Taking Citalopram second time, really bad side effects?
Posted , 8 users are following.
Just need some encouragement. I had stopped citalopram for about 6 months after taking it for 2 years for anxiety. Citalopram worked great in those 2 years. However, anxiety came creeping back in after some big life changes. Last time i took 20mg straight away and had horrible side affects for about 2 weeks. I took time of work now as I knew side effects will be horrible initially. I am on 3rd day now and feel super bad, horrible increased anxiety, paranoia, nausea, tiredness. I know it should get better like it did last time. I am just need some hope as it is so hard to understand that it will get better again in a moment of anxiety? Anyone has any positivity to share who go trough the side affects and feel better. As i feel so hopeless. Also thinking if i should take 20mg now as i was taking 10mg for 3 days but last time i took 20mg straight away.
0 likes, 16 replies
Jo12875 lala25752
Posted
Hey, Lala25752
Sorry to hear this. Ive no advice, but want to follow the conversation here as I started to take citalopram 20mg on Monday this week and am feeling exactly like you describe. It's my first time taking it and I've never felt worse in my life. Seriously thinking of stopping it. The anxiety feels so much worse with than without it, I feel like Ive got terrible flu and dont want to eat anything.
Id love to know how you get on
stephen03156 Jo12875
Posted
Totally normal. It'll pass.
Hang in there & good luck
lala25752 Jo12875
Posted
First time round i was exactly the same felt really bad and was bed bound for about 10 days but stuck with it and then it started working and it was amazing all my anxiety was gone. I just wish i never stopped taking it, it made me feel so good and normal again i though i am all cured...Don't stop honestly i remember feeling so hopeless and my anxiety was trough the roof for about a week worse than ever. It does get worse before it gets better. I am again in the same boat. Just need to keep reminding myself it will work again and have hope. In your case i am pretty sure it will work and you will feel like normal self you just have to stick with it, take time of work or school or other responsibilities and just rest, it will help a lot. Please do message me if you have any questions, i will be happy to answer anything and give more info about my experience with citalopram. You are not alone.
paul22356 stephen03156
Posted
It's the same for most people. Keep taking them mate things will get better. Paul
Jo12875 lala25752
Posted
Thanks so much for your great reply and for your support. It really helps to know I'm not alone. Take good care and hang in there you too! x
Jo12875
Posted
Hey lala25752, and others who commented here. Thanks for such a helpful conversation. I ended up quitting the 20mg and back at my doctor asking to try 10mg. Told her about the problems I was having She said let's go back and start again really slow. I really want these meds to work as I feel quite crippled with anxiety right now. Anyway, thanks everyone here. It's good to know I'm not the only person struggling.
deblou45 lala25752
Posted
20 is far to high to start on you should start on 10
paul22356 lala25752
Posted
hi their I'm on my second time on them. You seem to be suffering the same side affects as me. The first 10 days were awful but now after day 14 they seem to be better. Just hang in their because you know they helped you last time and they will again it's just your body adjusting to the meds. All the best and hope you feel better soon. Paul
tamsin07572 lala25752
Posted
hi all this is helping me too. i an on it a second tome too - day 13 today. I feel like the side effects are so much worse this time around. My anxiety has gone through the roof - way worse than before i started and I cant sleep or eat. i know it should be getting better by now so feeling really panicky and despondent. Anyone else had the intense anxiety for more than 2 weeks and still got better?
lauren2095 lala25752
Posted
hey lala I'm on citalopram from 30mgs to 40mgs for 8 weeks now an it did really help me it does feel worse the first 2 -3 weeks because I had those bad side effects aswell specially my anxiety it went threw the roof... I'm still surprised to this day how I still went to work but I did!! anyways it is normal to get those side effects in the early weeks but it does ease off it took me prob 4 maybe 5 weeks to start seeing improvements so the only thing I can say is be impatient an trust me! I found it hard to! but u have to an if u still feel like s**t after 6 weeks go to ur GP but it does take 4-6 weeks for it to start working!! good luck!!
lala25752
Posted
Thank you for your reply. All I need is reassurance and hope that it will work again all the anxiety peeps probably know what I mean. Its been 6 days I have been taking it and yesterday was an alright day i actually went out for a walk. I cannot manage to go back to work yet its just too much. Lauren you are brave that you managed to go to work! Lets hope it works again. Anxiety is horrible...especially when it hits you from no where.
Potatoghost lala25752
Posted
I'm the same second time on citalopram 20mg for 4 days bow and my god the anxiety is unreal. like you I didnt feel like this first time round.
it's been a few days since your post. how are you feeling now? x
lala25752 Potatoghost
Posted
hey, i am on my 7th day just took my tablet. honestly yesterday i had a great day went out for a wall. today i felt completely crap, anxious, dowm. i mean it got better in the evening for few hours but anxious again. also been super tired. will defo need to take another week off from work. just need to push through it was rough the first time too but probably not as bad.
Potatoghost lala25752
Posted
sounds like they are starting to work a little if you got a few hours in the evening and a day yesterday where you felt ok x I can only assume that's a good sign 😊
if you need to take the time off work then it's probably best until you feel a little more settled.
tamsin07572 lala25752
Posted
hi all im 2 weeks in and maybe have slight inprovement in anxiety levels but still very anxious and not sleeping well. Really hoping that by the end of the third week ill start to feel better.