Hiya,
Im new to this so bear with me.
I was prescribed Citalopram 20mg Tablets for depression, this is my first day of taking one in the morning. The side effects im having are horrible, I cant eat anything as it makes me sick, I feel dizzy and very shaky. i was wondering how long these side effects go on for? This is only my first day and I want to stop taking them already.
Thanks
Yeah I have been there. Stick with it. You may see my beginnings on it down the list.
Some are lucky because you can diet through lack of desire of food but you must eat something. Keep a note of your weight because you don't want to be under weight either.
My appetite is still screwed and lost 10 kilos in a few months but I will get worried if I lose another 20 kilos.
Hi Kirsty,
I know this reply is a year on from your post, but i'm new to this site and your post caught my eye. I have just, today started my first citalopram (10mg) I only took it 3 hours ago and I feel sick, and really jumpy, anxious, and started to feel a little dizzy about half an hour ago. I'm taking it for depression, and have not been on any antidepressants before. I have not as part of that had anxiety, just sadness, so this has to be the citalopram as anxiety is completely new.
I would be interested to know if how long it took for these side-effects to pass, and did you carry on with the citalopram or move to something else ? I hope you are doing well now, though, a year on...
Hi Kristy, i am on week 4 of citalpam. The nausea, dizziness, lack of appetite, and nervousness/anxiety will start to get better in a few days but it took me 10 days to feel like I could finction, the nervousness and anxiety I still have but it gets a little better each day. The shakiness and nervousness is worse in the mornings but lasts most ofthe day. I wastoldit takes at least 4 weeks for that part to go away and 4-6 weeks for the drug to work. This is my experince. The side effects are horrible but there is light at the end. Your experience might be better. Jus hang in there. Kathy
Definately stick with it. You should see an improvement in 3-10 days. I take a homeopathic remedy called Nux vom by Nelsons, it helps so quickly.
Hi Michelle!
Thank you for your reply!! It didn't take to long for the side affects to pass! Around 1 week, yes it's horrible but stick with it!
One year on I am no longer taking Citalopram 
I am also expecting our first baby in two weeks time!
I am here if you need to chat! Xxxx
I didn't notice your post was a year old!
That's ok xxxx
hello I took my first 20 mg at 4.30 this afternoon don't quite know how I feel cos was nervous all day anyway over doc appointment.
Hi Kirsty,
Thanks for replying, I wasn't sure wether you'd even still be on here now, so really nice to hear from you..and a very big CONGRATULATIONS ! gosh 2 weeks, you must be huge ! and ready to pop !! I'm so glad you've done well with the medication, i've heard so many on hear have had such a terrible time on Citalopram, so when you've only been on it a few days it's a bit scary.
I feel ok, haven't actually been sick just nauseous, it wanes as the day goes on, and tend to feel more jumpy when i've nothing to occupy myself with. But I didn't want to go on sick leave, my job is very diverting and I really don't know what id've done without it. I don't think my depression is anywhere near as severe as many people here, was yours ?
I just needed a bit of extra help. I've been seeing a counsellor since last July, after being in denial for months that it was anything other than just being down in the dumps. I'd buried events from years ago that I needed to speak to someone professional and lately, after a very tough time with a close friend who doesn't see friendship the way I do (i'm very all or nothing), we bonded and became quite close , platonically, but she wanted a 'simple' friendship (whatever that is !) and it meant she didn't want to know the things that happened to me that led me to counselling. She is a lovely person, just had enough happen in her life that she doesn't want to get close. I can sort of understand, and i'd imagine it must be difficult when your friend is so obviously down ALL the time, but having already bonded, the demise of the relationship lately, made me think about everything so much more and over Christmas and New Year became extremely low, and decided, after hitting 40 a couple of weeks ago I really needed to take control.
Anyway, I think i've bored you enough, but it does help to write it all down !
Hoping you have a very quick delivery and he/she sleeps like a dream. Best of luck to you Kirsty, thanks for reading.
xxxxx
Hi Chez
How are you feeling now ? I'm surprised at the time you were taking it, is there a reason, did your doc suggest that ? I was told to take mine at breakfast. I noticed feeling nauseous a couple of hours after taking the first one, and very agitated. Are you getting those symptoms ? I've also got an on/off almost not there but constant dull headache. My side effects haven't got any worse, 3 days on, always the same, so bearable if the drug does it's proper job in a few weeks. I hope you give a similar story. I think maybe it would be difficult to tell if your anxiety is a side effect or like you say just because of the appointment. I think you'll have a clearer picture tomorrow. But unless you get a racing heart or are violently sick ( or GOD forbid, feel suicidal) please stick with it. Not everyone reacts the same and you might feel crap for a while, but could well be worth all the trouble in a few weeks. Take care of yourself, and keep chatting on here. We're all trying to look after eachother.
x
Hi, the reason I took the pill at 4.30 was because I had an afternoon appointment,took second at noon today cos didn't wake up,not feeling great really tired and anxience. X
Hi Chez, just say to yourself it is a chemical reaction, you are not anxious about anything , it's not real..it is an illusion caused by the drug's effect on your body which isn't used to it yet. When your body gets used to these new chemicals the anxiety will go...keep in mind that it's worth the wait coz when the good work the drug does kicks in you will feel so much better..xx keep hanging in there..we'll be in it together x
Let me know how you're doin tomorrow, I'm keeping an eye on you Chez !! But please keep taking the cit unless it really is unbearable, think rationally, you know you can.. these are harsh chemicals, if they are going to affect your neurotransmitters by increasing your serotonin levels it has to be some very powerful chemical...and your body is going to think "what the f*&% is this" ...that's all this bloody awful feeling is.....keep with it mate xxx
I'm on day 14 - I take it for anxiety and my attacks have stopped but the physical symptoms are still looming in the background...does anyone no if these take longer to subside or are they something il have to live with 😳
Yes a, these drugs do take quite a while before they do what you want them for. It can take 4-6 weeks before they do their job and I'm afraid you have to bear with the horrible side effects till then.. I'm further back than you, I only started on 10mg last Friday, I go up to 20mg next Friday, yes i'm apprehensive about possible double strength may mean double side effects, BUT, this is only your body's reaction to a bloody powerful chemical, if you feel anxiety,, keep telling itself it's not real...it is only your body reacting, your neurotransmitters are gearing up and getting ready to do the job the drug is preparing them for, It really will get better, it just takes time...keep with it and for God's sake DO NOT STOP !!! You will have enough in your system now to not clear in a short time, look up half life of citalopram on Google and you'll see why.
Keep me posted of how you're going , all of us on here are going through this crap together and we can come out the other side together... Xx
Thanks 😀 I no it's all side affects and fingers crossed they kick in fully soon... I wish u all the best on this journey also 😊
I felt really ill on day two on 20mg shaky and palputations, so I reduced myself to 10mg and now coping gonna up it to twenty tomorrow day 7 and see what I'm like............
Good luck with it I hope u see an improvement soon it's a terrible thing to go through but I'm deffo feeling much better now that i did in the first week
Well didn't feel great yesterday a bit shaky again,so gonna stay on 10 mg a little longer but got to say I am feeling better, a lot less negative thoughts so feel like I'm getting there x