Hi, I dont know if anyone has felt like this, i have been taking 20mg once a day in the evening for just over a week now, (I was prescribed them for panic attacks) and I am feeling so much worst than I was. I am finding it hard to come to work and when at home I dont go out and just cry.. is this normal?? Shall I keep going or go back to the doctors, to see if i can try something else?
Thanks
Citalopram, initially, intensifies the anxiety of some patients because it stimulates the pituitary gland in the brain, causing the release of cortisol into the blood stream.
Eventually, citalopram suppresses the pituitary gland and the release of cortisol ceases. This, generally, takes several weeks to happen.
I took citalopram for 7 weeks for clinical depression and had problems with intense anxiety/panic attacks for all of the 7 weeks. I was eventually advised to stop taking citalopram because I found its side effects too severe.
Thank you X. were you put on different tablets? I am just fed up of now feeling worst than I was....
S
I was prescribed amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant, after I had taken citalopram. This also has side effects. It increases the heart rate, causes a dry mouth, constipation and drowsiness.
However, whilst taking amitriptyline I no longer experienced insomnia and intense anxiety/panic attacks.
Citalopram is an SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor). When citalopram medication is stopped some patients experience withdrawal symtoms, although that usually only happens if it has been taken for several weeks. If you do stop taking citalopram you would need to see you doctor about that.
Below is some information about withdrawal symptoms:
‘SSRI Withdrawal Syndrome’
The following criteria define the SSRI (or SNRI) withdrawal syndrome:
Criterion A: A course of treatment in which an SSRI (or vanlafaxine) is stopped or interrupted or the dose is reduced after a period of 4 weeks or more.Criterion B: Two or more of the following symptoms develop within 1 to 10 days of criterion A (except for fluoxetine in which case the symptoms must develop within 28 days):
(a) dizziness or light headedness
(b) nausea and/or vomiting
(c) headaches
(d) lethargy
(e) anxiety and/or agitation
(f) tingling (paresthesias), numbness or \"electric\" shock-like sensations in the head or limbs
(g) tremors
(h) sweating
(i)insomnia
(j) irritability
(k) vertigo (dizziness)
(l) diarrhea
http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.withdrawal.html
I hope you soon feel better.