My mom is on citalopram, 10mg per day since 8 weeks. No effect whatsoever, except this one time on week 6: she woke up and had imagined things (thought she been to the store but in reality she had not left the house) for the rest of the day she felt a lot of joy, almost unnaturally much and in the afternoon she got really tired.
The next day she was back being depressed and there has been no change in the two weeks since.
I do not know what to make of this?
At first I thought it was a reaction of the brain adjusting to the medicine.
I now consider two things:
1. Change to something else that may work, from an SSRI to a SDRI type drug instead.
Or
2. Increase the dosage, could it be that this one time of joy at least means that the type of drug is the right one, we just need to get the dosage right.
Thanks for any advice, comments or suggestions.
Personally, I would give it another 4 weeks. That these drugs work within 8 weeks is a myth, I'm afraid..... Its different for everyone.
Also, yes, I have had euphoria when starting an ssri, last time in fact. Again, it is a side effect. If its a one off happening, that's OK, but if it were to become constant, you'd need to keep a look out because these drugs can also cause mania.
Thanks maybe staying on for a few more weeks while slowly increasing the dosage might do the trick.
Increasing the dosage isn't going to make her feel better quicker.is just going to bring more start up side effects all over again..
I thought that if a low dose don't do anything then a higher dose might
Your absolutely wrong.iam recovered on 10milli.and my phychiatrist has patients on 5milli.
In other words, some need more some need less.
Correct than why go up .when you can recover on the dose she is on.ia just a matter of waiting..to many folks are so desperately waiting to feel better sooner..but that's not how this Medication works..
As long as the side effects are tolerable it makes perfect sense to up the dosage, here is why:
1. It would mean that you would stay with the drug for a longer period (which we know is a good thing as some people would need more time for it to work)
2. By upping the dosage we are not wasting our time or taking chances, we are getting the 10mg (which may or may not be enough) but we are also adding to it as we know for some people a higher dose is needed, regardless of how long they take it.
You will never know if the higher dose is tolarable until you try it..
Exactly. God, I wish GPs also understood this.
You don't know how she is going to respond to 10mg more. If you're set on increasing, personally I would titrate upwards in much smaller increases. There are lots of reasons for taking as small a dose as possible, in the long run. 😊