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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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  • gary14377
    gary14377 gillian176

    Posted

    Hi there,

    Great to hear about all the success people are having on citalopram, i am now on my 2nd time around (sop taking them stupidy when i started feeling better)

    Anyways i am now on the 16th day and having 'suicidal thoughts' now i must stress i have never attempted anything and i never plan on doing so, even in the grips of depression i think there is a future, i am just curious if anyone else has had similiar thoughts, i went to see my doctor yesterday and she said straight away that i tick to many box's for this to be anything other than just side effects from the tablets, as i am a 26 year old male and in the 2-3 week period of the tablets.

    Looking for any replies,

    Thankyou,

    Gary.

    • debbie18265
      debbie18265 gary14377

      Posted

      Hi Gary

      I started on 10mg of Citalopram 5 months ago and anxiety was really bad at the beginning then I had little waves of fear then felt depressed for a week or so and had intrusive thoughts all these things where side effects and I went to 15 mg which I have stayed on and all the thoughts subsided. What helped me a lot was every day well I did it on a night I write down everything good that happened in my day even if it was saying hello to a neighbour etc and not writing anything negative which still do every just got and it gets you thinking positive again but it will pass

    • gillian176
      gillian176 gary14377

      Posted

      Hi Gary

      Read way back about a month ago when I got Kate cogs to repost ... why you feel so bad when starting citalopram

      I know exactly what you mean about the thoughts and the non intention

      Your looking to feel cured and as soon as poss and yr feelings are the natural side effects. See the article

      You will come thru this. you should start a daily diary too then you can look back once yr dancing on tables and support others like I am you

      Your at VERY early start of this drug

      You have a few weeks:months to go yet before the light comes on

      I spent the whole of January afternoons sat watching Netflix to distract myself

      Keep at it

    • babsyboo
      babsyboo gillian176

      Posted

      gillian176

      Hi , have a ????

      while waiting to level out on 25 MG Celexa , is it normal to be sad and still cry and have headaches and shakes and nosia ?

      I'm on my 4 week ( not that I am counting ☺) 25 MG and I know it's still like u say early days 😊 was just wondering about it and will it go in do time

      I know u say it gets better with every day going by

      thank u head of time babsyboo

  • sarah48603
    sarah48603 gillian176

    Posted

    Thank you for starting this thread. It gives me hope to read success stories. I have taken citalopram twice before for anxiety and it worked well. This time im taking it for low mood and I worry its never going to work. I did 7 days on 10mg and have done 11 days on 20 now and feel rubbish. I am so tired and have no motivation at all. On Friday I switched to taking it at night because I was so drowsy when taking it in am but now I wake up alot during night. Last night I woke at 3 and couldnt get back to sleep then I felt hungry! Cant believe I was eating in the middle if the night! Thinking of switching back to am but is it too soon? I cant remember if the tiredness ever went away last time. Does it go away? Last time I was able to lay in and catch up on sleep but now I have 2 small children so am up at the crack of dawn regardless of how badly I slept. Am going to stick with them now ive read these success stories but I am struggling

    • anna78365
      anna78365 sarah48603

      Posted

      Hi Sarah, i was so tired for the first 3-4 weeks and then it improved, but I think I still do get more tired now i'm on Citalopram (I've been taking them 4 mnths now) but I can push through it now, it's not so debilitating.

      My doctor advised that I take my tablet before bed so I wasn't as tired in the day but I have sleep problems so don't want to mess with that as I'm ok taking it in the morning.

       

    • gillian176
      gillian176 anna78365

      Posted

      Yes I get tired too but just deal with it and likewise daren't swop to pm in case sleep further disrupted

    • gillian176
      gillian176 sarah48603

      Posted

      Hi sarah

      Your experiencing the side effects of this medication that makes you feel a lot worse Before you improve. Remember what it was like before and how u got better then?

      Read back amonth ago wen I asked Kate cogs to repost something she had seen on the net

      About why it makes u worse before u improve

      I was a gd 6 weeks on 20mg before I felt any improvement

      In 2013 I took it at nite and was ok but this time I didn't sleep well at all on the 20 mg

      Wether it would have settled or not with time I don't know but like U i was wide awake and getting stressed about that

      I moved to the morning cold turkey from taking it at 11/12mn by taking a tab wen I woke about 4 am then next day 7/8 watever time I woke. I still take it as I wake between 7/845

      I still get tired but can't remember how it was 3 years ago! One thing I have learnt about this drug is what Happened before does not always happen the same next time

      But you will get better. It's not a quick fix however and u just need to keep at it

      That's why I started this thread as I was so grateful for kind words 3 years ago

    • angela1234
      angela1234 gillian176

      Posted

      Hi everyone.

      im so glad I found this discussion.

      i have been on a therapeutic dose of 20mgs of Citalopram for the last 18 years after having the most horrendous P/N depression. I did come off them for a short time but ended up relapsing when my dad passed away. Anyway, I've just had quite a few major changes in my life and started with panic attacks, anxiety, insomnia, depression and no appetite at all. So I'm today on week 4 of 40mgs of Citalopram and still don't feel as though I'm there yet. 

      Im still struggling to eat, however I can sleep which is an improvement. The worst time for me is first thing in a morning. I struggle to get out of the bed and do feel quite nauseous and tired till late afternoon. As I'm writing this I feel 'okay'. I'm nowhere near as bad as I was with the P/N depression as back then I couldn't even look at my face in the mirror as it wasn't my face. Has anyone else experienced depersonalisation and the feeling that they aren't themselves. This for me is the worst bit of depression. 

      Reading your discussion though has given me lots of encouragement and hope and I think you are all marvellous. Lots of love. Angie X x

    • gillian176
      gillian176 angela1234

      Posted

      You poor thing. Sounds horrendous time your having 

      i don't think the dose goes higher than that...but your only on week 4 so maybe it's not all kicked in. And those are the side effects we all get when starting the drug?

      did your gp explore the use of beta blockers like propranolol for the anxiety attacks?

      I was given those initially whilst  I first stabilized on the 20 mg which am still on 

      They did help . I only ever used 7. 

      Take care 

       

  • Akens86
    Akens86 gillian176

    Posted

    Thanks Gilliam

    It does take a while doesn't it. So happy you're much better and thanks for the positive story smile

  • Fltricia
    Fltricia gillian176

    Posted

    Hi Everyone,

    I've been on and off of Celexa for years.  The first time I took it I was 21 and stayed on until I was 24 but gained about forty pounds.  I'm sure it wasn't just the medicine but it definitely increased my appetite.  I went on it again for a short period in 2006 to deal with some situational anxiety but once I switched jobs my doc pulled me off of it because she felt it was all job related.   So in 2012 I was going through a rough patch...had an occular migraine, went through a long period of dating the wrong guys, and was dealing with the fear of losing my Grandmother who was very ill.  I started at 10 mg for a week and then moved to 20 mg.  It took about 3 to 4 weeks to start to feel better but a lot of my situations started to work themselves out (met a new boyfriend, figured out what my migraine was, etc.)    I dropped to 10 mg in 2014 because I was concerned about the weight gain.  I stayed on this dose up until ten days ago.  I survived buying a new house, doing a complete renovation, getting married, dealing with immigration for my husband, fostering some kids part time, helping my cousin with a custody battle, and juggling a very demanding career.   In March I decided to freeze my eggs so the fertility doctor pumped me full of hormones and two weeks into the process my husband advised me he was taking an internship in NYC for the rest of the semester and through out the summer.  The writing started to be on the wall that he may end up there permanently.  I'm a 3 hour flight away.  Soooooo at first I had some left over Klonopin from last summer that I would take about twice a month when work got really crazy.  I then went to my GP and she said my dose was so low that it wouldn't protect me from what I was going through.  So about two weeks ago we upped my dose.  I feel much more tired but the anxiety is not as debilitating.  The mornings and the afternoons are the worst and then around 6 pm the fog kinda lifts.  I'm exercising, meditating, praying, and getting enough sleep ( tylenol pm) but I'm still going through so much situational stress that the doc gave me Xanax to take as needed.   Celexa does work!  Sometimes it takes 4 to 6 weeks.  It usually feels worse before its better.  Anxiety can increase so get something to help with the immediate symptoms until it kicks in.   I hope this time it will help me brave this storm again!  

    • shane23112
      shane23112 Fltricia

      Posted

      Hi, thanks for sharing your story! You are clearly a survivor. I am new to this drug. Never taken an AD before this. At 8 weeks side effects and anxiety still pretty high. Occasional good days. Hopefully things will settle soon.

      All the best! Shane

    • gillian176
      gillian176 shane23112

      Posted

      We are all differant in our needs Shane 

      I am week 20 now and have just been replying to someone else that quite honestly this drug has saved my life and had such a positive affect on my relationships where I am back to being ME 

      It doesn't work for everyone so don't be afraid to consider that 

       But keep going. Your very early days....

    • shane23112
      shane23112 gillian176

      Posted

      Thanks for the reality check Gillian. The positive and informative posts like yours on this forum have helped immensely. My doctor said 2 weeks side effects and within 6 to 8 weeks I would feel good. Not my experience. I am so impatient to feel good and put this behind me. I will be 9 weeks on Monday so I suppose well on my way. I just need to keep on fighting thru this. I am at 20 MG which I believe will be the right dose for me ultimately. No chance I would consider changing meds. I do not want to start all over again with a new drug. Just need to tough it out for now. I suppose that since I have occasional good days is a positive Sign? Thanks! Wish me luck! Shane
    • gillian176
      gillian176

      Posted

      Well the side effects last longer than two weeks! It always amazes me what these GPs say. Some of them have no idea. But they are sorta right about the 6/8 weeks when a light should slowly start to come on and you will increasingly improve day by day. Trust me. You will

      You are having some better moments. That's positive

      StAy on the 20 mg

      Don't be tempted to ask for an increase

      It does get worse before it gets better

      That's how it all works

      Do not be despondent

      Keep at it 👍👍 and good luck.

      Let us know when it's all working. Because it will work 👏

    • angela1234
      angela1234 shane23112

      Posted

      Hi Shane.

      I too am exactly the same as you. Just hanging on in there getting through each day. Friends keep asking, ' you got any plans for this week' I say, I'm just gonna try and get through it to which they say sorry. It's difficult for some to understand isn't it. I'm week 5 now. Although last time which was a long time ago was around the 8/9 week mark when I saw some 'good' days. So keep going Shane. We have to. It's the only way to beat it and come out the other side stronger than ever x x

      Angie x

    • shane23112
      shane23112 angela1234

      Posted

      Thanks Angie, positive and encouraging support really does help me get thru the days and weeks. This site has been a godsend. My hubby is great and he tries but hard for him to understand how Wretched I feel most days. Some days this feels like such an exhausting uphill battle and other days are tolerable.

      You are certainly correct we just need to keep on fighting thru the tough days to get to the better days ahead.

      Shane xx

    • angela1234
      angela1234 shane23112

      Posted

      Hi Shane

      Yes we do.

      We will get there! Just try and keep positive too and say nice things to yourself. Apparently it gets into the subconscious and helps with healing.

      Keep in touch

      Angie x x

    • ellen40147
      ellen40147 gillian176

      Posted

      I began to feel that Citalopram was the drug for me by about the 4th week but felt I needed a stronger dosage as my doctor had only given me 10mg to start out while I got adjusted to the medication. Side effects lasted about 2 weeks. Anyway my doctor had me to slowly increase my dosage until I found a doase tailored for me. I am now taking 15 mg and I began to really feel like myself again at about 3 months. I am now at about 4 months.
    • shane23112
      shane23112 ellen40147

      Posted

      Hi Ellen, do you recall feeling just generally unwell for the first couple of months on Citalopram. I am on week 9 at 20 MG and I have some good afternoons and evenings, still morning anxiety and find that I feel kind of fluish or sort of hung over a lot of the time. I am hoping I will feel better at 12 weeks. Exhausting experience so Far!

      Thx Shane

    • ellen40147
      ellen40147 shane23112

      Posted

      After the first couple of weeks of heightened anxiety, slight nausea, looser than normal stools, and some changes in appetite the only things that have still been noticeable are early morning waking at like 4:30 a.m. sometimes able to go back to sleep sometimes not but that seems to be improving the past few days and increased sweating. I can be doing the simplest thing and break out into a sweat to where my hair will be wet but if those are the only things I have to contend with in order to feel better over all I can live with it especially after having read what others still go through.
    • sarah48603
      sarah48603 shane23112

      Posted

      Hi Shane

      You're not the only one. Ive been on it 6 weeks now for depression and although I feel calmer and less stressed the negatives far outweigh the positive. I am so so tired. I sleep very lightly and wake several times, sometimes not able to get back to sleep. From 1 pm especially I an exhausted and lack motivation. My house is a mess which I hate but am too tired to sort out. Also feel fluey like you say. Ive not seen dr yet, my apt is next week. Dont know whether to ask for a different ssri

    • gillian176
      gillian176 sarah48603

      Posted

      Hello all

      I am week 21 and increasingly well

      My negatives far outweigh the negs I had

      As you all experience

      I still take my tab 7/8am

      I still wake up at night but I always did when I reflect

      I mindfulness breathe myself back to sleep

      Hang in there all. Dont up your dose.

      Keep at it. Early days for you all 😎

    • shane23112
      shane23112 sarah48603

      Posted

      Hi Sarah, not happy that you are having these side effects but glad that it is not only me...if that makes any Sense! I saw my doctor today and she confirmed what Gillian and Katecogs often say. It gets better with time and just stay the course because gradually we will see improvements. It is too soon to consider a different ssri or to up the dose. Doc suggested at review at 12 weeks to see where things are at. I've gone this far so I can tough it out for 3 more weeks.

      Bloody hard some days though!

      Hang In! Shane

    • sarah48603
      sarah48603 gillian176

      Posted

      Thanks gillian I am going to keep at it. I tool one this morning instead of tonight hoping I will sleep better

    • sarah48603
      sarah48603 shane23112

      Posted

      12 weeks so im halfway there! I am going to just stick at it, we can do this! :-)
    • gillian176
      gillian176 sarah48603

      Posted

      Well done Sarah

      Yes yes you can😎😎

      Don't be alarmed if you just feel a little weird having altered the timings. Our bodies can be very sensitive and take time to settle again

      😄

    • gillian176
      gillian176 shane23112

      Posted

      Well done Shane

      Yes stay with it

      What good support from your GP

      They are correct

      The fact that you are feeling smAll improvements is a great reflection

      I still get some of these side effects too

      Keep on posting your positive improvements 😄

    • BCse7
      BCse7 shane23112

      Posted

      Hi Shane,

      What do you think about this

      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...

      Good luck with your battle, people say we have to stay strong or be strong, I think unless you've been through this you don't even know what being strong is haha

    • BCse7
      BCse7 gillian176

      Posted

      Hi Gillian, at what stage was you sure you was feeling better?

      Very happy for you 😊 Xx

    • gillian176
      gillian176 BCse7

      Posted

      At about 6  weeks I started to feel the light was coming on

      its slowly get even better

      i self help with meditation exercise mindfulness etc

      one has to work at it...and deep breaths..

    • gillian176
      gillian176 BCse7

      Posted

      In a nutshell I think you have seriously messed yourself up here!

      sorry to say

      stick with the 20mg for couple of months

      Everytime you mess with the dose ...as in increasing...you will get all the side effects back. 

      This is my second time on cit. last was 3 years ago. Took me a year to withdraw but then I am medical so that's our thing! 

      You felt good way back because you were on it! 

      I realize i se I have a chemical inbalance and will stay on it long term now...let me know how you go on

      yep head down stay strong 

       

    • shane23112
      shane23112 BCse7

      Posted

      Hi, I have to agree with Gillian here. Stick with the 20 mg and ride it out. Seems to be the best option. Similar to you I am nearly at 11 weeks 1 week at 10 the remainder at 20mg and I have some okay days but mostly still pretty rough. It can be undescribably hellish no doubt about it. Check in to this forum often for support and advise it really does help you get thru a tough day knowing that others are or have gone thru the same thing.

      Stay strong, you can get there. Shane

    • shane23112
      shane23112 angela1234

      Posted

      Hi Angie, how are you doing? 11 weeks for me on Monday. Some days are okay some a struggle. Mornings still rough but seeing small improvements or perhaps I have just become better at managing.

      I am hoping 12 weeks will be a milestone for better days to kick in.

      Shane

    • angela1234
      angela1234 shane23112

      Posted

      Hi Shane.

      Unfortunately as I had been on citalopram for the last 17 years the increased dose to 40mgs wasn't working and I was getting worse. So my gp has started me on a new med as my main problem this time has been my nerves and anxiety as opposed to depression. So I've done 2 weeks on this new med (duloxetine) only at a low dose and he's slowly reducing my citalopram at the same time as u can't just come off it. I've been so scared to try something new but had to. Anyway, I'm feeling much calmer and my brain dosent babble as much with thoughts. I still don't feel ready to go back to work (I'm a midwife) as I need to be able to cope with women in labour which can be really stressful. The only downfall at the minute is I feel a bit like a zombie for a few hours in the afternoon. But I have seen a little improvement. I think sometimes when your in a drug that Dosent work as quick your brain sorts itself out anyway. My citalopram probably stopped working years ago but I never realised. It's just the major life changes I went through that kicked it all off. Fingers crossed for both of us. I know it gets better with or without drugs as I've got better before with and without meds. Just takes time. X x x x

    • gillian176
      gillian176 angela1234

      Posted

      Sorry to hear that Angela

      That it's not working for you as that black hole is awful 

      I took a year to reduce off my cit back in 2013 in very tiny pillcutter doses with no side effects

      Except I realise now I should never have come off it 

      been on this again since January at 20 mg and I intend to stay on it or maybe reduce to 10mg in the future

      i have used propranolol prn  if I have had an overwhelming anxiety situation. That works for me 

      I feel that the overwhelming anxiety I had became a depression as such is the nature of the beast 

      That acute anxiety produces a clinical depression

      I didn't really focus on that as the problem as when your ...not right... you can't comprehend anything. I had nothing to be depressed about

      It was/is a chemical thing I lack 

      good luck on the new drug 

    • shane23112
      shane23112 angela1234

      Posted

      Hi Angie, seems like your doctor has you on a good plan. Positive that you are feeling calmer. I have never herd of duloxetine. Is it also an ssri? Good luck! You are off to a good start I am sure it will work well for you!

      Shane

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