Luelle
14-07-16, 12:25
Hello, I've been on citalopram for 4 weeks today and still feel no improvement. I started taking it for anxiety, as I started getting panick attacks again in shops, especially queues, and dreaded getting on the bus again. I have had this anxiety before-dreading parties, buses, or driving for fear I may have a panick attack. I coped well off meds for about 2 years until now. My husband and I have just moved back home. We were living about an hour away before in tied accommodation with his job for 9 month. I had a nice job working nearby but we had to give it all up when he lost his job as we had a row at home, and the neighbours/his colleagues didn't want us there anymore. We had 24 hours to move, and no jobs. I felt strong at first, got on buses to look for work went to shops interviews no problem, but slowly that stated to change. I went to my gp as I had been on citaloptam before at 40mg and it worked well. I got a job a few weeks a go and started the citalopram 20mg for 4 days before I started my new job. I noticed since I took the first dose all I could worry about was starting work, I couldn't switch off at all and felt sick all weekend. Once I started my job I sat down being trained on my first day and couldn't concentrate, blurred vision no appetite and had a very intrusive thought 'saying' hit her'. I tried ignoring it but I felt so scared I was having these thoughts. I got home and cried my eyes out. I convinced myself something was wrong me and decided to quit my job as I felt extremely terrified. This gave me temporary relief that evening but the next day at home I couldn't eat or sleep and my mind was racing constantly. The next day was worse. I thought I was going to kill my husband or my dog. It was more of a what if thought but felt really scary and real. This fear went on for about a week along with no eating or sleeping. I had enough as I thought I was going mad so rang 111. The doc said to come off them immediately but I wasn't sure that was right so rang my gp the next day and she said no you must stick with them. I still wasn't satisfied so went to out of hours 2 days later and saw a really good gp. He advised me to cut down to 10mg for a week, then do 10mg, 20mg, 10mg for a week then go up to 20mg after that. He also gave me lorazepam .5mg to take when I felt highly anxious. I'very been on 20mg for 4 days after increasing. I felt I was getting better last week, but now I'm still having racing, negative thoughts like I won't get better or ever get a job or be normal again. I'm not having harming thoughts anymore, but my brain won't shut up and am finding it hard to concentrate on anything like washing up or showering. I feel so low and that there's no hope for me. Will citalopram work this time round? I was on 40mg fluoxetine then switched to citalopram 40mg after a few weeks a few years a go and stayed on it for about 18months and had only one side effect wich was tiredness. I've started going to councelling so hoping that might help too. Any advice or similar stories would be greatly appreciated. Tia