Citalopram making my panic attacks worse

[hollieedridge]

So ive only been taking citalopram for a week and half and in general i feel better. I am not panicking wveryday and getting all the symptoms i used too. But i feel when i have a bad day or when i panic it is 10 times worse than before taking the tablets. Why is this ? Does this happen with anyone else ?

[Dahl]

Yes this was happening to me after 6 days taking 10mg of Citalopram. This is because Citalopram helps by increasing the levels of serotonin and the correct dosage is 20mg or 40mg daily. Reducing to 10mg is useful while you're adjusting to the increased serotonin but the dose is too low and it's not treating your anxiety symptoms. Increasing to 20mg should enable you to start feeling better and less anxious. You've been taking 10mg for some time now and increasing to 20mg will not give you the side effects that the very first 20mg tablet gave you so please don't worry about this. Coping with anxiety sometimes requires that we make brave decisions and the choice you have to make is do you continue with Citalopram at the correct dosage of 20mg or do you stop altogether and go back to your doctor. Speaking only for myself I'm glad I stayed on this medication and after 7 weeks I feel much more confident and comfortable. But this was my second attempt at taking Citalopram, the first time I was simply unable to continue. The good news is that you recognise that your present symptoms are anxiety and not any kind of side effect and you've already done more than half the work. Stopping now will mean starting all over again with another type of medication and going back to square one with a lot less confidence. I've already gone down that path and it's made life harder in the long run. As always the choice must be your own and I hope you can find the strength to manage this next step and try the Citalopram at 20mg. Good Luck.

[Orpheusss]

Good advice from Dahl. You likely to need 20mg to really benefit. You won't feel the benefit until you've been taking them for a good few weeks. I've been on them a few years now (20mg then 30mg). I can still experience panic attacks but not as bad as before. You have health anxiety which I don't have so I can really comment on how they might help you as regards that. Good luck