Hey y'all,
Can someone PLEASE tell me that after experiencing my very first panic attack and anxiety that all these scary thoughts are coming from that? I've been dealing with this off and on for over a year. These thoughts pop up sporadically and I could just look at something that causes a scary thought. I'm on 10mg citalopram but I'm not sure if it's helping or make a it worse.
hi sandra how long have you been taking citalopram?
Over a year now
20mg is the more usual therapeutic dose of citalopram, if you are an adult and not sensitive to these meds. perhaps speak to your doctor to assess whether citalopram is helping you and if anything needs to be changed? and sorry to hear you are having these problems
Thank you.
I agree that it sounds as if at the very least you need a dosage increase. I take Citalopram mainly to treat depression but even so after starting out on 10mg needed an increase after an adjustment period.
Will it help with the scary thoughts? Have you experienced this before?
hi again sandra, by scary thoughts im wondering if you mean anxiety? do you feel a wave of fear come over you and feel scared? perhaps for little or no reason about something which wouldnt bother anyone else.
if so, then perhaps the low dose of citalopram you are taking is not enough to tackle your anxiety. it's a difficult task to try to advise exactly what you should do next, but it seems increasing the dose or trying a different med are 2 perfectly good options
Yes that s it.
Scary thoughts are actually no more than a side effect of anxiety. Once the anxiety starts to ease, so too will all its side effects too. Hard to believe the thoughts will go, but they will.
Citalopram heightens anxiety etc when you first start taking it, so it can feel a bit daunting at first. Stick with the meds and in time they'll start working.
K x
Forgot to add:
People often get stuck in a cycle of anxiety / scary thoughts / anxiety etc ... the anxiety brings on scary thoughts, and then the thoughts in turn produce more anxiety, keeping that cycle going. The meds will help ease the anxiety over time, and the thoughts will become unimportant and will no longer produce anxiety.
I suffered with this for 16 years and with understanding what was happening to me and then the meds, it stopped within 6 months.
K x
I feel this is where I'm at. In a cycle. Some days are better then others, but for the most part I can deal. This is where I'm torn about upping my citalopram from 10 to 20mg. I've read some good and bad things about this medicine. I just don't know... I'm just exhausted mentally. The hardest part for me with the thoughts is how dare I think like that. I've never ever experienced this before. It makes you question your sanity. But I'm sure this is all from the anxiety.
During recovery on these meds you will get some days better than others - shows the meds are working.
I recovered on 20mg but after a few years I reduced to 10mg as a maintenance dose. Its always difficult deciding which dose is best for you as we're all so different. Maybe give the dose another 3-4 weeks and if you decide to increase you could try just another 5mg maybe?
Anxiety and thoughts are very tiring, and we think of them constantly throughout each day.
Yes the thoughts can be alarming - I couldn't believe I had weird ones either - it was so unlike me. Remember though, this is not the 'real you' ..... they are just a symptom of anxiety ..... just the same as if you had a bad cold with a sore throat being a symptom. The thoughts will go when the anxiety eases. Anxiety always seems to latch itself onto thoughts, and we all have different ones.
People often write bad things about this medicine - it doesn't suit everyone of course. Also many people don't take it correctly, maybe been misinformed and not supported by their doctor, haven't stayed on it long enough to see results, have stopped abruptly .......... this medicine is tough.
People take medicine for all sorts of ailments - epilepsy, diabetes, heart, blood pressure ..... and I'm sure they all come with their own side effects. This medicine is there to help, and if taken correctly it will help you to recover and get back to normal again. Some people struggle along for a long time, not wanting to take meds, but that often leads to getting deeper embroiled in this illness. The meds are there to help. And they really do - if given the time they're needed.
Yes I questioned my sanity many times ....... but it really is no more than anxiety playing tricks on you. You can see it for what it is when you're recovered, but when you're deeply in the middle of it all you can only see a confusing mess, fear, no way out, negativity.
You will get over this xxx
sandra i also have had extremely distressing thoughts over the last few months so started on citalopram about a month ago, i started on 10mg and moved up to 20mg a few weeks ago. please be assured that this med (or similar meds) do help people and if they dont, they are alternatives to try until you find what is right for you.
i'm feeling quite good today which is the first since i started taking citalopram. previously i had very worrying anxious thoughts, i would describe them as being frightened of everything, and feeling like i had no control at all on my life or my thoughts, along with suicidal feelings.
but now im feeling ok today so im hoping its the start for me of turning that corner and getting well again. perhaps you simply need to move up to the regular theraputic dose of citalopram, which is 20mg, as stated in the leaflet, and is not considered a very high dose
you may only need a week or two to adjust to the new dose, since you have already got quite used to citalopram in your system. it's really not long to wait, and a it's a positive step in the right direction towards taking action and working on yourself in order to feel better
Thank you for your feedback. I appreciate it so much. I did start taking some Magnesium which seems to help.
It's crazy how Anxiety controls your mind and body. But, I do appreciate your comment. Makes me feel better knowing I'm not alone. Hugs!
Hi Sandra! Believe me you are NOT ALONE! I'm also having scary thoughts... exactly like that, I could look at something and it can trigger it, then the thought spirals in my mind leading to a panic attack.
I am suffering at this very moment because I have come off citalopram.
I was on citalopram for 7 years, it works wonders!!!! - I think you need to increase your dose, 20mg is the common amount.
Today has been a good day, I have been taking proponol beta blockers which help with anxiety! Wow I'm tired though.
Just remember it is anxiety that is playing a trick on you.... it will go away!
Deep breathe, cut out caffeine, drink chamomile tea, try CBT.... the key is to nip the attack in the bud before it explodes.
Kate who has replied to you knows a lot.
But don't worry your sanity is there, I'm exactly the same 😐X
Thank You! When you said it worked great for 7 years, why did you stop if you were fine? My fear is that being on it and not able to come off. I don't want a blanket to cover the problem. I want this fixed. I'm so frustrated this is happening to me. I've been a worried and feared a lot in my lifetime, but not like this. I'm hard on myself which doesn't help.... ugh.
I also feel by upping my dose it's just making me a weaker person. I guess i just dont have alit of understanding to the meds. All but the 10mg citalioram.
I came off them because I have felt fine for years and wanted to test myself if I could come off them, also I'm hoping to start a family this year and I wanted to try and get the drug out my system.
I've hit withdrawals and it is quite hard, but coping.
I also looked into neuromotions.. where the brain creates fake amplified emotions when withdraweling off the tablets, but can be the same when going on them.
Don't feel ashamed of going up a dose, it's not that you can't cope as a person, it is all about chemicals end of the day.. have you tried counselling or some sort of talking therapy? This forum is great I have found.
Antidepressants have a negative stigma but if they help then they help
Maybe 10mg is just fine for you, but added talking therapy or CBT might do the trick!
I'm hard on myself too! But we really should give ourselves a break! 😊