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Very new to Citalopram :/

Posted , 6 users are following.

alyssa123
alyssa123

I am new to Citalopram and antidepressants in general. I was prescribed Zoloft over a year ago and only took it for a couple weeks because the side effects made me act extremely bipolar. I tried to cope with my anxiety and worrying about everything on my own but it did not work so now I am going to be taking Citalopram. I have many reservations about medication that alters the brain. I have only taken it once (yesterday) and it made my heart race a little, I had nausea and racing thoughts and I also felt more anxiety than usual for a short amount of my night.

I am wondering if the benefits will eventually outweigh the side effects, the only thing that bothers me was the heightened anxiety. So I am wondering, is that a normal side effect and will it go away? And should I stick with it?

1 like, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • natasha58567
    natasha58567

    Posted

    The heightened anxiety is normal and only bothered me for a few days of the first couple of weeks so stick with it and u will be so glad u did it does work u just need to battle through the first couple of weeks smile
  • gill28325
    gill28325

    Posted

    Hi alyssa

    Welcome! We all worry about taking drugs especially for your brain but as my husband says if your heart or anyother part of your body was broken you would have to!!!

    I can't believe how great I fill ive been on cits for 3 months and have my life back!!

    The side effects are awful at times but I stuck with them

    Take it day by day

    Good luck

    Always here for chat!!

  • alyssa123
    alyssa123

    Posted

    Thank you both so much! Your responses helped my view and I am definitely going to keep taking it and see how it goes!
  • Ferneyhough01
    Ferneyhough01

    Posted

    Hi.

    I have been taking citalopram for 2 weeks now 10mg. I am taking at night and still feel dreadful. Anxiety, not sleeping and fatigue throughout the day, really struggling to do my job. Nausea has now settled. How long do I need it give it?

    Thanks

  • natasha58567
    natasha58567

    Posted

    Ferney maybe try taking the cit in the morning to help with sleeping at night as they can make you feel more awake sometimes... I take mine between 8 & 9 in morning and im asleep by 11pm and awake around 7am which is a lot better than before.

    Took about 3 weeks for my heightened anxiety to settle im on week 8 now and glad I stuck with them smile

    Good luck

  • anne2953
    anne2953

    Posted

    Hi Alyssa,

    It takes perseverance and you will get there, and feel normal again, what you are going thru just now is normal, I felt the exact same as you, when you took the Cit yesterday your heart raced due to the anxiety of taking the Cit, I had this too, please join us on the forum Anyone NOT had any side effects on Citalopram? as so many folk on there at different stages of taking Cit, a really supportive group of people, check it out, everyone is welcome there, we are all there for each other, so we know we are not suffering alone.

    Ferneyhough check out that forum as well, all ur questions will be answered and all lead to one end result---- feeling normal and happy again, !!!

    Natasha is right about taking cit in the morning, as its a stimulant it can keep u awake at night, so take her advise and try them in the morning to see if that helps, and look at Natasha another good result, cit will get you there.

    Anne smile

  • Ferneyhough01
    Ferneyhough01

    Posted

    Hi

    I have tried in the morning and made me sleepy - I couldn't drive to work!!!

  • anne2953
    anne2953

    Posted

    What about when u get home from work?? settled for the evening. worth a try ??

    Anne

  • Ms_Mac
    Ms_Mac

    Posted

    When I first went on SSRI's, I was just SO desperate to feel better and would have tried anything but, looking back, I'm sorry I was on them for so long (13 yrs.) I became to reply on them and was terrified to stop.

    Now, I'm questioning the effect they have had on my brain, after so many years. They don't tell you, or even , know enough about what these pills do to you.

    • kristin34407
      kristin34407 Ms_Mac

      Posted

      In total agreement with you. After being on Prozac, Effexor, Weebutrin  and other SSRI meds for depression, I was on Cymbalta for over nine years. Most alleviated the depression for a while but eventually stopped working. Today I hardly know myself and have no desire to continue on with life. I suspect SSRI's do indeed have a long term effect on the brain in ways the medical community is not yet aware of.
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