Just wondered if anyone who has took the above medication did experience some of the side effects listed. I have been taking for 5 days now and I feel quite strange, have felt sick, my appetite seems to have vanished when it comes to eating certain foods, I've had headaches and felt even more anxious than before. If anyone has experienced such side effects, when can I expect them to subside and start to feel better? Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks!

According to my MIMS directory of medications etc (am at work) the side effets can be..
nausea, sweating, somnolence, tremor, dry mouth.

It takes a while to get into the system and take effect so the anxiety might still be coming from what they were originally prescribed to you for.

Always speak to the doc if you have any long-term probs with any medication though.

I've taken it for problems associated with another illness. It takes about 3 weeks to work to its full effects and I think you can expect quite strange things to happen for the first week or two although I didn't. The only thing I would say is please don't just stop taking it! I was on a very low dose and just stopped taking it after a few months and got some pretty horrendous withdrawal symptoms. I felt like I was drunk for over a week (extremely dizzy all the time and very disorientated). The dose needs to be cut down gradually so this doesn't happen.

Hope you feel better soon :)

I really want it to help me so I wont stop taking it, I took the dog for a walk and I was so breathless I thought I was gonna collapse, I wasnt that bad before I started taking them so this must just be another effect they have, and sweating. I really hope they do work cos I cant take anymore of feeling crappy! Aaaarrrrgghh!

I haven't taken Citalopram, but I believe that the symptoms are similar to other popular SSRIs. I experienced nausea, insomnia, dry mouth, and confusion for the first couple of weeks when taking SSRIs, but that did pass. The positive effects won't usually kick in for 2-3 weeks as twiglet has mentioned.

Just remember that any negative effects are just related to the drug and try to keep yourself calm (not easy, I know). They will pass and hopefully, you should start feeling some benefits soon.

I was prescribed Citalopram by my GP when I was suffering with stress and anxiety attacks before Xmas.

The first few days after I had taken the medication I woke up in the early hours of the morning in a complete state of panic, my heart was just pounding and I just had this strange fuzzy hot numb pins and needles sensation all over my body and also found it quite hard to breathe.

At this point I just wanted someone to knock me out, felt so terrified, so my GP prescribed me Tamazepam (tranquilisers) which certainly calmed me down but are highly addictive and whilst they completely knock you out for about 8 hours you wake up feeling exhausted and drained.

I persisted with the Citalopram, but suffered quite servere symptoms for the first couple of weeks. Felt very disorientated, very detached from people around me and my surroundings.

They helped bring my appetite back, but they completely kill your sex drive, this is kinda of embarassing but found it almost completely impossible to climax whilst having sex, taking this drug:o

Other symptoms I experienced on Citalopram was constantly dry mouth, hot sweats - if I held something plastic in my hand like my mobile for a few minutes it would be so wet with sweat, also felt like my eyelids was open really wide all the time and felt like I was glaring at people, not nice at all really.

Gradually just stopped taking the drug after a few months even though you are supposed to stay on the drug for a minium of 6 months I just felt they was doing me move harm than good.

The withdraw symptoms wasn't has bad as starting the medication but I can remember feeling dizzy, disoriented and sick for a whole week, felt like I was walking around with someone elses glasses on.

What ever you do with this medication don't just stop taking it, it can be very dangerous and alter your moods drastrically and makes some people sucidal.

I must continue to take the tablets I know cos I want to feel better even if I have to put up with the side effects. Today my head feels fuzzy and I feel so tired and breathless and my chest feels like it has a tight band around it, not a nice feeling at all. I just want to know how long I have to put up with the side effects and will then ease off after a few weeks. I know people react differently to medications but this is so frustrating, I can hardly stand to be out of the house at the moment!

I have pm'd you jillybabes

Hi I have been taking this for 5 days too and have noticed the same symptoms as you nausea, loss of appetite, dizziness. Did some research on this drug by typing Citalopram in to google and it said the side effects were to be expected as it was just your body reacting to the new medicine, I think it may be starting to work though Good luck.

Originally posted by Jillybabes
I must continue to take the tablets I know cos I want to feel better even if I have to put up with the side effects. Today my head feels fuzzy and I feel so tired and breathless and my chest feels like it has a tight band around it, not a nice feeling at all. I just want to know how long I have to put up with the side effects and will then ease off after a few weeks. I know people react differently to medications but this is so frustrating, I can hardly stand to be out of the house at the moment!

It can take upto 5 weeks at the very max to feel normal again but most people feel ok after the first 7-10 days, everyone is different there is no fixed length of time before the initial side effects fade.

Try and keep as active as possible and although when your feeling this bad leaving the house is an ordeal, it really does help to keep getting out of the house and doing small everyday things which will help take your mind off things and also help tire you out, so hopefully you get some good sleep.

I know exactly what you mean about your chest feeling like you have a tight band around it, its not a pleasant feeling but it will fade soon.

Also I was becoming quite agro-phobic and didn't want to leave the house whilst feeling so disorientated for the fear of fainting or just having a panic/anxiety attack in public. Felt like I was getting into a vicious circle because I knew I was becoming agro-phobic which increased my anxiety levels even more.

Hang on in there it will get easier:thumbsup:

If you are feeling breathless in any way then I would get to your GP and see them soon. It is probably nothing but breathlessness is something you should always get checked out as soon as possible. If you can't get in to see your GP I'd pop into the drop in at the Hallamshire.

Dont feel as breathless as I did to start with, just been out to take the dog for a walk, felt a little more breathless at first but now im home i seem to be ok. Head less fuzzy too, hopefully this is a good sign that the effects will wear off soon, also seem hungrier how than I did at the start which is also good. Will keep getting out with the dog every day just taking it one step at a time. Thanks everyone for their advice and input. Keep it coming.

Hi can anyone help me iv been taking this tablet for a week now for my Anxiety which was brought on by a panick attack i feel rubbish i dont want to go out iv got no energy im crying all the time i just want to be myself again iv been told these pills help i just wish they would kick in sooner i worry all the the time cant seem to get going can anyone reasure me im not going mad !!!!!

Persevere hun.

Antidepressants can take a while to kick in, and I know you're probably hurting and panicky, but you will feel better, you've just got to keep on with it!

*hugs*

Wish you all the strength in the world and if you ever need a chat, PM me, I've suffered anxiety and panic attacks for about 12 years now.

The time you have been on them is too short to know if they making you feel better. I been taking 40mg of Citalopram for over ten years now, try going with the flow for now.

Hi can anyone help me iv been taking this tablet for a week now for my Anxiety which was brought on by a panick attack i feel rubbish i dont want to go out iv got no energy im crying all the time i just want to be myself again iv been told these pills help i just wish they would kick in sooner i worry all the the time cant seem to get going can anyone reasure me im not going mad !!!!!

What other sorts of help are you getting?

I took it when my my baby was 6 months old, for my post natal depression, just come off it 3 years later. it worked well for me as I was not attached to my child, it was not a wonder drug for me but I got through.
When I came off it my dose was reduced, gently. I felt awful so after a month stopped taking the 5mg altogether. Felt very dizzy, unwell and still do 6 weeks later.

Just wondered if anyone who has took the above medication did experience some of the side effects listed. I have been taking for 5 days now and I feel quite strange, have felt sick, my appetite seems to have vanished when it comes to eating certain foods, I've had headaches and felt even more anxious than before. If anyone has experienced such side effects, when can I expect them to subside and start to feel better? Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Hi Jilly-I've been taking citalopram for 2.5 years (40mg) I seem to remember I had a nasty metallic taste in my mouth for quite a while (month). It takes about two weeks for them to kick in and start working but they do work

im only on the tablets got to go back to doctors in 3 weeks time

What other sorts of help are you getting? i become ill after a panick attack 3 wks ago dr first gave me diazepam to calm me down then i had lots of blood tests all come back ok so now im on citalopram dr putting how im feeling down to anxiety which when i read up on it its all the signs of what i have !!!!! sometimes im ok other times iv got no energy i dont want to leave the house im not getting any other help just got to wait for tablets to work .

i become ill after a panick attack 3 wks ago dr first gave me diazepam to calm me down then i had lots of blood tests all come back ok so now im on citalopram dr putting how im feeling down to anxiety which when i read up on it its all the signs of what i have !!!!! sometimes im ok other times iv got no energy i dont want to leave the house im not getting any other help just got to wait for tablets to work .

Citalopram was an absolute miracle cure for me, i suffered axiety and panic attacks for approx 3 years , tried counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy before i went on the pills. Doc signed me off for 3 weeks when i went on them as i was in a state , BUT at 4 weeks plus i noticed a difference. Took them for about 8 months, came off with no problems and have never had a panic attack since( been off for a while now) they were a true miracle cure for me , persevere as they will work. :thumbsup: