Hello
I have been experiencing panic attacks and anxiety for some time now. The Dr has put me on Citalopram which I have been taking for 3 weeks now. I have not noticed any real improvement yet and feel very alone and scared. Please can somebody tell me when they will start to work? Any advice would be so appreciated......
Hi Nicky72170 - I have just read your post and felt very sad that you feel alone and scared because of your panic attacks and anxiety. I am a very anxious person too but have not experienced any panic attacks and neither am I on any medication so cant advise you there. Did your doctor not tell you how long the medication would take to work? I have been on anti depressants before and I know they take a few weeks to work usually up to about a month so give it a bit more time and hopefully you will start to feel better. If not, I would go back to your doctor and explain that you dont feel they are working and maybe he could try some other medication. Hope this helps and you feel much better soon x
Hi Nicky im on Citalopram 40mg ive been on them just over a week i read it can take up to 6 weeks.I hope you feel better soon.
Hi Nicky, sorry to hear about your troubles.
As the others have said there is generally a delay in the onset of action of SSRI'S (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). Usually it is between week 1 and week 8 but side effects can begin immediately. From much experience in this field I would give it another week or so if it is simply a case of no change but you are not suffering with any adverse effects.
Personally I don't believe the SSRI cure all for anxiety disorders or depression is the right approach by physicians, however if you are fighting it to difficult to wait ask your doctor about something to take the edge off to settle you into therapeutic action.
May I ask which symptom is more prevalent so I can suggest possible solutions that may benefit.
P.s My Mum has had great success with Citalopram which began at about the timeframe you are now at if that makes things a little more positive for you. We all know these troubles to so don't think you are alone or there is no help because there really is and you will sort it out for sure 😄
I took that one as well for 2 weeks, had some side effects and did nothing for me so now I'm on Alprazolam XR 0.5 twice daily. Yes, is addictive but the XR is a little different because you don't feel the quick boost the regular alprazolam gives you which creates addiction. I just started to take this yerterday morning and so far it appear to be working.
Don't give up. Whatever you are fearing is not worth the emotions. Usually what we fear never comes true. I don't know what causes your anxiety and panic, but deep breathing helps; also talking out how you truly feel with a therapist or a confidant. You are not alone and things can get better.
Hi Nicky, yes you need to give it a bit more time. In the end I was prescribed Mirtazapine to augment and this was effective on my panic attacks. It helped me in a week. Maybe you can mention it during discussion with your doc if you are no better by then. I hope you feel better soon. David.
Hey. You may feel alone right now, but we are all in the same position. There are people on here that will do their best to support you.
These kind of medicenes can take 4-6 weeks for you to feel anything at all and if for some reason they still aren't working, your Doctor will increase the dose or give you something different. Everyone works differently.
I hope everything works out for you. xx
Hello christina27
Thank you very much for your reply. The Dr said it would take about 2 weeks -I think that was a little optimistic.
It has really helped just for the replies so at least I do not feel quite so alone as I have found this very difficuklt to share with family and friends.
I will carry on with the medication and just try to stay positive.
Thank you for replying.
Thank you for sharing this with me. I hope we both feel better soon.
Thank you for your reply.
I have had a range of horrible symptoms to be fair I am not sure which I hate the most - the panic attacks with all the problems they bring, the dread of the panic attack or the sheer anxiousness of the whole situation or the fright that it may be a permanent fixture.
I am just so pleased that at least I do not seem to be the only one in the whole world that has this because some days it sure does feel like it because how can you rationally explain a panic attack to somebody who has never had one? I have found it very hard to not only cope but to live with the shame of it.....
Thank you very much for this advice and support at least I do not feel so alone now.
Thank you for this advice I will keep going....
Hello jadeinda
Thank you very much for your reply and advice.
It has been such a relief to know that I am not the only one suffering like this.
I know that the medication takes time to kick in and 3 weeks is not that long so I will take yet another deep breath and keep going......