Citalopram 20mg to 40mg & strange feelings

[theeldertree]

I recently had my dose of citalopram upped from 20mg to 40mg, have been taking 40mg for 2 weeks now. For about a week I have been experiencing strange feelings such as:

My legs feel really light and it's as if I am floating when I'm walking. I feel as though my body is a robot and I am controlling the robot when I am walking. I look at my hands and they don't seem like my hands, they seem like someone elses. I feel quite unreal. Though my conscience reminds me that I am real.

When I am walking my legs feel so light, I often feel like they are thin twigs that are going to snap when I bend my knees.

I also go off in daydreams a lot of the time and just zone out. Also getting body jumps when I am sitting down or relaxing.

Are these all normal side effects??

[JT69]

Hi,

To go from 20mg to 40mg is a big jump and I think that you are suffering side effects, I have personally experienced what you describe as body jumps but that has usually been when I have decreased a dose rather than up it. I have also felt I am day dreaming etc. There are lots of others taking citalopram on here so I am sure you will get alot of replies.

Hope it eases for you soon...take care.
Jo.

[jchild10]

It sounds like you are having some depersonalization or/and derealization side effects which can happen and should hopefully dissipate with time. PsychoPoet talks about this in the "Citalopram Survival Guide".

Did you experience any of these side-effects when you originally started Citalopram, before the dose change?

[Jannie2948]

Hi there, I increased from 20mg to 40mg about 8 weeks and for the first couple of weeks on the increased dose I felt somewhat unreal and strange, nothing awful but just not right. Now six weeks later I am feeling so much better. Try and stick with it and I am sure you will get through this bad time. My Dr told me that 40mg was the best dosage for anxiety/panic, which is what I suffer with. I can honestly say that I am feeling so much better six months into taking citalopram.

I wish you all the very best.

Jannie x x

[Lion King]

To jump from 20 to 40 is a big shock to the system, I phased from 20 to 30 and then onto 40 when I realised I was ok but still had that edge. I suffered no side effects, unlike in the early days so I was really pleased not to go thru the traumatic stages.
I am over a year on Citalopram, on 40mg and I am still doing pretty good, I still get the odd bouts but not as bad!

I stepped up on my own without consulting a gp, which is daft but worked, I would speak to your gp before making any changes to your medication, this way you can be reassured that you are doing the right thing.

Hope you get better!

LK

[NoPoet]

Hi, as everyone says this does sound like derealisation which in this case is probably just a side effect. Derealisation is not harmful although it can be unpleasant.

Doubling your dose is a big step; I personally went up from 20 to 30 for a month, then from 30 to 40. On 40mg I was so tired I could barely get myself together to stand up so I went back down to 30mg after a few weeks.

The only side effects I got from increasing my dose was the tiredness and lack of motivation. Once I had settled on 30mg the improvement in my mood and positive outlook was dramatic.

[ctone]

Just a question incase I need to up my dose of citalopram. I am currently on 20mg. When the dose is upped e.g. 40mg, does this mean taking both the 20mg tabs together or at different times of the day?

[jchild10]

same time, always once a day. going from 20mg to 30mg might be less of a shock to the system than 20mg to 40mg.

[Jannie2948]

My doctor told me to take 20mg in the morning and 20mg at night and so did the pharmacist when I picked up my prescription. Works for me and I've been fine on them. Bit of a strange feeling when increasing dosage but 8 weeks later on increased dosage am doing ok, just the very occasional blip but nothing I can't handle. I increased from 20mg to 40mg about 8 weeks ago and definitely the increase has helped me.

I wish you all the best

Jannie x x

[JT69]

Hi,

We are all different but in my personal experience a jump from 20 to 40 is big...I would definately consider going from 20-30 first and you might actually find that is all you need, but if not then you can go to 40mg. I always took citalopram all at the same time too, I would ask the oppinion of your own GP.

Jo.