Right after Christmas I started taking generic Celexa to treat my anxiety. I’ve dealt with anxiety (and depression) most of my life without medication, but certain circumstances over the past six months had taken it to an almost unbearable level. I set up an appointment with my doctor and, frankly, was surprised how quickly they prescribed both the citalopram and alprazolam (generic Xanax).
I’m only taking 20 milligrams of the citalopram and the alprazolam as needed (once so far). It generally takes a little while — sometimes several months — for users to start feeling the effects of the citalopram. I’ve recently started noticing changes in myself, both good and bad.
On the good side, I do feel more on an even keel. Am I still anxious about things? Definitely. But it’s less severe and I haven’t been getting that sick feeling in my stomach where I feel like it’s about to purge the contents at any moment. I also feel less prone to sadness and have an easier time focusing on happy things instead of the gloom and doom.
The bad side is what concerns me a little. Lately I feel sapped of energy. I’m tired and yawning all the time, but I don’t sleep as well — I wake up more often and even when I get plenty of sleep, I feel like a zombie. Once I’m done doing what I absolutely have to for the day, it’s incredibly hard to convince me to do anything else besides snuggle up under the blanket and watch trash TV. I have more headaches than usual. My libido has jumped ship. I don’t want to eat as much, which is somewhat dangerous for me since I have trouble keeping weight on as it is.
It’s possible that some of this just has to do with winter — I’ve never been terribly peppy during the cold months. But I know some of it is being caused by the citalopram. I feel like I need to give it another month or two before I talk to my doctor about it, but if this doesn’t get better during that time, I’m tempted to stop taking it altogether. After all, I’ve lived so many years with anxiety as a way of life, and I’d honestly prefer anxious Kate over this new Kate most days of the week.
Talk to your doctor. Maybe your dosage is too high. When I started anti-anxiety meds I felt sleepy for awhile but it didn’t last as long as yours. Hang in there. I know it is kind of scary. There are also drugs that aren’t supposed to affect the libido. Check in and let the dr. know what’s going on. That is what they are there for.
Blugh. I hate when drug side effects are worse than the condition they are treating! I’m currently on Lexapro for my anxiety and so far no weird side effects. I was on BuSpar (buspirone) before that and it was horrible. Waking up if I took it before bed. Feeling drowsy and dizzy if I took it in the morning. Horrible! I asked to switch after one month. The Lexapro has been good to me so far, though. So, yeah, I think you should ask your doc ASAP. Don’t wait!
Awww Kate, it’s so hard. I don’t take meds for the same reason. They do help quell the anxiety and the terrible, earth-shattering panic I get, but the major issue I have with them is that I don’t feel like the same person when I am on them. Please talk to your doctor. There may be a solution that lessens the side effects. Sometimes you have to play around with the dosage before you get it right (as you know.) I know you can sort it out!
Ugh, it sounds like the good effects are so good it’s a bummer that it’s making you feel so zapped. I will be curious to hear what your doc says!
I took anxiety meds in college and have been seriously thinking about asking my doc about them again.
Hello there. I just found your blog and can relate to beginning citalopram for depression. I just started on a 10mg dose because I am sensitive to medications. I’m also experiencing headaches and low libido. I talked to my therapist about it keeping me up at night and she suggested I try taking it at night. For some people, there is the opposite effect of what’s typical so you may be one of them. As others have suggested, talk to your doctor.
–Daylily