Feeling worse after taking Citalopram for 4 weeks.

Mental health
1

Hi,

I have been taking 20mg of Citalopram for four weeks now, gotten over the initial side effects insomnia, nausea etc. However my mood and anxiety are worse than ever and I've been having suicidal thoughts which I have never had before. Is this normal after 4 weeks? I am aware citalopram can make younger people feel more depressed etc. at the beginning, but should these feelings have subsided by now?

Thanks. 

2

Hi Alice, I've been taking sertraline for 5 weeks and I'm 19. On week 4 I was having suicidal thoughts as well even though I'd never had them before! It takes 6 - 8 weeks to work and I'm starting to feel a bit better now even though I still feel tired all the time and a bit weird. I think its normal for younger people to feel really bad once starting them. Good luck!

3

Hi Alice

I took citalopram at varying doses for six months and I was pretty bed ridden throughout and never got any relief from my depression apart from the occasional evenings where I could manage to do a few little things eg wash/clean teeth. Although this drug works well for many, my advice would be if your still feeling the same in another week or so, go back to your gp. Don't keep waiting and waiting. You need to get relief sooner rather than later.

As soon as I changed to a different AD I got instant relief with no side effects at all.

are you able to eat? I lost so much weight on citalopram! For me it robbed me of six months! People will rightly advise you to wait, I would say, set a limit on how long your prepared to wait. Eg another couple of weeks

Wishing you better ♥♥

4

Hi I agree with Alice also I have depression and find when. I feeling really low o need to go for a walk drive what ever makes you chill out my spot is the beach it can take a lot of woes away I personally won't go on meds but find ways to cope good luck hope you feel better soon xo

5

HI Lorraine,

I am eating very little. Did it make you feel worse than you originally felt? I have a doctors appointment in two weeks for a review so will wait it out until then and ask them about it.

Thanks a lot.

6

Hi alice

it did! I switched to mirtazipine and instantly started to feel better. (No side effects either) it's about finding the right one that works for you. Citalopram was absolutely awful and I stuck it out six long months! Please let me know how you get on xx