Citalopram and Depression: What Users Say (Page 4)

• mro...
• March 6, 2011

Citalopram for Anxiety and Stress "I have been on Celexa for 16 days now, and my anxiety, mood, depression, and panic are markedly worse. This is the worst I have been in a couple of years. Is this something the drug can cause before it gives you some relief?"

• Kco...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 7, 2022

For Anxiety and Stress "I started citalopram 10 mg on September 1st for anxiety. Had anxiety really bad for years, I just thought it was who I was. Couldn't drive long distances or be in a crowded place too long, overactive thoughts non-stop. So I decided I needed something as it was affecting my life. I caved and tried citalopram. The first week was awful, I was yawning non-stop, nervous, and I couldn't eat, etc. The following week had a couple of days where I was OK. How wrong I was. On the 25th day of taking it, I woke up at 4 a.m. in severe panic and had a panic attack that lasted for two and a half days. Then it hit my mood, I went so low I think it was impossible to go any lower. I've never felt like that my entire life. I didn't sleep for three days, I didn't eat, so I stopped. My anxiety calmed down, but my thoughts didn't improve. It made me depressed when before I wasn't. It's been over a month, I'm still not myself, my mood is so low I have intrusive thoughts. It messed me up. I'm a bit better now, getting there slowly. Started for anxiety, now it gave me depression."

• Ric...
• June 8, 2010

Citalopram for Depression "I was in a marked crosswalk when a person ran the red light and T-boned me, pushing me into oncoming traffic, right in front of two Portland police cars. I was knocked out for two days in ICU. When I woke up, I found that I could not use my left hand, and I was left-handed. I had other injuries too, but after being left-handed for 60 years, and 32 of those years, I was a computer designer. After about a year of tests and two failed operations, none of the doctors could fix the nerve damage to my hand. I had to retire from work. Learning only the basic skills with my right hand, which was also damaged. I became very depressed. I am now up to 80 mg a day, and it has helped me a lot. I am also on 20 mg of oxycodone every 4 hours for constant pain."

• Anonymous
• December 21, 2011

Citalopram for Anxiety and Stress "Really helps with my anxiety, which is the main reason for going on it. However, the underlying depression that was masked by anxiety is not being helped by Citalopram. So, rate it for anxiety, but find it makes me emotionless, totally apathetic, and tired all the time. So, solves one problem but makes me feel even more depressed."

• Anonymous
• December 21, 2011

Citalopram for Anxiety and Stress "Really helps with my anxiety, which is the main reason for going on it. However, the underlying depression that was masked by anxiety is not being helped by Citalopram. So, rate it for anxiety, but find it makes me emotionless, totally apathetic, and tired all the time. So, solves one problem but makes me feel even more depressed."

• fel...
• February 1, 2016

Citalopram for Anxiety and Stress "This medication is definitely not for me. I suffer from social anxiety and panic attacks. I took 10 mg daily for 2 weeks. Although while on this medication, I did not have my panic attacks; I still had social anxiety. I was completely emotionless, couldn't stay asleep, and never had an orgasm; the total zombie effect. It gave me headaches every morning and jaw pain - I guess a withdrawal side effect. I would not recommend it to anyone unless you are coming off of some hard drugs. Every addictive! Severe side effects!"

• Lin...
• February 7, 2016

Citalopram for Anxiety and Stress "I woke up from the absolute craziest dream I've ever had... FREAKING OUT... COULD NOT BREATHE, AND THOUGHT I WAS DYING... I immediately called people in my family that have been on antidepressants, and they said just give it time, the side effects will go away... so I continued to take it... today is day 14, I am more nervous and depressed still... I have NO emotion, my head hurts constantly, STILL have no balance... I think my doctor WRONGLY prescribed me something I DIDN'T need, that COMPLETELY ruins you (when you don't really need it). I'm severely annoyed... stopping my med tomorrow and flushing the rest of my pills... I'm so disgusted."

• Lin...
• February 7, 2016

Citalopram for Anxiety and Stress "I woke up from the absolute craziest dream I've ever had... FREAKING OUT... COULD NOT BREATHE, AND THOUGHT I WAS DYING... I immediately called people in my family that have been on antidepressants, and they said just give it time, the side effects will go away... so I continued to take it... today is day 14, I am more nervous and depressed still... I have NO emotion, my head hurts constantly, STILL have no balance... I think my doctor WRONGLY prescribed me something I DIDN'T need, that COMPLETELY ruins you (when you don't really need it). I'm severely annoyed... stopping my med tomorrow and flushing the rest of my pills... I'm so disgusted."

• Kay...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 15, 2021

For Depression "I was prescribed citalopram by my doctor after another antidepressant failed to work for me. The citalopram worked for about 6 months but stopped after that. My doctor has increased my dosage twice now, and nothing. I still struggle to get out of bed each morning, I have wicked mood swings, and I have no motivation to do anything."

• Liz...
• November 5, 2013

For Anxiety and Stress "The medication did seize my anxiety and panic attacks, although with that in mind, I would never use it again because of the side effects. I was empty, emotionless, depressed, had no worries about others, had to fake a smile or laugh, I honestly felt so hollow - it's not fun. I think I spent more time thinking about death when I was on the medicine than off of it. It may be a great drug to start with helping your anxiety, but I wouldn't stay on this for long. It changed me 100%, and I am still suffering the changes. Also, if you don't have OCD now, it could start to develop during the treatment."

• Liz...
• November 5, 2013

For Anxiety and Stress "The medication did seize my anxiety and panic attacks, although with that in mind, I would never use it again because of the side effects. I was empty, emotionless, depressed, had no worries about others, had to fake a smile or laugh, I honestly felt so hollow - it's not fun. I think I spent more time thinking about death when I was on the medicine than off of it. It may be a great drug to start with helping your anxiety, but I wouldn't stay on this for long. It changed me 100%, and I am still suffering the changes. Also, if you don't have OCD now, it could start to develop during the treatment."

• Rog...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 21, 2019

For Depression "I've dealt with depression since my teens (I'm 66). I thought I was dealing with it pretty well without meds, but my wife thought differently, so I've been on 10 mg of Citalopram for one month. Side effects were horrible: fatigue and yawning mid-afternoons, swings of extreme depression and anxiety with unstoppable racing thoughts, uncontrollable jitters, crying fits, unable to concentrate -- virtually every side effect mentioned on this site. I kept reading that I should wait it out, so I did, and the side effects did gradually decrease until now I feel pretty normal again. I think I'm less irritable, and my wife thinks my underlying anger is gone, but I still have a racing brain and mood swings, but they do seem less severe. I think I will give it another month or so, but I may need to up my dosage."

• nic...
• April 22, 2015

For Anxiety and Stress "I have been on citalopram 20 mg for 2 months now. Overall, yes, I have felt better, my mood was happy, not easy to anger, and things that would normally stress me didn't as much. I had an incident where I missed 3 doses, I was dizzy, lightheaded, and felt very unbalanced. I took my evening dose and woke up the next morning back to no side effects. An online search stated it was withdrawals. Now, since 2 months down, I have suddenly felt depressed, and anxiety a little more again. I'm going to call the doctor to see if it's not working. I have an urge to eat more than before: carbs and sweets."

• Sad...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 14, 2016

For Depression "Although citalopram initially seemed to help me over a bad patch (divorce), I lost my ability to enjoy sex, achieve orgasm. Previously enjoyed a happy, active, fulfilling, and pleasurable sex life. When I was ready to date again and have new boyfriends, this was frustrating and caused deeper unhappiness and sadness. I'm hoping my pleasure will return. Wish I'd never taken it!"

• Kco...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 18, 2022

For Anxiety and Stress "I started taking citalopram as I've been suffering from severe anxiety for years, and I'd had enough. Was put on 10 mg, and the first 2 weeks, I had every side effect. Then I got 2 days where I felt OK. Then, on the 25th day, I woke up in the middle of the night having the worst panic attack I've ever had, it lasted for two days straight. No eating. No sitting. Just pacing. Once I stopped it after 2 or 3 days, it calmed, but my mood went so dark, like never before. I never suffered from bad depression before I started this drug. It was terrifying. It is now the end of November, I started on the 1st of September and stopped on the 25th of September. And I'm still getting withdrawal, especially depression. I'm hoping to get back to the way I was, which wasn't great, but 100 times better than depression. I didn't think it could do this to you, it seriously affected my brain. I'm just holding on to hope that it'll eventually go away. It is so bad I'd rather take my anxiety over the horrific effects it was giving me. Won't ever try again!"

• sam...
• January 22, 2020

Citalopram for Postpartum Depression "Initial symptoms, premenstrual dysphoric syndrome. Extreme irritability in evenings the week before the period. While I used to be fine after the period, I started having a depressed mood. The only time of the month feeling good was around ovulation. Started on 10 mg. First week, queasiness, dizziness, no appetite, brain fog. Allowed self to eat junk or whatever sounded appealing. Protein shakes. Initial effects improved after the first week. No real notable difference. After a few weeks increased to 20 mg. Lack of appetite returned. Started having excruciating headaches, tension headaches, and clenching of jaw. Worsened depression. No motivation or desire to do anything. Headaches resolved. At 7-8 weeks. Extremely tired. Sad, blah, heavy face feeling. Anxiety may be worse. Probably less irritable, but don’t feel the other side effects are worth it. Felt better the next day after decrease to 10. Then switched to Paxil and have had no side effects and doing well one month in!!!"

• Jar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 3, 2020

For Anxiety and Stress "My GP put me on this citalopram for “social anxiety disorder.” My first psych med and diagnosis. At first, it helped calm me down. I didn’t feel like running around my house starting a million projects (ADHD). I got used to that after a short period, and it started to stimulate me more and more (bipolar 2), which led me to max out the dose. Don’t remember what exactly led up to it (hypomanic episode), but I spiraled into a bad depression that lasted a couple of months until I was switched to escitalopram. Overall effectiveness for anxiety was minimal."

• zbz...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 19, 2022

For Anxiety and Stress "I struggled with anxiety for as long as I can remember. Even the smallest things would give me severe anxiety/panic attacks. Specifically, social anxiety. It was absolutely awful. I went on citalopram about 2 years ago, and it has changed my life! I feel like I can be myself, and I don’t panic over tiny things. I would say the only downside is that I am very sleepy all the time. Like I can take 3-hour naps and still need more. Also, emotional blunting. I used to cry over everything, but now it’s almost like I can’t cry, even when I want to. I think it’s worth it, though, to have peace of mind."

• Sam...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 22, 2019

For Depression "Did work a little bit in the past for me, but more recently I seemed to have stopped working. So I discontinued it. Feeling the same way I would feel while on it. Extreme hopelessness, lack of motivation, brain fog. I have tried many other SSRIs and a few tricyclics, also, none seem to work for me and better from one another. I am made to think, do antidepressants actually work at all."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 28, 2017

Citalopram for Depression "I was prescribed this a few weeks ago but had to stop taking it. I currently take Seroquel (Quetiapine) 100 mg and was not sure why the psychiatrist would prescribe the Celexa (Citalopram) as I had been informed by a pharmacist that combining Seroquel and Celexa is dangerous and could possibly cause heart problems. There is a major drug interaction between those two meds, as that would explain why my chest was hurting and my depression actually got way worse. I also didn't have an appetite at all while on the Celexa, so I had to just stop taking it. Horrible drug."

• Moo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 9, 2018

For Anxiety and Stress "Ok, so I didn't know how to rate yet! I'm only on day 4 of 10 mg! My doc gave me 20 mg and told me to cut them in half for the first 2 weeks! Ok, so on to the background: I am 32 years old and have been battling anxiety, which led to depression since this year! I am feeling so bad today, cannot focus, and super anxious and depressed! I know a few people that take this, and they say it gets worse before better pretty much, but I am so going through it! I had to work yesterday (day 3), and I had to take an Ativan before I went, and I was ok! I just want to know how long will this last?"

• Bri...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 16, 2018

For Depression "I am now trying slowly to come off citalopram. Not because it didn’t work, it did, but maybe too much. I was an emotional person, up and down. Don’t get the down anymore, great. But don’t get the up at all anymore. I have realized that that is better than any down. I feel lobotomized, and my whole personality has changed. I know there will be times of severe depression, but maybe that’s the payoff for the highs. I will not be ever going onto SSRIs again."

• Bri...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 16, 2018

For Depression "I am now trying slowly to come off citalopram. Not because it didn’t work, it did, but maybe too much. I was an emotional person, up and down. Don’t get the down anymore, great. But don’t get the up at all anymore. I have realized that that is better than any down. I feel lobotomized, and my whole personality has changed. I know there will be times of severe depression, but maybe that’s the payoff for the highs. I will not be ever going onto SSRIs again."

• Sup...
• April 30, 2017

For Hot Flashes "Prescribed 20 mg for hot flushes. Took for 5 days as side effects were terrible-nausea, dry mouth, and by the third day, feeling low in mood and apathetic. My vertigo has also returned with a vengeance!"

• DW2...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 26, 2012

For Anxiety and Stress "I went on this because of extreme anxiety/insomnia, and it did the trick right away at 10 mg/day. Be careful drinking too much alcohol. I went off it after 2.5 years and was fine for several years. Then I lost my job and house, moved away, and fell into a deep depression. So I went back on citalopram, and it helped the depression quite well. After 2 years on it, I had my first hypo-manic episode, which lasted 4 months, nearly destroying my life. I quit the medicine midway through this period. I guess I'm bipolar 2. A few months later, severe depression started again, and I went back on it. This time I could only handle 5 mg/day, and I was still sleeping 14 hours a day. Citalopram stopped working for me over time and probably doesn't work for bipolar 2 depression."