraline, but I had to stop after 1 dose because of insane side affects; insomnia, scary thoughts, absolutely no appetite, shaky-ness and overall feeling drugged out. My husband was scared to death for me and we decided that I would not take another pill of that. My doctor agreed that I am extremely sensitive to SSRI's, and trying another option was what will be best for me.

I have decided to ease into the Citalopram, and have taken 5 mg about an hour and a half ago. I feel very calm, a little zoned out and sleepy. Is this normal? This morning I was a basketcase of nerves, pounding heart, etc. Could it be a placebo effect? I was so incredibly scared to take even this small amount so I don't really know how my body is going to react. Any comments are appreciated!! :-)

1 like, 114 replies

114 Replies

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  • roxy73878
    roxy73878 Misdameanor22

    Posted

    Hi Misdemeanor.

    I started my first dose today as well. 10 mg cipramil.

    I will never be taking it again. Side effects horrid. Stomach pain constipation agitated. Non stop crying.

    Please be careful when talking it. Best of luck

  • maria40821
    maria40821 Misdameanor22

    Posted

    Just lost my husband and the Dr put me on 10mg of Cit. I've been on it 10 days and I still have major anxiety in the mornings. I'm scared of the way it makes me feel. Some say I should go to 5mg and some say I should go to 20mg. I feel like 20mg is too much too soon. I'm confused and scared. HELP!

    • jenny62586
      jenny62586 maria40821

      Posted

      I've been where you are with just starting to take this med . I would have said you should be on 5 for a week to start but you've already jumped to 10 mg so no point in working backwards .10 mgs is the therapudic dose anyway so you're ahead of the game. I started with 5 mg and moved to 10 and every time you go up you have to deal with the side effect which is NEVER fun! Has your doctor also prescribed you a 1mg lorazepam? What time of the day are you taking it ? It took me 5 weeks to feel ok ,I still have moments of anxiety but this drug is magic.it won't take it 100% away.but it does help. Just think about it as lessening the anxiety in your life. A panic attack would be much worse if you weren't on it . I'm not living in fear anymore that I'll freak out in Walmart with my kids . My dizzy spells have stopped .but it comes with time .and maybe one day I'll have to move to 20mg.but anything improving what it was is a step to a happier life.keep going lady!!! You can do this !!

    • jenny62586
      jenny62586

      Posted

      ***sorry is supppse to say" This drug ISNT magic"***

    • maria40821
      maria40821 jenny62586

      Posted

      Thank you for the encouragement. I am also taking alprazolam but only at night. I guess there is really no quick fix so I just need to keep on keeping on till things get better. THANKS!!!
    • fernando_21
      fernando_21 maria40821

      Posted

      Hi yes. Like Jenny said stick with it. I have found through my experience which I did the same thing you're doing now questioning the dose. But more important than the dose is time. Giving your mind and body time to adjust to the medcicne. I went from 10 to 15 too soon. And actually turned out I couldn't tolerate that dose. I went back to 10 and am feeling so much better. Each week is bettter. Ups and downs are normal. Mornings tend to be tougher but that too will pass. I suggest a strong support system of friends and family during these weeks especially to help you through the adjustment phase. Stay busy, excercise and this forum awesome. People like Jenny and others have really helped me.

    • maria40821
      maria40821 fernando_21

      Posted

      Thank you for your encouragement . I know exsecise would help but I am temporarily in a wheel chair so all I can do is sit. I feel trapped I just Have to kepp on keeping on.
    • babsyboo
      babsyboo jenny62586

      Posted

      U still answer people on here

      if so have questions to you

      please let me know if u still available

      thanks babsyboo

    • abraham58051
      abraham58051 fernando_21

      Posted

      how dis you know the dosage was off. i started at 5 and the first two or three days were bad but it got super better, I want anxious or if i was it was like for half an hour in the day. after 5 days my dr said to got to 10 and i have been sweating more and my chest feels like i have ants crawling all over, im not as anxious but it does keep me worried. the feeling started from just in the morning to feeling it most of the day. its hard to handle

    • abraham58051
      abraham58051

      Posted

      just in case anybody comes across this, I want to inform what happened to me. after going up to 10 of lexapro my chest from shoulder to shoulder felt like i had ants crawling on me. is started from just in the mornings to an all day feeling. this lasted for 7 days till i want to an er to make sure my chest was ok, and that i wasnt having a heart attack. the next day i spoke to my doctor who stated i might have too much serratonin in my body, and told me to go back to 5. since i had 7 days of 10 the day i spoke to the doctor i didnt take any meds and the next day i only took half of a 5. i plan to go up to a 5 after a week or so. ive been on half of a 5 now for 4 days and feel great. i keep busy, run everyday, watch my diet, and pray. so far my anxiety is subsiding.

  • melissa55222
    melissa55222 Misdameanor22

    Posted

    I just started 10mg of citalopram after 2 years of panic and anxiety attacks. Being a hypochondriac I have been only taking 5mg and I find I am nauseous and shaky and either super tired or waking up with morning anxiety. Is this the medication or all in my head? Or both? I want to stop taking the citalopram but don’t want to go back to an even worse life of dizziness and heart palpitations... any advice?
    • lois95799
      lois95799 melissa55222

      Posted

      Is both..if you recently just started the celexa ..is white normal with the side effects...
  • Dave111
    Dave111 Misdameanor22

    Posted

    Hey there, your story is very similar to mine.  I saw my doctor last November as I was suffering with anxiety and depression.  He prescribed me with 50mg of Sertraline. Just like you, the side effects were horrible. I vowed never to take an antidepressant again. Christmas came and went, and I felt no better. I went back to the doctor last month and he prescribed me with 10mg of citalopram.  He told me that I must be sensitive to SSRIS. I took my 28th tablet yesterday.  The side effects at the start were nowhere near as bad as sertraline, but I did have some. I didn’t sleep that well for a couple of weeks although I was always very sleepy, felt jittery and shaky sometimes, and my anxiety got worse which unfortunately made me more depressed. The worst of the side effects were gone after 2 to 3 weeks, and I found my mood lifting.  I’ve experienced a great improvement over the past week. I’ve had bad days, or a few bad hours in the day, but the tablets have definitely helped. I’m no longer obsessing about problems in my life, and I’m much more interested in just doing thing eg yesterday I went shopping with my wife in the morning, took the dog for a long walk, collected my daughter from school before visiting friends. This time last month I could hardly go to the shop to get a loaf of bread. My anxiety isn’t as bad, but still not good, particularly in the morning. I’m hoping that this will improve soon. Afternoons and evenings are much better. The best advice that I’ve picked up over the last 4 weeks is that you will most likely feel worse before feeling any better, but don’t stop the medication. You will start to feel better but citalopram is not a quick fix. Also, Internet forums are fantastic, but just remember that people are more likely to post on the forums if they have had a bad experience.  This drug has made me feel much more like my old self, but I never felt the urge to post anything until I read your story as it’s very similar to mine.  

     

    Stick with it. It’s really worth it!

    • melissa55222
      melissa55222 Dave111

      Posted

      Thanks Dave, you have given me some great advice and much needed comfort. I don’t know how I got here. I had five kids in five years and after the birth of my last baby (june2016), I experienced horrible dizziness, especially in big box stores, horrible heart palpitations, and feeling like I am walking on a boat. I had every MRI, Ct scan, stress test imaginable and all were negative so I recently was forced to believe it is in my head. My cool as a cucumber husband is at his wits end and as my dr told me unless you are a medical professional or mental health patient yourself, few people will get it. I would give a milllion dollars to be that happy me again. Just wanted to be sure that the side effects of these pills are normal and will pass... 
  • jenny62586
    jenny62586 Misdameanor22

    Posted

    Hey guys ,haven’t written in awhile which is always a good sign on here . I started citalipram last year this time when my anxiety was out of control. I’d get dizzy and feel like I was going to pass out legs shaky I started to fear going out and my kids were suffering due to my fear.  The first 3 months were up and down ,I had two panic attacks when I first started but haven’t had one since . I had tummy issues the first month and dry mouth but that’s it . A week before I get my period I feel a bit moody and axioms but nothing like a year ago. I drive ,I shop,I go to kids parties (which is huge because before I was very sensitive to sound and my anxiety would peak around noise ) . It has completely given me my life back. The only down fall is that after 6 months I did gain weight . My dr wants to switch me to excitalipram which is basically the same but a cleaner drug.ill be honest I’m fearful now changing because this is working so well and to be I’d rather be a littl plump than have panic attacks .  But I may try it I’m not sure .ill keep you posted .anyway to all those just starting give it time. I’m on 10mg and some days I’m blue and some days I’m worried but not like before . Give it 3 months and your life will get so much better !!!!!!!! Good luck !!
    • melissa55222
      melissa55222 jenny62586

      Posted

      Thanks Jenny, everything you said sounds like my life. I have five kids from ages 1-6 and I am constantly worried about passing out infront of them as the dizziness is horrible, especially in public.  I feel bad that I am not the mother I could be or want to be. The citalopram makes me nauseous with a burning stomach and hours after taking it I will get suddenly really dizzy and tired which heightens my anxiety.

      Thanks again!!😊

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