Hi iv been on citalopram for 19 days now at 10mg having previously been on sertraline for 1 year. The first week was a bit weird and after that i started to feel a little better, but the last few days i have become really bad tempered and irritable and also been having a lot more obsessive/intrusive thoughts. I dont know why this is happening, are these side effects? I have mild ocd and anxiety but cant seem to control my obsessive thoughts. Can anyone relate to this?
I've been on citalopram for 39 Days, but 11 days since I went up to 40 mg. I also have been very irritable and having increased anxiety, running thoughts/mind. I suffer from GAD, Panic Disorder and OCD
Hi donna I'm glad iv seen this post . Iv previously been on sirtraline. .but mirt & venlafaxine in between these 2 made me so ill .. I want to try citrolpram & goin to see the phyciatrist about it today.. sirtraline & citrolpram are from the same family of drugs.i didn't have any major problems on sirtraline couldn't stop yawning tho & bright lights eg supermarkets had a real bad effects .. how was your time on sirtraline for you to have changed? Iv been told by watching the posts on here.. take your citrolpram shortly after your evening meal people have felt so much better doing this ..I hope this helps u also 😊
Hi sharon i was previously on sertraline a very long time about 8 years and came of it to try other medication and i then went back on it for a year and stopped taking it as it wasnt helping my anxiety much anymore, so started citalopram 21 days ago. I dont know if these are just side effects but im going to ask my doctor today, i have a medication fear as well so that doesnt help. The only one i ever had success with was escitalopram but the dosage only goes up to 20mg so can wear off quite quickly after a good few months and then your back to square one again! The only thing we can do is keep trying different ones and eventually we will hit one that works. Im going to stick the citalopram out a bit longer and see what happens.
Thankyou 😊 I don't feel like I can keep trying anymore ..Iv never been so ill on meds before this past year .. with sirtraline having no major side effects I'm gona try citrolpram with an open positive mind.. (I'm far from positive) so hopefully it will have more of a chance of working.. my head is really bad now with WD off the venlafaxine. .havnt had any for a week ..which hopefully is another good thing.. before citrolpram. .but I'm not expecting to get what I want when I see the phyciatrist at 3pm ...
Iv just seen my doctor today and she said i need to give it at least 6 weeks to see any effect. I feel ok but not 100% yet. Which is probably to be expected starting a new tablet. I would definitely give citalopram a go sharon, u might feel weird the first week or two with spaced out and fuzzy head feeling like i did but it soon goes away. I also got a few headaches. Its actually takes a while for citalopram to kick in but im willing to wait and give it a chance as im sick of not trying stuff properly. keep in touch and let me know how you get on!
Hi Donna, Sounds like it the side effects can last for sometime, especially this early I had side effects for months? Yet I'd rather be on citalopram than not
When did you first notice citalopram working for you stevo1975? My doctor said about 6 weeks and you should notice its benefits. Its the obsessing thats really getting on my nerves at the minute. I have a cbt appointment in a couple of days.
Well I have physical fatique caused by anxiety then depression vicious cycle, however when I first took a 10mg I started programming myself that I would feel better day after day as previously I did so there is probably a bit of placebo too, 6 weeks sounds about right probably sooner CBT will be great open your mind to new ideas and techiques on how to manage thoughts and general thinking The meds will help you dont sweat it hang in there my friend!
Hi Donna.
Obsessing how. Like being unable to let go of a thought or dread of something happening
Citalopram pulled me from a very dark place. However after a year side effects for me of no labido, excessive weight gain, detachment and lack of happy Ness made me stop taking g them
I'm 4 weeks clean and feeling hot and sweaty all time . Racing thoughts. Irritable. But the yawning and nausea and light sensitivity have stopped
Thank you stevo1975 😊 i havnt had too many side effects from these most of them have gone now. I have mild ocd and my doctor says it is intermittent, as i only get episodes of it. Really strange how it works i can be fine for weeks/months and then il have an episode of obsessing over everything. Dont understand it myself but id rather that than have to suffer every day!
Hi michelle yeah like il get episodes of obsessive thoughts for a few days and my compulsions are googling and asking for reassurance. It seems to stop after a few days though. I think stress brings it on. I think its also because iv changed medication as well its probably amplified things and made them worse before i feel better.
Good luck Donna
Hi Donna
Obsessive / intrusive thoughts are side effects of the meds - but temporary. The meds increase symptoms to start with so its probably still that at the moment. It took me 6 months to recover completely after suffering obsessive / intrusive thoughts anxiety / depression for 16 years.
I first started out on Seroxat (another type of SSRI) and I had terrible anger irritability problems on it. After a year I was swapped to this meds and all the anger went away. It might be that you'd be better suited to a different type of SSRI as we all react differently. Its best however to give this meds a few months, as the anger thing could just be initial side effects too which would wear off.
K xx
Hi kate i just feel a bit snappy sometimes and bad tempered, but i remember being like that a bit before i started citalopram. It feels like everything is overwhelming especially noisy places and i sometimes feel a bit stressed. Could be due to the holidays as well!! House is a lot more messy too! everything feels overwhelmimg at the minute.
Yes, when you're suffering with anxiety and / or depression, your nerves become over sensitive, and starting the meds will heighten everything too - including irritability, anger, noises etc - all your nerves are on 'alert'. This should all wear off in time. Usually side effects settle first, and then you have to wait for your anxiety / depression to start to ease off. It can take weeks or months - everyone is different. You do need a lot of patience with these meds - but the wait is worth it.
Recovery often comes in waves so you may start to feel better and then find it'll all come back again. That's normal. This pattern will repeat itself whilst the meds settle in your body and your body heals.
Yes stress can make you feel snappy - this illness thrives on stress too, so trying to relax and float along through eveything in life really helps desensitise the nerves and body eventually.
The first few weeks are the worst on these meds - it does all calm down.
K xx