Hi !
I'm 22 years old and have struggling with anxiety for months now so my doctor has put me on 20mg of citalopram . I didn't hesitate to take them as I just wanted anything to help me feel better!
I'm on day 3 and I know they take time to work but iv experienced extremely bad nausea and now I'm suffering for the "spaced out" feeling ! It's awful it feels like your in a dream and not living in this would !!
I just want some reassurance as to how long roughly I will have these side effects and will I see a bright future for me?
Help! X
Hi Kimberley, you will be like this while you body adjusts to the medication but u will get there and it does take about 6 - 8 weeks but so worth it when you stay strong you will be well again, please join us over on the chat Anyone NOT had any side effects on Citalopram? as so many folk on there are at all different stages of thaking CIT and we all are similar, so your not alone and you will get well, I got back to my old self after 6weeks but so worth the journey to get there, but everone is different.
Take care and do join us as more regular contact and support over there Anyone NOT had any side effects on Citalopram?
Anne 
This is my first day on 10mg and I'm struggling with my anxiety bad. I'm trying to think positive, but it's tough. I just wish it worked faster! My ruminating thoughts always get the best of me.
Hi Kimberley,
I also suffer from Anxiety and am on 20mgs. Took me about 3-4 weeks for Cit to work
And for most of the side effects, Nausea, headaches, sleepless nights etc to subside. I am now on week 7 and it has been a real life saver.
I still feel anxious or worried at times but that quickly passes and is no way near as bad as when I first started taking Cit.
I am extremely happy with the progress I have made and can finally get my life back on track.
Hang in there it's worth the wait
Regards Marcel
Hi Kimberley,
I thin kit only took me a couple of weeks to adjust to taking the Citilopram. If it's too awful, ask your doc if you can start off with 10mg for a few weeks and then go up to the 20mg. They would usually rather you do that than give up initially as I threatened to do! Everyone's reaction to the drug is going to be slightly different too. Hope it does the trick for you though - I've found it a good prop to get through bad times. :-)
If you're thinking bad thoughts, either put on some happy music and SING along to it (you can't sing and think bad things at the same time) or go for a brisk walk and count your steps as you go, but only up to say 10 at a time and then keep repeating. Keep it simple, but keep your mind busy. Tricks from a lovely CBT therapist that I saw at my doctors.
Good luck! :-)
Hi Kimberley
Sorry you're going through all the negative side effects. I did too and believe me it gets better and there is no looking back after that! Try to eat well during this time, and do as much exercise as you can. Before you know it, you should feel like you did before the anxiety came along, back to your normal self.
Good luck and stay strong x
Hi Kimberley,
I agree with Holly. Its important to eat healthy and incorporate some sort of routine like exercising. Stick with it and you will be yourself again in no time
Thanks for replying! I definitely will try both. I have heard exercise helps anxiety as it releases endorphins. I slept pretty bad last night...is that a common side effect? I woke up pretty much every hour. I'm so tired today. Day 2...hopefully side effects aren't any different.
Hi Kimberley,
i have been on Cit for about 5months now. I started on 20mg which was too overpowering and I struggled to function. I moved to 10mg quite quickly and it was much better for me (we are all different). I'm fully functioning now, and have also just finished 6 weeks of therapy which was very positive. The main side effects have been sleeping, dry mouth, sex drive and at first struggling to go to toilet. I have found that exercise has helped a lot and Im now a keen runner. I know its scary at first but it gets easier from my experience and I'm looking forward. Any other questions just ask.
Hi Leahandrea,
I was on 10mg for 3 weeks before switching to 20mg recomended by my GP, now Im on week 7. It can be frustrating waiting for it to work but I must say, its worth the wait.
The change from 10 to 20 made a massive difference to the way I thought and how I was feeling. More positive than negative
Yes insomnia or sleepless nights is a common side effect, but it should slowly diminish over time. If not see your GP
Good luck and hang in there
Thanks for replying kimberley93403!
Today wasn't too bad. I had mild anxiety towards the afternoon and I'm feeling slight indigestion, but that's about it, thank God! I think I'll stay on the 10mg until I build up a blood level and then up my dose if need be. I'm exhausted from waking up all night. Hopefully tonight is better!! :-)
Has anyone else experienced sensitivity to light with citaprolam? My pupils are really dilated and the sun is killing my eyes! I'm hoping this is only temporary!
Hey, I hope this helps.....I've been on citalopram for a year now. Like you my anxiety was through the roof after my mum died it was making me ill. I put off taking it but I wouldn't look back now. I had a few weeks of increased anxiousness and feeling sick but I knew it was the tablets. Keep on with them try and relax when you can and you'll be fine!! I hear a lot if negatives about citalopram but it's helped me so much. I still get anxious when I'm out if my comfort zone, but I think it's a habit more than anything. Keep going! X
Thanks rose13x . I have a constant fear of eating out in public or big meals cos I'm scared I'm going to be sick because I was ill on holiday infront of everyone so I'm scared it's going to happen all the time!!
Hopefully these tablets will help me not care about all these things as that's the main thing ruling my life! X
Citaloprams commonly prescribed for OCD things like that and has helped me stop over analysing everything. I'm on 20mg and started on 10mg. It does take a few months to properly work but keep going! A friend of mine had a major phobia of being sick to the point she wouldn't drink alcohol or go near someone who was ill from fear if being sick,she had NLP and she's completely cured even flew half way around the world,look into it as it works wonders and isn't just masking the problem with medication! X
Please try to stick with them. The side effects are nasty, as you are finding, but believe me it will be worthwhile in the end. I was one of the unlucky ones who suffered side effects for 6-8 weeks but when they kicked in I felt amazing. However after coming off them and restarting taking them again several years later my side effects lasted about a month or so. At the time it seems never ending but after that month you will think thank goodness I stuck with itt
Hi,
I have been on Cipramil 20mg for about 3 years. When I initially took them first, I had extreme anxiety and was not coping too well. But rest assured they DO WORK... you have to be patient, they could take 6-8 weeks to get the full benefit. It is important to take them the same time every day.
Mike
Hi Kimberley
On 20mg a day for last 3 months. I was worried about the side effects when I read the label at the start but the only side effects I have still are citalopram was fatigue on a big scale despite lots of sleeping. At the start, I was getting abnormal dreams and had restless sleep but severe insomnia was part of the reason I went on it and the abnormal dreams went away straight after my exams, so it could have just been stress. I had asked my pharmacist about it when I went to get a repeat prescription, she said it was worth mentioning to my doc. but to wait 'till after exams in case the symptoms went away and they did so haven't mentioned it to my doc.
I did notice the tabs starting to work a couple of weeks in, although I found therapy more helpful and once I stopped I went downhill again a bit and I'm going to get more therapy soon.
Overall though, apart from the tiredness, I have found the citalopram fine to take.
I didn't get nausea/headaches etc. like some people did so I guess I was lucky. .. . Oh, I forgot, I did get depersonalisation at the start which went away within about 2 weeks. That wasn't nice but it wasn't too bad either.
I guess it all comes to a toss up between benefits and side effects. But DO try and stay on past the initial side effects because you will only see benefits about 2 weeks in It's worth it!
Hope this helps!!
anonymousgirl