I have been on citalopram for 6 weeks and thought last week I was making some improvements but last night I had the palpitations and restlessness and again this morning. I am on 20mg and been on them in the past but a struggle at the moment as been off work for 7 weeks with it and keen to get back to normality. I am also literally doing everything such as cbt, yoga, meditation, exercise and diet. Wondered if anyone had any advice?
You should have been feeling a bit better by the first week. Unfortunatly these drugs don.t make you bullet proof. Keep doing all the heathy stuff your doing on top of the meds and make sure you talk to your dr if your not feeling right or having bad thoughts. You may need something else. There are many other things he can give you.
It takes a lot longer than a week. 6-8 weeks is the usual time to see benefits but some take longer than others. I've had weeks I feel better and then days where I've felt like I'm on week one again.
Things are still not 100% for me but I'd say the best thing it to try to do 'normal things' and get your mind off it as much as you can. Having time off work is needed sometimes as I well know but having all the extra time to think can be really tiring and make things worse. Try keeping your mind active with something else and remember when you do feel stressed and have palpatations it's just a feeling, it's uncomfortable but not dangerous and you'll be ok. I find saying that to myself when I'm panicking helps calm me down a lot. Hope you feel better soon.
I have been on citalopram for about a week and a half. I still have severe morning anxiety. I've never been on a medication before. The anxiety subsides after a couple hours. But it is still very difficult to function with two young kids at home. Feels like my chest is so tight and I can't breath. I get light headed and I can feel my heart beating. Everything I read says this subsides after a couple weeks. I am on 10 mg. My doctor wanted me to go up to 20 after two weeks but I may put that on hold. I don't want anymore side effects. Hang in there. Hopefully it will subside and You will feel better
That's quite normal for 6 weeks. It can take many weeks or a few months to fully recover and during this time you'll be up and down. You can't hurry recovery, it'll happen for you in its own time ... its different for everyone. You're doing all the right things to help so keep on doing what you're doing and give this much more time.
Also a bigger dose doesn't mean you'll get better any quicker either - everyone suits different doses so let the one you're on have plenty of time to work.
Took me 6 months to recover on 20mg.
Hi, how is it going? Is the morning anxiety decreasing at all? I also went from 10 mg to 20 MG. Did not bother me much at first took about another week for a new round of side effects to kick in. Will be 4 weeks for me on Monday. Counting down the weeks. My doc said 8 weeks to start to feel some relief. Longest 8 weeks Ever!!
Hang In!
I started getting relief about 5 days into taking the 10mg. I am on week 2 now and I just woke up with the anxiety again. It subsides after about 30 minutes. My doc prescribed me Ativan to take bc the anxiety was very overwhelming. I only had to take it the first three or four days. Maybe you could request this from your doc? I'm afraid to move up to 20 mg bc I don't want to deal with the side effects again. And I actually feel great on the 10mg. Thankfully the only side effect is the anxiety and I've been dealing with that my whole life. Hang in there I I hope you get some relief soon. Waking up with anxiety is terrible and it's not a great way to start your day. Keep in touch.
Hi please tell me this morning anxiety goes away. Im on week 4 of 20mg after being on 10mg for a long time.
Im still waking up anxious. Mornings r painful mentally. Afternoons are bearable. Evenings are almost normal
Anyones help appreciated.
Seems like everyone says it can take 6-8 weeks for the medicine to stop bothering you. I have been ok for several days with no morning anxiety BUT this morning I woke up with it again. I help myself relax by reminding myself that this is the medicine and concentrate on my breathing. Usually it subsides within a half hour and I am fine for the day. Seems like a lot of people have this morning anxiety on citalopram. It is terrible. I hope you feel better soon. Are you feeling better besides the anxiety??? I have to say that I feel like my old self. I haven't "gone off the hinges" since beginning the med. that was my main problem. Just completely snapped over everything. Felt overwhelmed all the time and my anxiety came out in anger. I have not had one issue since starting. I really home you find relief with this new dosage you are on. How long were you on 10mg?? My doctor told me to do 10mg for 2 weeks and then go to 20. But I don't feel like I need to. What are your thoughts??? Keep in touch and keep your head up!!
Hi that sounds about right. I think you will find most people feels this way. The meds need longer but they will work.
How long were you on 10mg for? Did that help at all? Why did you increase dose?
Hi Kate when you say it took you 6 months to recover do you mean you had anxiety and other side effects for 6 months?
Thx Shane
I had anxiety, depression, obsessional thoughts etc for 16 years. It took 6 months from the start of taking these meds until I felt recovered. From then onwards I improved even more.
K x
So it doesn't matter how long you've been ill - you can recover.
I was on 10mg for 3 years. But i think i got used to it...and the anxiety came back. Yes i feel calmer but i wonder if the citalopram is making it worse. It seems i feel awful for two hours at least after taking it. Even if i take diazepam to counteract the anxiety.
Ive had enough of feeling like this. Mornings are pretty much a right-off.
10mg about 3 years. It helped a lot but i increased because my anxiety came back and doctor recommended 20mg.
Im worried that the citalopram is actually making me worse or is it a just a side effect?
Hi all sorry for the delay I have had a tough time of it and ended up back at drs. They have increased dose to 30mg and initially was so sleepy but feeling a bit more normal just got a weird feeling in abdomen area a bit like butterflies which is annoying and not sure if a side effect. I was on 10mg for a week then up to 20 but 10 weeks in not enough chance so why on 30 now and will be 40 if needs be. I am veggie and also had bloods done and turns out iron deficient so hope with supple ments it might help too. Thank you so much for your repliesit is nice to know not alone x
How are you doing now? It is the longest 8 weeks ever and have been told 3 mths to feel normal. We'll get there
Thank you that reassures me x
Hi, how are coping now at the higher dose?
I am slowly doing better just baby steps. How are you?