Are these normal Citalopram side effects? Lethargic, dizzy, and fatigued?

Hi liquidfrostbite
Im the same as you, this is the 2nd time I’ve been 20mgs, I’ve had worse side effects & anxiety this time than the first time I took the same medication 4 years ago. I’m on week 5 & waiting for it to level out. I can’t remember how long it took the first time. Going to give it another couple of weeks, if no better speak to my dr.

I as well feel the side effects of citalopram. I use to take this medication years ago and stopped because I felt it was time. My panic attacks came back to where I went to emergency room twice in a week. I found a psychiatrist and I told him celexa worked great for me last time. So he put me on 20mg. The first two days I felt so weird, like really drugged up. Hands and feet were sweating, heavy on the chest, heart racing, dizzy, no appetite, and shaky. I lowered my dose to 5mg on third day and I feel like the symptoms are not as severe as taking the 20 mg. I still feel like I want to have a panic attack. I never had these symptoms when I was on it years ago. I just want to be home and not go anywhere with the way I'm feeling. I'm having faith that symptoms will subside soon. I'm on my fourth day.

What happened? Wish conversations were finished =)

Just learned a hard fact. Watch out for the manufacturer and what pharmacy yoi are taking of pill
My number on pill is 1010 for a 20.mg from CVS
Tried Walgreens different color and shape and in 3 days use i kept saying something is wrong over and over, thinking death was near on 3rd day. New dr tells me quit bad pill and put me on 12.5 mg zoloft. Talk about nausea! Now reg doc put me back on 1010 pill but also been on xanax for 25 years..not working anymore getting panic attacks again. I am 68.yr old female and i am sick of taking pills. Good luck. I sleep 12 hours or more during day and nite and have Absolutely no motivation for the future.8

Hi, again, Frosty! Yes, the are *normal* side effects, or at least they're reported in a percentage of patients taking citalopram (Celexa) and other antidepressants. The good news is that they resolve in a few days to several weeks. Since you're already feeling some of the benefits try to ride with this just a bit longer and it should be over.
Good luck and best wishes to you,

I have exactly the same symptoms as you and just increasing to 20mg It must be the citalopram, I have to take zopiclone to get a good night's sleep

Hi, i agree, these are induction symptoms, which unfortunately happen when one starts antidepressants. They will get better. I also take Citalopram and it has been very successful in treating my depression. It took little over 3 weeks for me to settle with it, during which i had a dose increase like you. Despite not having an appetite, try to eat small healthy meals and stay hydrated. Take OTC analgesics for you head. Keep in close contact with your doctor while you are going through this transition. I hope you are feeling better soon!

Hi, Frosty! Disturbing as they may seem, the side effects you describe are just that ~ side effects that some people experience when starting any depressant. They're generally self limiting and subside quickly getting to be less and less every day.
Unless they're really severe if you can hold out for a few more days or weeks it should be over soon.
Good luck and best wishes to you!