I have taken citalopram and after 8 months I decided to stop it as I thought I don't have problems anymore - big mistake. A week ago out of nowhere my anxiety started to be unbearable and i went to the doctor who gave me citalopram. I've been taking it for 4 days now ( I know 4 days are nothing) but I have been having the worst panick attacks in my life- I can't eat, I'm shaking, I'm scared of everything, almost thinking I'm going to die. How do you cope with this?
I haven't slept last night just because on the back of my head I couldn't stop worrying about everything. I find it hard going to work - no choice here. I know I have to be patient but I just can't explain myself how this happened. I've been reading some of your posts and I found it really helpful. I guess if citalopram helped me last time, it will help me now?
You don't mention as to whether you tapered off the citalopram slowly with your Doctor's guidance or just came off it cold turkey of your own accord?
The withdrawal symptoms of coming off them can be just as bad as starting on the drug in my experience. But at the moment I am on Escitalopram (a purer form of citalopram) and a mirtazipine combination. I have used citalopram before too and when i went on them my anxiety went worse before it went better so this is quite normal and should balance itself out once they are back in your system.
Oh and i'm slowly coming off my mirtazipine for anxiety which I was using to help me sleep at night, but no longer need the dosage i was on. So, with doctors orders slowly slowly catchy monkey coming off them reducing them and this is going okay.
I stupidly decided to stop them myself one day. And this is 4 months later that I'm feeling like this. My doctor said that if they helped me once, they should help me again but if I can't function next week - I will go again.
Thanks for your message - mostly reading here today helped me calm down and seeing that first it gets worse and then better makes me think everything is going to be fine at some point.
This is my second time on Citalopram, and like you I wondered if they'd work again. Yes they did. Strangely I had a different experience starting them this time and they took longer - but that doesn't mean to say it'll be longer for you.
You forget what its like having anxiety and you also forget what its like starting these meds. Seems to hit hard when we're reminded of how it feels.
They will work again - they worked before and so they will again.
Your message gave me so much hope at this moment. The thing is the first time I was taking them I didn't even feel slightly bad - that's why I'm panicking so much this time. But as you said they should work - just have to give them some time.
I'm about to go to work - which would be stressful today and was wondering should I take the citalopram now in the morning so I can be okay during the day?
I actually had a better sleep last night but woke up with slight anxiety again...
I was similar to you too Simona. The first time I took them I didn't notice much because I was suffering so bad from anxiety and depression, the meds side effects felt no different to what I was suffering anyway. Second time around (2 years ago) when I restarted the meds I had really heightened anxiety and one night I had to get up and I paced around the house for quite a while - I couldn't rest as my heart pounded. After those side effects eased off I had a flat feeling for months that I couldn't shake off - just a nothingness - but in time it lifted and I've been back to full health for a good year now.
I'm glad I restarted as we had family illness at the time which was making me ill - taking the meds helped me cope through a difficult time. I've since weaned down and am currently on 5mg and will come off at the end of this year again.
I've always taken my meds in the morning, and some people prefer taking it at night. I don't think it matters too much when you take it as you'll still geel the side effects for a while. My theory was that taking it in the morning would give me a better effect from it during the day lol ......
Glad your sleep was better - morning anxiety will be with you for a while. It'll go in time.
Thanks for your message again! That's my logic too - take in the morning so I'm good during the day but instead I took kalms today morning and just made some camomile tea which I think helps me for now. I'll take Citalopram around lunch to try and see how I'll go.
Thanks again! It's good to have someone to talk to.
Kalms are good ...... also exercise (just a daily walk will help) as it burns off the excess adrenaline ..... also releases endorphins making you feel better too. Every little helps.
Trying to stay calm, relaxed etc as much as possible in your every day. Don't rush everywhere, drive slower, listen to soothing music in the car rather than fast pop music, try and 'float' along. Tension causes anxiety. Hard to do but with practice your body will start to relax.
Had an awful episode at work again. But figured out that Citalopram takes 4 hours to stop its side effects! So I have to work on a strategy now so I can be normal human during the day...
Going for an evening walk tonight and hopefully my strategy will work over the weekend!
Oh sorry to hear that ...... I've had bad times at work I remember, escaping to the loos for a good cry occasionally. Best thing is to not avoid work or wherever you felt bad. Try and let the awful feeling be there and remind yourself that you're not well, you can't help it, and your body is healing, this is temporary and you won't feel like this in time. That's what I used to tell myself.
I used to walk out evey evening. Being out in the fresh air, amongst nature really helped (even though I often didn't 'see' where I was going and didn't appreciate anything at the time). I just kept on going.
Yep - I always say that people who suffer with this illness are extremely strong people.
You will get there. Remember you're recovering from an illness at the moment.
The worst anxiety attack I had was in the middle of the night - woke me up about 3am and it felt like my body was on a huge LSD trip (not that I've ever had any) - it was so strong I had to get up and I paced around the house. Went back to bed but my heart was pounding .... luckily went to sleep (eventually) and it had gone by the morning.
At other anxiety times I'd try and move about in a relaxed manner. Letting it be there and working through it in a relaxed way helps so much - breathing steady and just letting it 'do its thing' helps it pass quicker. Tensing up against it reinforces it. Not easy at all as our bodies just want to naturally fight against it.
Don't try and focus on something else - if your mind wants to think about it, let it. Just let it all be there.
Remember though - this will pass, you will get better, this is temporary and your body isn't well.
Anxiety is just excess adreneline - exercise helps burn this excess off.
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- it was so strong I had to get up and I paced around the house. Went back to bed but my heart was pounding .... luckily went to sleep (eventually) and it had gone by the morning.