Iv just started taking 20mg two days ago for GAD that just started out of the blue around Christmas time. Since taking them all my anxiety is worse my teeth are chattering and I'm shaking from head to toe. I'm also unable to sleep! How long does it take for the side effects to go away? Is this normal? Can any one share tips on how to deal with the worrying?
Citalopram side effects and how to deal with them?
Question posted by Jord89 on 31 Jan 2016
Last updated on 30 December 2019
7 Answers
Kittykatts
29 Dec 2019
I was on 10mg of citalopram for a few years for anxiety and found it superb. I had no side effects at all and when I came off it I had no withdrawal symptoms. Recently the anxiety came back so I decided to go back on citalopram. OMG the side effects were horrendous. I had massive anxiety attacks for 2 days to the point I couldn't cope so came off them day 6. I went on holiday and when I came back the Dr put me on sertraline. Horrible. I stuck it out for 5 weeks, the most horrendous 5 weeks of my life. The Dr has now put me back on citalopram as she said these worked for me before. The first week was great, a few side effects but nothing at all like the sertraline, i thought i had cracked it. then on day 8 i started to lose my appetite again and for the last 3 days have had heightened anxiety. I did have a glass of wine so wondering if that has set me back. It's not as bad as the sertraline but is this still normal.
Surely if I was going to get side effects it would have been week 1? I feel desperate to get back to normal, I am losing the will to live. Any reassurances would be welcome.
Jord89
29 Dec 2019
Hi Kitty Katts,
Sorry to head your going through this again! I posted the original post Christmas 2016 but and came off it a number of times and it came back. The last time it came back was last Christmas / Jan this time Iv just kept taking the citalopram some times only once a week as I forget but it’s kept me normal.
I can totally relate to how you are feeling it will get better you just have to hang in there.
It will take about 2 weeks for the pil lot get in to your body so expect side effects for up to the first 3 weeks but it will subside, just take everyday as it comes.
After about week 4 you will start to see the benefits!
I promise you will smash it you just need to (unfortunately) rise it out!
Any other questions just let me know!
Regards Jordon
Kittykatts
29 Dec 2019
Thanks, I am on day 13 today and feel just awful. I was convinced I was going to be ok because week 1 was a breeze. I am going to stick for another week. I just want to be back to my normal self. Some days I feel i just cant Cope. It's been 8 weeks now and i feel exhausted from it all. Thanks for your reassuring words though and i am so pleased you are feeling better
Jord89
29 Dec 2019
Thats not a problem at all I know how hard it is and it feels like there is no light at the end of the tunnel but there is! Play a date in your head maybe 3 weeks from now and just work towards getting there because by then you will feel better!
Hope you feel yourself soon! X
Kittykatts
29 Dec 2019
Thank you. I am playing next Sunday as a day I should be feeling a lot better. That will mean I will have been on cit for nearly 3 weeks. There should be some improvement by then. I only went on for anxiety but am becoming depressed by the whole thing. I also worry about work. I'm due in again tomorrow and not sure how I'm gonna make it through. You are an absolute star and have given me hope. If they worked before they should again. Xxxx Thank you
Jord89
29 Dec 2019
Fingers crossed for you! But don’t be too disappointed is there’s still not a huge improvement it can take longer remember that and it’s not going to last forever you will get better!
Be open with work they will understand so much better than you would expect!
Please keep me up dated I really hope you feel better soon... and you will! It’s hard, but try and stay positive!
Xxx
Kittykatts
30 Dec 2019
Hi Jord, I am on day 14 and this is the worst day by far. I feel like I am climbing the walls. I have had to take 2 diazepam to take the edge off. I am seeing doctor later but am seriously thinking about coming off meds altogether. It's all making mr crazy. But I am also worried about withdrawals and coping without the meds. Any advice?
Jord89
30 Dec 2019
Sorry to hear this is a bad day for you! It’s good that your seeing your doctor later tho!
What time of the day are you taking your meds?
Iv never had withdrawals from taking it but i can’t imagine that it’s worse than what your going through now?
My only worry would be coming off them and trying something new you might have to give over all the side effects again with a new drug! If you can I would stay strong and keep going.
I promise there’s light at the end of the tunnel! But ultimately I’m not a doctor they will know best all I can give you is my personal experience. Hope you feel better soon xxx
Kittykatts
30 Dec 2019
Hi, the doctor has taken me off them altogether. She said she normally would have recommended a few more days but because I had tried sertraline before citalopram she advised that I am worse on them than off. I am going to refer myself to cbt and see if I can overcome the anxiety naturally before it anything else. I feel I have wasted 8 weeks of my life. Fingers crossed for me and thanks so much for all your support x
Jord89
11 Feb 2016
Once again I would like to thank every one for the advice and help you have given me. Tomorrow is the 2 week mark a point I never thought I would get to with Citalopram. After appx day 6 / 7 most of the side effects eased off. the last 4 days I have felt like my old self again with no Anxiety at all! I know the pills take 4 weeks to take full effect so I'm not sure if this is the result of Citalopram or not? Im not going to complain! I thought It was important to post this just to show any one thats new to the drug, That there IS light at the end of the tunnel!
Ralph1961
30 Aug 2017
I started a program of 10mg for 7 days (which I just completed) and am on day 2 of 20mg. I have been feeling that I want to jump out of my skin. Reading your post is encouraging me.
chuck1957
7 Feb 2016
Great keep at It Jord89; Glad you are getting some pretty good head way with this and the real hard side effects are getting better from the beginning too. The one good thing to is this is one of the few that you reach your blood level in faster time than with any of the others which is good, IT'S Close enough to make sure you run the progress and what side effects your having past the doctor when you see the doctor soon. Keep that thinking positive and once under control don't worry about how long you have to take the medication this can be a chronic condition so don't mess with your dose. I find taking the medication is far better than going all through this again. Best wishes and hope it all keeps going forward for you CHUCK1957
Delila
4 Feb 2016
Hi, i've had a look through the replies you have received and your comments. It's good to see that you have had some very advice and that you are feeling better! Just one thing i feel the need to mention... if you are still having the shaking and teeth chattering i would advise you to inform your doctor, just to be safe...
Jord89
5 Feb 2016
Thank you very much for your comment, I have been finding it much easier since I first wrote this, Im still not sleepy great but am not getting sleep always waking up in a cold sweat :( I still have a tiny bit of shaking in my hands and my teeth chatter from time to time but nothing like what I had. Im still waking up with anxiety on a morning some days this passes really quick some times its there all day. I just cant wait for the 4 week mark when they start to kick in. I have a meeting with my doc a week today so will make sure I ask him about the side effects.
chuck1957
1 Feb 2016
Jord89; The way Celexa works and many of the others when you start it you can feel even worse than you did prior to that in fact for the first one to two weeks it can give you the side effects and make the ones worse that you were already having but lucky somewhere between the 4 to 5 days slowly these side effects start to get better and better also try and take it about the same time each day.THIS WELL GET BETTER soon and one other good thing about Celexa is you reach the full blood level with this one in 4 weeks where it should be doing its job not like most the others that it can take 6 to 8 weeks to reach the full benefits. And also if it is just too hard do what the previous post said is give the doctor a call and see if you can get something for the increased anxiety during the first few weeks but it should not take much longer now and you should start to feel better have a great day.
Jord89
2 Feb 2016
Hey Chuck1975; Thank you very much for your reply, Its filled me with more fight! Iv not long been awake ( day 5 ) It has been getting better every day sleep is still affected but when I wake up in the middle of the night I'm now able to turn over and fall back asleep. The worst part of my day is first thing in the morning when I wake up and feel anxiety kick in however come 4 / 5 pm I feel like my old self, Im very much looking forward to the day when I wake up and feel totally fine!
After the 2 week mark is there any lasting side effects? Each day I seem to experience something different. I have read a few comments saying that Citalopram just left people feeling numb with no emotions the thought of this scares me a little.
Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to reply to me.
Regards Jord89
chuck1957
5 Feb 2016
No very few people have long lasting side effects, Or just get to the point where they have no feelings and just to mellow all together, of course, there always is a chance of a few minor side effect but nothing serious. That you can't work your way around it. Also, the anxiety in the morning should get better soon if not talk with the doctor But that is one of the pretty common ones that does go away in a few weeks. best wishes on this stay positive and keep moving forward.
Jord89
5 Feb 2016
Thanks again for your brilliant advice! It really helps put my mind at ease! I have since had spells where I feel totally fine I just cant wait until I have a full normal day!! Im really thankful for everything you had said. Kind Regards Jord
janiebme
1 Feb 2016
Hi Jord-
I am currently on Buspar 15 mg 2x day for day anxiety with a antidepressant and off label blood pressure med for nocturnal anxiety attacks. Sometimes it can take 2-6 weeks for an antidepressant to kick in and the side effects to lessen. If you are unable to handle the side effects there are other SSRI that you can try. It is trial and error for all of us :( Some just suck more than others. Lack of sleep can take its toll. Call your doctor and see what he or she may recommend. Sometimes lower the dose helps. Hope it works out for you. My thoughts are with you. You can always post here for support and advise, you are not alone.
Jord89
1 Feb 2016
Thank you very much for your support! Iv had a better night sleep since posting my original question still only about 5 hours but that's more that the previous two days combine! I'm going to talk to my doctor but might also just try and sick out the first 2 weeks until the sided effects lessen. It's a very scary thought thinking will this ever go away! Thank you very much for your reply! Kind Regards J
Briguy0401
31 Jan 2016
I would ask your doctor about something to help with the anxiety. Buspar is very popular as a non- benzodiazepine like Ativan, Xanax and Klonopin etc... I took Buspar alone with Zoloft for about 15 years and it worked great.
You will find what works and you will get your life back!
Jord89
1 Feb 2016
Thank you very much for your reply! I'll do just that and see what they recommend! Kind regards J X
Related topics
anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, citalopram, side effect, anxiety and stress, tooth
Further information
- Citalopram uses and safety info
- Citalopram prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Citalopram (detailed)
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