how long do other citalopram users think it takes to work?!

[joannap]

hi all. i have been on 20mg citalopram for 12 days for pnaic/ga/ocd. i have had side effects such as jaw clenching, headaches, v little sleep (awful) and my mind racing with thoughts so fast it feels like its going to explode! how long does this go on for?! i have managed to get through the last 12 days through sheer acceptance but suppose i am starting to panic that they are not going to work for me although i have been on ssri's several times in the past and they have. the last few days therefore i have been feeling panicked and tearful again. how long do those out there on citalopram reckon it takes to kick in?!

[ladygrom]

hi ive been o n citalopram for 5 months for anxiety the first 2 weeks wer the worse /thats how long it took for it to get in my system .i was on 30m a day and theve worked that well for me im now on 10m .they will work for you hopefuly like they have for me .please keep taking them and soon you will feel the benefitand start feeling a bit better let me no how you going on with them .hope you feel better soon .

[joannap]

hi gromit

thanks for the reassurance! today will be my 2 weeks up so hopefully will maybe start to improve soon. did your improvement happen really quickly or just in tiny doses! x

[roziexwx]

hi,in my case i have been on citalopram for about 8 weeks,but only 5 weeks at 20mgs,i am still feeling pretty awful at times,nauseus most days jaw clenching so much that sometimes it hurts,still can't socialise much,although i still work,always refuse to go out with the girls on nights out,i make up some excuse or other,and would just like to go with them and enjoy myself,but i get all panicky at the thought of it,can't wait to feel okay again,but am getting fed up of waiting for the citalopram to kick in,don't get me wrong i do try to face things and am not souly relying on the medication,but it feels so hard at the moment.can't face going on holiday,so my poor partner is suffering as well,anway,fingers crossed we will both get better. patience is a virtue,but i have never been very virtuous,lol ....rozie xwx

[cycloneuk]

They should take between 2-4 weeks, if your still getting sides after 4 weeks and they show no signs of improving then you should see your doctor.

[Stefan P]

I'm three weeks into mine and the effects (I think) are there - I am much more calm now than I was, although the panic attacks have been worse when they arrived - thats probably a side effect I guess. So I would say 2-3 weeks. Mine are 10mg I think

[roziexwx]

so,maybe the citalopram is not going to work for me,i know what works for one does not necessarily mean it works for others,but i will be so disappointed if these don't work and i have to start again,the side effects are not so intense as first started,but they are definately still there,after 5 weeks i should be feeling better than this.

[joannap]

hi rozie

don't give up yet! i think it can take up to 6 weeks especially if you started off on a lower dose. x

[Ozzy]

It takes on average 4-6weeks for SSRI's to work, so give them time to get into your system.

[Dying_Swan]

Generally speaking - 6 weeks - to start helping and stop causing all the nasty side effects.

xx