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What Causes A Fuzzy Feeling In The Head After Taking Citalopram Besides Anxiety And Depression?
Question: I’ve been taking Citalopram 10mg for 9 days. I take it in the morning. My head feels fuzzy with it like I’m not with it. Is this normal? Plus I’ve never ever had anxiety or depression ever until a few weeks ago. Felt like I was going crazy. I had developed this sore neck a few weeks before and perhaps the anxiety came from there then spiralled out of control. I wondered if I could be menopausal but have a Mirena coil insitu so not sure if blood tests would show accurate hormone levels.
Brief Answer:
My suggestion.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I understand your concern towards your suffering and the symptoms you are experiencing. I can certainly say that your symptoms are relevant to anxiety, but I'm not sure whether you are having any depressive ones along with it, like low mood, lack of interest, easy fatigability, decreased concentration and any sleep disturbances.
Anyway, Citalopram works for both anxiety and depression.
As you were informed by your friend regarding the dosage of Citalopram, it may not be true in all cases.
As far as I know, Escitalopram needs to be started with initial dose of 10mg, but Citalopram can be started with 20mg. But if I were your treating doctor, I would advise you to decrease the dose to 10mg because you are not able to tolerate it.
Feeling fuzzy and discomfort could be due to your intolerance to the prescribed dose. Along with this, it is better to combine with benzodiazepines like Clonazepam, to combat anxiety symptoms and sleep disturbances if any.
As far as the blood tests are considered, your contraceptive does not interfere with values so nothing to worry.
I hope you tried some pain killer for the neck pain. It is advisable to get an X-ray done to rule out any possible pathology. Discuss these issues with your treating doctor and follow accordingly.
Hope this information would help you. Feel free to ask any further questions.
Regards,
Dr. Soujanya
Psychiatrist
My suggestion.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I understand your concern towards your suffering and the symptoms you are experiencing. I can certainly say that your symptoms are relevant to anxiety, but I'm not sure whether you are having any depressive ones along with it, like low mood, lack of interest, easy fatigability, decreased concentration and any sleep disturbances.
Anyway, Citalopram works for both anxiety and depression.
As you were informed by your friend regarding the dosage of Citalopram, it may not be true in all cases.
As far as I know, Escitalopram needs to be started with initial dose of 10mg, but Citalopram can be started with 20mg. But if I were your treating doctor, I would advise you to decrease the dose to 10mg because you are not able to tolerate it.
Feeling fuzzy and discomfort could be due to your intolerance to the prescribed dose. Along with this, it is better to combine with benzodiazepines like Clonazepam, to combat anxiety symptoms and sleep disturbances if any.
As far as the blood tests are considered, your contraceptive does not interfere with values so nothing to worry.
I hope you tried some pain killer for the neck pain. It is advisable to get an X-ray done to rule out any possible pathology. Discuss these issues with your treating doctor and follow accordingly.
Hope this information would help you. Feel free to ask any further questions.
Regards,
Dr. Soujanya
Psychiatrist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
How long does Citalopram take to start having an effect? What are the main side effects people experience while on this drug? I think the Anxiety is settling. Yes I had sleep disturbance and probably difficulty concentrating. I just wondered if this sudden anxiety panic attacks was related to the menopause hence the reason I wondered about blood tests for FSH and oestrogen.
Brief Answer:
Citalopram may take 2 weeks to start its action.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I understand that you have some depressive symptoms. Usually, Citalopram takes 2 weeks to start its action and around 4-6 weeks to get maximum effective response. I would advise you to be patient and not to discontinue the drug.
Sudden anxiety that you are experiencing could be one of the side effects of Citalopram, as it may have paradoxical anxiety in the initial stages of treatment.
Other side effects could be drowsiness, tired feeling, nausea, cold symptoms such as sore throat, decreased sex drive may present.
Those are not so common in all the individuals. Usually, people experience nausea, gastritis, drowsiness. So, I can say that this sudden anxiety may not be related to the menopause.
If you are worried or anxious about the hormone levels, it is not a bad idea to get FSH and estrogen levels checked.
Another possibility of your anxiety may be thyroid dysfunction. So, let me know the reports of those.
Hope this information helps you. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Soujanya
Psychiatrist
Citalopram may take 2 weeks to start its action.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I understand that you have some depressive symptoms. Usually, Citalopram takes 2 weeks to start its action and around 4-6 weeks to get maximum effective response. I would advise you to be patient and not to discontinue the drug.
Sudden anxiety that you are experiencing could be one of the side effects of Citalopram, as it may have paradoxical anxiety in the initial stages of treatment.
Other side effects could be drowsiness, tired feeling, nausea, cold symptoms such as sore throat, decreased sex drive may present.
Those are not so common in all the individuals. Usually, people experience nausea, gastritis, drowsiness. So, I can say that this sudden anxiety may not be related to the menopause.
If you are worried or anxious about the hormone levels, it is not a bad idea to get FSH and estrogen levels checked.
Another possibility of your anxiety may be thyroid dysfunction. So, let me know the reports of those.
Hope this information helps you. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Soujanya
Psychiatrist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Roughly an hour I’ve taken these Citalopram tablets I feel disconnected a feeling like I’m not with it. This continues
most of the day. Around about dinner time at night roughly 1800 I start to feel with it again. Is this normal?
most of the day. Around about dinner time at night roughly 1800 I start to feel with it again. Is this normal?
Brief Answer:
In the initial stages of treatment you may experience this.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I understand that you are experiencing vague symptoms. This may be seen in the initial stages of treatment, till your body tolerates it. It will subside after 2 weeks of treatment so there is nothing to worry.
I would advise you to get your blood pressure and blood sugar levels checked once.
Hope this information helps you. Thank you.
Regards,
Dr. Soujanya
Psychiatrist
In the initial stages of treatment you may experience this.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I understand that you are experiencing vague symptoms. This may be seen in the initial stages of treatment, till your body tolerates it. It will subside after 2 weeks of treatment so there is nothing to worry.
I would advise you to get your blood pressure and blood sugar levels checked once.
Hope this information helps you. Thank you.
Regards,
Dr. Soujanya
Psychiatrist
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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