Citalopram and Panic Attacks: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Bla...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 9, 2017

Citalopram for Anxiety and Stress "This made me very weak and made my panic attacks worse. I had almost all side effects, including weight loss, as I'm already a thin person, so I binned it after a few days. I went to my doctor and suggested Zoloft instead, and it had no side effects, and that helped my panic attacks go."

• Rab...
• August 1, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "The first few days were quite rough. I had the runs on the first to third day, and each time I'd take it for the first five days or so, within an hour I'd begin to get what I like to call the 'zombies,' basically a depressed state where I feel removed from myself and the world, and this can sometimes cause anxiety or panic if you don't know what it is. Thankfully, I knew it was simply side effects. Another symptom was yawning. I suffered from lots of crazy dreams, kept waking up in the middle of the night, but within two weeks my anxiety had reduced, and by a month I was much better than when I started. Calm, less irritable, and no nausea or zombie feeling like I got with Prozac. Helped my relationship, shouldn't have come off, going back on."

• fru...
• May 7, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "I was given buspirone and citalopram. Unfortunately, I didn't understand how the doctor told me to take the meds, and I was only taking buspirone. For two weeks, it worked great, then I started to have problems. I was unable to drive without having severe panic attacks. I had one so bad that I was stuck in a strange neighborhood for 3 hours due to a panic attack. I went to the pharmacist to see how I was supposed to take the med, and she explained to me that I was supposed to take citalopram every day and the buspirone as needed, up to three times a day, but she stated I shouldn't need the buspirone after a while once the citalopram started to do the job. She was correct. I started this drug a few weeks ago, and it has been a lifesaver. I feel like I am living again. I still have a little nervousness but not panic. I'm able to drive without stopping or wanting to jump out of my car. I don't think so much, which I believe was a huge issue for me. I felt dangerous on the road before taking this drug."

• Chi...
• July 17, 2021

For Anxiety and Stress "POSITIVE REVIEW - As a person with severe anxiety who is terrified of any medication and has been avoiding meds for years due to fear of side effects, I couldn't be more thankful for giving it a go. I'm the type of person that googled symptoms even if I have a random involuntary twitch, and then come to a conclusion that I have 2 weeks to live, lol. I was mortified of taking these. But anxiety became unbearable and the brain fog with it, I felt very stupid at times, with no focus or ability to think or remember things. I have had these for a week, I felt quite monotone, with not much emotion. That's about it! I haven't had brain fog since taking these, no panic attacks, my thoughts aren't racing anymore like they used to. I can see a massive difference! I'm much happier! With no side effects whatsoever. Life is good. Please give them a try because everyone is different :) Even if you do feel unwell, please try for a couple of months as it may be a life-changing decision. Good luck!"

• Sie...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 15, 2018

For Anxiety and Stress "Today is 2 weeks of being on Celexa (Citalopram). I started taking it for anxiety and panic attacks. The first 8 days I was tired, nauseated, a little out of it, and withdrawn. On day 9, I woke up and hit a major sad wall. I was shaky, panicky, and too nervous to get out of bed. The next 5 days were bad. I was super sad and had no drive or motivation, like someone turned the volume down on my life. Today is the first day since I started that I’m starting to feel better. I am not noticing the effects yet, but I’m not in pain or super sad. I’m still pretty yawny and sleepy, though."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 2, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "My anxiety elevated from mild to severe recently. Doctor gave me 20 mg of citalopram. I had a very bad panic attack about 30 minutes later and ended up in the emergency room. I was told by the doc that it takes time for the medication to kick in. So I just kept taking 20 mg for the next 4 days. Well, I experienced 2 more panic attacks and severe anxiety. I could not stay still, jittery and nervous all day long. It was horrible. So I decided to cut the med in half (I didn't even ask Dr.) and it was instant relief! Now this is my 4th week of citalopram and I feel better. I still feel anxious, but no more chest pain or chest tightness. I learned the amount of med makes a huge difference. I am looking forward to further improvement!"

• mcf...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 9, 2017

For Panic Disorder "I developed an awful choking phobia, and the citalopram really helped me deal with my anxiety/phobia and even improve things. I haven't fully recovered yet, but I am so happy with my recovery regardless. I am sure part of this was the drug, which seemed to suppress my anxiety subconsciously. The first 2 weeks of starting on citalopram were pretty rough. Constant nausea and heightened anxiety. I had a few panic attacks, which is a side effect initially (the irony), and also teeth clenching was pretty noticeable at first, which calmed down. I still get night sweats regularly, which is definitely this medication. It's annoying, but a common side effect noted amongst users. Definitely a worthy trade-off for its effects though. Overall, very happy with it."

• Kme...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 11, 2016

For Depression "I have been diagnosed as manic depressive, A.D.D., and suffer from high levels of stress and anxiety. I was on Zoloft from 2004 (13 y.o.) to 2013 (22), with my highest mg being 150 or 175. Worked okay, but made me zobified. I still had panic attacks and my mood was off. I've been on Citalopram for a month now, just 20 mg, and it's helped a LOT. After having my son in 2013, I decided to stay off meds (weaned myself at 22 weeks because of risk of defects), figuring I might be able to do this on my own. I noticed irritability immediately after he was born. It took me a while to convince myself I needed meds again when I had an awful panic attack and couldn't sleep. Being on Citalopram has decreased my irritability and made me a lot less nervous. I'm even working!"

• Con...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 22, 2022

For Depression "The absolute worst medication ever! I had panic attacks, a foggy mind, started to pull my hair out, sweating profusely, high heart rate, loss of interest in everything, and couldn’t think clearly, just to name a few."

• snu...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 8, 2016

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I started citalopram to treat GAD and major depressive disorder. I've now been on it for 3 years. I took a week off school and don't really remember any major side effects at the time. It was my first antidepressant and made a pretty big difference. Definitely helped with my anxiety, low moods, and suicidal thoughts. Bumped up my dosage a few times and I've been on 40 mg for about a year now. However, loads of symptoms are still present: mental fogginess, lack of motivation/concentration, near-constant fatigue, lack of emotion for long periods until I reach a breakdown state of panic. Panic attacks are around biweekly, which is improved from 3 years ago, but much worse than it's been in a long time. Switching to a new medication this week."

• Tsp...
• October 17, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "I took citalopram 20 mg @ 9 PM, and an hour later feeling weird, and full-blown side effects started! Sweating horribly. Hot/cold. Had to shake my legs, it felt like severe RLS! If I stopped shaking my legs, I felt full panic.. 15 hours legs went nonstop! Awful panic & felt tired/wide awake/buzz at the same time. No sleep. Burping, gas. Nauseated. Called the doctor in the AM who said to go to the hospital, get flushed, and that it was possibly serotonin syndrome. I also take two 50 mg tramadol a day. I have severe anxiety & tramadol helps. I was working on getting anxiety under control, then off tramadol. I waited hours to go to the hospital as I wanted it to wear off by itself, but at 3 PM I went. They gave me fluids & Xanax to calm me. I didn't want Xanax, but they convinced me to take a small dose. It helped relax me & calm my legs. The hospital doctor did not think serotonin syndrome from one dose of Celexa, instead, he thinks it was some side effects of Celexa & that sent my anxiety to the edge. Sent home with 6 Xanax. Told to see my own doctor. I took Xanax to sleep last night. I did start to panic, could feel the Xanax feeling, but slept great. Feel better today."

• Hop...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 5, 2021

For Panic Disorder "For 17 long months, I was psychologically in chronic shape. I feared life itself. I had continuous panic, anxiety attacks, along with severe depression. 8 months ago, my doctor put me on Cymbalta 30 mg, 2 times a day. I took them for 6 1/2 months, and very little relief. I requested a switch 3 weeks ago to Celexa, 20 mg. I ended the Cymbalta a week ago, and I feel almost like my old self. My panic attacks have subsided tremendously. I barely have anxiety. I feel calm, and my attacks are slowly disappearing. I'm not consumed with depression and racing thoughts. I'm finding me again, and that is a comforting way to live, because before Celexa, it was not a way of life. I can only share my experience and pray that other people can relate, that y'all find solitude also. There is nothing worse than a broken spirit, 24/7. Best wishes to all!"

• Rac...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 5, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "I had a breakdown after the birth of my daughter and partner leaving me about 4 years ago. However, I think I had been a silent sufferer for long before. Anxiety became all-consuming, and I was experiencing panic attacks and suicidal thoughts. I was lucky to receive fantastic support from the NHS and family/friends. My doctor was truly amazing, and even though I was skeptical about taking antidepressants, I gave this medicine a try. It saved my life. I took the medicine for 6 months, when I started to forget to take it, I gradually weaned myself off. Thankfully, I have not needed to take it again since-knowing that it’s there if I ever needed to is a real comfort for me. If this medicine has been suggested to you, give it a try. And stick at it through the first couple of months before you write it off completely. Treatment is a very individual thing, and what will work for one will not necessarily work for another. But this medicine has truly changed my life."

• JOE...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 15, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "Citalopram saved my life 16 years ago, alongside Depakote and Trazodone. I have Bipolar II. I'm always so freaking happy, but apparently too happy. I've been told I have a degree of serotonin syndrome and have to wean off. I'm terrified of both the withdrawal, as missing one dose makes me feel like I have the worst flu, and then the terrifying depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. Hoping the Depakote increase is going to save me. Citalopram started working after 7 days for me."

• Mia...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 14, 2015

For Anxiety and Stress "When first starting this medicine, I thought it was a Godsend. The first 5 days, I was able to sleep a whole 8 hrs and wake up with energy, and I wasn't nervous all the time. I was calm in stressful situations that I normally exploded in, so I was happy. But on the 6th day, I experienced the WORST panic attack I had ever experienced. I had had a couple of panic attacks before, but nothing like this, and it lasted hours. I prayed and cried. Called 911. Called my parents, I thought my life was over! I read some of the reviews on here and seen how people said to stick it out, it works. So I informed my doctor and decided to stick it out. I am now nervous all the time, having stomach cramps, and can't sleep. I'm giving it up! I hate these feelings."

• Sad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 20, 2017

For Depression "I started on 20 mg for major depression and anxiety. I did get bloating and nausea for about 3 weeks, which was manageable, and decreased appetite (good because I'm overweight). It helped but not as much as I'd liked, so my doctor moved me to 40 mg. Same side effects as before. Nausea went away after 3 weeks. I feel a lot better at this dose. My depression is like 1/10 now, and my anxiety has gone down a lot! I'm going out and making friends, I was the kind of person who'd make plans and cancel and be very anxious in social situations. I also get less panic attacks (it takes more than it used to in order to trigger one). This drug saved my life. I don't want to be without it. Just get through the side effects and wait, this won't work overnight."

• Cad...
• November 14, 2015

Citalopram for Depression "I've only been on Celexa for a month. I am 5'5" and I was 112 lbs, and they put me on 10 mg, but it didn't help at all. It made me start having panic attacks and anxiety attacks again. I'm also on Klonopin (1 mg twice a day) for panic disorder and Adderall (20 mg XR in the morning and 10 mg IR at lunchtime) for inattentive ADHD. I haven't been any less depressed, and I'm 99 lbs now, and they just doubled my dose to see if that will work. I really hope it does, because right now I absolutely hate it. I've been eating more than I normally do, but losing weight rapidly, and I'm already underweight. Celexa so far makes me feel like I'm on the verge of falling asleep almost 24/7; the rest of the time is when I'm having anxiety and panic attacks."

• Gem...
• August 5, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "Been on these meds for over a week and wanted to share the side effects. I do find I haven’t been having panic attacks this last week, they usually happen every day. I take half a pill of 20 mg (so I take 10 mg) right before I go to bed, so I’m not as tired, but I do find it harder to wake up, and sometimes if I wake up during the night, I feel really dizzy and disassociated. I felt really sedated and just weird, I had never felt like that before. Sometimes if I take it too late, like 1 am (before I sleep), I'll feel awful, especially if I have to get up and go to work early. But later in the day, I feel great. I’m too scared to take the pill earlier, because I don’t wanna have a panic attack over the side effects, I’d rather just sleep through them."

• 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?"

• Joe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 27, 2021

For Depression "Made me think I was going crazy. It gave me insomnia and made me aggressive, hyper, made it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep, racing thoughts, a couple of panic attacks. Manic symptoms. No thanks. Quit taking it 2 weeks in, and the symptoms went away. I’m on Effexor 112.5 mg and stable now."

• Bex...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 19, 2021

For Anxiety and Stress "I am here because I was obsessed with reading these reviews when I was first put on Cipramil. I have GAD, but very controlled. Can only remember a handful of times in my life when my anxiety crippled me. Tried Zoloft and Lexapro once, couldn't continue because I experienced suicidal thoughts, out of the blue. Fast forward to 4 months ago, several incidents woke me up in a panic one day and my heart rate was consistently 120+. Friends on Cipramil begged me to try it. The side effects were a nightmare at first. Nausea, diarrhea, heart palpitations, extreme panic, sobbing uncontrollably, convulsions. 10 days in, it eased, I could function. Each day got better, 3 months felt back to normal, better than normal. In love with life. Don't forget to meditate, even if it seems like it's not doing anything at first. The only lingering effect is night sweats. Bothered me at first, but now I don't even wake up from it. You will get better. You won't always feel this way."

• Mag...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 27, 2021

For Anxiety and Stress "I’ve been on citalopram 10 mg for around 10 days now. I will be honest, the first 5 days were absolutely brutal. Nausea, lack of appetite, panic attacks, and insomnia. But I’m so glad I stuck through it. I’m on day 10 and I feel like my normal self again. I started out taking it at night because it was said to cause drowsiness. But after a week of no sleep, I decided to switch to taking it in the mornings, and I finally started sleeping through the night."

• Jen...
• October 3, 2015

For Anxiety and Stress "This is awful! It caused psoriasis and severe panic attacks. If you are feeling stressed and anxious... this gave me severe psoriasis, which caused me to be misdiagnosed by two doctors. This medication will also turn you into a defunct, sexless zombie. This isn't a lifesaver at all. And if you choose to one day come off this medication... it will take months to get rid of the withdrawals. It doesn't matter if you quit cold turkey or taper down. You will throw up, you will become severely nauseated, diarrhea like you wouldn't believe, hot flashes, and brain zaps from hell. Be careful with any medication, especially one that alters your brain!"

• Me0...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 27, 2021

For Panic Disorder "All of a sudden, I started getting weird anxiety and panic attacks while driving. It was so bad that I really couldn’t ride with anyone. The doctor performed all kinds of tests and didn’t find anything. I went for an eye exam, and my vision was double as bad as the very first exam. The doctor prescribed me citalopram 10 mg. I’m kind of nervous to take them after I tried one the other day. I may try half of one at night. Has anyone had the anxiety panic attacks while driving? If so, would you let me know how it was!"

• Nor...
• April 5, 2011

For Anxiety and Stress "I started taking Citalopram about 6 months ago when I began having severe anxiety and panic attacks. I had been under a lot of stress in all aspects of my life and was also having trouble sleeping. I just wanted to run and hide. I was scared of everything to the point I had difficulty even driving. I was afraid of losing my job because I just couldn’t function normally. Today I feel like myself again and can sleep all night. I do not plan to quit taking Citalopram anytime soon. I do on occasion still have panic attacks, but it is very rare, and my doctor recommended 0.5 mg of Alprazolam on those rare occasions and increased my Citalopram dosage from 20 mg to 30 mg. I expect the new dosage to end all panic attacks."