I’ve just been prescribed 10mg Citalopram and I’m terrified to start them. I’ve heard there’s awful side effects. I suffer from very bad headaches every day and there is no way that I would be able to deal with them getting any worse. Help!
It’s best to explain your worries to your doctor as not everyone gets headaches with citalopram. I didn’t get headaches but I didn’t always feel like myself, I felt a bit distant and struggled to concentrate. I have acute anxiety so I knew I had to take something which I thought would help me in the long run. I can’t live with my anxiety been as bad as what it is at the moment so I will have to face the side effects to get past this. 10mg is a low dose but the worse side effect for me is that the anxiety has got worse, which is normal before it tapers off and gets better. I hope you get on ok but let us know what you decide as we’ll be here for you.
Thanks for your reply! I’m gonna give the 10mg a go and if it’s completely unbearable then go back to the doctors and see what they say. I just don’t know how I’m going to deal with how I feel getting worse right now. I’ve been hesitant when to start them because it’s like picking which day to start feeling horrible and it feels like bad timing every time I go to take it, but I know if it’s gonna work for me I’ll have to get past that some how. As for the headaches, fingers crossed!! Thank you for your help
I know what you mean; I'm looking at switching from Citalopram to a different med because it appears that after 5 years the Cit is no longer effective for me, and I keep pushing back the day when I'll make the switch;-).
As for when I started Citalopram 5 years ago, I don't remember having any headaches as a side effect. The start up period was pretty bad for me, BUT my doctor started me right off at 20 mg, and then a week later stupidly bumped me up to 40 mg. You may want to consider cutting your 10 mg pills in half, and taking just 5 mg. for the first week. Also, no matter what, don't let your doctor increase your dosage right away like they did for me; that will make the side effects worse.
When the side effects first kicked in, it did help me to remind myself, "it's just the side effects, and will end soon". I went for a lot of long walks, and tried to keep myself distracted during that time.
Also, keep in mind that some people experience little or no side effects when they start. My husband is on 20 mg of Citalopram, and never had any side effects when starting (lucky guy).
Hey Emzo,
I got my percription in January and looked at the bottle for about 5 weeks. I wish I had not waited and started them right away.
I also had headaches before I started. 10mg 13 weeks ago and the headaches started to disipate after 3-4 weeks.
I did get a lot of side effects from this drug but if I had to do it again I would. I’m feeling much better not perfect or close to it but I can function. This forum is fabulous especially with the hard times. So please keep in contact with us if how you are progressing. I keep a journal each day in my iPhone and I look back at it and I see how much I progressed . The meds take time. For me it was a roller coaster for a couple of weeks. But believe me it’s a good drug. I went to several dr and no one could help me. I then found a neurologist that prescribed this to me and I’m glad he did. Also cut out caffeine and walk every day.
Will😎
I am suffering from Anxiaty/Depersonalization very confused and i was on Velantafaxine75mg for 7 weeks then the dr changed me to Escitalopram(lexapro) 10mg and my depersonalization got even worse its hard because the drs seem to not understand what depersonalization is 😞😢😭
Oh I definitely agree with you that they are clueless of our symptoms 😬😬🤯. How long have been on the escitalopram 10mg? It takes time and it’s a roller coaster ride. I’m on citalopram 10mg 13 weeks. I had a good day today👍🏻🙏🏻. I exhausted now but I wake up in the middle of the night.
Keep me posted how you are doing .
Will😎
I had 7 weeks on Velantafaxine 75mg and i didnt wrk all the sidde effects were killing me. I then took Escitalopram 10mg 3 weeks the sidde effects were worse than my depersonalization i had chest pain, dry mouth, shaky, and aleays feeling like i was gonna pass out soo for all this past week i took half of 10mg and yesterday i didnt take it anymkre i think its making me feel worse. With citalopram 10mg did you have any sidde effects
Yes I was a mess for the first 3 weeks I started at 10mg for 5 days then 5mg for 6 days and back to 10 mg. I had shakes sweats chills naseau dizziness panic anxiety. I didn’t sleep at all for 5 days. I read all posts then and people helped me . It seems a lot of people have a lot of side effects. Some more than others. I got more side effects than normal. I’m glad I stuck with it. I’m feeling good. Before I went on it I was hospitalized 3x for panic attacks which I had no idea what they were. It scared the crap out of me. I also had face pain and tooth pain just recently. Very strange med but it works. 😇😇🙏🏻. My dr wanted to ween me off since it worked for panic attacks. I said no I’m not going through that horror again. I’m actually started to sleep the whole night🙏🏻,
I wish you well and pray for you Hilda.
I m here to talk with.
Will😎
Hiya ,
I was exactly the same !! I was prescribed sertraline last year but didn't take them jjst tried to live and deal with anxiety and panic on my own but it's just got worse and worse so in March this year I was given 10mg of citalopram , I only started taking it on the 3rd may this month ! I would look at them every day and talk myself out of why I should start that day it got too much so I eventually poured it all out to my friend and she came round and sat with me while I took the first one and stayed with me for a few hours just to reassure me ,
I was absolutely fine for 4 days, on day 4 I had an increase on anxiety and had a big panic attack I was then to scared to leave the house on my own for 3 days so had friends doing my school runs for me , I didn't want to live like that so continued to take the citalopram every morning , I had a little bit of dizziness the first week or 2 aswell , but alot less pressure in my head I felt alot calmer too , I'm now on day 23 taking them , I'm still no where near perfect at all but it hasn't been half as bad as what I had imagined and built up in my head , my doctor would like to to up me to 20mg which I will do next week although again I am very nervous to do , but if I can offer you any advice I would say please take them it might not be as bad as you think, being on here has really helped me and talking to people asking for help if u need it , accepting it is what it is and do what u need to do to feel better, my friend always tells me to trust the process and I finally do xxx
Hey Emzo,
I just started on citalopram, on day 7 and I upped my dose yesterday. It can be a rough ride. People react differently to different medications, for example I can't handle sertraline. Cit has been far better in terms of symptoms. That said it's not been symptom free. It will spike your anxiety for a while, I've had headaches too. Diarrhoea for the first 2 days (sorry), racing thoughts, insomnia (this was there before starting). Real fogginess. Getting through is like an endurance race. However that is fairly standard. You've got to realise when you start that the discomfort is temporary and just the result of cit working it's way through your system. I've been on SSRIs before and so I know the game. You can discuss your symptoms with your gp and find the right SSRI for you. But be brave, it will be worth it
Emzo,
Have you started the meds? Keep us posted!
Will😎
Thank you so much!
Thanks for your help!
I just don’t know how I’m going to deal with getting intense side effects if I get them. I don’t feel comfortable talking to family about it, my friends can’t always be there and the doctors wind me up. But I guess I’m just gonna have to take them. Thank you xx
Thanks for your advice!
... still no. I’m telling myself I have good reason as to why I shouldn’t start them this week. I have a lot on & a friends birthday drinks at the weekend. Not too sure how the medication reacts to alcohol??
Hi Emzo, I appear to be different to most people on here. I have been put on citalorapram 3 times, starting at 10mg, and each time it relaxed me straight away. I do recall feeling anxious at times, but nothing that felt too bad. I have recently been told by a doctor that I am very sensitive to medication, so wonder if this is why.
Emzo re alcohol, these can make alcohol effect you quicker. Am not sure how cita affects you with alcohol in your system, am sure the wise people on this forum can advise you. Even so, my advice would be to stay away from alcohol especially whilst your system is getting used to them.
Go party first..if your priorities are drinking and partying ..do that first . alcohol and ssris especially celexa don't mix well..good luck...