I started talking citalapram about 8 weeks ago after suffering with sudden anxiety which started to make me feel depressed. I was such a wreck at the time that I took myself to the docs for help and they suggested a 20mg dosage. I had horrible side effects to start with nausea, dizzyness, lost a stone in weight. Eventually I felt like I was improving but after starting counselling the more I opened up the worse I felt. At week 8 I had a complete meltdown with my husband and dad and declared exactly how I felt! Sad, lonely and like I wanted to give up! So off I went back to the docs to say that I felt like I was back at square one but at least everybody knows how I really feel!!!My doc has increased my dosage to 40mg but OMG I did not expect to feel how I do! I cried almost continuously for 5 days. The nausea is much worse than before and I have started losing weight again.I am just after any words of advice or reassurance that this will get better? I cant cope with anything feeling so ill and I actually think that's why I feel much worse at the moment.Also does anubody know how long the effects of the increase will take to actually work?Thanks x
Hi Emma
I am on week 5 .started on 10 mg then 20 mg after a week then 40 mg after 4 weeks . I have gone back to 30 mg by choice. I still have terrible anxiety and my stomach in knot all the time . I don't cry as much now and slowly starting to feel wee bit better but still not got all my old spark back. Everyone says it can be up to 8 weeks to kick in . I know how you feel
Keep in touch so we can help one another
Hi Emma again
Yes I had the nausea and some times do but the doctor gave me tablets to combat that and it helps. I still want to crawl up in a hole at times but think making slow progress so hang in there love as everyone on site has told me it will get better
Xx
Hi Girls, there are a lot of people like you, myself been one, check out another forum on here for "Anyone NOT had any side effects on Citalopram" you will see how many folk are experiencing the exact same as you, so u are not alone, but it will get better and it does take time and unfortunately awful side effects before feeling better, but u have already went thru hell so another few weeks should get you there.
Take care and keep in touch it really helps when you know ur not alone in this.
Take care,
Anne
Hello Anne
Have looked at that site, yes positive feedback. Yes need to give it another couple weeks I think, at least today dont feel like walking into the sea like I did few weeks ago , took major surgery , house shift to another part of country and no one to talk to as not got job yet due to knee replacement to trigger this off . But I have been so down deep and dark I could not see light and wanted to die .
Wendy,
There is light at the end of the tunnel, u have been thru so much, but the only way is up now, you will get there and you are not alone, think positive be strong, join a medical gym via your doctor to strengthen your knee and get to know folk thru this, its usually free.
Remember your more than this and try to relax to help stay calm and do deep belly breathing, it really helps, breathing out for longer than breathing in.
Take care and keep in touch,
Anne
Hi Anne
Thank you for support, I am so greatful just to be able to talk and have support from some one else .
Xx
No problem Wendy,
You know there are so many folk that suffer like you, and so many that don't understand it, I didn't until I started suffer it myself, so don't hesitate to come on here for support and also on the discussion 'Anyone NOT had any side effects on Citalopram? = there are lots of lovely folk on that forum and we are all in the same boat as you, and at different stages of taking Cit. so check it out too. They are all so supportive.
Take care and stay strong,
Anne
Its sad to hear that so many of us are going through this at the moment. I have woken up feeling a bit better today and the sick feeling hasn't arrived yet! Maybe it won't?
I lay in bed this morning thinking about how I felt this time last week and I feel quite relieved that I had my meltdown and made my feelings of this horrible experience known.
I am starting to realise that I won't feel better overnight and that I need to take it a day at a time. Hopefully I am due a few good days.
Keep in touch everyone x
Hi Emma,
Anne is right, there are many people who suffer from anxiety/depression and at different stages of citalopram. I took Cit for 25 days, horrible side effects, anxiety, feeling sick, headache, diarrhoea just to name a few. After 25 days the doc increased it to 30 and I'm day 12 into 30mg. This time diarrhoea stopped (it was due to a change in the brand of Citalopram), but the headache and feeling really dizzy and spaced out! My anxiety subsided a bit , so I can have small conversations about sth else (not just my anxiety), but still take Lorazapam to help me with any bouts of anxiety. So there is hope for you, jut wait, take one day at a time and you will get there
Kind regards, Grace
Woke this morning and the anxiety feeling is still hovering . Hot sunny day outside but can't face it . Same yesterday wanted to close myself off from the world in bed and haven't pulled the drapes for couple days . Don't know how much longer I can take this as making me not want to see people or want to do even the smallest thing . Anyone felt like this please please tell me
Thanks I'm desperate
Hi Wendy,
You need to help yourself, open the curtains, get fresh air, we were like this too, but deep breathing in the fresh air really helped, so even go for a little walk whether u feel like it or not think of it as part of your recovery and getting back to normal, make sure u drink plenty and you will get there believe me we have all been there,
make sure u are in contact with people whether on here or around you, dont cut yourself off, we need company to feel normal, and I hated this to start with but knew I needed people round me.
Take care and keep in touch
Anne
I feel the exact same way right now. Showering, eating, all of it seems overwhelming. Doctor increased my citalopram dose from 20 to 30 mg, first dose was yesterday. Today I had my second dose and I feel nauseated, drowsy, and slightly disconnected from reality. Definitely cannot go outside, prefer to have the blinds closed, my bed is the safest place. I know this convo happened over a year ago, so my question for you is how do you feel now?
Hi,emma,
Sorry to hear you are having so many problems. However, as theladies have already explained, there is light at the end of what seems to be a very long tunnel. I have been on 40mg for over a year. I lost my wife just over a year ago and have had lots of other problems in between. I had a rubbish doctor, who's answer was simply to give me citalopram and then told me to go away. I did use the nhs talking therapy which worked for a couple of days but then i went back to being even more depressed. One problem i had was that i could no longer live in the house my wife and i had lived in, so i moved. What i'm trying to say in my long winded way, is that even though i was depressed and had problems piled ontop, the citalopram got me through. That and my dog.
Hope you are getting better. But you must always remember, youare not alone.
Hi, i know this is now a year old, but i've just found it! i've not had any side effects that i've noticed - definitely not any as described by some of you, although maybe a little headache, but nothing worse.
I came on here as I initially asked my doc for 10mg. Two years later due to an accident I upped this to 20mg. I've not got to a point after a pretty horrific weekend that I think i need 40mg just for a little while. do you think it's ok to up it and then go back down?
I don't like being like this as i have two young children and i know they suffer 
Hi Emma,
My name is chanda, I'm so glad I found this. I need advice and other patient input on cElena also.. so I'm 37 yrs old just had my 4th child a year old now. When he was 5 months I got on 20 mg then 40 months later (celexa) with doc for anxiety and stress. Always angry always sad and crying. Had lot going on in family. I gave it 4-5 months to really tell if it was working.. well my side affects were opposite of yours, my biggest problem was cured I started to get better and stronger nomore crying anxiety or sadness. But I started gaining weight and became to want to isolate myself, not wanting to get out of house, didn't want to see people or interact or even interta in my best friend over. I just went back to them today, complaining I think I'm getting depressed, they had ran blood work prior to this visit, the results today are my testosterone level is in the negatives. That's why I'm tired sluggish no motivation have the don't wants and give up kinda feeling...they bumbed me back down and I will decide to take the shots are not after I think about it.. I'm frustrated too.. get one problem fixed and you get 5 more! Ugh.. keep in touch.
I am a mental health male nurse and have been taking citalopram for years with few setbacks resulting in lack of pleasure severe anxiety and racing thoughts. I have mainly been on 20mg but will see my gp regarding increase to 40mg as I'm extremely anxious and had to phone in sick during spell on night shift as I can't sleep. Any suggestions folk? I think cause I work in mental health I feel like this shouldn't effect me but it is becoming common throughout society and within mental health nursing.
I have yet to find any anti-depressant that doesn't have almighty side effects.
Hi
Sorry to hear all your difficult and life limiting stories. Really hope you can all feel better soon.
I have been on citolopram for about 4 months at 20mg and just been increased to 40mg a few days ago. Don't remember having any side effects of the 20mg but my god the 40mg are hard work. Loss of sleep (usually sleep just fine) diarrhoea, complete loss of appetite, what feels like a cold coming and feeling spaced out a bit like a zombie. On the upside I haven't had a melt down for a week.
Takes about 3 - 4 weeks
There are other SSRI's
Prozac didn't work for me Hang in there and good luck
I am on 40mg