Success on Citalopram😁

Hey Nicola,

I have been on citalopram for just about four weeks.  First week on 10mg, 20mg for a week and a half, and now 40mg for about a week.  I know what you are going through even though no one seems to understand exactly what you are going through.  I have been journaling as well through this very tough journey and although they are only words at this time, you have a bigger story to share in the end.  Between, all the stories I have read, this gives me hope to continue my journey.  You are a fighter and will get better.  People who have never had this disease truly do not understand what we are going through; but, everyone here can relate.  Don't be scared to try the new drug.  This first drug may not have been the right one for you.  I know easier said than done; but, there is one out there that will work for you.  Waking up each day is dreadful; but, you have made it this far and still doing it.  We are all here for you!  Remember, YOU are a miracle and that you are loved.  To a better day and please keep posting about your journey!   

Thank you so much. It is really hard. I've been signed off work again to deal with the switch. The not knowing what's going to happen is hard to cope with. I've been well before on citalopram so am disappointed they don't seem to have done the trick. I've been put on venlafaxine now.

Well, I know a couple of people on the new drug that switched and have had great success.  Two of them 20 years strong on the batte   They said they will take the drug until the day they die because it has helped them So there is definitely hope for you!!!!!  You have battled the citalopram this long so you still have the fight in you.  That is good work is letting you get through this, maybe you will become the CEO someday because you come back stronger than ever.  It is too bad it did not work this time around and this does not mean you are broken.  I wake up each day wondering what adventure brings me with anxiety.  Vicious cycle of thoughts; but, each day is a win when you make it through it.  KEep on keeping!!! We are all here for you!

Poor you. I can empathise how you must feel

Citalopram is not for everyone and even though it worked before for you, and for me 😁, this time the journey could be a differant one 

Go with the change and as Eric said we are always here for support. 

Oh Nicola, I am sorry.  When I restarted these meds it took much, much longer than the first time, and probably was about 7-8 months until they kicked in and I had a completely different experience 2nd time.

I really hope the transition is as smooth as can be.

Post back here when you're ready - everyone is here for you.

K x

Yeah I don't think I can do 7-8 months feeling like this.

At the intensity you're feeling the symptoms, I don't blame you.

Sorry to post on such a old post but would love your thoughts...

I have taken citalopram 2 times before with amazing results after a rough initial month.

Came off it late last year honestly believing I didn't need to be on it.

Anyway late Feb was struck back down, doctor told me to go back on them and said I can stay on them this time. I started on 20mg and had a rough couple of weeks, then started to feel much better, even remember thinking wow they've never worked this quickly before, then stupidly I upped the dose to 40mg as I had been on that before, side effects came crashing back, but then after 2 weeks again I began to feel better... until I saw a doctor who I asked for reassurance because even though I was feeling better I wanted reassurance it would work as well as it had done previously, she didn't give me that reassurance and told me that sometimes your hormones can change... since then I came crashing back down... 3 and a bit weeks ago I decided to give up on it and lowered my dose to 20mg to start weening but now I am in 2 minds whether to stick or move on. I want to stick as worked amazing in the past and don't want to put myself through the whole starting again with another drug... could it not be working as well this time simply because I have messed with the dose too much and not allowed it to settle? Or would you think it is simply not working this time? All in all I have been taking it 11 weeks, broken down as 2 on 20mg then 5 weeks and a couple of days on 40mg and now 4 weeks on 20mg...

I think I am better than I was but everyday is still a struggle... not sure why it either isn't working or is taking longer to work this time?

Thank you

Just read back Andrea? Flipping predictive text should read and..

If you look back a month you will see the article I asked Kate cogs to repost which explains why we feel worse before we get better.  

Do read it....

i felt the same way before I went back on AD again in January but once sorted was best thing I ever did.

20 mg is the therapeutic starting dose and I never understand why they don't whack everyone straight on it? 

So every time you up yr dose yr getting all the side effects again BUT it's very reassuring you are feeling a bit better don't you think? So well done 

It may be your body adjusting and that's why ur sleep is still being disturbed.  My first two weeks were sleepless! I changed from pm ...when I took it last time in 2013 ...to morning to see if that would help. Wethere it was coincidence or better I do not know

  I have a herbal sleep spray I use and spray lavender on my pillow. If I do wake I inhale the lavender and deep breathe meditate myself back to sleep 

so so yes I do think it will get better but it's not a quick fix. You are at the very  wstart. I didn't feel an inkling of improvement until 6/7 weeks then it improved daily. Fantastic really 

musy admit I couldn't wait 7 months tho!

its changed my life

there will always be ups and downs and you have to remember to help yourself with mindfulness meditation and being kind to yourself 

I literally asked the same question as you....it was on,y people like me that said Yes it will....that kept me going ! 

Hi Gillian

I'm hoping you will tell me this will pass quickly, been on 20mg for several years till over anxiety bout dizziness undoubtedly bought on by stress bought back the panic attacks, 4 wk's ago doc upped me to 30 mg but I keep having say 1 a wk, he's now upped me to 40mg, 6 days ago and anxiety & fear are a permanent feature st the mo, I'm off work struggling to fight for the real me. I'm fighting to be normal I don't want my teenage son knowing anything bout this

But it's so hard , I'm scared it won't go the attacks render me weak panicked and sick. Any words of wisdom?

Hi Gillian the worst thing for me on 20mg Citalopram was the drowsiness - I used to take it in the morning and would feel lethargic all day. Did you get the same? Apart from that it helped with the anxiety but I was like a zombie and couldn't face exercise which I'm normally really disciplined at. Did you take it at night beyond the initial 6-8 weeks?

I was just saying today I usually feel drowsy in the afternoons. Just travelled abroad today and Icould not keep my eyes open on the plane ! I take mine around 7/8am whenever I wake up... then go back to sleep again if I can...I think if I am dehydrated I feel drowsier...like today maybe

No...I have not dared to swop back to nighttime of 11/12mn before bed as am worried about not sleeping again ,

I get up every morning and go to a lunchtime gym class ok. But I can't stay awake In the evenings like I used to and def tired mid afternoon and occasionally mid evening around 8

However it works as you said!! So I live with it

Well they may settle on a higher dose BUT it's not always Increasing the dose that works to be honest

We're u not ok really on 20 or 30?

Each dose increase takes time to settle...weeks even for it to settle down

And with each increase you will get worse side effects just like you did at the start as that's how they work...

So you will feel bad

We can only share our own experiences as we're all differant and our bodies respond differently each time ...

When I went back on citalopram in January 20 mg..I had several mornings early In aclimitizing to the dose when I felt really anxious and even a cple of events during the day when my heart would race I would feel awful because of the circulating chemicals adrenaline cortisone etc...I had told my Gp as I think they were panic attacks. She gave me propranolol which is a beta blocker

I took one each morning with good effect fir 5 days and the two isolated panics weresorted same way. Takes about 10/15 mins for effect

I haven't taken any more since then as it's not occurred again..

Have a good think about it all

Yes it is scary isn't it that we may fall into that dark hole again