Success stories of Citalopram please.

Literally just signed up so I could post this. Started on citalaopram for severe anxiety a few months ago (10mg to start with, been on 20mg for about 2 weeks now). Doc never told me about any side effects (and I thank her for that because I probably would have been worse or not even taken it), and day 3/4 was the WORST day I have ever had. Literally an entire night and day of panic attacks every 5 mins, felt rigid with fear, very dizzy (falling about my hallway when I got up to go to the toilet). I was FREAKING OUT big time and thought I was going to die or something melodramatic like that. I found this thread, and reading that this was a fairly normal event actually made things much better, and I got through that day of pillow-clutching terror by reading it. So thanks! Still have the odd weirdness (feel dizzy and tense first thing when I wake up, but that could be tiredness or because that's just before I take my pill), but in general I do feel better. Hopefully once the 20mg levels out I'll get to where I want to be. 

In short, if you are reading this and feel like you're going crazy, freaking out, dizzy, nauseous and generally feel like your brain is going haywire: it's okay, it happens to most of us and you'll get through the worst of it soon. Stick it out, take today's pill and make a nice cup of herbal tea, watch some tv with a blanket wrapped around you. If you can face it, walk around the house a bit.

Hi there. I started taking this drug a year ago, Initially increased anxiety but all fine now and happy. I take 40mgs daily and function fine xx

I know this thread is well over a year old but here goes. Like many I have started on this drug. Ave read horror stories and light at the end of tunnel stories. I was scared to take it but could not put up with burning furnace in my stomach I call anxiety. It's actually crippling to me when my anxiety kicks in and a feel it mostly in my stomach like knots or extreme butterflies. Does anyone else get this. Ave had anxiety sInce a was about 15 and have been on trazadone 300mg prozac? K alms etc anything that helped. Ad really just like someone to help me through the first few weeks on this drug, to talk to so I don't feel like my syip toms are going to become to much. 

Trust me keep at it for at least a month, I am on it for roughly 35 days now and had the exact same symptoms you are explaining and they have subsided!!! trust me keep at it!

Hi All,

I am also new to this forum, however i did read A LOT of reviews on Citalopram while i was going through my 'dark time' (the 5 weeks it took for the Citalopram to kick in) when i was suffering from severe Anxiety and Depression as a result of an intense work environment and a narcissistic boss. I suffered a big panic attack and subsequently resigned from work a few weeks later. i was then put into Citalopram (starting on 10mg per day, and going up to 20mg after a week). As mentioned by many people on this forum, the anxiety definitely increased in the 1st week or so, which i tried to counter act with Benzos, but then read about how addictive they were, and flushed them down the loo and decided to work through the first 2 weeks without any other meds beside the anti depressants. This was hard, but i did it, i just made sure i was not in any overbearing situations, and went for walks regularly as that seemed to help. I lost my appetite completely and lost 8kgs over 4 weeks, got dry mouth, suffered from insomnia (which added to the anxiety because i was worried about going to bed), felt extremely low and like a failure as i couldn't look after my baby boy as well as i should be (but got help from my husband and Mum), had horrible thoughts and hated being in situations where i could let those thoughts overtake my mind i.e. watching TV, knitting, worried that i was going crazy and that this would never pass, Hands shaking, no motivation, sweating and feeling of overheating, irritable......(most side effects that are mentioned commonly). After week 3 and week 4 i was beginning to question if i was ever going to feel normal again......and lo and behold, by week 5 i was feeling like the old me again, i was taking back control in my life, getting out for lunches, meeting friends, joined a yoga class and craft class and pulling myself back on track. I am now enjoying my little boy again and even hosted his first Birthday party this weekend, which went without any feeling of anxiety...just joy! I have no more problems with sleeping, i feel like i am back to normal, no more overheating or sweating, no other side effects as mentioned previously, the only thing i would say is that my hands do tremble slightly, but that is a small price to pay for my sanity being restored! Sex drive is as it was prior to my panic attack, and i am simply enjoying being back to the old me again, and i will never take my mental health for granted again!

Those first few weeks do feel endless and will take a lot of patience, but please, just take each day as it comes, and you will gradually feel like you are taking back your life slowly but surely. You must understand that it is not a quick process and does require time (which differs from person to person) but I would just like to tell my story as an encouragement for you to continue with the Citalopram, because it WILL kick in at some point (give it 6 weeks and anything sooner is a bonus) and you will be so happy that you persevered with the first few weeks of 'hell'.

I would also like to point out that i did go to see a Phychologist once a week for 5 weeks, which really did help, but i am only on the Citalopram now and i am coping perfectly fine since the meds kicked in.

I really hope my story helps and is an encouragement to anyone going through what i went through, as i found any positive feedback about Citalopram a huge support and motivation for me to stick with it. If you have any questions please just ask, i will be happy to answer where i can. Good Luck and stick with it, it is sooooo worth it!! xxx