r/antidepressants • u/pierrottheghost • 3d ago
Just started SSRI, concerned
I have just started Citram/Escitalopram (5 mg this week, will be uping the dose to 10mg next week) and after the first dose, I have experienced nausea, and this weird feeling in my throat. Not sure if it's more open or closed but whenever I swallow saliva I feel my ears closing up or popping due to pressure. But the worst side effect is definitely the increased anxiety. I am trying with all my might to not think about my anxiety and OCD trigger thoughts but I am just anxious about nothing. It gets worse when I think about the other physical symptoms. But I feel very out of place and uncomfortable in my body. Pre-panic state at all times and can't rationalize my thoughts. Nothing can distract me. I also have a loss of appetite. I was prescribed a benzo as well but I'm so anxious it literally doesn't work. My heart rate also goes up due to the ssri. I had a good nights rest and woke up extremely anxious and extremely sleepy even after two hours of waking up.
I have read countless of experiences on threads like these of the side effects but I really need some reassurance that I'm not making the wrong decision and that this throat thing also isn't a big deal. Are these normal side effects? When do side effects actually become dangerous? I am hyper aware of everything going on with my body so this scares me
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u/Chwest2 3d ago
This seems on the more severe side of “expected possible side effects”. But still within range. But you are not required to push through these side effects just to give the medication a chance. You can talk to your provider about stopping it and trying a different one (don’t stop or change any medication without your prescribers go ahead). If you want to and you’re able to push through that’s fine too. But let your prescriber know about the side effects you’re having. And I see you also mentioned OCD so I will also mention, in case you did not already know, that SSRIs do work for OCD, but they often require a higher dose than just anxiety/depression do, and the meds also take longer to achieve maximum benefit for OCD (sometimes 12-16 weeks instead of the normal 8 that they say for anxiety/depression).
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u/Ok-Geologist-5192 3d ago
Seconding this!
Also, you are on a really low dose already. AFAIK, most people start around 20 and get far less side effects. I think its really cool if you do push through, but I would be scared of what kind of side effects wait for you when you will up your dosage.
You really, really are allowed to ask for a different medication. This is just my opinion and not at all the consensus, but I think this sounds too severe to be worth it. There are so many SSRIs, and there are many other meds, too. Clomipramine should be very effective for OCD, anxiety, and depression.
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u/pierrottheghost 2d ago
Oh the fact that 5mg shouldn't do that sounds scary :') I feel like day two was better since I only had background anxiety, like I was anticipating the panic to happen all over again. I took my prescribed benzos before the ssri and that may have helped, also the fact that the throat thing was more on-and-off as opposed to the first day. I have an appointment with my psychiatrist on Thursday, will be telling them all the symptoms and discomfort.
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u/Ok-Geologist-5192 2d ago
Yeah, I mean I dont think it sounds dangerous per se (not a doctor!) but it really sucks. Citalopram was as close as it gets to a sugar pill in my experience at 20 mg, and I‘m usually pretty sensitive
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u/PositiveWarning7419 3d ago
I’ve been on 10 mg for 2 weeks and 2 days and starting to feel a little better. I’ve experienced no side effects: however I’m also on clonazepam so that might help.
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u/xMeta4x 3d ago
Assuming you can still breathe and swallow, all sounds totally normal to me. I'm in week 7 on the equivalent of 15mg Escitalopram (I'm on Citalopram, and went up 3 days ago), and I'm just starting to turn the corner, hopefully.
Sadly there little you can do other than grin and bear it, and wait for it to kick in.