Citalopram for Panic Disorder User Reviews (Page 4)

• Sue
• February 15, 2016

"I am on day 7 of citalopram and so far so good. I take it at night to avoid any nasty side effects, which I haven't experienced as off yet. I have suffered severe panic attacks for year's and experience bouts of depression from time to time. I am currently taking 3 meds, propranolol, limotrigine and citalopram, which are working well. My propranolol is my saving grace which I couldn't live without, but unfortunately it doesn't work well for my anxiety and stress. I am currently awaiting an appointment with the mental health services to change the limotrigine to something more calming for when a panic attack begins. I would honestly say that I am not having any nasty side effects or down periods so far with citalopram."

• Lyndie
• March 7, 2016

"I have only been taking 10mg for a week now and so far the side effects have been minimal, I will be bumping up to 20mg once my tummy gets use to them. I was previously on fluoxutine last year but stopped as I thought I wasn't benefiting as much as I should be in them. Starting them I went straight to 20mg and I had horrendous side effects, shaking, sweating, choking throat feeling, crying and feeling I was going crazy. I have not had this on citolapram. It is very early days tho and will up. My tight throat sensation has come back which causes more anxiety. It had dramitcally minimised since taking, I was also on proprolanol(?) For a week to see if that would help which it did but I was insistent on taking these ones."

• Phoebe
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 27, 2021

"I have only been on this medication for about 2 weeks but I am already seeing improvements in my ability to cope and rationalize in moments of anxiety and panic. I'm currently taking 10mg and will be going up to 20mg starting next week and am looking forward to continuing this medication. I will mention that yes, the first week was tough with the side effects. Thankfully I was off from work, because my anxiety initially increased and I had nausea and an upset stomach every day, along with being generally more tired. My hypochondria got worse. Don't let this deter you from taking this medication. I am a highly anxious/panicky person and was able to get through it and am now feeling better than I have in months. I highly recommend this medication. I finally feel some hope for my future."

• Punkie
• October 1, 2021

"This drug has been a miracle for me. Before taking it, I was housebound for years. I’ve tried MANY other meds but couldn’t handle the side effects. My doctor started me on the the liquid 1 ml/2 mg and increase by 2mg each week until I reached 20mg. Titrating so slowly helped me have no side effects. I finally have my life back! God is so good!"

• Archyen
• July 18, 2016

"I was originally prescribed Citalopram 7 years ago, diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, and it had very little effect. It was later discovered I had Bipolar Disorder; I was prescribed Citalopram a few times and it never did much. A month ago I was again put on 20mg Citalopram, but this time for panic disorder. We noticed a change almost instantly; I haven't had a day of panic since I started this medication, and my overall anxiety is much lower too. I had a few side effects (some nausea, loss of appetite, sleep disruption) which I'd never experienced with this drug before, but most of these faded in week two. We have noticed my dissociation is much worse than usual - normally happens 2-4 times a week, is now happening daily."

• magik...
• May 23, 2010

"I was given this medicine for panic disorder to ween me off Xanax. It's working great and I only have to take it once a day. I've gone from 3 Xanax a day to 1 every 2 days (unless the sleeping medication does not work), then I'm more likely to panic because of the sleeplessness."

• Latin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 28, 2016

"I am new to this world of taking an antidepressant, specifically Citalopram. I was prescribed 10 mg. I started with 5mg for 4 days to see how I would respond per psych NP's orders. I am small in stature and under 100 lbs. I had a succession of traumatic and stressful major life events occur all in a matter of 6 months. The result has led me to have debilitating anxiety and panic attacks. I know I have lived with undiagnosed mild depression and OCD tendencies and anxiety for fear of being labeled but these last months broke me. I take Ativan .5 to 1 mg as needed only for sleep. I am going on 2 weeks of Citalopram at 10 mg and am noticing small improvements. Does anyone have any experiences similar to mine? Suggestions or input appreciated."

• desed...
• June 25, 2015

"I have been on 60mg of citalopram for the past year to treat panic and anxiety disorders. At first I was pleased that the medication seemed to be working but after a while I was feeling lethargic, tired and numbed. Not myself. I want to go off it but I am scared of what the side effects might be. I definitely don't want the panic attacks back but I feel that I am walking around half asleep. I want my normal energetic self back!"

• Anonymous
• January 14, 2012

"First I started on 40mg and I guess my body got used to it. I had to go up to 60mg and everything started getting better. Then, my Dr. told me he had to take me back down to 40mg because a warning was released that anything over 40mg could cause a malfunction with the electrical signals in the heart. I am back on 40mg and things are progressively getting back to where they were to start with. I think I need to change medicines."

• Me02
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 27, 2021

"All of a sudden I started getting weird anxiety and panic attacks while driven it was so bad that I really couldn’t ride with anyone. The dr performed all kind of test and didn’t find anything. I went for an eye exam and my vision was double as bad as very first exam. The dr prescribed me citalopram 10 mg I kind of nervous to take them after I tried one the other day. I may try half of one at night.. has anyone had the anxiety panic attacks while driving? If so would you let me know how it was!!"

• North...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 15, 2019

"This drug helped me a lot. My panic disorder came through mainly from my own abuse of substances etc. Words can’t describe how bad they were - my head was totally gone! Give this drug a chance! I’m talking months don’t expect it to happen overnight. Felt bad for first month taking them but whether that was the drug or like I say I was in a permanent state of panic anyway. Give it time. I still get odd blip but persevere with it! Been on them 6 months and plan to try come off them soon. Can’t imagine it’s going be easy, but there you go!"

• Mummyof
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 10, 2020

"I’ve been on this drug citalopram for 3 weeks, I had been on sertaline before which worked well for my panic/anxiety but gave me tummy issues. I’m still struggling with the increased anxiety. Calling GP tomorrow to chat, hoping this is normal and will aim to carry on to the 6 weeks."

• Kaos
• January 10, 2017

"I have tried a lot of different antidepressants in the past few would work but stop working for a while. I even took one where it just simply made me feel like I didn't want to be bothered with any one. The sound of someone's voice made me cringe and if someone touched me I just wanted to ripe their faces completely off. But since I have been on Celexa I feel absolutely excellent and I was taking Abilify with it. With those two combined I would pray with people and counsel with a youth group. Enjoyed the heck out of life much more. But unfortunately I can't afford abilify any more and I have been trying but no luck. I wish a miracle would come my way. But this is just wishful imagination on my part."

• jimsi...
• January 26, 2014

"I've found it to work great for depression. But the panic attacks are severe. I got 2 kidney stones was off citalopram. 3 weeks stayed off 1 month no panic attacks. No hard heart beat but I get teary eyed."

• readme
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 27, 2022

"I have always felt 'normal' up until the last 6 months so when I developed social anxiety, panic disorder and agoraphobia I tried everything to overcome it - yoga, talking therapy, exercise, etc. Nothing was working and my panic was getting severe so I very reluctantly tried Citalopram. The first couple of weeks were crap. Side effects included depression, increased anxiety, waking up feeling wired, needing the toilet as soon as I woke, sweaty feet, panic attacks at night and a huge loss in appetite and energy. After day 4 I nearly gave up BUT I AM SO GLAD I STUCK IT OUT! No more derealisation almost immediately after starting Citalopram. After 3 /4 weeks I was feeling almost like my old self - and 6 weeks in I actually can't believe the change. I still experience anxiety but it feels much more manageable and I am no longer having multiple panic attacks or bouts of anxiety a day. In conjunction with CBT, Citalopram has been life-changing. Please stick it out for at least a month!"

• Bart6...
• August 1, 2017

"I have been on citalopram for two years, I started on Vendor but took bad so I switched to citalopram 20's. I had a few side effects so I went to 10's. I worked my way up to 30's pretty ok but I recently got upped to 40's and 3 weeks in I am dropping to 20's as I've never felt so low, so lonely, so down and I even cried... sick and fuzzy heads, family pointed out I was not myself, horrible feeling, brought about bad morning anxiety which ruined the whole day but I'm now more determined than ever to best this myself, I have been trying and so far it is working, learning to love myself and think positive, it's all about believing in myself, good luck"

• happy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 22, 2017

"I've suffered with this thing for years and been on citalopram for two 6 month periods. It dulls everything down, squashes the dynamics. So yes it helps with fending off panic attacks a bit, although not at first, but it turns me into someone else; a lack lustre drone. I've found it better to have the dynamics back and deal with the panic attacks in different ways. It deals with symptoms, not root causes. Citalopram exacerbates my feelings of worthlessness that cause the attacks in the first place! I don't find panicless dullness to be of much help in the long run, but it can help short-term. Depression and anxiety has a cause drugs can't deal with. It only fends of symptoms."

• BDAA
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 3, 2017

"I started taking Citalopram in liquid form from 1 drop to 10 and currently I am on month 5 taking 20 mg a day and yes it has worked, completely stopped my panic attacks. From side effects I thought I couldn't handle the fatique and yawning which were pretty much all the time, however what worked for me is taking this medicine before sleep, I still get heavy dreams but I am not so tired anymore."

• CLAVD...
• June 10, 2023

"Tried 10, 20 & 30mg but didn't alleviate anxiety or panic attacks. It did improve my mood however and I found myself alot more positive and energetic. I split the pill into smaller doses and gradually tapered up. Only side-effects were jaw clenching and sleep disturbance. No withdrawal tapering down. I've personally had no luck with SSRIs but give it a go and see if it works for you."

• Keltaz
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 4, 2021

"I had to take some time off work due to panic attacks/anxiety and the inevitable following depression, by taking time off I mean I literally downed tools and left. Been suffering from severe anxiety the majority of my life and never sought help or treatment until I was on the brink. I was first prescribed sertraline and due to cognitive anxiety I had a very bad day to say the least which landed me in A+E. Sertraline has helped a lot of people from what I had read but it wasn't for me. Called my GP the next day and was prescribed Citalopram. I was nervous about it but reassured by friends who have also used the same drug. This is day 14 and I have never felt this way in years, it has been a miracle drug to me and lifted everything away with barely any side effects (bit of a headache prior to taking it) Everybody is different and will have different reactions to medication, but all I can say is that citralopram is doing what it says on the label for me and I'd recommend it"

• 39M 1...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 22, 2022

"Started taking at 30 years old for newly developed panic disorder. Started at 10mg. Had worse anxiety attack for first couple weeks but didn't experience panic afterwards. After a year or two I developed side effect of random feeling of about to ejaculate. I didn't mess myself but thought I would. I dropped dose to 5mg and it seemed to work at least 80 to 90% as well with out having that side effect. I wouldn't get full blown attacks at 5mg. After seven years I stopped taking it since I did experience some emotional blunting and loss of libido at 5mg. Within 7 months of stopping the medicine the panic attacks came back. Mainly while driving on interstate. I was using 25mg benadryl to abort panic attacks at attack onset while not on this and it works well but makes me sleepy and after the fifth time or so I decided to go back on it at 2.5mg. Been on it about a month with no panic attacks but some mild anxiety still when driving at times. I always keep a 25mg benadryl on me just in case."

• CCano
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 5, 2020

"I started Citalopram back in 2017 as a result of my anxiety with panic symptoms. The initial 10mg dosage did nothing. As I progressed through therapy I was placed on 40mg daily. The first few months were great, then all of a sudden I was panicking worse than before. I had rapid heart rate and breathing, sweating, and I was always irritated. Leaving home was a huge chore for me. I finally got taken off the medication and I relaxed a bit but another medication would have done way better."

• nicola
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 22, 2023

"I am on week 3 of citalopram 20mg and still struggling although I am having times of improvement. I assume I just have to persevere. Can anyone tell me at what point it might be worth upping my dose or changing to a different med? The panic and dread feelings are still there but not quite as bad. Any advice is welcome."

• lalush
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 18, 2012

"This pill has worked wonders for me. It has stopped my panic attacks and OCD. I recommend it to all those suffering from panic disorder."

• MrBre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 9, 2013

"Been on citalopram 5 weeks now. Getting better, only side effect I had was yawning. Feel big difference, been on many medicines for panic disorder just like most of us have it seems to be working."