Reassurance x
Posted , 6 users are following.
hi everyone first time posting but have been following for a while. it's my second time on citalopram for really bad health anxiety after having success with it 3 years ago. this time round is so different 😢 i started 7 weeks ago on 10mg and upped to 20mg 4 weeks ago. ive had alot of side effects, nausea, dizziness, intrusive thoughts etc. started to feel more myself just over a week ago but now i feel like im going backwards 😢 is this normal? im crying again and panicking because i keep feeling pains in my chest, which ive been told is anxiety related by my doctor, but im still convinced its my heart ! 🙈 anyone else had similar?
thanks xx
0 likes, 8 replies
tamsin07572 carla88
Posted
Hi Carla im exactly the same as you. i am 12 weeks in second time for mainly health anxiety. It hasnt worked as well for me this time though i am slowly starting to feel better. i still have health anxiety tho. You are just having a blip. i have had many of those - it is 2 or 3 steps forwards and one back. Just accept its blip and keep on as usual and it will ease. PM me if you want to chat me - sounds like we are in a very similar situation x
carla88 tamsin07572
Posted
thanks tamsin, as rubbish as it is its comforting to know im not the only one......even though it feels that way. The first time for me i was back to my usual self within 3 weeks with no side effects! stayed at 20mg for around 8-9 months then came off it slowly. been great for 3 years so its really disheartening to be like this again. hopefully this blip will pass for us both soon. keep me posted x
michelle45874 carla88
Posted
same for me as well 2nd time was a lot harder took me longer but you do get there i am on 10mg now have been on cit for nearly 4 years now still get the odd blip but can manage them
tamsin07572 michelle45874
Posted
hi michelle how long did it take you the second time? i had so many more side effects this time - terrible anxiety, insomnia, burning sensations, panic attacks. Like you last time i was better within 3 or 4 weeks.
lala25752 carla88
Posted
I will be honest with you it's going to be a long journey. I'm 12 weeks on 20mg and still have horrible days. however I can function. it's getting better though. the thing is you are still very early in your recovery. you will have days where you feel like you are back to normal only to have all the symptoms return and make you feel like you are back to square one or even worse. dont doubt the medication they will work but it's going to take a long time. you just have to ride out these horrible days if you have some diazepam with you take when it gets too much. I would say stay on the dose dont make rushed decisions and go up the dose even of the doc tells you too. you have to give the same dose another 6 to 8 weeks to work. there will still be many side effects but they will pass believe me. just keep strong and post on here for reassurance when it's bad. and there will be bad days even worse probably but it is all part of recovery and everything that you are experiencing is completely normal for us anxious people.
jim280 lala25752
Posted
lala...i wonder why my NP says it takes a particular dose 6-8 weeks to take effect and if symptons still persist, will have to increase dose. As medicine wont go to the brain after week 8.
carla88
Posted
lala25752 thanks for being honest i'll try and see it all as being normal. its just so hard because first time round it was like a miracle, maybe im just being too impatient with it. x
tamsin07572 carla88
Posted
yes all of us on here seemed to find it a miracle the first time but much harder the second time. we just have to stick with it and be patient and accept its not going to be the same experience