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Need your advice please

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megan56427
megan56427

Hey everyone, hope you are keeping well! Need some advice guys please.

So I'm now on 8 weeks on citalopram (4 weeks on 10mg & 4 weeks on 20mg). I've also been in therapy for 8 weeks now and I've actually been doing relatively well the last few weeks, eating and sleeping better and able to smile and laugh again and just generally more relaxed. For this I've been incredibly thankful for the medication. However a few days ago I hit a sort of a slump and started feeling more anxious again and like I'm going back to how I was at the start. I put it down to the January blues just with the holidays being over, my fiance going back to work, my time of the month and it being miserable and wet every day. But last night I just could not sleep tossing and turning and ended up crying most of the night and this morning. I've been triggered by ringing/whooshing noises occurring in my ears and sometimes i can hear my heartbeat in my ears, it's really freaked me out and got my anxiety in overdrive. I've read somewhere that it could be tinnitus, have any of you guys experienced this? Do you think I should go back to my doctor soon if my anxiety does not calm down to discuss a possible increase to 30mg? Any advice here would be greatly appreciated! (please no horror stories, my sensitive soul can't take hearing them at the moment lol.)

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • toria_07298
    toria_07298 megan56427

    Posted

    hey lovely, its just a side effect, you need to give a single dose at least 3 months x

    • megan56427
      megan56427 toria_07298

      Posted

      Thanks Toria! I was hoping it was just a side-effect, most of my other side effects have now subsided and Im really reluctant to go up to 30mg too soon since 20mg was working soo well. Any tips on how to handle the tinnitus? I'm thinking I'll just keep. The TV on in the background at night x

  • michelle45874
    michelle45874 megan56427

    Posted

    hi megan just stick with it you need at least 8 weeks to start getting results this is all side affects ask your doctor for some beta blockers which u can take up to 3 times a day which will help . try to do deep breathing and stay calm i know easier said than done . I ve been there i started on 20mg am now on 10mg 3 years in still have minor wobbles but although not nice can cope with them x

    • megan56427
      megan56427 michelle45874

      Posted

      Thanks Michelle! The doctors can't give me beta blockers since I'm asthmatic but I do have an emergency supply of diazepam for the really bad days. How long on it were you when everything started to get better? X

    • michelle45874
      michelle45874 megan56427

      Posted

      the first time i started seeing a difference was at around the 6 week mark and then by 10 weeks i was back to more a less normal the i am 3.5 years on them now still have the odd blip but manageable x You will get there its really hard at the beginning i know but there is a light at the end of the tunnel

  • tara74591
    tara74591 megan56427

    Posted

    Can any of you give me some advice?? I have been on 10mg three weeks this past Monday. Some days are okay but the other days I have severe nausea. Some days it comes in waves all day and some days its consistent all day. I also have spells of getting really shaky. Any advice would be helpful

    • megan56427
      megan56427 tara74591

      Posted

      Hi Tara! 3 weeks is very early in, I remember feeling the same as you at 3 weeks in with all the side effects still in full swing, but was advised I needed to give in at least 8 weeks to start feeling a bit better, sometimes it takes a few months. I did go back to my doctor at 4 weeks for a checkup and he upped me to 20mg and I found for me this dose to be more beneficial, but that's something you can maybe discuss with your doc at your next appointment if your still feeling horrible. I was very nauseous and shaky as well, but that's calmed down now. What your having is just side effects and they will calm down soon, don't worry. Do you practice any self-care techniques to help you through the bad days? X

    • tara74591
      tara74591 megan56427

      Posted

      Hey Megan! Thank you for replying! It is so frustrating. I am also experiencing peri menopause symptoms so I am just a hot flashing, nauseated shaky mess 😦

      I do try to get outside as much as possible and that seems to help 😃

  • P-NP
    P-NP megan56427

    Posted

    Hi Megan,

    I can truly relate to your experience. I've been on 10 mg of escitalopram, sister to Celexa for 5 weeks. After about 2 weeks I began to see improvement; however, the last couple of days have been really tough. Anxiety has increased along with nausea and feeling light headed. I too am approaching that time of the month which may explain the increase in anxiety.

    I just wanted to chime in and let you know that you are not alone. Adjusting to the medication coupled with life's up and downs, is truly not easy.

    There are a couple of coping techniques that help. Listening to audio books, walking, and staying in good company are strategies that help me to weather the storm.

    I too think it is a good idea to stay at 20mg for sometime. Important to give the mind and body time to adjust to the medication.

    Keep on keeping on! This time will pass 😃

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