I have been been taking Citalopram for 5 weeks for depression and anxiety. I felt bad to start with, but the first 3 to 4 weeks of taking it made me feel even worse. The main problems were increased anxiety and insomnia. I also found the mornings very difficult, as I started crying as soon as I got put of bed and phases of this would continue through the day. I was slightly better in the afternoons,but experienced another dip in mood in the evening. My depressive symptoms were a reaction to a barrage of upsetting events, including a death, estrangement from 2 of my 3 adult children and conflict with my brother.
I was reluctant to increase the dose, but couldn’t think of anything else that might help. (I am seeing a counsellor, which helps a bit.) So, on the doctor’s advice, I doubled the dose from 10mg to 20mg and yes, I am going through the same side effects again - feeling worse, not sleeping, crying more, full of negative thoughts.
Has anyone else had a similar experience when increasing their dose of Citalopram. If, so, how long did they take to feel better after increasing the dosage?
hi , i increased my dose from 20mg to30 mg about 14 week ago and im only just starting to feel the benefits of the citalopram , my mornings where the worse n started to feel better in the evenings
Exactly the same as you but with no depression. Increase to 20 mg - awful It will ease though. Hang in there. I've done 11 weeks now & feel a lot better. I feel for you...
This is quite normal - every time you increase you will get side effects all over again. It will settle.
Throughout recovery too the anxiety and symptoms will come and go. You may feel you're going backwards at times, but again its perfectly normal.
It can take many months to recover, so just go with the flow. It took me 6 months.
Just keep going - it will get better.
Thank you for the encouragement. It sounds as if you have experienced this yourself. I had a depressive period about 8 years ago and 10 mg of Citalopram made me feel better within a few weeks. This time, I am 6 weeks in and only feeling marginally different. Admittedly, I'm not having really bad suicidal thoughts any more but I still crumple into a sobbing wreck in the morning and evening and can't sleep properly. I'm guessing it was because my depression was much worse this time round.
I find mornings the worst too but have another dip in the evening. I wonder if anyone else experiences this. I'm so tired from insomnia and that is probably adding to my low mood in the evenings. I want to sleep, but dread night time as I lie awake with negative thoughts running through my head. Any tips?
I wonder what you mean by "No depression". Do you mean you feel ok?
i was given some phernergan from the dr which is an antihistimine for a couple of week which helped me sleep at night, i never thought the negative thoughts would go but it just seems to get easier as the weeks go by.
That is encouraging. How long did it take on the tablets before you felt significantly better?
I don't have depression. I was under stress and while abroad suffered chronic anxiety. Scared me to death . I'm a worrier but have virtually a perfect life. I got home saw a hypnotist. That was ok till the next day. The physical symptoms were horrendous. Tried Fluxotine ,side effects just too much, stuck it four weeks. Went on the Citralopam. The Doctors were/are useless. These forums got me through. It took 8/9 weeks to start feeling better. Now i've done 11 &the good days are outweighing the bad. I'm shaking a bit writing this & my feet hurt but i know i'm recovering. Please believe in it & stick to 20mg. I suffered three weeks when i upped to 20 but it'll pass. I'm not fully recovered but am confident. Hold the course, hold your dose & slowly but surely you'll feel better. I really feel for you please be strong..
Hi Katecogs! I'm feeling better! You are the guru of this forum! I'm not fully there yet but i'm getting there. You helped me, cheers!
Hello, I'm new to this, but really struggling right now and need some encouragement. I was on 20 mg citalopram for almost 2 years. 3 weeks ago my doctor upped my dosage to 30 mg. After a week I felt good for a several days but this past week has been bad for the most part. Do you think I just need more time to adjust to the new dosage? A lot of what I have read says upping the dosage should show benefits sooner. I just want to know it will get better.
i thought the exact same when i adjusted, but its taken me over 12 week to just get some relief from the anxiety. It WILL get better just got to give the medication chance to work
Thank you for taking the time to write this reply, Stephen. It helps me get through the bad days to know that there is hope.
Thank you for the reply. My doctor had said i should be back to normal within a week so the anxiety really intensified after crashing back down after several days of feeling somewhat normal. This is my 3rd time on citalopram and each time it seems to take a little longer to start seeing the benefits. And this is the first time i have ever increased the dosage....I just hope this medicine continues to work for me.
my doctor told me 4 weeks i should start feeling the full effect of the tablets , its taken 12 to even feel slightly like my old self
your doctor said one week ?wow unbelievable .my doctor told me many months.iam recovered on 10mill.and i aint coming off either to only come on again no mam.best regards
It is nice to hear that one week was unrealistic. He is just my primary care doctor so maybe he doesn't have a lot of background dealing with this medicine. I took it for 6 months for ppd after having my son. Then about 3 years ago I had a bad episode of health anxiety (I believe). after feeling better i mistakenly weaned myself off. I had to start back a couple months later. 20 mg worked until the health anxiety ramped back up along with some family issues here recently. if this ever kicks in, I don't foresee myself coming off them for a long time.
Hi Jill
Yes, I was ill for 16 years before I recovered and have been well for about 20 years now.
Meds often seem to take longer second time around - I also had a different experience second time. Just stick with it, through whatever happens - they worked before so they’ll work again.
Mornings are the worst time - but generally that doesn’t mean the rest of your day will be.
Keep going - you will feel well again in time.
K x
Hi Stephen
Hey glad to hear you're feeling better - even when I'd recovered after 6 months there was still lots of 'wriggle' room still to happen. So expect you'll feel better and better as even more time passes.
Its good to get there isn't it.
K x