Hello everyone, I finally started my prescribed Citalopram 2 weeks ago. Started on 5 mg for a week and have had 8 doses of 10 mg. I know 6-8 weeks is the point at which we are supposed to feel better, although I wish it was sooner. Battling with anxiety, nausea and lack of appetite at the moment. I can not afford more weight loss. How did everyone get through these early days? Nausea is my biggest issue. Just need a push from you brave souls who have had positive results. Thanks so much. Lee.
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Hi Lee! I'm 2 months in now, the side effects subsided after about 2 weeks (although I never increased my dose) and then I really started to feel the benefits about a month in. Keep going it will be worth it in the end. When it's bad just keep remembering it's just your body adjusting and it won't last forever. Your probably nearly through the worst of it now. Good luck x
Hello Lee, Perseverence is the key. I found i couldn't eat for a couple of weeks. What i did was have half a banana, a piece of toast or a yogurt to start with and built up to small meals as i couldn't face much. This should keep the nausea at bay too. Anxiety does increase to start with, you shoul start feeling better around 3-4 weeks. I will say my anxiety is at an all time low now, i have had 2 panic attacks in the last year which is how long i have been on the Citalopram. It is worth the initial struggle to now feel so much better. Thou now i am putting weight on
but it's worth it to feel the benefits. I only take 10mg as i found the 20mg too much, i can cope on this dose. My only gripe now is the weight gain. Stick with it. I will sy that if you increase the dose you will get increased side effects again, so if you can manage on the dose your on now the better. I would prefer to not have to take anything but Citalopram takes the edge off.
Best wishes.
Elizabeth.
My nausea lasted 6 weeks. There is nothing you can do just know that it's the medication and it will stop. I lost a bit of weight but put it all back on now lol.
Thank yo for all the encouragement. I am so glad to be in touch with people who understand whatI am going through. I can not throw in the towel before I have given it a fair chance. So I guess I will buckle up and get through the ride. Patience is clearly the key here. Thanksfor the support.
Hi Lee,
Do not put yourself under any "stress" to get better, it will take as long as it takes (a cliche we know yet true!). When I had my bout of nausea I ate what I felt I would be able to without fear of up-chucking! Made for an interested and varied diet for a while and why not. Some you may call comfort food the rest was a part of my lifestyle change which has helped all the way through.
Getting through the early days is a matter of accepting what is happening (I did not know what was happening, but I went with it (whatever it was!)) if you feel like staying in bed do so, but when you feel like getting up and about definitely do so and enjoy it! The up days are there to reassure us that we will get better no matter how small or few and far between they are.
Chin up Lee.
Regards,
David
I love your posts David...you simply ooze positivity. Thank you for that, and yes,after resisting meds for so long, it is time to go with the flow. Love the interesting diet, mine consistes of crackers, ginger beer and short bread biscuits right now, oh and I nibble on the odd banana just to keep my potassium levels up. Will keep going.Cheers, Lee.
Lee try eating something first before you take the pill, see if that'll help. I'm going into my 5 th. week of 10 mg up and down days, mainly very tired, when I get tired my anxiety kicks in. Luck to you, you found a great place to talk about citalopram, a lot if nice people here with good tips on this pill and same feelings you have on this pill too! Stay posted here and the people here will help you through the pill effects.
It simply saved my life so side effects are a small price for me. Obviously there are different side effects for different people. Study your side effects carefully at first
Thanks JC. Did my homework and a lot of reading. I know what I have to get through to get to the other side. I am so pleased to hear you have had such success with this med, it is inspiring for the just beginners to hear how people have got so much better on Citalopram, particularly on grotty days. Thanks.
Thank you Cindy. Always eat first and take my tab in the morning. The support and encouragement keeps me going, so thanks, I do so hope there are more up days for you very soon. Take care . Lee
You are welcome. I tried the alcohol deal with friends and found that i cannot do it. Dont ignore side effects. I also get light headed at times
Hi Lee well done you!! your on your way to feeling better sooner than you think as I was starting to feel better after about 2 weeks as side effects subside, after 5 weeks I have slight tremors which is very managable other than that very few noticable issues. the nausea will pass its just your body reacting to the meds and what ever you do dont stop taking them look thru the side effects to the good part which is feeling mentally happier many people make the mistake of stopping and feeling much worse!! hang in there Lee take care
Thanks Steve. It is encouraging to hear that the nausea may abate soon. I have not had terrible headaches, felt light headed or had tremors, which is a good thing. Not planning on stopping after what feels like a long two weeks, that would just be awful, and could possibly end up on something that may make me feel even worse. Are you feeling any better after 5 weeks? I sure hope so. Take care, Lee.
Thanks for your post! However, I do always bear in mind that it can dry up and I may crash. Hey! As Frank sang "That's life!"
Regards,
David
Heavens above, do jot let it dry up until I am standing on my own two feet. No crashing in the next few weeks, but if you do, and I hope you don't, we will still be here to cheer you on. Cheers. Lee.
Hi Lee, The head aches come and go for me yesterday was especially bad but I think to be honest late nights may contribute to that moreso? You should stick with it and yes I feel generally 90% better than a month before that the worst thing for me was fatique and te feeling of no hope which is no longer now that I take Citalopram so you too will see the benefits I'm sure of that heres to a great future Lee