Hi all,
I've sufferd with anxiety (health anxiety) since January this year.. It's been the worst 9/10 months of my life. I'm convince there's something wrong with my heart or brain or I suppose just anything in general.. I have so many physical symptoms that make it hard to believe it's all just anxiety.
I've had many blood tests, an ECG and all is normal - my doctor insists I'm healthy and just suffering from anxiety. He perscribed me citalopram 20mg a couple of weeks ago - after all the horror stories I've read about it I've made my self so scared to take it. I have truly had enough now though so I decided to take my first dose around an hour ago .... Now I feel SHOCKING!! I'm so scared of how it's going to make me feel. My head is pounding and my body is tingling.. Is this normal? Have I done the right thing? Should I carry on taking it? Please help - I just don't know what to do for the best! I just want to be 'me' again!!
Perhaps therapy initially would be wiser, I won't take meds and don't want to, so therapy is a much safer and in a lot of cases more effective option. Meds do not resolve issues, they just mask the symptoms. They also can make things worse for some, if you aren't happy with pills dont take them, opt for therapy instead
As easy as it is for me to say, please try to relax. I felt like I was reading about myself!!
I'm suffering with a big bout of generalised anxiety and health anxiety at the moment and have been for the last 5 months. I have a headache so must have a brain tumour, I get a cough so I must have lung cancer, I get the odd chest pain so I'm clearly having a heart attack... And so on!! After countless blood tests and ECG I'm now accepting that it's the anxiety haunting me and as suggested by my doctor I have finally increased my medication, I'm on venlafaxine. I did this on Tuesday and felt horrendous, I know it was mind over matter because there's no way that after only 10 mins of taking the increased dose I would have felt any kind of effect. Perfectly rational now but certainly not at the time!
It's very unlikely that after only a short time that it would be the citalopram causing you to feel weird. It will be your mind knowing you've taken one and causing you to panic. I've heard very good things about citalopram and know many people on it who have had great results from taking it. As with any meds, don't expect results straight away. They can take up to 6 weeks to take full effect and you may experience some side effects which will subside. Most people can't deal with the side effects so stop taking them before they've had a chance to work. It maybe that you'll feel worse before you feel better.
I hope that's reassured you a bit. Stay positive x
I know a lot of people just use therapy rather than meds but here's my approach. Citalopram saved my life, seriously, I'd had enough. It is a great advance in medical science to be able to do this. As soon as I got my feet back on the ground I started CBT and researching my anxiety and depression problems. I've learned to accept them and stop wishing for the 'old me', because actually it was the old me that's partly to blame for my problems. I've been on cit for 2 years and have dropped to 10mg. Everything is as good as it could be. Take the meds, relax and when you feel better, have a look into all this and what you can do.
Hi Charlotte
Don't be afraid just tell yourself you're getting better. Apprently if side effects hit you hard it's just a sign that the meds are working well and will work effectively for you.
I had a terrible first couple of weeks on them this time around (have been on them before) but from about week 4 to now (week 7) I have felt fantastic and I'm getting my life back
x
Couldn't agree more. I think you (or me from personal experience) need to be in a good place before you can start looking into the route cause etc
x
Hey Kat, just checking you meant DON'T stop taking them before they've had a chance to work 
x
Hi charlotte. I have taken citalopram in the past and after the initial couple of weeks i felt much better - i had 4 yrs of being 'normal'. I am very far from normal now and am frightened of taking it again. I think its a control thing. Maybe learning to control your anxiety in a different way could help. Have you tried CBT? And then taking medication at a later stage? I understand how you feel completely.
x
Yeah, don't stop taking them until they've had a chance to have an effect x
keep up the medication dosage or you won't stop worrying about it. I know it is scary but that is the anxiety telling you not to take the pills. Hope you feel better soon.
richard
Keep taking them. The thing with these meds is sometimes it makes it worse before it makes it better! As easy as it is for me to say, Try not to worry about having taken these meds :o)