Citalopram for Panic Disorder User Reviews (Page 3)

• motyl
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 18, 2015

"I started celexa a week ego for anxiety / panick atacks . I was prescribe a very low dose 0.5 mg a day and Xanax 0.25 as needed . So far a had experienced of body shake / tremors and fast and rapid heart beat as soon as I wake up. Has anyone experienced the same side effects ?? It is very annoying , sometimes I am even scare to fall asleep ."

• Tiggy
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 1, 2019

"I had this drug 20 years ago when my life was engulfed with severe panic and anxiety 24 hrs a day it saved my life. It broke the circle of thought creating the attacks and gradually they started to get less."

• anxiety...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 22, 2022

"3 months on Citalopram for panic attacks & anxiety. First 6 weeks were very challenging with increased anxiety, heart rate, sleeplessness, borderline panic attack feeling every other day. The adjustment in my system was very complicated with all the side effects in full force. The most prominent effect was laying down to sleep my heart would palpitate as a lay there like I could feel it beating out of my chest. This was intimidating for sure, but reading thru all the reviews here, and keeping open mind, I persevered and got thru to about the 8 week mark where it began to subside. Felt like a lifetime and required me to grind thru it. I feel like a majority of others would have quit, hence your 1,2,3 and 4 star reviews. If you're new to antidepressants and luck out to not feel any side effects then bravo to you! Most will feel this adjustment phase in some form or fashion though. It has calmed down my panic. Now to figure out how to stay as motivated as before! Good luck"

• Izy
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 16, 2020

"I was hesitant for several years to try medication for my severe panic disorder. I had heard so many horror stories about antidepressants and their side effects. After six months of taking 20 mg of Celexa daily, I can definitively say that this medication has drastically changed my life for the better! I am lucky in that I have had absolutely zero side effects. I tell people all the time it feels as if the volume dial of the panic inside of has been turned way down. Of course, I still experience anxiety from time to time, but it’s nothing in comparison to before starting Celexa. I find it so much easier to think through my panic rationally, and to just enjoy my life without feeling the weight of constant dread and terror."

• Sondra
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 5, 2021

"It does work! I suffer from panic disorder with agoraphobia & my panic attacks are soooo bad. This medication has helped. I started at 10mg for the first week then went to 20mg. So far so good. I was pretty tired and yawning a lot but I also take propranolol which might have contributed. Don't read the side affects, it will only stress you out more. Think positive. I'm only in week 2, but so far so good. We got this."

• Cc768
• October 16, 2015

"This is my 2nd day of taking the meds and yesterday was the first day I was able to come home from work and not have a panic attack! The only side effects I fell is dry mouth I slept so good last night."

• Changed...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 1, 2021

"I have got my life back! I have anxiety, panic disorder with agoraphobia & OCD and this has literally helped with all of it! I have been living in fear of my panic attacks and anxiety for too long and I'm so happyIi started taking this. I'm going into week 5. I felt at first it wasn't working but week 2 I felt a difference. I feel so much better I can't even express it enough. I do therapy also but this medication has been a life savor. The benefits out way your overthinking. Just give it a try. God bless"

• Marz
• June 5, 2009

Celexa (citalopram) "It is by far the best drug I have been given to take care of my issues. The side effects did not last too long, maybe two weeks then everything just kept getting better. The only reason I did not give it a 10 rating is this is only the second medicine I have been on for my condition. Overall the best I have felt in the past 8 years. My doctor started me on 40mg. I take Xanax approximately 75% less than as often as I used too, so that makes me happy."

• BabsJ
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 17, 2016

"Out of the blue in my mid 30's, started having severe panic attacks. This was after two kids so I felt that it could have been a hormone imbalance. When they got worse I was prescribed Celexa which worked fabulously for me. After a year, I decided I did not want to be on it and weaned myself off of it going from 10 mg to 5 mg to none. It is when you stop taking it that you experience some very funky effects. I felt like I had "aftershocks" going on in my head for years - it is so hard to explain the sensation but it was not pleasant. For those taking this medication for a long period of time please be careful if you go off it. Periodically the sensations come back after 20 years of being off of it."

• Elano
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 4, 2019

"I started taking citalopram for the panic attacks I was experiencing. This has helped me immensely. I did have some side effects in the beginning though. I felt very tired and I had a feeling as if my brain was tingling. It was very strange, but it was easy to deal with in comparison to the panic attacks I was having. I started off with 10mg tabs and was increased to 20mg tabs. I would suggest to give this medicine a try, but you really have to give it time to work. It really helped to regulate my moods and my anxiety."

• Bajap...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 15, 2015

"Only been on it for a week and I'm feeling awful. I know I need to give it time but the panic attacks are worse. I'm having to take Ativan so I can calm down. This morning I woke up and had that all over feeling with sweats rapid heartbeat I know blood pressure was elevated. I'm feeling so defeated. Head still hurts. Having all the attacks again that put me in ER 4 times. I love reading others comments and hearing it gets worse before better. Thanks for the feedback."

• CHH
• March 23, 2022

"I’m on day 20 of 10mg citalopram and would recommend this to anyone struggling with severe anxiety. The only side effect I’ve had is tiredness and the odd headache. My back story is I’ve been crippled with anxiety for 3 months unable to even leave my bed every physical sensation from anxiety . I couldn’t go out was literally physically sick every morning and didn’t see a point to going on. This medication has been the light at the end of the tunnel for me. I never take medicine and had a bad experience with sertraline in January which made me weary to take this. Now I can function again I know it’s only been 20 days but I can do my housework take the kids to school make dinners and actually relax. Please don’t Google side effects everyone is different but if your doctor has given you this then it’s worth a go it only took just over 2 weeks for this to start working my anxiety is still present but not on my mind 24/7 good luck to everyone on there journey."

• mcfcgaz
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 9, 2017

"I developed an awful choking phobia and the citalopram really helped me deal with my anxiety/ phobia and even improve things . I haven't fully recovered yet but so happy with my recovery regardless. I am sure part of this was the drug which seemed to suppress my anxiety subconsciously The first 2 weeks of starting on citalopram were pretty rough. Constant nausea and heightened anxiety. I had a few panic attacks which is a side effects initially ( the irony ) and also teeth clenching was pretty noticeable at first which calmed down I still get night sweats regularly which is definitely this medication. It's annoying but a common side effect noted amongst users. Definitely worthy trade off for its effects though. Overall very happy with it"

• BT9
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 17, 2020

"Finally remembered to write a review. This medication citalopram along with talking therapies, turned my life around! A definite help and worth trying 100%. 'Try not to worry' about side effects, as they are not half as bad as you expect and can change your life around as well!"

• Stick...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 17, 2021

"Hey guys, I have been on this forum so many times over the past few month so wanted to share my experience and hope it helps you. I was absolutely terrified of medication, always had anxiety but panic attacks became so bad I couldn't function, I was stuck in a cycle of fearing an attack, so having an attack. Anyway I was so scared I went onto 2.5mg yes just 2.5mg of citalopram for 1 week then up to 5mg then 7.5mg and now I am on 10mg. 5 weeks on the 10mg and I really do see a huge improvement. No panic attacks, very little racing thoughts. Side effects whilst tapering up were hot flashes, a day or two of crying, disturbed sleep, feeling spacey, dry throat, sweating. All got better over the first 7 to 10 days when I increased to 10mg I had increased anxiety for the 1st week then that settled. I suffer from PMDD and this is the 1st month I actually didn't even realise when my period was coming because there was no increase in anxiety at all. Please stick with it. It does get better. Xxx"

• K Jones
• January 15, 2020

"I've taken citalopram 2 years, 4 months (10mg for 3 months, then 20mg). Be prepared for initial side effects. Some people have none. I had them all. Overall, I like citalopram Lasting side effects are dopiness and tiredness. It’s worth it as they gave me a chance to start loving myself again. Pros: - They lifted depression I didn't know I had. - Thoughts are slower and I catch myself being overly self-critical. - Not as irritable and don't care as much about little things. - Once the side effects stopped, panic was easier to cope with. Cons: - My initial side effects were tough. I pushed through as my panic disorder was just as bad in a different way. It was worth the effort for me, but everyone reacts differently. - Side effects during the first 6 weeks included: Very sweaty feet (weird I know). Heightened anxiety. Emotional numbness. Weird dreams. Feeling like I was losing my mind. DR/DP -Depersonalization-derealization disorder,. - Sex-related problems (vaginal dryness/tightness). - If I miss a pill I feel odd for days."

• Nick...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 23, 2014

"I have had panic attacks for 10 years, I've been extremely scared of trying medication but I finally got desperate enough to try citalopram. It's been nearly 2 months since I started and I have yet to feel any relief whatsoever. Started with 10mg then upped to 20mg. I'm thinking about quitting."

• Sunfl...
• January 11, 2021

"After suffering such severe anxiety that I couldn't even leave my room and stopped showering, eating, speaking to anyone etc. Citalopram saved me. I'm only on 10mg as I'm quite underweight and only 20 years old, but it reduced my anxiety so much that I'm now able to make myself leave the house for short periods of time with minimal anxiety. I used to have such severe panic attacks that lasted hours, I'd burn up, I couldn't breathe, I was so dizzy and nauseous and couldn't even bring myself to do anything but lie in bed and cry. This went on for 6 months until I started Citalopram. The side effects were absolutely horrible, it somehow made my anxiety even worse at first, and I was so nauseous and dizzy, blurred vision, dry mouth, constantly spacey. After two weeks the side effects reduced and after three weeks they were gone completely. My only issue with it now is that I'm still feeling a little spacey after being on them for around 6 months."

• Jesper...
• March 3, 2022

"I suffered from severe, and I mean severe panic attacks, due to thoughts about the fact that I have to die at some point in the future. Additionally, I suffered from never-ending thought loops about my mortality, that intensified over the years, until I simply could not do anything anymore and simply lay on the couch, trembling with fear. I have to say, that, in my case, after 13 days, I experienced a slight, very slight improvement, a slight decrease of the mental torture. After four weeks, I could go on a walk again without immediately getting a panic attack. For citalopram to take full effect, it did take three months. Unfortunately, in the beginning, my sleep got worse. After three months, I could sleep much better. Weirdly enough, after six months, I got the opposite of sleeplessness, namely fatigue as a side effect. Therefore, I changed to a different SSRI. However, I don't regret taking cit. It took me from a place of utter, complete horror to a point where life felt tolerable."

• Anonymous
• June 2, 2010

Celexa (citalopram) "I have always struggled with Generalized Anxiety but a year and a half ago I had an awful panic attack out of no where and have been controlled with panic attacks ever since. I switched to Celexa because Zoloft did not seem to be working anymore. I have been on Celexa for 2 weeks and still feel anxious. I am also suffering from insomnia and body jerks when I am trying to fall asleep. I just found out I am pregnant so I had to stop taking Klonopin and I am weening off Celexa. I am so excited about the pregnancy but so nervous about my panic and anxiety. I am planning on intense cognitive therapy to help me through the next 9 months. I pray for a healthy and panic free pregnancy! Celexa did not seem to do the trick for me."

• miss...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 15, 2015

"I've only been taking this tablet for one week so far. Sadly for me my problems of panic and anxiety have became so much worse. Causing me to now have to take a beta blocker. I'm still on citalopram and my beta blockers and will see my doctors next week to see what I need to do. I will update you again."

• Randy...
• October 2, 2008

Celexa (citalopram) "I just started taking Celexa instead of Paxil and so far it's been helping me with my panic problem. I've only been taking it for about a week now. I stopped using Ativan abruptly and my panic attacks came right back even worse. Celexa isn't a bad drug so far."

• Anonymous
• April 16, 2018

"I have been taking celexa for three weeks. I did have side effects such as: some nausea, decreased appetite, trouble sleeping, fuzzy headed, drowsiness, and a small head ache. These side effects got better each day. After a week of being on a 10mg dose the side effects were very minimal. Then I increased to 20mg and the side effects started over again and got better after a week. I am not 100% yet, but I am far from where I came from. Looking forward to each passing week as I know it will keep getting better. I was afraid to take this medication. It sat in my cabinet for a few months until I couldn’t stand myself anymore. I took a klonopin with my first dose and it helped a lot. Then I took a klonopin when I increased my dose to 20. Have not had any klonopin other than those two days. The celexa does a great job at abating the anxiety and my only regret is not starting it sooner. Didn’t rate it a 10 because it makes me super tired. Each day that feeling lifts a little more."

• Hopeful
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 5, 2021

"Hello folks. For 17 long months I was psychologically in chronic shape. I feared life itself. I had continuous panic, anxiety attacks along with severe depression. 8 mths ago my dr put me on Cymbalta 30 mg, 2xs a day. I took them for 6 1/2 mths, and very little relief. I requested a switch 3weeks ago to Celexa, 20mg. I ended the Cymbalta a week now and I feel almost like my old self. My panic attacks have subsided tremendously. I barely have anxiety. I feel calm and my attacks are slowly disappearing. I'm not consumed with depression and racing thoughts. I'm finding me again and that is a comforting way to live, because before Celexa, it was not a way of life. I can only share my experience and pray that other people can relate that yall find solitude also. There is nothing worse than a broken spirit, 24/7. Best wishes to all!"

• LilCJ
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 24, 2019

"I’m on week 2 of the 10 mg dose and so far haven’t seen any improvement I know it takes a few weeks to work but the side effects suck (shaking, fatigue, nausea, insomnia, loss of appetite). Praying things get better soon cause I can’t afford to lose any more weight and my panic attacks are affecting my work."