Happy new year everyone! I hope 2019 will be a happier and healthier year for all.
It’s been a rubbish Christmas thus year with family illnesses, colds, flu, stomach bugs which resulted in cancelled reunions over the holidays. I myself had a migraine for four days starting boxing day.
So I’ve been on 10mgs cit for 5/6 weeks from 7.5 after some yoyoing for months before that.
Lately I’m getting a muzzy head feeling about two hours after taking it and light headed feeling. I can’t remember feeling this before I started messing with my dose. Sometimes I feel as if I’m drugged up, almost zombie like. Is this to be expected or has 10 mgs become too much for me to tolerate?
My anxiety is better though but I’d prefer not to have this heady feeling.
I’ve tried reducing but had to go back up because of the withdrawal effects causing anxiety.
Has anyone else experienced this? I don’t know what to do for the best.
Best wishes everyone.
HI lina, yeh i was getting the same, foggy & light headedness, so i reduced till 5 mg, which i have been on for five months now, except for a little breathlessness an hour after taking the dose, ive been fine. Sorry you had a rubbish xmas, hope you feel well again soon.
Thanks Mike Just the reassurance I needed. I think I will try reducing again. I get breathlessness sometimes too, I put it down to anxiety. Glad things are working out for you on 5. Regards
I'm not suffering from anxiety Lina, so the medication is actually causing my short of breath, hopes this info helps also. Happy New year !
Yes it does help, thanks Mike, I hadn't realised the med did that. Happy New Year to you to.
the shortness of breath is a side effect of celexa but it will subside.happy new year.
Thanks Lois, Happy New Year to you too. Since posting I've developed some sort of stomach upset with dizziness and nausea, hence the delay in replying.
Hey Lina, Happy new year, Still struggling here, on and off. Some days fine. Some days anxious, some days flat, some days a fleeting depression. It's 4.5 months on 10mg for me. Really just posting this to let you know you're not alone :) For me, I'm gonna stay put at this dosage. I've done so much yo yoing that I just need to stay still. I'm holding out for the lighter, brighter days. I've really come to understand how powerful these meds are, and how carefully I've got to treat them. What do you think you will do? Ruth x
Hi Ruth Happy New Year to you to. Thanks for your post, it helps a lot to know you are not alone. Sorry you are still getting symptoms. I've had a horrible night and I've been wondering why, dizziness, nausea, jelly legs upset stomach, dry mouth. I had a bad back yesterday and I rubbed a gel in that contains IBUPROFEN, I never use ibuprofen usually. I also took a panadol for the first time and an anadin extra later one of each. I also started vit d supplement a few days ago. It could be a combination of all those meds. Not a great start to the new year. I will stick with 10 for today until I get properly over this other thing but I may go back to 7.5 because I am noticing a pattern of headaches and light headedness after taking it. Like you say they are powerful meds and need to be treated with respect. Good to hear from you x
Hi Lina,don't keep changing your dosage as every time you change your dosage you will get side effects ,so stay on one dosage for 10/12 weeks and if you feel that the anxiety is still there ,then change your dosage from 5 mgs to 7.5 mgs and stay on that dosage for 8/10 weeks and see how you feel
Hi Marsh Yes I know what you're saying is true about changing doses causing side effects. It's hard to know what to do for the best though when headaches and muzzy head feelings kick in within a couple of hours of taking it. It wasn't always like this though. Thanks for your post.
Hi Lina, Happy New Year to you! sorry to hear about your migraines, I too suffered with hemiplegic Migraines (I think you and I have spoken on here previously about his???) and the last one early November, I ended up in hospital getting a ct scan, which was clear, so went cold turkey. Keep an eye on those migraines, I am 8 weeks med free and my headaches have cleared up completely. Its early days for me, but I am convinced that the meds caused them, but will not know for sure for another few months. Had an eye test today and usually the light sets me off but it didn't, partied New Years eve, normally that would make me ill and it didn't so fingers crossed.
Also, Yoyoing on these can definitely affect your head so it may not be the extra dosage it could just be your body trying to settle, definitely worth giving the 10mg more time before dropping again which could give you more side effects and make it difficult for you to know what dose is working.
Totally agree, Paula. Lina, honestly, just wouldn't cut the dose again. It helps me to set a LONG target, sometimes, so I don't keep wondering what to do. Eg I am not going to change dosage for another 6 months.
At the moment myself, am not sure what is post menopause symptoms, what is the original condition, and what is the citalopram trying to settle. So many of the symptoms seem to overlap. So, have booked myself a couple of acupuncture sessions in January, I know not everyone is into complementary therapy, but I have always found acupuncture fantastic for panic and anxiety.
Still not out of the woods myself, but feeling a lot more hopeful. Decided not to updose from 10mg, but to augment with other things. And to try to have 'fun' even if I'm not feeling it. If you get what I mean..... Otherwise this whole godawful process just drives you bonkers. Love to you, good wishes for your recovery.
Totally agree, Paula. Lina, honestly, just wouldn't cut the dose again. It helps me to set a LONG target, sometimes, so I don't keep wondering what to do. Eg I am not going to change dosage for another 6 months.
At the moment myself, am not sure what is post menopause symptoms, what is the original condition, and what is the citalopram trying to settle. So many of the symptoms seem to overlap. So, have booked myself a couple of acupuncture sessions in January, I know not everyone is into complementary therapy, but I have always found acupuncture fantastic for panic and anxiety.
Still not out of the woods myself, but feeling a lot more hopeful. Decided not to updose from 10mg, but to augment with other things. And to try to have 'fun' even if I'm not feeling it. If you get what I mean..... Otherwise this whole godawful process just drives you bonkers.
Love to you, good wishes for your recovery.
Hi Paula Thank you and a happy new year to you too. You sound really great. So happy for you after all you have been through. I replied an hour ago but it disappeared, I think I lost Internet connection. Yes I know you are right, I'm still taking 10 and will stay with it for now. Headaches OK this morning just a stiff neck probably my arthritis playing up and possibly the cause of my headaches and eye aches. I've had migraines for 30 years so they are not new to me either. Great start to the new year! I hope you continue to get stronger each day, nice to hear from you x
Hi Ruth Yes I know what you mean about trying to figure what is causing what. It's so frustrating. Good luck with your acupuncture, great idea x
Thank you! Have you tried massages? I have wear and tear in my neck which contribute to my migraines. Am getting weekly thai massages at the moment to help my nervous system with withdrawal. Thai massages include stretches and a bit of chiropracter., and head massageI cant recommend it enough.
Hi Paula I have found that when I massage my neck it does feel better. I will look into that, we have a pain clinic in our area, a chiropractor, and I went there once for back pain so I may give it a try x
lina, I spent years going to a chiropractor and since trying out thai massages, I havent been back. Its cumulative, and have read start with weekly for a month, then two weekly then monthly maintenance. Word of warning though, if you are sensitive make sure you tell the therapist not too massage too deep to start, as can be painful.
Thanks Paula Headaches seem to have abated. My posture is not great, always stooped forward working on a computer. Dizziness ok today, so far. I've had it before, went to ENT about it a year ago, they found nothing wrong, hearing good, again could be all connected to neck/posture issues. I've been doing lots of puzzles lately, helps with anxiety but plays havoc with the neck. Yesterday I actually felt better after taking my 10mg citalopram, so hopefully that's a good sign. Hope you are still doing good x