Things just keep getting worse. Night 3 of citalopram 10mg.

Hi Danielle the first week of any antidepressants are usually the worst but I promise it does get better. Please stick with it and you will soon see some improvement 😊 you normally feel worse before you get better on antidepressants. Take care x

Hi Danielle, 

I’ve been on cit for 3 years at 10mg. 5 days ago the doc increased to 20mg so I’m going through exactly the same as you. 4am still wide awake having panic attacks but trust me it does settle! Has the doc given you a low dose of diazepam to help the first couple of days? If not ask for some, 2mg before bed can make all the difference. It does pass I promise stick with it we can do this together 

Thank you so much for the replies ladies... I really appreciate it. I guess it's also a matter of me being absolutely terrified of falling asleep, for what reasons I don't know but I've never been scared to sleep before. This is absolute agony. 😰

It will get better stick with it honestly defo try some diazepam for a few days as and why you need it. A  small low dose to easy the first few days does help - but don’t use long term or rely on it 

What you are experiencing is totally normal on CIT. I too had the same. I am on week 12 now and am managing to get about 6 hours of sleep but I still get some nights where I wake in the middle of the night with racing thoughts. I took zopiclone sleeping tablet for a while which helped me get about 4 hours sleep. Try not to panic. It will get better and you can survive for a period of time on little sleep. keep doing the exercise and doing things which make you feel a little bit better each day. Make a plan for each day to give you some structure otherwise it can seem like a long empty day without anything planned.  Above all, be gentle on yourself. We are all going through the same on this forum so you are not alone, especially during those early mornings! Take care Mark x

xx It does make you feel like you are going crazy. I oftened thought about coming off it but as I had started the journey I felt it was best to carry on rather than just stop and start again. But I promise you, it will get better. There are a couple of great books to read which help. Depression, the curse of the strong and recovery letters.  They really help you understand and not to feel alone. Also a great read when you cant sleep.!! Remember that it is just the illness telling you that you are not worthy or that you are going mad. It is not you!!!  There are millions of us going through the same thing. But we still feel alone with it ! You WILL get through this, just like many others. It is bloody horrible right now but there is light at the end of the tunnel. you have taken the first step towards your recovery and each step feels like a mountain to climb but eventually you will climb out of this dark pit. Easy now !!! x 

HI Danielle.

My heart goes out to you.  I have just come through a bout of insomnia and it is bloody awful. I ended up konking out for almost 14 hours then the next night didn't sleep and the next night 12. What I did was because I started to get sleep, I limited myself to 8 hours to try and regulate it.  I know you are not there yet but I'm sure sleep will come. I was a bear for the first 3 days but my sleep seems to have returned now. I was given quetiapine and mirtazpine and neither worked. The insomnia just had it's way. Keep posting here and get the support you need.

Jo x

HI Danielle.

My heart goes out to you.  I have just come through a bout of insomnia and it is bloody awful. I ended up konking out for almost 14 hours then the next night didn't sleep and the next night 12. What I did was because I started to get sleep, I limited myself to 8 hours to try and regulate it.  I know you are not there yet but I'm sure sleep will come. I was a bear for the first 3 days but my sleep seems to have returned now. I was given quetiapine and mirtazpine and neither worked. The insomnia just had it's way. Keep posting here and get the support you need.

Jo x

I have another a update/question. I managed to doze into a VERY light sleep for about seven hours. I'm sadly awake again but wanted to know if extreme nausea was normal for being on cit. it seems I can only manage to eat at very specific times, with the rest of times being like I have zero appetite or feel extremely nauseated to the point where I can't even sip on water.

I did not have sickness but I definitely lost my appetite. Lost 3kg in 2 weeks.  Welcome to the anxiety diet!!!. Seriously, don't stress. Eat when you can. Your appetite will return soon but it may take a little while. You will probably feel hungrier in the evenings

Hi Danielle,

How are you doing?