Is anyone on Citalopram?

[KatyCee]

Hello all

I started Sertraline and was on it for a month in total. Around the 2 week point I noticed an obvious improvement in my anxiety - it was like it just took the edge off the anxiety I experienced in certain situations and I just felt a wave of calm wash over me...

Around the 3rd week on Sertraline I started grinding my teeth and having horrible headaches and after 2 weeks of this my doctor took me off Sertraline and has put me on 10mg of Citalopram.

I have been taking the Citalopram for exactly a week now and was told that, because I'd already been on the Sertraline, it would be likely to 'kick in' sooner and I wouldn't have the usual initial side effects. This has been true, I've had no sickness like I did when I started on Sertraline and aside from heartburn and a dry mouth (which I'm happy to live with!) I've had no side effects.

But... I haven't had any good effects yet either. I don't feel as 'cushioned' from anxiety on these and I don't really feel they're doing much at all.

Is anyone else on Citalopram? Do you find it effective?

Many thanks,

Katy xx

[evilimbic]

I found citalopram more effective than sertraline - unfortunately this is no guide as to how you will find it. Everyone reacts to the different SSRIs in slightly different ways so I'm afraid that the only thing that you can do it give it the 4 weeks of potential therapeutic lag and see if it kicks in and if not try something else.

[KatyCee in reply to evilimbic]

Hello, thankyou very much for your answer My doctor has advised me that she often finds that if one of these two doesn't agree with a patient, the other works a lot better... I know it's not a rule but I hope this is the case for me! Fingers crossed

[Hidden]

As you know I lasted 3 days on it before I gave up

Xx

[KatyCee in reply to Hidden]

Oh yes I do remember, I'm sorry you had such a hard time with these I don't know if it's because I've gone straight from one anti-depressant to another but they just don't seem to be doing anything at all for me... positive or negative. I suppose I'll have to wait and see! xx

[Helpmebirmingham]

Hi Katy.

I take Citalopram and Pregabaling for my anxiety. I stopped the Citalopram for five months and noticed the affects. I have been back on them both now for 3 weeks and still feel shite at the moment. Anxiety is terrible. I would do anything to rid myself of it for good x

[KatyCee in reply to Helpmebirmingham]

It is terrible I agree, I'm sorry to hear you're struggling with it so much, please know we're all here if you need to talk about what you're going through x

[KatyCee]

Thankyou for your answer, I'm sorry to hear that you had to come off of Citalopram to realise how bad you felt but I suppose it's a positive indication that the meds are doing their job Wishing you well

[worcester1970]

I have been on citalopram for a few years, I was on 10mg but have had to up it to 20mg now as during PMT my anxiety and moods are out of control-maybe 10mg isn't quite enough? Perhaps your G.P could up your dose to 20mg??all the best.Claire

[KatyCee in reply to worcester1970]

Hi Claire,

Thankyou very much for your reply, I'll definitely have a chat with my GP about the dosage because I'd imagine upping it to 20mg would have a better effect. I'm pleased that I'm having no negative side effects at the moment so I'm hoping a higher dose will just increase how effective it is in calming my anxiety

Thanks again,

Katy xx

[mosesmam]

me too from sertraline to citalopram, I love it, but sometimes I feel like really numb feet or legs. anybody else?

[Yonnie123]

I started feeling better on Citalopram after the first week...stick with it...it's worth the wait.

Thinking of you

Peter. X

[howard327]

I found that escitalopram-lexapro to be very easy to take and very effective. You might want to consider it.

[Sk16]

Maximum daily dosage is 40 mg so maybe it can be increased slowly????

[Tamzeali]

Hi Katy,

I have been on citalopram for 6years, I also tried sertraline first but it didn't work for me so I switched to citalopram and it did calm down my mood. Sometimes you have to go through to find what suits you but generally 2 weeks wait is a good stratigy. I had partial response to sertraline so my consultant kept increasing the dose until I was on maximum and still had partial response. Switching to citalopram and going to maximum eventually brought remission. I hope it helps. Good luck.