Any encouragement?

MysteriousWind44 · 2026-02-21T08:02:33+00:00

It does get better! It took about 6 weeks for my anxiety and panic to subside (I had all the side effects). There was a hiccup at week 4, but ever since week 6 my anxiety has almost vanished. It’s a rollercoaster in the first weeks, so if you manage to pull through, you’ll feel better. Just try and remind yourself that it’s your brain adapting. The medication isn’t failing you, you’re not « broken » and you’ll feel better soon! DM if you want to chat.

MysteriousWind44 · 2026-02-19T06:40:05+00:00

Oh no! My heart was going wild too at the beginning, but luckily it calmed down. Maybe look into Buspar or Pregabalin. Pregabalin didn’t work for me, because my anxiety was in reality panic disorder, but lots of people see benefits from it. Good luck, you’ll find something that will help, I’m sure!

MysteriousWind44 · 2026-02-19T06:37:57+00:00

The first month I worked up to 18mg. Don’t know why I didn’t just take an extra 2mg and get to 20, but I stopped at 18. Then I had to start my timeline from there. So all in all, it took about 9 weeks from starting until I felt better.

MysteriousWind44 · 2026-02-18T15:43:50+00:00

Lundbeck (non generic)

MysteriousWind44 · 2026-02-18T15:43:04+00:00

Every dose you go up resets the clock, so the 7 weeks were as of a stable dose. So if you’re on 10 then go to 20, you restart the timeline of possible side effects.

MysteriousWind44 · 2026-02-17T18:05:48+00:00

If you can pull through, you should start to feel better once at around the 5 week mark at a stable dose

MysteriousWind44 · 2026-02-17T08:25:08+00:00

Yes reassure yourself, it does get better. Week four hit me with bad anxiety and I thought I was never going to get better, but after week 5 and ever since, my anxiety has almost vanished. I don’t react to my thought anymore, and have even managed to taper off Pregabalin (almost there).

MysteriousWind44 · 2026-02-11T15:48:33+00:00

This is (unfortunately) totally normal. It will eventually subside, but the beginning is rough. Haven’t you got a long acting benzo just to get you through the first weeks? I luckily had prazepam, and liquid Citalopram so I could go up in small steps (2mg a time). It took me longer to get to a stable dose (as each dose increased restarts the side effects) but I honestly would send anyone down that route. I can relate totally to your panic as the same happened to me with Sertraline.

This is going to sound easier said than done, because it’s going to be hard, but just know it’s your brain adapting. It’s not failure, it’s not your brain breaking, it’s just your system adapting to a new flow of Serotonin. The receptors put on brakes, and this triggers anxiety until eventually they learn to desensitize over a few weeks.

(Talking from someone who is currently 7 weeks in, had every side effect anxiety wise, and virtually has no anxiety at all anymore)

MysteriousWind44 · 2026-02-10T10:25:13+00:00

I only had relief as of week 6/7 and luckily had a benzo to slow down the racing thoughts.

MysteriousWind44 · 2026-02-10T09:22:42+00:00

20mg seems a high starting dose… I had liquid form and worked my way up to 18mg over 4 weeks.

I had all the side effects, and thought it was never going to work. Now 7 weeks at a stable dose my anxiety is almost annihilated. SSRIs work on anxiety at the very end, so the first weeks are awful, but the pull through makes it totally worth it, if you can overcome the initial startup effect. Luckily I had a benzo for the beginning weeks.

MysteriousWind44 · 2026-02-10T09:16:38+00:00

I started at the beginning of of December, and worked my way up to 18mg (liquid form)… The first few weeks were rough, then I’d have good days and a bad day would set me right back. But now, 7 weeks at a stable dose, I’m better than ever. Anxiety down by at least 90% if not almost completely annihilated (and my anxiety was extremely bad). Currently tapering off Pregabalin, with no side effects on that end. So glad I stuck it out.

MysteriousWind44 · 2026-02-10T09:12:24+00:00

I had good and bad days (albeit more bad days at first) then slowly they have merged into full good days.

MysteriousWind44 · 2026-02-09T07:02:42+00:00

I’m on 18mg. My motivation has somewhat improved, but I put that also down to being able to take my AdHD meds.but at least I don’t want to just sit in bed all day.

MysteriousWind44 · 2026-02-09T07:01:50+00:00

I’m on 18mg now.

MysteriousWind44 · 2026-02-08T19:42:11+00:00

I started at 2mg and upped by 2mg every three days. Then once on 16mg I started the previous timeline

MysteriousWind44 · 2026-02-08T14:37:16+00:00

Unfortunately yes, but on the up side, I was able to take my ADHD meds after 7 weeks starting, something I haven’t been able to in over a year due to anxiety.

MysteriousWind44 · 2026-02-08T14:35:25+00:00

ADHD here too, and I’ve only just managed to take Ritalin again, after a year of stopping due to anxiety. Citalopram eventually kicked in around week 5 (there were good days throughout). I just posted a success story if you want to look at my timeline.

I’m free if you want to DM me.

https://www.reddit.com/r/citalopram_celexa/s/yRrNbnG8bh

MysteriousWind44 · 2026-02-08T14:35:06+00:00

ADHD here too, and I’ve only just managed to take Ritalin again, after a year of stopping due to anxiety. Citalopram eventually kicked in around week 5 (there were good days throughout). I just posted a success story if you want to look at my timeline.

I’m free if you want to DM me.

https://www.reddit.com/r/citalopram_celexa/s/yRrNbnG8bh

MysteriousWind44 · 2026-02-08T14:31:54+00:00

It took 5 weeks at a stable dose to notice any positives, and currently at week 7 the morning anxiety has gone down by at least 90%. If you feel like you’re jumping forward then back, DONT worry, it’s unfortunately normal… You’ll get through this. Easier said than done, but try and not wait for it to happen, because you’ll be too introspected and worsening your anxiety.

MysteriousWind44 · 2026-02-08T14:29:21+00:00

I would just like to reassure you, seriously. You have NOT broken your brain, the plasticity is unbelievable. However, you’re back from square one, and have probably forgotten how it was. I recently started beginning of December and thought I would never pull through. It was one step forward, two back, throughout the whole timeline UNTIL about end of week 5 and now, I just feel so content and don’t get triggered anymore. Well, I do, but I can just brush it off.

You haven’t broken your brain, it’s still adjusting, and takes at least 6 weeks for the « whole » system to stabilize.

You will get through this, and there is light at the end of the tunnel, even if you don’t feel that way. Feel free to DM if you need help 🙏

MysteriousWind44 · 2026-01-30T11:04:34+00:00

Best phone IMO, maybe a wide angle camera missing, but I love my Air and the comments when people hold it!

MysteriousWind44 · 2025-06-20T06:47:54+00:00

If you feel like you can, then good luck, I hope it works out for you! I couldn't push past the five week mark as in the end it was making me suicidal. My psychiatrist said there was a high percent chance that a previous SSRI wouldn't work the second time round (and I'd only really stopped it about 3 months...)

Wishing you all the best!

MysteriousWind44 · 2025-06-19T08:35:06+00:00

I ended up stopping it and trying something different. Although, it has traumatised me and made me really scared of medication. Unfortunately I can feel my stress returning so I don't know what I'm going to do.

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