Citalpram issues

[Jmillhimes]

So I was on citalpram for almost a year and my cardiologist took me off after I was diagnosed with afib! I'm taking meds now to keep my heartbeat down. So I started up with panic attacks again! About a month after I was pulled off citalpram! My doctor puts me back on citalpram and I'm telling you the worse panic attacks ever! I'm talking waking up feeling my chest and arms burning, my face feels ice cold and night terrors to go along with constant attacks at work! I've been back on for about 2 1/2 weeks now and I've also cut my 10mg pill in half. I still get the attacks once and awhile but not as bad. Is this common when starting a med like this once again?

[ladydancer]

You should really talk to your doctor about this. It could be that you have a more serious underlying problems that the citalopram is exacerbating. This kind of reaction is more normally associated with diabetes. If you don't think your doctor is giving you the full treatment you deserve, even on the NHS you have the right to 2nd opinion, or to change doctors if you believe you have been misdiagnosed or even given the wrong medication for the symptoms you described.

[gypsylee]

So I was on citalpram for almost a year and my cardiologist took me off after I was diagnosed with afib! I'm taking meds now to keep my heartbeat down. So I started up with panic attacks again! About a month after I was pulled off citalpram! My doctor puts me back on citalpram and I'm telling you the worse panic attacks ever! I'm talking waking up feeling my chest and arms burning, my face feels ice cold and night terrors to go along with constant attacks at work! I've been back on for about 2 1/2 weeks now and I've also cut my 10mg pill in half. I still get the attacks once and awhile but not as bad. Is this common when starting a med like this once again?

Yes :). ......

[jessed03]

Did your doctor say why they put you back on citalopram? There are dozens of other SSRIs that don't affect the heart.

[Kixxi]

So I was on citalpram for almost a year and my cardiologist took me off after I was diagnosed with afib! I'm taking meds now to keep my heartbeat down. So I started up with panic attacks again! About a month after I was pulled off citalpram! My doctor puts me back on citalpram and I'm telling you the worse panic attacks ever! I'm talking waking up feeling my chest and arms burning, my face feels ice cold and night terrors to go along with constant attacks at work! I've been back on for about 2 1/2 weeks now and I've also cut my 10mg pill in half. I still get the attacks once and awhile but not as bad. Is this common when starting a med like this once again?

I've recently started with Citalopram... A common side-effect is an elevated heart rate, so they were right to take you off. It is quite common though to have bad panic attacks when you suddenly get pulled of them, especially for a long period of time. It can take up to 8 weeks for your body to get used to the meds again.

[Jmillhimes]

I've recently started with Citalopram... A common side-effect is an elevated heart rate, so they were right to take you off. It is quite common though to have bad panic attacks when you suddenly get pulled of them, especially for a long period of time. It can take up to 8 weeks for your body to get used to the meds again.

Thanks for the help! Update...so I was taken off everything for the last month. And I'm trying meditation and excersize! I still have attacks from time to time but they are pretty severe! It's now to the point when I get them I get uncontrollable shakes and my blood pressure during the attack is like 154/99! I basically starting trying Ca down and drink tea! They gave me clonozapram .05 to take when this happends! I'm on vacation all next 2 weeks! I've had all blood test and nothing out i ordinary and I'm not diabetic! Another doctor said citalpram maybe should be restarted cut in half 10mg and taken during day while on vacation! My wife will be with me to monitor!

Did notice the clonozapram was given for these! After I take it, it works great for sleeping but one its out of my body I get the attacks again

[Kixxi]

Thanks for the help! Update...so I was taken off everything for the last month. And I'm trying meditation and excersize! I still have attacks from time to time but they are pretty severe! It's now to the point when I get them I get uncontrollable shakes and my blood pressure during the attack is like 154/99! I basically starting trying Ca down and drink tea! They gave me clonozapram .05 to take when this happends! I'm on vacation all next 2 weeks! I've had all blood test and nothing out i ordinary and I'm not diabetic! Another doctor said citalpram maybe should be restarted cut in half 10mg and taken during day while on vacation! My wife will be with me to monitor!

Did notice the clonozapram was given for these! After I take it, it works great for sleeping but one its out of my body I get the attacks again

Is there something specific that induces anxiety for you? Btw, good job on exercising, it is a great way to get rid of the pesky adrenaline. Also, don't worry about the shaking, I have extreme shakes when I go out. I just like to think that I need more rhytm in my life ;) Don't forget that there are thousands of people with similar problems and you are being really brave for facing it. Also, it might help to know the cause of your anxiety and try to tackle that. Do you have a specific fear?

[Jmillhimes]

Is there something specific that induces anxiety for you? Btw, good job on exercising, it is a great way to get rid of the pesky adrenaline. Also, don't worry about the shaking, I have extreme shakes when I go out. I just like to think that I need more rhytm in my life ;) Don't forget that there are thousands of people with similar problems and you are being really brave for facing it. Also, it might help to know the cause of your anxiety and try to tackle that. Do you have a specific fear?


I always had like a nervous twitch yA know! Like the shakes for no reasons a
Or I got nervous with crowds! Well it's been building and building and bam! I think the deal breaker was the tecacardia attack! I have an extra lifeline in me that produced double heart shocks! I'm taking beta blockers to stop it! Every since then I take my blood pressure every hour or so! Guess it's more paranoid anxiety for my health! Today as first day of citalapram! No bad issues first day which is good

[Kixxi]

I always had like a nervous twitch yA know! Like the shakes for no reasons a
Or I got nervous with crowds! Well it's been building and building and bam! I think the deal breaker was the tecacardia attack! I have an extra lifeline in me that produced double heart shocks! I'm taking beta blockers to stop it! Every since then I take my blood pressure every hour or so! Guess it's more paranoid anxiety for my health! Today as first day of citalapram! No bad issues first day which is good

Health anxiety is quite common actually. A lot of people get panic attacks only because they worry about their symptoms. Since you do have problems with your health, it is not unusual for you to worry. I think you might have some problems separating what is anxiety and what is not? Maybe you get anxious in crowds because you don't want to have an attack in public?

Let me reassure you that there are many people who get nervous in crowds, me included! Adjusting the way you think will definitely help, because sometimes you make it worse just by thinking the wrong things. For example, I want to go home because I start to feel a bit funny or I am going to get an attack in front of these people. Obviously, this makes it worse instantly. It is difficult at first to think differently, but with practice it will go a lot better.

[Jmillhimes]

Health anxiety is quite common actually. A lot of people get panic attacks only because they worry about their symptoms. Since you do have problems with your health, it is not unusual for you to worry. I think you might have some problems separating what is anxiety and what is not? Maybe you get anxious in crowds because you don't want to have an attack in public?

Let me reassure you that there are many people who get nervous in crowds, me included! Adjusting the way you think will definitely help, because sometimes you make it worse just by thinking the wrong things. For example, I want to go home because I start to feel a bit funny or I am going to get an attack in front of these people. Obviously, this makes it worse instantly. It is difficult at first to think differently, but with practice it will go a lot better.

Thanks kixxi! I'm on day 3 of citalapram 20mg and thus far I've been blessed to the side effects! Dizziness and exhausted but with exercise and everything else like reading it's cutting down! I was able to go out to a restaurant today and a store without issue! To your point, yeah I think the heart scare made everything worse cause the side effects of all the meds made me think something was happending!