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Starting citalopram

Posted , 10 users are following.

shawn23899
shawn23899

Hey everyone!!!

Was prescribed celexa a while back but haven't taken it yet due to fear of how I'm gonna react to it with the side effects as I've read a few good and horror stories on it and was skeptical.

However my depression is getting worse and worse and I need to do something about it so I'm thinking about starting on the celexa.

If anyone has tried it or is currently on it please offer insights on what dose you are on, for how long and if it's working for you. Also how long did it take to see changes. any advice/insights you can offer will be much appreciated!!!! Thanks 😊

0 likes, 45 replies

45 Replies

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  • Nettie602
    Nettie602 shawn23899

    Posted

    Hi Shawn23899,

    I took my first Citalopram pill last night. I am to take 10mg for a week then after go to 20mg. I took the pill at about 8:45pm and started feeling sleepy about 30-40 minutes later. I fell asleep around 10pm. I woke up at 3am feeling jittery and I'm still up now unable to fall back to sleep.

    • claire99575
      claire99575 Nettie602

      Posted

      Hi nettie602...just read your post to Shawn...why don't you do what I do and try taking it in the afternoon..I take mine about 2.30pm...if you've only took one upto now why don't you give it a go huni...I'm always ready for bed come 10pm...and probably had 1 restless night in 9 weeks...the rest I've slept like a baby...good luck flower 😉

    • shawn23899
      shawn23899 Nettie602

      Posted

      Hi Nettie602,

      Thanks for the feedback, it seems like a lot of people have insomnia when they start celexa. I know I definitely need my sleep so maybe taking it in the morning might be beneficial but I just need to see how I react to it at first and decide what time works for me. Hope it works for you.

    • shawn23899
      shawn23899 claire99575

      Posted

      Hi Claire,

      That's one of the issues that has kept me from taking celexa is the insomnia, I heard it can be really bad so maybe I'll take my first dose in the morning or late afternoon and see how it goes. Thanks again for your contribution.

  • borderriever
    borderriever shawn23899

    Posted

    Been on it for near on ten years and I take 20mg. I follow the GPs recommendations. As you should do.

    Possibly you will suffer side effects until they work at five weeks, It is possibly you are in the early stages of taking the drug so your GP MAY increase it when He know how you are responding

    B.

  • juls37325
    juls37325 shawn23899

    Posted

    i have just been prescribed same med 10mg . sounds like by reading posts ,it makes you feel worse with side effects before seeing difference .some of the side effects I already suffer tiredness ,panic attacks . so is it really worth starting the medication ?
    • shawn23899
      shawn23899 juls37325

      Posted

      Hi Julie,

      I think a lot of people experience the same side effects you are experiencing but it might be worth sticking it out for a little while. I heard it can take up to a month to see any effects. I plan on sticking out the side effects at least for a good month and hopefully it kicks in. I hope it starts working for you.

  • juls37325
    juls37325 shawn23899

    Posted

    thanks ,
    • juls37325
      juls37325

      Posted

      thanks   I guess need to try at least see if it helps , go with side effects .
  • timothy_55985
    timothy_55985 shawn23899

    Posted

    Shawn,

    I've been on cit for about 7 weeks now. The first week indefinitely has a placebo effect as I felt great within 2 days. After about a week I felt back to my crappy self. From there each week was a little bit better until last week. I've had a blip and have been debating upping my dose from 20mg to 30mg. My advice would be to figure out the best plan for you. Whether taking it at night works better than taking it in the morning etc.

    • shawn23899
      shawn23899 timothy_55985

      Posted

      Thanks for your input, from what I've heard it tends to cause insomnia for some people so I'm debating taking mine in the morning or mid afternoon. That's always the hard part, deciding when to take it. I hope it's works for you.

  • shawn23899
    shawn23899

    Posted

    Any issues with constipation, please feel free to give insights!! Thanks.
  • caro16662
    caro16662 shawn23899

    Posted

    Just thought I would let you know being as we are similar in our start dates. I started about 8 or 9 days ago now. Sleep has improved for me. Still wake up at about 2 or 3 ish but fall back to sleep again in time for my alarm. So, not as bad as when I started. Hopefully you will see a difference soon too. Good luck. 
    • shawn23899
      shawn23899 caro16662

      Posted

      Hi Caro,

      That's for the input, has it been helping your symptoms and do you suffer any other side effects besides the occasional insomnia?

    • shawn23899
      shawn23899 caro16662

      Posted

      I'm also wondering if you take the pill in the morning or at night? Thanks

    • caro16662
      caro16662 shawn23899

      Posted

      Hi there. Yip, I take in the morning. My side effects were insomnia, if I slept I would wake up freaking out and having horrible thoughts. This lasted only 3 days. Just gaining my appetite back now. Lethargic too and also got a bitter taste in my mouth. All seem to have subsided somewhat. But I still wake up but go back to sleep. Best of luck to you. 
    • shawn23899
      shawn23899 caro16662

      Posted

      Thanks for the follow up, I will be starting tomorrow at noon to help combat any insomnia issues so by hopefully night time I'll be ready for sleep. I'm really hoping it helps my severe debilitating crippling depression.

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