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Success on Citalopram😁

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gillian176
gillian176

I just wanted to feed back to you all how wonderful I am feeling week12 on citalopram 20 mg

This is my second time on this drug since 2013. With hindsight I should never really have come off it but stayed at a very low dose .

I spent hours..again ...researching the internet in the early stages. This time it took 6 weeks until I started to feel better. It had taken only 2 the first time

Yes I had all the side effects and felt much much worse whilst my brain waited to rewire  itself in those initial weeks

It may not be the drug for everyone but it's worked wonders for me 

So I just wanted to comfort and give empathy to those of you out there who are still on their journey

My path is now much straighter

Good luck all 

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  • eric28362
    eric28362 gillian176

    Posted

    Gillian,

    How long have you been on cit?  I am currently 5 months into the dosage of 40mg.  I was feeling awesome until about a week ago and a stressor came back in and now I am feeling down.  I have been working on what I learned in couseling and it has not helped out much.  Did you ever experience these types of ups and downs on cit? It makes me concerned that the medicine isnt working.  A week seems long enough to have a blip. 

    Can any one weigh in on this matter?

    • gillian176
      gillian176 eric28362

      Posted

      Since January

      20 mg

      no I don't think I have anything so long as that. Occasional days bring anxiety especially in the mornings but I use my learnt skills to deal with that like yourself 

      Is there something in this.. stressor.....whatever it is that you can make a plan to deal with?

      I feel for you 

    • ellen40147
      ellen40147 eric28362

      Posted

      I have been on Citalopram since mid January. For me a blip lasts 2 to 3 days at most. Haven't experienced one in several weeks though...knock on wood.

  • louise63558
    louise63558 gillian176

    Posted

    I'm fed up, I've been taking Citalopram for 6 weeks now. 2 weeks 10mg, 4 weeks 20mg. Before taking Citalopram I started with sickness that woke me up at 5am most days and left me flat out in bed all morning (this all came in after a breakup.) Sometimes I would feel sick again later in the day. They treated me for a stomach ulcers, a month later I wasn't improving much and have got depressed and been off work exhausted. The doctors then diagnosed me with depression and anxiety. The Citalopram is helping, but I wonder if I will ever be cured. The sickness has passed, sleep improving, mood is stabilising, but still feel spacey and tired a lot. I'm wondering if I'll ever be cured ;-(( Doctor wants me to tough it it out on this medication.

    • gillian176
      gillian176 louise63558

      Posted

      You say you are improving in several ways 

      That's great   .,. Isn't it? Mood stabilising etc

      6 weeks is still early days. You will continue to improve 

      Your GP is right

      Keep going

      Don't change the dose 

      I can feel tired at times

      Am sure it's the Cit

      But better that than the way I was to be sure

      You will get better

      It's no quick fix...

  • MISSIEA77
    MISSIEA77 gillian176

    Posted

    So happy I found this thread.  I was on 10mg for 8 days now 20mg for 3 weeks this sat coming up.  I have been eating better now (lost 15lbs) and my sleep has improved a bit.  Also still wake up with anxiety almost like an adrenaline rush and shaky arms and legs and muscle tention, but push through get myself ready and come to work. Did anyone else experience this if so how long did it last.  Thank you smile  
    • gillian176
      gillian176 MISSIEA77

      Posted

      Hello and good morning

      A lot of us feel that way in the mornings

      I read that it's due to cortisol levels rising and being high as we wake 

      My Tip of the Day,,,,

      It makes sense to me that this is helped by getting up and doing a short walk or as I am about to do go to a gym class

      I find some exercise really helps

      Or do a video pilates or something on You tube 

      Your sound as your doing really well getting up going to work

      Remember also it's Very early days for you and these are common side effects at the beginning but shoould soon pass

      I still get anxiety am at times but as I said exercise helps 

      I am 9 months into this on 20 khans am much better all round

      But we all still have our moments

      Good luck and glad this feed is helpful 

      We all try to support each other here 

  • monica62597
    monica62597 gillian176

    Posted

     Hi not sure if anyone comments on this post anymore but I was on Celexa in 2009for OCD and anxiety after my baby and it worked perfect for me at 40 mg and it worked in two weeks and I was good for five years on 40 mg .I got weaned off of it during my last pregnancy And slowly all of my anxiety and OCD returned and I try going on Prozac first and that was horrible so I switched over to the Celexa and the transition was smooth and I was feeling good I did 20 mg on week one and then 40 on week two because I had been on 40 of Prozac,  and I was feeling better more energetic and had about three or four good weeks where I thought OK I can do this ,then I had a big dip at about eight weeks into the 40 and felt like I was going backwards so my doc said OCD sometimes takes higher doses and she bumped me up to 60 . I am still sleeping well at night ,but I am having the thoughts of I'm not going to  make it through this I'll never recover my OCD makes me feel guilty about everything and all I can think of is everything I've ever done wrong in my life so that's kind of what I deal with ,like the stuff from my past that I can think of that bothers me like not getting along with my dog  while I was pregnant,or I'll have small memories of things from when I was little and think did I do something I don't remember from when I was little just silly stuff but I can't get over it and so i'm totally rambling here but the point is I've been bumped up to 60 mg for 10 days and I'm wondering if this is even going to work because I've been on this dose for ten days and I'm probably 11 weeks total on this medicine!The first month of the med was good then I dipped and now on higher dose and worried it won't kick in!I was really severe with Ppd and postpartum OCD anxiety last time a fully recovered and am scared this will not happen for me again!Its hard to have four beautiful kids and look at them and worry you won't get to see them grow up!This has been a nightmare

    • carol41624
      carol41624 monica62597

      Posted

      Hi Monica,

      My husband is taking Celexa and it took him seven weeks to feel positive again. He had been on it before also and it worked quicker the first time but the important thing is, it did work again. You will feel better but it may take time.

      I found these forums a lifeline during the dark times. They gave me hope. Are you seeing a therapist? It may help you lay the demons of the past to rest.

      Take care xx

    • monica62597
      monica62597 carol41624

      Posted

      Thanks Carol!I have started to see a therapist.Everyone tell me this is OCD.I appreciate your encouraging words and am so glad your husband is well!
    • monica62597
      monica62597 lois95799

      Posted

      Hi Lois,yes I was on 40 mg last time!My doc said she has many patients on this dose and it is tolerated well.Shetd me OCD can require a higher dose than depression !Since my anxiety came out of nowhere after I had my baby,my OCD kicked in and I keep ruminating over things and feeling bad.Its been really hard 
    • monica62597
      monica62597

      Posted

      I'm no fan of going on bigger dose!I don't even like to take a Tylenol much less anything else.

    • lois95799
      lois95799 monica62597

      Posted

      Isn't 60milligrams no longer recommended . because of heart issues world wide?

    • monica62597
      monica62597 lois95799

      Posted

      No I'm in the U.S😊I know some other moms through postpartum and one is also on 60 now and she lives in another state.The other mom was on 60.My therapist also said she sees many people with OCD go that high for a bit.Im not happy w it but I am just doing anything to survive right now.It really is difficult since I was  evenworse last time and 40 fixed me.

    • gillian176
      gillian176 monica62597

      Posted

      Hi Monica

      Yes we're all still here!

      60 mgs sounds an awfully high dose to me

      60 mgs has not to my knowledge been proved to be more efficacious than 40mg

      It may be that you require alternative therapy such as CBT which helps you learn how to deal with things 

      Or other pharmacological treatments

      I can so understand the regression feelings you experience 

      I feel we have to help ourselves as well

      I think you can sort of forget that

      I am as guilty as the next person getting on with our lives and not employing self help tactics or things learnt in group therapy. Which I have done 

      There are a lot of books out there but my problem can be overthinking ruminating  and stressing myself and I have just gone back to reading a book overvthe last couple of days on my kindle that I have mentioned before

      I already feel helped up the ladder by it!

      Will post separately 

    • gillian176
      gillian176 Suzidawn

      Posted

      I find it useful to dip in and out of when I loose my way and get anxious again. It's by Richard Carlson

      The first chapters boring but the I get into it

      I realise I was anxt Ing myself especially after the Troubleshooter chapter

      I hi lite section on my kindle so I can have quick look to remind myself 

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