Hey everyone!!!
Was prescribed celexa a while back but haven't taken it yet due to fear of how I'm gonna react to it with the side effects as I've read a few good and horror stories on it and was skeptical.
However my depression is getting worse and worse and I need to do something about it so I'm thinking about starting on the celexa.
If anyone has tried it or is currently on it please offer insights on what dose you are on, for how long and if it's working for you. Also how long did it take to see changes. any advice/insights you can offer will be much appreciated!!!! Thanks 😊
Hi there. I started 6 days ago. First 3 days were hell, to put it mildly. Panci attacks during the night, no appetite, absolute fatigue, edgy. Yesterday was my first good day. Today was ok but a bit down. So, I guess i have not had it as bad as some other people I have seen on here where it goes on for weeks. Wouldnt wish that upon anyone. So, I am still slightly fatigued, I seem to sleep ok but lightly, my appetite is increasing slightly, my mood could be better but not like before. I will give mine another couple of weeks, only because it has slightly imporved the last couple of days. Good luck.
Hi shawn23899...hope you are well 😊 I've been on citalopram roughly about 8/9 weeks now...and I feel great!! I've never suffered with anxiety or depression before in my life...so when it hit me I thought I was going to die!! I alsways thought symptoms of anxiety etc was crying and being a nervous wreck...(ignorant I no) but I didn't feel any of that...I felt really unwell. I actually thought I was going mad...my headache was unbearable...I couldn't eat...wanted to sleep all the time...really agitated like a ticking time bomb!! I was confused...dizzy...didn't want to socialise...all these symptoms are so not me! So...my GP prescribed citalopram...of corse I was worried about taking them...who wouldn't be!! Shawn...I instantly felt relief...I couldn't believe it!! I started on 10mg...after 5 days I felt my mood dip again...started feeling worried...frightened and tired...rang my GP and he upped it to 20mg...again....instantly felt better. Was great on the 20mg for about 5 weeks...then the feeling came back again...doctor has upped it to 30mg...had a headache for a couple of days...apart from that I've been great 👍🏻I think the key is to increase gradually...good luck flower...I hope it works for you 😉
Hi Caro,
Thanks for the insights, glad your seeing an improvement faster. From what I've read most people don't see any improvement till after 5-6 weeks. Hope it continues working for you.
Hi Claire, thanks for the response. Your symptoms sounds like mine. I wake up everyday zombie like. Thick brain fog, can't get my speech out, spaced out feeling memory loss etc. I curl up in a ball like as if I have the flu or something. It's crazy how these feel physical like as if your physically sick from something. I really need this to go.
I hope it helps me as it's helped everyone. Thanks again.
I started on citalopram 10mg a year and a half ago it has helped a lot I couldn't leave the house or drive before I can do both now. I still had anxiety but not panic attacks. I increased 4 weeks and 3 days ago to 15mg. I had increased anxiety some panic attack and a lot of sweating. I am now feeling better but I almost gave up on the med! Just prepare yourself and just hang in there it eventually doesn't get better.
Ow my god Shawn...you really do sound like I was!! My memory went awful...which made me panic...and I'd be having a conversation and say the wrong words...very strange...and again I'd panic...I never ever thought anxiety would feel like that!! Plzzzzz give it a go!! I swear...within about 5 hours I could feel my headache(that I'd had for weeks) lift!! I couldn't believe it!! Let me no how you get on huni 👍🏻 Always here if you need me
I still remember the day I finally agreed to take it. I kept scheduling appointments with my doc every month to show up see how progress was going. I'd show up still not having started them, and finally he said to me, "you've been struggling for too long. It would break my heart to see you in twenty years still struggling when relief is available." This was back in 2014 I can't give exact timetables but I remember my experience. I swallowed the first pill and basically waited till it made me crazy. Didn't happen. Keep taking them and after 2 weeks I realized I had basically no side effects except a sexual one. However the tablets still weren't working. About a month in I bumped from 20 to 40mg and let me tell you it was one of if not THE best decision I had ever made. It finally gave me clarity and my old self back. I was pretty close to suicidal before starting, 4-5 into treatment I remember thinking how illogical my worldview was and that there REALLY was this whole other viewpoint open to us if we can accept treatment. I was the same way, I know it's hard to start. But you're far from alone. The good thing about Cit too was that it didn't restrict my lifestyle at all. Wasn't anymore sensitive to coffee/alcohol. Basically it gave me ME back for the trade off of swallowing a pill every morning.
Ow...and can I just add...people talk about 'what time of day should I take it'...and some say it really makes a difference...I take mine between 2.30-4pm in the afternoon...because that was quite literally the time I walked out of my doctors...it works for me 👍🏻 And I have 2 jobs...one of them jobs is working night shifts...so taking it at that time is good for me!! Just a little tip huni...😉 Can't wait to hear how well you're gunna feel 👍🏻
Hi Shawn23899,
I took my first Citalopram pill last night. I am to take 10mg for a week then after go to 20mg. I took the pill at about 8:45pm and started feeling sleepy about 30-40 minutes later. I fell asleep around 10pm. I woke up at 3am feeling jittery and I'm still up now unable to fall back to sleep.
Hi nettie602...just read your post to Shawn...why don't you do what I do and try taking it in the afternoon..I take mine about 2.30pm...if you've only took one upto now why don't you give it a go huni...I'm always ready for bed come 10pm...and probably had 1 restless night in 9 weeks...the rest I've slept like a baby...good luck flower 😉
Thanks for the follow up Claire, I've also had focusing problems too like it's so hard to focus on anything and the thing with my speech is that it's not that I don't wanna talk it's just that I have no energy to talk sometimes I'll crack and stutter as I tried to speak and sometimes a whole sentence would be too much effort and I give up halfway (very strange).
They say that the sun makes everything better because apparently it produces serotonin but it's the opposite for me I can't stand going out in the sun makes me extremely tired and my symptoms worse. But yeah really weird symptoms. I'm hoping once I start on my meds I'll have relief.
Hi Dalene, thanks for your feedback, I'm hoping it works for me and I plan on sticking out the side effects if it's gonna eventually make me feel better.
Hello Firsttimer,
Its ironic you mentioned you didn't start taking it after a while, I've had my prescription since May this year and I've filled it up but never took it as I'm scared of the side effects. Missed my follow up appointment on purpose because I know I haven't started it yet. I was given 10mg and 20mg after a week, I'm dreading that first pill and hope i don't have any side effects but that might be highly unlikely. Either way I know I have to do something about my depression as it's starting to take a huge toll on my life.
Hi Nettie602,
Thanks for the feedback, it seems like a lot of people have insomnia when they start celexa. I know I definitely need my sleep so maybe taking it in the morning might be beneficial but I just need to see how I react to it at first and decide what time works for me. Hope it works for you.
Hi Claire,
That's one of the issues that has kept me from taking celexa is the insomnia, I heard it can be really bad so maybe I'll take my first dose in the morning or late afternoon and see how it goes. Thanks again for your contribution.
Been on it for near on ten years and I take 20mg. I follow the GPs recommendations. As you should do.
Possibly you will suffer side effects until they work at five weeks, It is possibly you are in the early stages of taking the drug so your GP MAY increase it when He know how you are responding
B.
Thanks for commenting. I'm hoping the side effects won't be that bad.
i have just been prescribed same med 10mg . sounds like by reading posts ,it makes you feel worse with side effects before seeing difference .some of the side effects I already suffer tiredness ,panic attacks . so is it really worth starting the medication ?
Hi Julie,
I think a lot of people experience the same side effects you are experiencing but it might be worth sticking it out for a little while. I heard it can take up to a month to see any effects. I plan on sticking out the side effects at least for a good month and hopefully it kicks in. I hope it starts working for you.