

Please tell me good stuff about Citalopram, did it work for you?

(18 Posts)
Sunfleurs Mon 28-Sep-09 12:01:54

I have severe anxiety and panic disorder and it has been going on for about 7 weeks. My doctors says that I need to start taking something to help me cope. I think so too. I have been really suffering.

Please tell me some positive stories please because I am so frightened of going on this.

Many thanks.

IdrisTheDragon Mon 28-Sep-09 12:05:31

I have been taking Citalopram for two years now. I have anxiety which manifests itself in depression when I don't deal with it.

When I started taking it I wasn't great. Within a few weeks I was much more able to cope with things and now I am at the stopping taking it stage.

I found it made me sick in the first couple of weeks of taking it, and that my sleep goes a bit odd, but those temporary side effects are well worth it for the permanent one of being a lot better.

I have also found that a course of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy really helped me too.

Let me know if there's anything else you'd like to know about my experience of taking it.

alypaly Mon 28-Sep-09 12:05:56

Hi sunfleurs
tablets will help you get some equilibrium so that you can deal with the real issues in a more rational and controlled way and get to the bottom of why you have started with panic attacks. They will not cure will cure yourself by finding out why you are getting these panic attacks

I've been taking citalopram since March and although I have about a week of side effects, both when I started and whenever the dosage has been increased, taking it has really helped me. I was reluctant to have any antidepressants to start with and started off with a low dose (10mg).

When I started taking it, the first week I felt a bit spaced out, nauseous and tired. I also tend to spend mid afternoon yawning really badly. All of these side effects lessened after about a week and most of the time I don't suffer from any of them. When my dosage has been incresed (have had this twice) the side effects start again but have not been as bad as the first week.

I have found that taking it has helped me, I can go out on my own again rather than needing someone to be with me, I'm a lot happier and can find the motivation to do things rather than sit around unable to make myself do simple household chores.

Hope this helps and you start to feel better soon whatever you choose to do.

I should probably add that I've been having CBT counselling as well, but without the citalopram I doubt I would have been able to address the issues surrounding the anxiety that I originally had.

Sunfleurs Mon 28-Sep-09 13:28:34

Thank you so much for your replies. I am going to start taking it as soon as I can get someone to be around for the first few days I am on it. I don't know why I am so scared of it. Nothing can be worse than the panic attacks and anxiety I am experiencing now. I think that currently I can do things to alleviate my panic attacks by breathing and meditating but if I am taking medication and they get much worse as I adjust there is not really anything I can do as they are being chemically induced iyswim. I know I am over thinking this far too much.

I am doing CBT by myself at the moment and have been refererred but there is a long waiting list.

I know what my problems are but the panic attacks make it so hard to address them, if the Citalopram will just help me stop feeling so awful so I can start sorting things out it would be fantastic.

Sunfleurs Mon 28-Sep-09 13:30:23

squashedfrogs, that is how I got as well. Not being able to go out unless someone was with me but then to be honest it was getting to the stage where everything scared me, going out, being at home, being with my dc, NOT being with my dc, being alone, seeing friends, it it now way to live.

Just wanted to add my story.

I used to get really anxious about things and was prescribed Citalopram for depression. It changed everything. I was only on 10mg, and was only on it for about 6 months (which was right for me, but not necessarily for anyone else). I found I could do things without winding myself up about them almost immediately. I felt like I was able to function as a normal person without over-analysing everything. Once the anxiety was gone I felt happier because I could do things!

Even after coming off them I have maintained my sense of proportion. If I feel myself getting anxious then I go through my "worst case scenario" list, work out solutions and then go ahead.

I don't know if I could have started without the Citalopram. It really did change my life.

AndyatRichmond Wed 08-May-13 08:32:43

I'm not a mum, a bloke actually. But I saw Sunfleurs message, and is completely relevant to my situation. Regarding Cilatopram, I too am worried about taking it, but am going to bite the bullet and take my first one today. It was encouraging to read the other messages showing how it does help after the initial side effects. Just to let you know that you are not alone and hope you get better. Andy.

ShabbyButNotChic Wed 08-May-13 09:07:19

@andy i am also taking my first citalopram today, good luck with it i really hope it works for you. I'm nervous about it but things can only get better right? Anything will be better than how i feel right now!

Lonelybunny Wed 08-May-13 14:00:23

It's not so bad. The worst effect I had was insomnia for 3 days but that's passed now , I've been on 10 mg for just over a week and they haves made a diff to my anxiety already

ShabbyButNotChic Wed 08-May-13 14:37:56

Thats great to hear, i took mine this morning and have felt exhausted since! Dont know if thats because of the cit (can it even work that fast??) or because i feel like i've relaxed a bit and can feel my tiredness instead of focusing on stressing. Does that make sense? I really hope this works.

dementedma Thu 09-May-13 22:23:48

I take 20mg and it has been brilliant. Really made a difference

LittleMissGerardButlerfan Thu 09-May-13 22:29:07

I have had my tablets for a month now, and I still haven't plucked up the courage to start taking them.

I am anxious about taking medication which would actually help my anxiety!

Sorry I have nothing constructive to add, just want you to know you are not alone.

MerryMarigold Thu 09-May-13 22:30:55

I have taken it for several years and it's been brilliant. I do feel slightly nauseous when I go on or if I forget a couple of days (not advisable!) but it is very faint. It lessens my appetite a little, which is a good thing, because it can be quite out of control otherwise, just constantly hungry. I lost a bit of weight as I recall, probably due to the appetite thing, but this was good as I was overweight.

Sometimes you need very little. I take 2.5mg, can't tolerate 5mg, started off higher and it was like permanent adrenalin. 2.5mg takes the edge off and I can still work.

mrsmobbs Fri 10-May-13 17:09:20

I took them for hot flushes, the first month was great, then they stopped having any effect, took them for 2 months, have been off them for 6 now and still have side effects, they are hell to come off, google them and you will see pages and pages of people saying the same thing, If they work then brilliant, but be careful not to come off without slowing down dose, I ran out and did not get anymore so mine was instant but only 10mg.

Hollie27 Tue 21-Oct-14 17:08:38

Hi. I've been on citalopram for 12 days now 10mg the doctor wants me to go up to 20mg but I'm to scared as had really bad side effects when started even now I still feel weird. Will I get bad side effects agian if up dose ???

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