celexa/citalopram: side effects or bad reaction?

Someone I know just began this med two days ago. She is even less inclined to post about her issues than I am about mine.

What she is experiencing sounds more like a bad reaction than "normal" side effects that should be tolerated until they subside.

Hallucinations, disorientation, derealization, depersonalization, palpitations, extreme anxiety, nausea/vomiting, hot flashes alternating with chills, depression exacerbated, possible suicide ideations, impaired vision, impaired motor skills etc etc.
Pretty much unable to function.

That sounds like way too much to try to get through for weeks to see if these things go away. Especially considering the... what is it 30%, 40%(?) chance that it won't even help the depression and anxiety.

I've never had side effects much less a bad reaction so I'm hoping for some input here. Help please

That sounds hectic.
And I'm not sure what dose she's on, but her pdoc def needs to be informed!

Yes it sounds awful. Way too much to attribute to side effects IMHO. I agree that her doc should know. I think she is maybe a little intimidated by the doc and just overwhelmed by the whole situation.
She has severe anxiety when going out in public... so there is a big problem with agoraphobia as well. Just driving to see this doctor was a major ordeal. And obviously a significant element of danger in driving while in a fullon panic attack.
I'm worried that she will either keep taking this med and the problem will get worse or that she will be so put off by this that she won't try another med.
I wish I could help her but we are on opposite sides of the world.
20mg was the prescribed dosage but she broke one in half so she has taken 10mg each day. This was her first visit with a pdoc. Thanks for your help

AND THAT'S BEEN HER REACTION AT 10mg???

I would really, REALLY try to get her to the hospital if she doesn't want to approach her pdoc. 20mg is a starter dose - many patients (including me) settle at 40-60mg.

Especially as you mention the generic name - citalopram - this medication is supposed to (i think) be one of the more stable anti-depressants. I've been told by pharmacists that this version of the medication is also created in a way so that a certain percentage is "inactive" (there is supposed to be a newer one with a smaller percentage, and so could be "stronger", but i don't remember the name and it would be one you'd have to pay out-of-pocket/with additional insurance).

So, something is definitely OFF for your friend to have that response after 2 days...

to you and your friend

Thanks notablackbarbie Yes, 10mg... imagine 20 to 40mg
I'm sure if I was there I could literally have dragged her to an ER or to her doctor...but I'm not there. It's morning there so I'll find out soon if she is going to continue taking this. I hope that she doesn't. I could see toughing out some uncomfortable effects for the chance the med would help the anxiety and depression but the things that are happening seem way beyond discomfort.
I've been reading about celexa and I'm thinking you might be talking about lexapro. Same pharma company... same med... just some slight "purifications" to get a new name and new patent. They called it "evergreening" on some sites. OTS I was picking up a scrip for someone last night for nexium. $200 and insurance doesn't cover it. Came home and researched nexium and found it was a "purified" version of prilosec made by the same pharma co that made prilosec No statistical proof that it is any more effective...just "different" enough chemically for a new name and patent.
Okay end of rant. I hope I can get her to read this and make a good decision. Thanks again

Sounds dangerous. Better try another med.

Sounds like a bad reaction but, I bet her doctor will tell her to stick it out for another month maybe increase the dosage until you find her wandering the streets talking to the wizards that live in the trees about whether or not she should jump into traffic.

That's what happened to me on Zoloft, haaha.

When I was on Celexa I was on Lamictal too and Celexa just robbed me of "me". I never felt empty before, like the lights were on and no one was home. Creepy...

Whatever your friend decides, she might need you several months from now to wake her up from taking the drug.

Then again...she might adjust.

Thanks. She has decided not to take any more of this one. I've got to say I'm glad she did.
She really wasn't in a position to keep taking the med and hope to adjust. It was very difficult for her to even type out skype messages.
She was still having problems the day after she stopped. Seems much better now as far as the reaction goes.

Just wanted to update this. She had another appt with the pdoc last week. Had an awful panic attack and pulled off the road before reaching the docs office. She sat 3 hours before being calm enough to drive again. I had to tell her that she missed the appt by hours.
Her mother was furious. Threatened to have her committed.
She had another appt today. When she told the doc about the reaction to the med... the doc laughed at her.
Then told her that if she was well enough to drive... then she couldn't have anxiety and depression. Told her she lacks discipline and that the anxiety and depression are just her imagination...all in her head.
She has already had an accident on her first drive to this doc.
That thing that I mentioned above on her attempt to reach the appt last week.
And now this.
And when my friend asked to try another med, the doc told her that if she didn't trust her then don't come back.
I thought Europe had great doctors.
I could chew nails.

I hate to say this but I went through this episode 3 years ago.....it took me a month to get used to celexa the only thing that even got me even remotely through was Xanax .5mg. And i was taking those every 4 hours for a month straight until the celexa fully kicked in and i came off of it after 6 months

The next year I tried going back on celexa but then I experienced extreme suicidal tendencies so i had to stop taking it and settled for taking Xanax again for about 2 months until I leveled out

This past year same thing except the doc refused me Xanax and tried to put me back on celexa but the suicidal tendencies were even worse so he switched to me lexapro which took another month to get used to in which I felt like total and utter crap and couldn't concentrate to do anything until I finally leveled out...I'm only on 10mgs of that

Although Xanax has risk for addiction sometimes it's the only thing that works

If she tries it tell her to start out by splitting the pill in half it has a tendency to knock you out when you first start taking them but if her symptoms are that extreme it might do her well until she finds a better route

I'm on it for anxiety and I haven't experienced any of that more than usual. I have depersonalization a lot normally, but it hasn't gotten worse or anything since taking it.