I've just started 20mg of citalopram for depression and anxiety. What side effects have you had anyone had who's taken it? it's causing me problems sleeping. i don't know if i can stay on it if this is going to be the norm. also, has anyone found citalopram to be effective in easing depression and how easy is it to come off? sorry, lots of questions! i've never taken any form of drugs before, prescribed or otherwise and this was the last resort but i need to find the old Me again and am hoping this will help
Citalopram - what side effects have you had, was it effective, how easy was it to stop?
Question posted by MC1981 on 30 Nov 2010
Last updated on 3 March 2020 by WildcatVet
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
11 Answers
WildcatVet
4 March 2020
@Ronnie.
"Dermatologic
Very common (10% or more of users): Increased sweating (up to 11.3%)" (This is called hyperhidrosis)
"Psychiatric
Very common (10% or more of users): Insomnia (up to 18.8%)"
"Dermatologic
Common (1-10% of users) Paresthesia (This is your burning/itching sensation)
"The side effects observed with citalopram (the active ingredient contained in Celexa) in clinical trials were generally reported as mild and transient, occurring most frequently in the first 1 to 2 weeks of therapy, and attenuating subsequently." (Attenuating means it gets better)
Sorry for the copy/paste but I think these will help answer your question.
If you have more questions or concerns you can post again using the comment button below, okay?
elandem
4 March 2020
In the past I had a good experience with this med, but as with all of them, it stopped working after a while. But it is easy to stop, I think all the withdrawal stuff is a bit overblown, especially if you just
take your time and stop it over a period of a few weeks. best of luck
Ronnie76
3 March 2020
Hi guys ive been taking citalopram 10mg for 8 days for anxiety i am getting a really bad burning sensation on my back and arms, i also suffer from very sweaty feet and insomnia will this get better over time?
postman pat
4 April 2013
hey,
i was on citalopram for a year i was on 40 mg at first i had sleeping troubles as it made me really hyperactive "high" for about two weeks and then it calmed down and was feeling normal so just keep with it!! i find it when i start any new tablets !! im starting some new ones now and its the same no sleeping etc ..
x
weenett
16 Feb 2013
i tried it a few months back at 10 mg and 15 mg i couldnt cope with the side effects, which were weight loss coz i couldnt eat and i was constantly being sick or dry wretching. it also did nothing to help me sleep and actually made me more anxsious so i then woke even earlier in the morning i now take 5 mg every second day with a view to stopping. i was on them for anxiety and slight depression my doc recommended i try mitrazipine if i find i need something as the make most people sleep
jkimbllin
15 Feb 2013
I have been on Citalopram 20mg for 2years. I have not had side effects , but now I want to get off the drug and am doing it cold turkey. The last 3 days I have had dizziness and just plan to get through it. I understand people suggesting taking a lower dose and wean off the drug. I hope to just quit and feel like my old self without feeling to use drugs to get through the day .
Delila
9 Nov 2011
Hi, i've been taking citalopram for about 2 years now and really like it. I did go through the usual adjustment period when i felt pretty awful (Bad depression, crying all the time, feeling of hopelessness)! But i persevered and i'm glad i did. I started on the 20mg and the idea was to see how well they did for me, with a view to increase to 40mg after 4 weeks. At 3 weeks i was a mess and so my doctor decided to increase my dose early. A week after that i felt like a huge weight had been lifted! You must be aware that anti-depressants can cause you to feel worse before you feel better, at the end of the day they are changing the 'chemical' balance of your brain. It is important to tell your doctor if you start to feel worse than before you started them. Side effects; I honestly don't think i have any (and i'm on 60mg), maybe an increased appetite only. I hope they work out for you. Btw i'm also in the UK.
Graceyc
26 April 2012
Delila are you still around? I'm presently going through exactly what you did with citalopram, and I'm only on 10 mg. It's been three weeks and I have bad depression, and crying all the time! I experienced the same with cipralex so P.Doc took me off it after two and half months. It was far worse though. I'm so tired of all this after nearly four months, I'm ready to quit all drugs. My P. Doc told me it's not scientifically possible to be depressed on an anti depressant! I got news for him! I'm tired of Drs., drugs and not feeling well!
I'm somewhat more confident after reading your post though, as at present I'm feeling pretty hopeless. That being said one day last week I awoke and thought "oh My God" I feel normal, it lasted for a day!
Delila
27 April 2012
Hi, It still surprises me to hear peoples experiences with different doctors! Of course you can be depressed during the adjustment period, it is listed as a side effect on the paperwork in the box! I would hope that you are very close to feeling better... as i wrote, my doctor decided to increase my dose earlier them recommended because i was near suicidal i felt so bad. Then a week later i felt like a completely different person, it was great. As you know, everyone is affected differently with medications, something that is great for one person may not be for another. I hope you have the same success that i did though. My mum takes 10mg, she has found it to take the edge off her anxiety. Try to think positive, i know how hard it can be though. Write to me whenever. I hope you are feeling better soon : )
Graceyc
27 April 2012
Thanks for responding Delila. I was on cipralex for 2 months for SAD induced by stress which caused me to obsess about sleeping. I was on resterol for sleep so the side effects were't as bad the first time with the sedative in the sleep drug. I went off the sleep drug and onto trazedone, and credited the trazadone with my success to sleep. I decided to go off the cipralex. My Doc should've advised otherwise but didn't. I crashed, this was a side effect of course but you know Drs., back on the med. After 2 1/2 months and tons of side effects i was nearly crazy, got into see a Psychiatrist and he put me on celexa only 10 mg when I was on 15 of cipralex which is twice as strong. I had w.d.'s from the cip., and now depression fatigue and nausea from celexa. I think about it all the time as I'm not feeling well, is this so unusual? I get frustrated, people say get busy. I go to the gym 4 times per week but the thoughts still remain.
It's been a tough go, I'm ready to chuck the meds., but I probably just need an increase, your thoughts? I've had this before in my life but got through it in my working life with the trazadone for sleeping, as it cut the anxiety. I find this drug has relaxed my mind somewhat but the depression hangs. Did you get frustrated when not feeling well? The psychiatrist saw me once on April 3, then not again until May 14. I find the therapist fine to talk to, but how can you change your thinking patterns when you feel like this? Pretty tough? Thanks for listening.
Delila
29 April 2012
I don't want to advocate using med's at high doses, but saying that, 10mg of Citalopram is a very low dose. I can't see the harm of increasing it to 20mg if your doctor thinks this is OK? You may find the increase helps as it did for me. Have you discussed your thoughts with your psychiatrist? If so, what was their advice?
Graceyc
29 April 2012
Delila I've seen the psychiatrist once then he went away for 6 weeks!! I live in Canada it's like getting an audience with the pope! I see him again the middle of May. I've been here before over the years, it started with SAD and has esclated. I beat up on myself because I can't get over it on my own, however guess that's not possible this time. I'm obsessing about it which I do when I get depressed. I'm trying to keep busy to keep my mind off of it, doesn't work! I had one day when i thought WOW I feel better, didn't last long. I tend
to worry I'll never be well again. Hubby is no longer supportive, ignores me, it's hard.
Delila
29 April 2012
It sounds like you need much more support than you are getting. And support for your husband would be a good idea, maybe some counselling for the both of you together to help him understand what is going on for you. Is there any chance you can afford some private therapy? I know how expensive it is though. It is so sad that there is such a lack of support in some areas for people with mental illness. Have you tried talking to your husband about your hopes and fears, or does it fall on deaf ears?
Graceyc
29 April 2012
Delila I live in a major city in Alberta! I got this psychiatrist on my own by calling the mental health facility here. They lined me up with a therapist( social worker) and she got me into this guy within two weeks. He's a very prominent psychaitrist but then went on holiday for 6 weeks! He basically told me my personality type ( which I knew) and said drugs will help but you need to change your way of thinking ~Hello! This is difficult when you're down!
The therapist is o.k. but doesn't offer much advice. The psychiatrist said she could get in touch with him. She says not, go to my G.P. for an increase! it's very frustrating. I could go to private therapy however it's 100.00 per hour!
Hubby is tired of hearing about it, it's gone on since Christmas! He tends to listen and then walk away without comment. Do you have a good support system? Any ideas are appreciated. Thanks.
Delila
30 April 2012
Hi, wow that's steep! I am lucky to have quite a good support system in place. It has taken a long time though. I now have a very good psych and gp, they are working together which helps everything along. I wish i could suggest/do something more to help you! Btw, i answered your other question earlier, mainly so other people can reference it, we have already spoken about what i posted. I just want to encourage people to try to give their medication a bit of time before switching, as time may be all that is needed. I know that's probably not what people want to hear when they are feeling so depressed but a week can make all the difference sometimes. How are you doing today?
Graceyc
30 April 2012
I'm still depressed, crying and obsessing! I have to realize it's the drugs doing this but it's not easy, as you know! Trying to change your thoughts during this time is nearly impossible. I'm so tired also, did the clexa make you tired?
Thanks for being so supportive I appreciate!
Delila
1 May 2012
What is your daily routine like at the moment? Are you sleeping at night?
Graceyc
2 May 2012
Yes I am sleeping, don't want to get up in the a.m. The celexa is doing it's job there, too much so.! I hop out of bed at 7:15 and go to the gym. every week day morning. I feel good after, endorphins up there. I come home have breakfast, and do household chores. I find I'm tired mid afternoon from the drug so have to have a rest! The depression is exhausing though, just hangs there!
Delila
3 May 2012
So you certainly keep yourself busy! Have you considered that you may be pushing yourself too hard? Do you 'just' rest in the afternoon or do you have a nap? How are you doing today?
Graceyc
4 May 2012
I usually just rest in the afternoon. I find I'm rather tense today, could be I'm trying too hard to not obsess. I'm hoping this dosage when it gets into my body will take care of that, or a higher one! It's quite annoying, to be this way!
Delila
6 May 2012
Hi, sorry i took a while to get back to you... Yes, try to relax, it will take time. Hopefully you will share the experience i had, of one morning waking up and life feeling good again : )
Graceyc
7 May 2012
I hope so also Delila. I've been on 20 mg for a week, however I'm still emotional, and very tired.
jenndiva
9 Nov 2011
When I took this medication, it did not help me at all. I still had anxiety and became extremely irritable! If you have these types of issues, I would try Lexapro. It has really helped me feel better. I am happier now, don't feel so anxious all the time and don't feel irritable!
Lawnyard21
9 Dec 2010
Hey, I know it is scary! I started on 20mg of citalopram over a year ago. I started to feel very strong and myself again and like human nature stopped taking the medication. Well when you suffer from General anxiety disorder and stop taking medication and stress piles on the relapse is not a walk in the park. I finally went back to my doctor and she put me back on the 20 mg of citalopram. I knew before I didn't have these side affects from the medication that is was from my anxiety and stress. I was unable to sleep, I was experiencing racing thoughts, loss of appitite, and scary and disturbing thoughts that I could not control. I did hours upon hours of research and talked to friends and strangers who went through the same thing. It was the stress, depression, and anxiety that were causing this. There may be some side affects of the medication, but most of the time it is the beast itself poking its head up to the surface.
If it continues talk to your doctor he/she may put you on something else or in my case when I go back I will be asking for a strong dose. If you need anyone to talk to or anymore questions I am here for you. God bless and good luck!
chloesmom
30 Nov 2010
I just started taking this about 2 weeks ago. Started on 10mg for 7 days, then 20mg. No feelings of hunger like other anti-depression drugs I have taken, and I sleep like a baby again. I get a little sleepy during the day, however, I also take Prem-Pro which may be causing the drowsiness. I don't know the full effectivness of Citalopram yet, I think I would be a better judge in about another month. I was prescribed this for irritability issues from menopause. I was on Cymbalta for over a year, it worked great, but was so expensive since there is no generic. Cymbalta was a little difficult to come off of.
MC1981
30 Nov 2010
i hope it works out well for you. i'm in the UK under the NHS system, my GP thought this the best medication for my needs and i don't really know any different. i've never taken anything before so i decided to read up on what i am taking
maybubbles26
30 Nov 2010
I have been on Celexa (Citalopram) for a little over a year now. I do not have any side effects from it, other than it makes a little more tired than normal. I take 40mg though, so that might be the cause of my slight drowsiness. I hope this medication works as good for you as it does me. :)
MC1981
30 Nov 2010
thanks, i hope so too. its early days for me i suppose i'll see how things settle down after a few weeks
Related topics
depression, anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, citalopram, side effect
Further information
- Citalopram uses and safety info
- Citalopram prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Citalopram (detailed)
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