First few days frightening

[CarrieHunter]

Hi wanted to reassure you I had horrendous side effects both times taking this drug - for about 3 days i had electric currents running through my skin, my skin burned hot and cold, really bad sweats, racing thoughs, felt as if I was losing it bigtime, really dry mouth, clenching of muscles, total dissapearance of apetite - but - this drug has truly been a miricle drug for me - i am 2 months down the line and i am much much improved - my doc says i will have to wait 6 months before full effects - i cannot reommend this drug enough - my OCD & phobias has all but dissapeard and i feel so great every day - it really does deaden negative persistant intursive thoughts.. if you experience euphoria in your 2nd week aparently this is a good sign as it means it is very likely to work for you - good luck

[Yorkman]

What strength are you on please??
Ive been on 20mg for nearly 4 weeks and I'm doubting if it's the correct drug?
Will I know if its working??? And how??
Had a bad morning yet again today

[mizfiesta]

Hi wanted to reassure you I had horrendous side effects both times taking this drug - for about 3 days i had electric currents running through my skin, my skin burned hot and cold, really bad sweats, racing thoughs, felt as if I was losing it bigtime, really dry mouth, clenching of muscles, total dissapearance of apetite - but - this drug has truly been a miricle drug for me - i am 2 months down the line and i am much much improved - my doc says i will have to wait 6 months before full effects - i cannot reommend this drug enough - my OCD & phobias has all but dissapeard and i feel so great every day - it really does deaden negative persistant intursive thoughts.. if you experience euphoria in your 2nd week aparently this is a good sign as it means it is very likely to work for you - good luck

Carrie, I so hope it has the same positive effect on me that it's had on you. Well done for sticking with it and on your subsequent recovery

[cathycrumble]

What strength are you on please??
Ive been on 20mg for nearly 4 weeks and I'm doubting if it's the correct drug?
Will I know if its working??? And how??
Had a bad morning yet again today

Yorkman you do make me laugh in a good way as I know anxiety and depression isn't nice but me and you are still waiting for this amazing feeling I am sure it will come I am feeling bit better but as you know I had a s**t day at begining of the week a blip as thy call it lol. But like you my mornings are the pits still I am sure it will change for us soon. The nerves and palps have died down now since i woke this morning I have kept busy and my phobia I have I am looking at a more positive side of it and telling myself things to make me feel better. I would say that if you feel an extra 10mg would help, you go for it and see how you get on good luck yorkman.

Cathy xx

[Pongowaring]

Pongo, do you work with the public or in some job where you have to face a lot of people? I always think this is harder. I would like a job that involves me in a wee dark room somewhere on my own lol

Hi

No, I work for myself and just sit in a room with four employees. I don't need to do much client facing stuff, so it's easy!

I know exactly what you mean, though.

How are you getting on?

[Pongowaring]

Day 21 - Fine. Went to work, got a lot done, came home feeling fine.

Day 22 - Woke up at 3am feeling utterly awful. Got next to no sleep, went into town this afternoon, came home after about 10 minutes as I felt so incredibly anxious.

It's so frustrating, I have had a pretty good week, but then have a big crash like this at the end of it.

Did anyone else experience this in the early days? Feeling pretty down about it today

[mizfiesta]

Hi Pongo, I'm only on day 11 of the 20mg Citalopram dose. I am more or less ok when I'm at home but I'm really anxious when I have to go outdoors. I can't really walk anywhere and just go short distances in my car. I don't think I've drove any further than the one mile up to my Mum's in recent days and even then I'm very anxious to get back home.

I've been getting a lot of palpitations so my GP prescribed me Propranolol yesterday. I started them today (80mg slow release) so I'm hoping they help with the jitteryness. I've read quite a bit about Propranolol on here and they seem to really help with the physical symptoms of anxiety. It's certainly worth a try.

Would you say the Citalopram has increased your anxiety since you've been taking it?

[Pongowaring]

Well, in the first few days, it sent it absolutely through the roof, I'd say for about a week or so.

Then it started to settle down again, to the point that this week I felt a little bit better than I had done before I started taking the cit (it is three weeks now).

I took that as meaning I'd been through the really tough opening period, but today was a kick in the teeth, coming as it did totally out of the blue.

I have been prescribed it before, and had an awful experience that time too when i started, but not as bad as this time. I think the difference this time is that back then, I was also on bisoprolol (primarily for high blood pressure), which I am not this time.

I'd definitely feeling it tougher this time around.

I'm very lucky, though, I can work from home pretty much when I need to (although I've been in the office most of this week), and my partner is very supportive.

[mizfiesta]

Surely the side effects won't go on for much longer now if you've been on them three weeks. I personally hope mine get better soon as I'm beginning to feel like a hermit.

[hyg]

Hi all,
just thought Id drop in to this thread. Im coming up to the 3 week point tomorrow and have been increasing my dose gradually. Ive done 10 mg for 10 days then 15mg for 7 now today I went upto 20mg. Ive needed reassurrance from my gps a couple of times over the last 2 weeks (one phonecall and one visit ! )My GP said I was getting agitation symptoms and said to keep increasing unil I was on 20mg. Now just to add to all that Ive had a water infection as well so now on antibiotics for that ! so i feel quite crap now. Im also slightly embarrassed about the number of times Ive rung or seen my GP in the last month( 5 or 6 times lol ) I think health anxiety must be my main problem!!!! Hopefully the cit will help with this and I can relax about my health.
Im glad I joined this site as it helps a lot offloading and knowing others are on this journey. x