Anxiety, air hunger and citalopram

[Joni-m]

My anxiety started in th middle of March after 2 or 3 years of a lot of stress that I thought I was dealing with and didn't share with anyone, not even my partner. I had a massive panic attack one night, felt I couldn't breathe, couldn't catch my breath, was awake all night,called ambulance next day, all physical tests fine, chest X-ray, blood tests fine. The things that were causing the stress are now in the open and have been sorted.. My anxiety now is all due to this 'air hunger' - 'what if I go out and can't catch my breath then have a panc attack?'

I've been on citalopram since the end of March. 2 weeks on 10mg then my GP raised it to 20mg. Stayed on that for 7/8 weeks, felt no better, GP raised to 30mg, stayed on that for 4 weeks, still no better, was upped to 40mg, been on that for a week. Feeling worse, don't know what to do. Give it more time? Reduce? Change meds? I do have 2mg diazepam tablets but only take one or a half if I'm desperate, I know it's addictive.

[Emsnavvv]

Ugh that is one of the worst feelings, when I had my first panic attack, which lasted like three weeks straight it was because I felt like I couldn't breathe, or I wasn't getting a good breath and then sometimes it felt like I wasn't breathing air, idk how to describe it! That is so miserable!!! I got on Zoloft and after about three to four weeks I was able to kind of relax a bit, so I wonder if that Medication isn't the right fit for you! It's so frustrating I know!!! Are you in therapy? That helped me too, and depending on what kind of therapist you have then can suggest different meds! I'm so sorry you're going through this!! You are not alone!!

[Joni-m in reply to Emsnavvv]

Thanks, Emsnavv, I'm seeing my GP on Tuesday but I think he'll tell me to take the 40mg for a few more weeks. This whole thing is so unlike me, before the initial panic attack I was out and about all the time, coffee, lunch with friends, driving long distances to see my grandchildren..... Since this panic started I've found it difficult to even leave the house or do stuff around the house, always thinking I'm going to get short of breath. I'm waiting for CBT with our local mental health team but even that scares me as I'll have to go out to see him. I'll need to take a diazepam before I go to the docs on Tuesday and hope I don't have a long wait!

[Emsnavvv in reply to Joni-m]

You've got this!!! I went through that too! I would only leave for doctors app and I couldn't drive or even look out the window! It is miserable! But I promise it will not be like this forever!!!

[Joni-m in reply to Emsnavvv]

Thank you for that, it's good to know that someone else has been through the same things, although I wouldn't wish this on anyone. I'm going to try practising some positive affirmations to get me out of this cycle of negative thoughts. Being negative really isn't part of who I really am. I just want to be me again

[SonicaRm]

I am sorry you’re not feeling great. Citalopram can take a bit of time before it works.

Side effects can be horrendous and every time dose goes up it’s almost starting everything again.

So whichever dose I would give at l’elasticità thee months.

Also ask GP for any possible BT around your area.

Behavioural therapy helped me a lot while navigating the three months of getting used to the drug