Citalopram The side effects?

[Bel]

Hi
Have been prescibed 10mg of Citalopram, moving to 20g after a week.
The doctor recommended taking a few days off work when I first start them as likely to be tired but unfortunatley thats not possible - so just wanted to know if anyone knows how bad the side effects are. Should I start taking on my days off first? Do the side effects stay severe after a few days?
Any advise would be appreciated :-)

[Jannie2948]

Hi Bel, I too am on citalopram. Started on 20mg nearly 7 months ago and after 3 months had them increased to 40mg. When I first started the side effects, for me, were pretty bad. I had heightened anxiety, which is what I suffer with and couldn't eat much and just felt unwell. But in the same breath there are people on here who do not have any side effects so it is different for all people. Now though 7 months later almost, I am feeling so much better. I was increased to 40mg because I was still feeling anxious and now I am really so much better. I had diazepam to get me through those first few weeks, only 2mg but they really helped.

I would say definitely give them a go, you will get through the bad days if you have them, and there are always people on here who will give you lots of information. Please read Psychopoets 'Citalopram Survival Guide' it really helped me and I still read it now. What is it that you are suffering with?

I wish you all the very best and remember people here will give you support.

All the very best to you.

Jannie x x

[oneofus]

Hi,

I started on 20Mg daily with only minor side effects. It can make you tired, and disrupt sleep patterns but the side effects, if any, are not immediate. Immediate side effects may be due to the placebo effect, I've done something about my condition and any change I notice must therefore be due to the medication. Read the leaflet that should be with the tablets for advice, but otherwise you should be fine.

Don't forget most people who post on nopanic about side effects have suffered side effects, relatively few post who have taken Citaloparam with minimal side effects.

[guelfo]

No side effects. I take lexapro 20mg and I the only side effect is that I don't have panic and my anxiety is very low

[Bel]

Thanks everyone for all the advise :-)
Fingers crossed for few side effects!