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Citalopram - Hi. I've been taking celexa 10mg for almost two weeks for anxiety and panic attacks. At
Question posted by Sue1014 on 23 March 2015
Last updated on 6 November 2018
Added 23 March 2015:
Noticed a difference but now the anxiety is returning. I also wake up at 2 or 3 (midnight last night) with anxiety and can't go back to sleep even after taking klonopin. Just wondering if increasing dosage would help and if the insomnia will ever go away. I'm also prescribed .5 mg klonopin once a day but have been having to take more like 2 a day. I should mention I took lexapro 20 mg for 8 years and did pretty well on it. Last few months it seemed to lose some effectiveness and it caused me to have no motivation. My doc weaned me off it but when anxiety returned he tried to put me back on and side effects were awful. Anxiety was worse and I had a burning sensation on my arms. Don't remember those side effects the first time. Thanks for your help.
Sue
8 Answers
tonestar
2 Feb 2018
Hi Sue,
Hoping you find some relief soon, I can see the great advice already given by the others on here so wishing you well.
I take citalopram and clonazepam as well as mirtazapine and still don't sleep well !!! Definitely a work in progress as the citalopram is new to me as well.
Without the sleep you are normally getting your anxiety will be worse, sleep is so important.
I get so over being told to ' just wait for it to work', I have changed meds so many times over the years and feel your frustration. You know yourself better than anybody, so if you need to take 2 klonopin at night for a week or so or have a glasss of wine etc then sometimes you have to do what you have to do is my attitude. Again without sleep my anxiety is out of control.
Take care and please let us know how you go.
Cheers Tony
MayoMcNasty
1 Feb 2018
Try 20. It works for me just right. I used to be on 60mg a day! The doc told me it was too high and put me down to 40, but I've been taking 20 a day. 10 a day is very low for citalopram.
MLS44
6 Nov 2018
Hey when you went down to 20 from 40 did you do it slowly and do you feel better on less? I am wanting to go down to 20 from 30 as been on 30 about a year and think may feel better or just as well on 30. Did you feel more anxious on higher dose then do now
Delila
24 March 2015
Hi, Citalopram, as with all SSRI's, take 4 weeks, give or take, to reach full therapeutic effect. During this time you will experience induction side effects unfortunately. I know it seems like hell when you are going through it, but in the long term it really could be worth it. I take Citalopram and it has worked wonders for me. The Klonopin dose is very high, so if that is not helping your anxiety you should consider speaking with your doctor about an alternative. There is room for adjustment with your Citalopram dosage, again, your doctor may decide to increase your dose to 20mg. I had my dose increased 'early' (before the 4 weeks mark) and it really helped.
Sue1014
24 March 2015
I spoke with my doctor this morning and she said I definitely need to up to 20mg but she will not do it until I've been on the 10mg for 4 weeks total. I would rather just start it now so I can be on my way to feeling better. My original problem was panic attacks, but even now I feel depression setting in. I have no motivation to do anything which is rough because it's spring break here and I want to enjoy things with my kids. I have not had a good nights sleep in almost a week and the past two nights I've only had two hours. I wake up with palpitations and very hot and sweaty and feel on edge all night. I've also taken protonix 40 mg. for about 5 years for GERD but my doctor increased it to 80 mg a day because I got a case of gastritis. I'm wondering if the extra protonix could be causing the sleep issue and anxiety at night. I'm rambling I know, but this is how my mind is right now... I keep questioning everything. I just want to feel normal again. Thanks for listening... it really helps!
Sue1014
24 March 2015
Also, I was prescribed wellbutrin 150 sr along with the celexa but I've read it can increase anxiety so I haven't started it because I'm afraid of having more anxiety than I already have. What is your thought on this? Is it best to start one med at a time or could the wellbutrin possible help now?
Delila
24 March 2015
The symptoms you are experiencing will very likely improve/go away once you reach the 4 weeks mark with the Citalopram. I know it's hard, but i know a lot of people this medication has helped, including me. My dose was increased at 3 weeks which made a huge difference. Try to wait out the next 2 weeks until your dosage change... regarding taking the Klonopin & Wellbutrin, i certainly wouldn't take all 3 together. Has your doctor advised regarding this?
Sue1014
24 March 2015
My doc said to do the celexa and Wellbutrin, but the klonopin is only for short term until meds kick in. I was just leary of starting both new meds at the same time. I've been prescribed klonopin for 8 years when I first started lexapro. It was for the same reason, just until lexapro kicked in and then for any breakthrough anxiety. I didn't have to take it hardly at all when I was on lexapro. But now I feel like I'm needing it more and more. Thank you again for your comments. Are you on the celexa for anxiety also? If so, it is reassuring that it has worked for you.
Delila
25 March 2015
I was started on Citalopram/Celexa initially for depression but it has helped my anxiety
Sue1014
31 May 2015
Hi Delila. Its been a couple months since I've posted but i have another question. Ive been on 30 mg for almost a month now and for the most part I have felt pretty good. I even went 5 days without taking any klonopin. But on the sixth day I woke up feeling like i had regressed. My morning jitters, anxiety, and nausea are back like crazy. Even taking a klonopin doesnt help completely whereas it would before. Is this normal to have these extreme highs and lows while i still adjust to 30 mg or could it be that celexa is not right for me. Thank you for your help. I just feel so discouraged because i felt i was on my way to feeling good again and now i dont know.
Delila
31 May 2015
Hi, i think it is more likely that you are experiencing withdrawals from the Klonopin, Suddenly discontinuing Benzodiazepins can cause symptoms such as you have mentioned. I would suggest taking your medication again, and if you want to stop it you should do a gradual taper. Your doctor should be able to help you with this...
Sue1014
31 May 2015
I did start taking the klonopin again. But about 3 weeks ago I could take .25 mg and would then feel fine the rest of the day. I have been taking it again for over a week but .25 no longer helps. I took a whole .5 mg today and still feel a little jittery. Could that just be that the klonopin is not built up in my system anymore? I'm sorry for all the questions I just worry now that the celexa is not going to keep working and it scares me because this has been going on several months and I just feel tired of it.
Delila
1 June 2015
Hi, maybe you should try .25 twice a day rather than .5 all at once. You will need to build the medication up in your system again as you have said. It is difficult to know whether Citalopram is the right medication for you? Usually after being on the increased dose (30mg) this long you should have stabilised... As i have already stated, when my dose was increased to 40mg from 20mg i felt better almost immediately. Of course everyone is different though! What has your doctor said about what is going on?
Sue1014
6 July 2015
Hi again. I thought I had posted again after your last comment but somehow I goofed it up. Doc said I was experiencing klonopin withdrawal and had me start it again. Also upped celexa to 40 mg. did pretty good for about two weeks and then started the morning anxiety and nausea again. Went back to doc and instead of switching completely to different med she added 10 mg of buspar twice a day. Have not heard much of this drug at all. Any thoughts or advice on this? I absolutely hate starting new drugs because I worry about side effects. Thank you again for your help.
Delila
6 July 2015
Hi, Buspar is a good add on medication for anxiety. However, combined with Citalopram you could experience some rare but serious side effects... Not wanting to worry you, but please look out for the following symptoms: confusion, hallucination, seizure, extreme changes in blood pressure, increased heart rate, fever, excessive sweating, shivering or shaking, blurred vision, muscle spasm or stiffness, tremor, incoordination, stomach cramp, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. These could signal the start of Serotonin syndrome... It is very rare but you should be aware of the possibility. You could be feeling unwell again because you are getting used to the Klonopin for the second time?
Sue1014
6 July 2015
Thank you so much. I have read about the serotonin syndrome and was a little worried about it. The last two mornings I seem to be a little better so I have not taken the buspar yet. Maybe I will give the celexa a couple more weeks to work on its own. I just hate the thought of taking something else and possibly feeling worse. That's the paranoia in me I guess. Thank you again for your help!
Delila
7 July 2015
You are very welcome! I understand your concerns. Serotonin syndrome can be very serious but it is also very rare... in the past i was taking 3 different SSRI's and luckily didn't experience any symptoms of this condition
Delila
7 July 2015
... I forgot to say, I'm glad you are feeling a bit better the last couple of days!
Anni555
1 Sep 2017
When did the insomnia/sleep disturbances side effect go away for you?
I'm on my 2nd week with 10mg and I notice celexa wakes me up so often! I don't feel rested when it's time to wake up. And I have a 2,5 year old.
Inactive
23 March 2015
Hello Sue, You may need an increase in the celexa. The side effects usually subside in the first few weeks, and the full benefit of it usually takes 6-8 weeks. Are you taking the celexa in the morning and the klonopin at bedtime? Hang in there!
Sue1014
23 March 2015
Yes. I take the celexa in the morning but I have to take a klonopin too because I still feel anxious and jittery. Take klonopin at night hoping it will help me sleep but it doesn't seem to help. My body is tired but my mind won't shut off. It's awful these meds take so long to kick in because several weeks feels like an eternity when you don't feel well. Thanks for the response.
april6221
23 March 2015
Yes and then it left now it's back..totally from Celexa cause I never had issues sleeping. .it's a normal side effect. .but if it's a bit much for you ask your dr. About it..
Sue1014
23 March 2015
Ok. Thanks. I've never had sleeping issues before either except lexapro making me sleep too much! It really helps to chat with someone who has experienced the same things. Thank you for responding!
april6221
23 March 2015
No problem! ! I know the feeling. .went thru hell the first 2 weeks when I started celexa..had a lot of side effects ..just waited it out and glad I did..I feel so much better. .just have the sleep issue and tiredness. .your not alone..I am glad for these groups they help alot..
april6221
23 March 2015
I had to up my dose after 5 weeks on 10mg of celexa..it wasn't doing much..20mg was a big difference. .I still get anxiety and very mild panic attacks around my period time..but so much different from the way I was before. .I still get tired and some days no motivation but not sure if it's from the celexa... good luck!! Give it some more time if it doesn't get better try 20mg. .
Sue1014
23 March 2015
Thank you. Did you experience any insomnia.
balbanese
23 March 2015
It's usually a 2-3 weeks adjustment, for some 4-6, upping the dosage too soon is a common error and too many Drs grant it too soon. Hang in there another 7-10 days, keep the dosage the same and go easy on the other meds. If in 10-days no improvement, then contact your Dr.
Sue1014
23 March 2015
Thank you. Any ideas about the insomnia?
balbanese
23 March 2015
There's a ton of info from current sleep studies, everything from eliminating all forms of sugar including artificial, caffeine and alcohol. Mid day 30-45 minute walks, shifting pre-bedtime routines 3 hours prior. Not eating 2 hours before bed, lots more. Try it for 90-days.
Sue1014
23 March 2015
I already don't drink caffeine or alcohol and sugar intake has been very little due to an episode of gastritis that has accompanied the anxiety. Very bland diet right now. I will look into the others though. Thank you.
balbanese
23 March 2015
Okay, yes the habit changing has an amazing impact. We want to help the brain self-soothe (mid-day mental stimuli) and the body should be taxed, but not to the point of producing adrenaline. Also, there are foods that contribute to the problem, hard to digest and spicy items can keep us awake.
Also, evaluating how much sleep we really need (varies a lot from person to person) can relieve the stress associated with our telling ourselves "I'm not sleeping enough."
Pay close attention to reputable sources and pay no attention to forums, you want facts, not opinions and you may be experimenting for a while as each new thing needs a few weeks to work, or not.
Sue1014
23 March 2015
Thank you very much!
balbanese
24 March 2015
You are very welcome, come back any time!
balbanese
23 March 2015
Hello, please re-post, the top section is just for the title and had limited space, the body of the message goes below it.
Sue1014
23 March 2015
I added the details. Should I still repost?
balbanese
23 March 2015
I see it, below.
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celexa, anxiety, panic disorder, citalopram
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