Just started Citalopram
Posted , 10 users are following.
Hello.........Have been having terrible anxiety and panic attacks these last few months. Doctor prescribed 10mg citalopram. Have been too scared to take them for weeks. I have terrible sensitivitites towards medications. My life has gotten so bad that I juat said what the heck. I cant take what I am feeling anymore. It is out of my control. Too scared to leave my house.
I started last night by taking 2.5 mg (1/4) of the tablet. Felt a bit spaced out and a little nauseau but overall tolerable. Today felt very tired, a little fluish, dizzy and just run down. This evening has been the worst. Feel dark, scared and alone. (in all honesty have scared and alone feeling before citalopram) just feels kind of dark.
I know I onyl took a very small amount but feel pretty terrible tonight. Just feel like crying. I am trying to imagine how I am going to up this dose to a proper level and be able to handle it. Any comments or support would be so much appreciated. I feel ;like I really need it right now. I know...only day one at a baby dose.
2 likes, 27 replies
rory17172 tim08142
Posted
In all honesty I have never taken any anti-depressants starting on a lower dose than 10mg. I can't imagine the effects, ie.the intended ones or the side-effects, being dramatically different with such a small dose difference. Given that this is your first couple of days, I wouldn't put so much pressure on yourself worrying about how it's all going to work out. These meds might work great, or maybe they wont, in which case your doctor will quickly put you on something else. Give it a few days and speak to them again to let them know how you're feeling.
When you take these meds they are going to be moving the chemicals in your brain around, which your brain is not immediately used to. It's going to feel really strange, and it may be an emotional rollercoaster, but you need to know that this is normal and that soon your brain will level out and accept the changes. For me, it felt like there was a pool of electrified water in my head, and every time there was a spark I felt some extreme emotion lol.
When you're depressed, you're thinking all the time, normally in a loop of negative thinking. Thinking at this intensity for any length of time can be exhausting for your body. It also makes you extremely hyper aware of your body. I remember taking my first tablet, swallowing it, then being paranoid it was still lodged in my throat and i would choke. It wasn't at all, but the sensation of it rubbing against my throat made me that paranoid. They say everything seems worse when you're already sick, and it's really true with depression. You spend so much time worrying about your mind, and you start not caring about feeding yourself, or it seems too much effort. I developed depression at the same time I had Gastritis, so I was either worrying about one or the other. Problem is then your body gets more drained because your using up all mental and physical energy lol. So it's important to eat well so at least your body can handle it. You can feel dizzy on meds, but also if you dont eat right. Every horrible nightmarish thought that goes through your head, you need to know they are just reactions, and they are just temporary. It's just because you've a creative mind. Everybody at some point in depression cries uncontrollably and feels worthless. You're not. Your brain is like a computer trying to do a reboot. It makes you appreciate what a scarily imaginative thing the human mind is. Your dreams may possibly get messed up too. Again, try not to worry. it's not you, it's just a mix of the depression and the meds. If you need to talk to someone you know there's samaritans and other support out there. It can be difficult talking about this stuff with friends and family, unless they have experienced it, and even then no two cases are identical. Just know there's help out there. I suggest just ride it out as best you can, speak to someone if it gets too hard, but trust me you are going to be (at least mentally speaking) one hard badass by the end of this. Everything seems worse at night, it seems so dark and miserable. But remember, good things happen at night too, people laugh, kiss and watch awesome movies at night. So it cant be all bad... Hang in there
tim08142 rory17172
Posted
Yes I have had some of those wired emotional explosion that seem to come out of nowhere. One was a wave of terrible panic that just washed over me then was gone 5 minutes later....then a wave of crying uncontrollably for a few minutes...then done. I tried to get up and go to the market to get some things to make a ginger tea to help settle my stomach but was just too dizzy by time I got to my car. Let's hope tomorrow is better.....or at least not any worse.
Tomw1987 tim08142
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You've made the right choice trying Cit. It has done wonders for me and I also have a fear of taking meds. You genuinely shouldnt have had side effects from such a low dose and its most likely your depression making symptoms up as you've read the label lol (this does happen!!!). I personally would take the full tablet (10mg is still a very very low dose) and make sure you see it through. I started to feel better after only 3 days!!!
Let us know how you get on
Tom
tim08142 Tomw1987
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Tomw1987 tim08142
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I am 28 and was diagnosed with depression at 16 and was given citalopram then (which helped again), but recently relapsed due to life change stresses (new baby, bought our first house, promotion at work etc). Citalopram to the rescue again lol. 6 days in and I'm feeling normal again. Last week I wouldn't leave the house and last night I went to a gig and had a couple of beers. I'm also looking after my daughter today as my wife is at work and last week I didn't even know how I'd make her milk! They do work mate and you should definitely see them through.
If you have any questions just ask
Tom
tim08142 Tomw1987
Posted
This is my first time on an SSRI. Was thinking the same thing..maybe just take it and get it over with..the sooner the better...I dont know. Will try taking half of it tommorrow...see how it goes.
Congrats on the promotion, house and new baby.
Tomw1987 tim08142
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Citalopram is actually quite a stable med and not that many people have actual sides from it so you can take some comfort in that too.
If you need any more info just ask
Cheers
Tom
paulette56558 tim08142
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tim08142 paulette56558
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Glad you are doing great and enjoying life!!!!
paulette56558 tim08142
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katecogs tim08142
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Dont be too scared of taking meds, you'd take them if it was diabetes or you had a heart complaint. Â I was only speaking to a friend yesterday who is totally against anti depressants and says if she had it she'd just deal with it herself ...... uh, nope, it doesn't work like that. Â Depression and anxiety is an illness that you invariably need help and medication for.
You'll probably get side effects for a few weeks, but they'll wear off, and often things get worse before they get better. Â Everyone seems to go through this, and during recovery your mood may be up and down and you may think you're back to square one or the depression has returned. Â It hasn't. Â It's a normal route for recovery and means the medication is working.
It took about 3-4 months for me start feeling the benefits of the meds and then around 6 months I felt great. Â I've been well ever since.
Lots of patience and perseverance is needed ... the goal is worth the wait.
K x
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tim08142 katecogs
Posted
So here are two questions I have. Should I stay at 2.5 mg for a few more days. should I give it a week inbetween uping the doses even if it is in small incriments. And will I feel every dose increase like this or does it smooth out a bit. Like going form 2.5 to 5 I feel it alot. If I get to where 5mg feels ok will I need to go to 7.5mg to handle it or would the jump to 10 mg feel about the same. Today is a really hard day. Thanks
katecogs tim08142
Posted
I started on 20mg and got side effects, but they wore off eventually. Â It's a good idea to ease into the meds slowly, and when you up the dose next time you can do the increase every other day until you feel ok to take it every day. Â Continue like that with further dose increases until you're up to the required dose.
No, sometimes you don't feel like talking to people, I was like that at times. Also at times people would talk to me, and though I listened I couldn't concentrate on what they were saying and it all seemed so irrelevant compared to my illness anyway. Â It's good to get out every day as it helps so much. Â
Exercise, medication, patience and perseverance will get you there.
K x
Luke7580 tim08142
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tim08142 Luke7580
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Bullet_man Luke7580
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katecogs Luke7580
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