Citalopram for Anxiety and Stress User Reviews (Page 5)

• Suz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 25, 2020

Citalopram "Celexa didn’t work for me and my anxiety and depression. I bore with the side effects for four weeks (splitting headaches, inability to sleep or stay asleep, night sweats, cold symptoms, a feeling of dis-reality I hadn’t previously had, loss of all libido, skin numbness, and feeling drained of all energy) but they did not begin to alleviate. I thought nothing could be worse than the depression and anxiety but I was wrong. The treatment in this case was worse than the condition. Now tapering off and trying something different."

• Cri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 2, 2013

Citalopram "I began taking Celexa during detox for addiction to prescription medication. I honestly thought I would never smile or laugh again, but after about 4 weeks, the fog I was living in lifted and I felt better than ever! This was the second time I went through detox, and after the first time, I used Celexa - and once I began feeling good. Unfortunately, I stopped and relapsed. Stopping Celexa without tapering was the equivalent of hitting a wall of great sadness. I have been clean and sober for over 90 days, and I believe Celexa plays a huge role in my decision-making process."

• Bil...
• July 20, 2017

Citalopram "Completely changed my life. I was having severe anxiety accompanied with frequent panic attacks and was feeling hopeless about improvement. First two weeks on Celexa were terrible, but I can't necessarily attribute all symptoms as side effects because my anxiety was so bad it could have been that. I was waking up with night terrors, had extreme fatigue, dizziness, and dissociation. But then at some point I forgot about my anxiety and was living a normal life again. I started at 10 mg and went to 20 mg before coming back down to 10 mg due to improvement. After about 6 months I weaned off the drug completely and have only mild anxiety relapses currently."

• Sar...
• April 22, 2015

Citalopram "I have been on citalopram for a couple of months now and I absolutely love it. The only side effect I had was dizziness the next day after the first dose, but it went away. As of right now, no side effects at all, and I have noticed that I am more independent and more confident than I have ever been. Before this medication, I took Paxil, which was horrible. The side effects were the worst and the withdrawal (which I have read about) is bad as well, but I got over it. Before Celexa, I would be afraid to talk on the phone and do basic things like calling insurance companies, cable companies, etc. But now I have the confidence to call anyone and the change has been night and day. Highly recommend this medication!"

• blo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 4, 2013

Citalopram "I just started the medication 10mg for 14 days, then 20mg for 1 month. The doctor wants to see me. I have been diagnosed with anxiety, panic disorder, OCD, depression, and depersonalization. I have been on Celexa for five days, and although the doctor told me it would take 3-4 weeks for full effect, I smiled today. I don't feel heavy with thoughts. I feel like I will come back to me. I didn't mind wander or get too into my head today. That's a great feeling. I think I'm going to be okay!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 30, 2013

Citalopram "I have been on this medication for a week and have never felt better. I have noticed no anxiety, and my mind does not race all the time. My spouse has even said that he has noticed a difference with my attitude. I feel like my old self. I have been smiling more and feel relaxed. I take 20 mg per day. The only downfall that I have found with this medication is that it upsets my stomach, so what I have been doing is taking it with my dinner meal, and that has seemed to help."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 30, 2016

Citalopram "Started 10 mg Citalopram 8 days ago, and although they said it would take 2 weeks to really work, I started to feel better on the first day! Minor nausea the first couple of times I took it, but it went away quickly. This stuff has changed my life, helped me quit smoking. It's so strange being able to walk around and interact in public without anxiety. Improved my sleep overall, however, you will probably want to make sure you are active during the day because it takes a little more time to fall asleep. Wonderful Medication, wish I had started it much sooner."

• Str...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 22, 2013

Citalopram "I started taking Celexa about 2 months ago. I told the doctor that I was always overwhelmed and having anxiety attacks while driving and waking up in the middle of the night sweating. I immediately felt the effects within the first few days, but the dry mouth and yawning was unbearable. I switched to taking it before bedtime since it knocks me out anyway. About 2 weeks in I noticed myself acting a little goofy and happy again. I've noticed a dramatic difference in myself since I had my second child and my husband was working 60-70 hours a week, but now with the Celexa I feel much more normal like when I was younger. My doctor told me it would take about 3 months to fully kick in, but so far so good."

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 17, 2023

Citalopram "I used to take Celexa (20mg) back when I was 16 years old for severe agoraphobia, severe panic disorder, severe depression, and PTSD. I would faint, chest would hurt, shaking, hyperventilate, avoided all social places, I had no energy, felt suicidal, (I was homeschooled), I had all symptoms of PTSD, anxiety attacks, and depression. You name it, I had it. I couldn’t even leave home, not until Celexa was prescribed to me, and I got my life back within 2 days of taking this medication. The only side effect I had was drowsiness. I’m now 27 years old with the same issues once again, I’ve been isolated for 6 months now, having severe panic attacks and been avoiding all public places, even avoiding outside and my own family. I was prescribed Celexa 10mg 2 months ago, but I am deathly afraid to try it because I don’t want my anxiety to get worse, it’s my last hope to feel better. I believe Celexa will benefit me, but that’s my anxiety talking. I think I’ll try it today, I can do this!"

• Wic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 21, 2018

Citalopram "I was afraid about taking Celexa because of my Christian belief. I prayed for a long time and have been fighting anxiety for 4 years. I feel relief when I read the Bible and pray. But my doctor advised me to get on Celexa. Now, after 5 weeks, I feel a lot better and feel in control. The side effects are minimal. All the negative feelings are gone, and I feel like I’m alive once again. Sometimes your mind makes you think the medicine is not working, but you have to help yourself feel better."

• NH3...
• October 4, 2019

Citalopram "I want to give people a real review of this drug because the side effects are no joke. Note that my doctor started me on only 5mg to 'mitigate side effects'. Also, I have been on Zoloft before so I am not a newbie to these types of meds. I started Celexa one week ago and am just today starting to feel back to where I was when I started this drug. Basically, I have had every side effect of this drug. People are not lying. It makes you feel 500% worse before it starts to work. I started with severe panicky feelings and insomnia for about 3 days after day 2 on the meds. My blood pressure would shoot up, sweats, skin crawling, etc. My doctor prescribed me Xanax just so I could sleep. I had to take 3 days off of work, it was so bad. Then it switched to massive headaches and muscle aches which has been the last couple days. It feels just like having the flu. Cold all the time, then sweating."

• Mun...
• May 7, 2015

Citalopram "I went to the doctor because I was too terrified to do any meaningful living, including walking out of my door. I had experienced panic attacks and was under great social stress. The doctor started me out on 20 mg/day, and the first ten days were horrible in that I could 'feel' something at work, and because I was afraid of everything, even afraid of this medical rescue -- and that was hard for me. My husband did not approve, he felt I should overcome my problems on my own. I persisted, and within a month, I felt a blessed relief. I was still having middle-of-the-night anxiety rushes, but when we increased the dose to 30 mg/day, they were gone, too. Nearly a year later, I am grateful every day I have this medication."

• Cha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 3, 2019

"Had anxiety all my life didn’t think this medication would work to be honest and got to four weeks and was going to give up but then I woke up and I felt calm went to work felt calm started thinking about my future and how glad I was that I was alive. I had anxiety in shops, meetings etc and this has practically taken about 80-90 percent of that away. If you struggle with anxiety like me and I was very bad then try this medication I feel like the person I always wanted to be. Been told after 6-8 months it may wear off a bit but dose can be upped from 20mg to 40mg. Why didn’t I ask for help years ago is my biggest regret. First few weeks you won’t feel great but your body gets used to it and it kicks in. Also don’t let your anxiety stop you from taking it lol coz it stopped me for a while but thank goodness I took it. Good luck"

• smm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 17, 2013

Citalopram "I have been prescribed 10 mg and so far have felt ok. I don't feel overly hungry but really thirsty. This is day 4 and I am sleeping really well. This is a first for me. I have always dealt with my anxiety on my own without any meds. This time it was so bad, I had no choice. I feel relaxed and much more positive about each day."

• Val...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 15, 2020

"I have MDD and GAD, as well as ADD and PTSD. I was on 20mg for a while, and it was the first SSRI that felt like it actually improved my mood. Fast forward a year and I’m still getting weepy over minor slights - usually in public, still having intrusive suicidal thoughts, and brain still feels about 35% go. I upped from 20-40mg at the suggestion of my doc and the shift was almost immediate. Everything has changed for the better. I don’t get stressed out - I can still feel my emotions but they don’t knock me down - I can cope. I was thinking, “this is what normal must feel like”. In addition, no suicidal thoughts and my memory seems to be improving, but I have been taking a medical-grade fish oil - so that might be helping too. I wish I had done this for myself two years ago, but I was stubborn and didn’t want any more meds than I had to take. The quality of my life has just gone up so much in such a short period of time."

• jls...
• March 5, 2015

Citalopram "Celexa gave me my life back! I was going through a hard time and slowly but surely hit a wall with depression and anxiety and wasn't able to handle it. I wasn't sleeping or even able to eat, I felt alone and so far from myself. I'd never been on an antidepressant before, so Celexa was the first, and I had looked up all the side effects and was really scared to take it. Don't let the side effects or horror stories fool you. This medicine does help, it takes time to see the results, but it does help."

• liv...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 5, 2014

Citalopram "I have been on this medicine for only 3 weeks and my love addiction, my sex addiction have all but practically disappeared. I don't feel as depressed. I feel even grounded and no longer have the feeling that I am separated from myself. My obsessive thoughts have all but disappeared. I was constantly thinking about my ex who broke up with me 9 months ago. I feel finally that I got my life back. I prefer low libido than constantly thinking that every attractive girl I connect with might be my future girlfriend. Celexa works for me. I have been on and off them for years now but now I am sticking to the program. Be patient people and stick to the program."

• Anonymous
• October 15, 2008

Citalopram "I've been taking Celexa 20mg for almost six months, and it has helped me with my social anxiety. It's a lot easier to use the strategies that my psychologist talks about. However, a warning must be given. Celexa has not been a 'magic bullet'. I still have to do a lot of work to not be anxious. However, it has helped me so much that I can't think about quitting any time soon."

• Sam...
• July 11, 2011

Citalopram "I have suffered with anxiety since my early 20s. I'm now 27. After the loss of my father, it threw me into a depression that I couldn't seem to get out of. I started Celexa 20 mg about 2 weeks ago. The first two days, I could tell I was on medicine. I was a little slow, however, on the 3rd day, I felt like a brand new person. I have no depression, anxiety, or mood swings. I feel as if everything that I thought consumed my life was over. I had a new approach to dealing with everyday life. I think Celexa saved me. I did lose my appetite, but I wanted to lose a few pounds anyways. So another good thing about it, and I have occasional dry mouth. HOWEVER, I feel great. So I'll take it. I recommend this medicine to anyone."

• fro...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 3, 2013

Citalopram "I started having anxiety and the fear from that (worrying if I was having a heart attack) led to straight-up panic attacks. My Dr. gave me Celexa (20 mg), and after a few days, I felt so much better. I didn't have to take my Xanax anymore, maybe one a week. It was great, and after 2 months, I came off. But about 7 months later, my anxiety came back. So I gave Celexa another try, and at 20 mg for 11 days, I felt in a fog, really tired, and still had the anxiety. So after reading tons of posts, I lowered to 10 mg, and I felt great!"

• Cje...
• September 15, 2017

Citalopram "Took 8 weeks for 20mg to finally work. I had every side effect there was and was about to give up. Heightened anxiety, insomnia, nervous, and anxious. Dry mouth, tremors in my hands. I was so ready to just check myself into a mental ward. But I hung in there and right at week 8, boom, all of it gone. Feeling great."

• Tis...
• February 2, 2016

Citalopram "I started Celexa after trying many other meds for Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I can't begin to say how much I love it. It truly has given me a life I never knew. I feel so much better and things now roll off instead of driving me insane! Best decision I ever made. Really need to give it a good two months. That's when I really noticed the change."

• sar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 3, 2016

Citalopram "I have extremely bad anxiety, and it makes me panic daily and depressed. Before this drug, I have tried so many other ones that did nothing at all! I was giving up hope on finding something that would work for me until my doctor prescribed me this. I started out low at first, but now I'm on 20mg, and even when I started low, it did wonders. I used to not be able to talk about it without panicking, but within a week after taking it, I could actually talk about it and think straight. Thinking back before I was on it to where I'm at now, it's like a whole new world. I definitely recommend this."

• Sha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 15, 2019

"I was prescribed 20 mg of citalopram by my doctor for anxiety caused by intrusive thoughts. In all honesty, the first time I took it, I felt absolutely worse, and I felt like I didn’t have any hope of feeling alive again because I had been so consumed by my anxiety that I couldn’t see any light anymore. I started on 20 mg, then went down to 10 mg because of rapid heart rates, shivers, and poor sleep. By the 4th day, I noticed a change in my mood, and my crying spells reduced, I no longer cry anymore. My body got used to the drug. If you’re taking citalopram, please have some patience, you will be okay! This drug has given me so much hope, and I’m grateful!"

• Gal...
• August 18, 2019

Citalopram "I have been taking Celexa for 18 days for anxiety and stress. I had been battling along without any medicine for so long before I threw in the towel after 7 months of social anxiety that progressed to panic attacks, agoraphobia, and depression. Whenever I interacted with people, my face, neck, and chest would become broken out in stress hives. I tried reading self-help books on CBT and meditation first. I was still a wreck, so my doctor gave me a prescription for Celexa (20 mg), and I have to say it has almost turned my life back around, and I am feeling myself again. I took 10 mg for the first four days, then increased to 20 mg on day 5. The first day of Celexa was kind of rough: I had a pounding headache, my body felt sore, diarrhea, an ironic taste in my mouth, and mild sweating. Day 2 side effects are still there but less intense. After about a week, I felt a decrease in anxiety and was much more controllable."