hi everyone, I started citalopram yesterday and today I feel horrendous. Nausea, headaches and my anxiety is a millions times worse. I literally feel like I can't function. I'm going to take the tablet tonight as can't cope with felling so bad in the day. Did people feel the same and when is the best time of day to take it?
Hi Louise
Yes it's perfectly normal to feel like that initially. It might last a week or 2, but hang on in there as these side effects will pass. My anxiety increased terribly at first, but I've been on this medication for many years now and feel absolutely wonderful :-)
i take my tablet in the morning, but know some people take theirs in the evening. Just don't miss one, as it can make you feel a bit sick and heady.
Remember these feelings will pass.
Good luck xxxx
Oh dear hang in there i was exactly the same . I took tab at nite but got no sleep just panicked all nite. I now take at 7 am in morn & after couple of hours feel better. 8th week now & i feel so much better. It up to you when you take when best for you. It will get better trust me. Good luck.
Thank you so much for the reply. Just not sure I can cope with this for 1-2 weeks. I have a 20 month old and I feel so bad as literally can't do anything with her. Hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel!!
Just hope oped it's worth it :-) xxx
Yep sounds normal, I was really dizzy lost appetite, couldn't sleep, so anxious, shakey, and just felt strange, 2wks in n they seem to of passed, I'm still anxious but definatly getting better, hang in there x
It is very difficult Louise, especially when you need to function. I too had small children when I initially started these and just kept going with one thought in mind - it WILL get better .... this is just a passing phase. It gets worse before it gets better. Anxiety, shaking, weird thoughts, headache, dry mouth, not sleeping ........ BUT the end result is so so worth it :-D
Keep in touch here if you need encouragement through this early stage.
xx
Thank you kate. Good to know I'm not the only one. I have no support either so makes things harder. I'll take the second tablet tonight and see if that helps at all :-) xxx
It is worth persevering . I just did the basic minimum necessaties with my little one and knew I could catch up with everything else once I felt better. Its 7 days for me and its easing off loads. I'm on sertraline but I think the initial side effects are similar. Just treat yourself same as if you had flu, put TV on, have favourite snacks. Good luck x
Thank you for the advice it's exactly what I'm going to do. Housework etc can wait!! Days of peppa pig ahead ha x
Thank you. 2 weeks just sounds so long but I will try hang in there :-) x
Hi, I started just over two weeks ago & I took my first tablet first thing & it made me quite I'll that day with dry mouth, anxiety & vomiting. The next day I had it with my breakfast and I felt so much better with it.
I checked in with the Dr last night & advised I'm constantly tired & waking with headaches, he suggested I take it at night. So last night I took at 10pm & feel much better today.
Hi Louise, agree with all the replies so far, the first couple of weeks were difficult. One thing I would add is if you can, do tell your nearest and dearest that you've started on some new meds. (I fibbed a little about the extent of my problems ) but by telling my loved ones, they have been totally supportive and indeed we were all able to treat this period like a bout of flu and there was no expectation for the house to be clean, etc and the freedom from the guilt I felt about under performing was fabulous. Feeling guilty has been a big negative part of my journey so far, but I think the opportunity to finally fess up but then say I'm now doing this to fix it, has been such a hugely positive step. Good luck you will feel so much better very soon xxxx
Thank you for all your positive replies. They are helping and I will take every suggestion on board. I know this will probably be one of the hardet few weeks of my life so far but I now know I can get through it. Who would have thought to feel better you have to feel a million times worse first!!! xxx
Also I keep getting this really painful shooting pain up the left side of my neck every so often. Did anyone experience that? Just need reassurance xx
Yes it's normal. I could not cope with the effects and stopped taking them. Good luck, everybody says it's worth it in the end, I could not cope as felt too ill to get up which made the depression worse :-( keep us updated and good luck. Xx
I used to get weird electric shooting pains, sort of buzzed through me, but it wasn't anything painful. Could be tension, maybe the way your holding your head or sleep disturbance. Keep an eye on it and get it checked out if it carries on.
i just remember all sorts of weird side effects ...... through that nasty tunnel and out into the brightness eventually :-D xx
So what did you do? X
fed up already and haven't even taken the second tablet yet! Well I've never had this pain until today so I presume it's related.
Roll on on the brightness :-) xx
I haven't managed to eat a thing today? Does that get better before a week/2? X
That's normal too ... decreased appetite. I found as each week went by, one symptom would go and I'd get another :-) Don't expect to be completely better by week 2 as it works differently for everyone ...... but you should see an improvement. I got better so slowly I hardly noticed at first.