Hi, just new here so no used to the website as yet. My doc has just upped my Citalopram from 20mg to 40mg as I informed her I still had some anxiety, excessive sweating, tiredness, not sleeping well and felt really agitated particularly at night. Feel as if I'm sleeping even worse since the docs was upped, and agitation has got worse too, I can lie awake and be scratching my skin/scalp for hours before finally falling asleep exhausted. Does anyone else get this? Not sure if its worth sticking with, I thought maybe they'd try me on different tablets but I do feel like Citalopram has helped my IBS-D. Also feel like I get so easily irritated at people, not sure if that's an anxiety side effect but mainly people in work and my family, can snap so easily at them but mainly I manage to hold it in- so far. Help or advice welcome please.
Dont be so hard that they upped the cit for you, maybe try kalms for the anxiety and they do help you sleep better.
You will get through this, i am on 20mg cit too with some anxiety as well.
Hi Alison, few quick questions.
How Long were you on 20mg ?
How long have you been on 40mg ?
Are you taking any other meds ?
Hi, I was on 20mg for a few months. Only been on the 40mg for about 5 days, I think the doc said it can take about 4-5 weeks to work correctly. I take Propranolol as and when I need it, that's all.
Your very early on, stick with it, i know it's hard but it will settle down.
Try some meditation and breathing techniques, also walking and fresh air.
Are you taking Citalopram too?
Walking definitely does help, I had a sore stomach earlier (more IBS than anxious) and I went a walk on my lunch break and it helped a good bit. I'll try the meditation and breathing techniques too though thanks.
Hi yes long time user, down to 10mg now from 40 at my peak.
I know its hard at the moment, but you will get passed it.
I was on 20 for 4 weeks then up to 40 mg. I get some periods of sweating/hot flashes. Definitely have noticed a decrease in panic but general anxiety still high. Tomorrow will mark three weeks on 40
Thanks, good to hear from someone who has also been on 40, that's also encouraging that you are now down to 10.
Hoping that what my doc said is true that it takes 4-5 weeks to kick in then will start to feel more normal. I thought upping the dose would make the side effects worse but apparently not. Hope not anyways as by the time I walk 10mins to the train station in the morning my face is covered in sweat, I'm only 32 so feels really embarrassing. Let me know how you get on with it.
Yes I didn't see an increase in side effects when I upped just the same ones lingering on. I did however expect the anxiety to diminish more wuickly. Tomorrow is start of week three and I'm hoping for a better week than week 2!
Fingers crossed for you that the 3rd week goes better. Hopefully it works for both of us and we can beat this anxiety, or at least get it under control.
How did it go.
I have upped from 30 to 40 12 days ago and have suffered severe anxiety since.
Is the anxiety constant or coming in waves? Also is it just there at a certain time of day and how do you manage/cope with it. Do you take any extra meds?
It is there most of the time but I have waves of very intense anxiety. I use diazepam at night to get some break. It is bad in the morning s and afternoon....I think a few hours after I take my meds.
Hi Sarah, my anxiety has mostly got better still struggling to sleep and sweating loads when its not even warm but wondering if thats a small price to pay and I should just put up with it. Do you take anything else? I have propranolol too which is good but not had to take it in a while even after a really stressful situation recently though I do find I still get annoyed and itritated easily.
Hi Gerry, my anxiety seems to mostly be under control now. I have propranolol for as and when I need it though which works well. I just have the side effects still which is a pain but better than anxiety, just fed up feeling tired all the time due to a lack of decent sleep.
Me too, only getting 3/4 hrs per night I'm always jiggered!
Its so difficult! I toss and turn so much during the night like I can't get comfy but my mattress is fairly new and its comfy. Then I feel really lazy when I'm yawning away in work. I used to sleep for 7/8 hours a night it was great. Live in hope can get that back 1 day.
I'm exactly the same but off sick at moment. If I get a rubbish nights sleep everything else feels worse eggs anxiety and nausea