Been on this 6 weeks now. Started on 20mg then went up to 40mg for a couple of weeks. Not really working for me. Feel very low a lot and get upset most days. Lost interest in things I used to like and can't sleep properly anymore. Was a lot better on Mirtazapine although it made me sluggish and a bit zombie like sometimes. Will see doc on Tuesday. May be trying Duloxetine again. Was on it years ago and as far as I recall was a pretty good drug for me. SSRIs are not good for me.
I've also been on it for 6 weeks and it's not working for me either
I stayed on 20mg for some reason though and the Doctor told me pills may not work, can't belive I'm gonna have to go through a complete other pill.
Do you not feel any less depressed at all?
Im about 2 weeks in now and still feeling low, but not \"as\" low, but i think that is due to 2 weeks off work rather than the tablets themselves. Feel just the same, is this common then?
Tonytony why did you come off the Duloxetine? Just looked it up and it seems to deal with both seritonin & adrenaline, whereas citalopram only seems to deal with seritonin? Seems worth a try!
Im 11 weeks in now, and all of the side effects have gone. Its like I am not taking the medication any more, apart from the fact I do feel better...
Stick with it, it does get better. My headaches and teeth clenching were bad 4-7 weeks in, but they do go...
To answer the Q about Duloxetine. That was a long time ago now. Thing is back then I used to drink a lot and smoke weed. I now know that these things effect how the drug works and in fact will make it ineffective eventually. I came off the drug because of feeling low at that time but before all the weed it was working fine.
My doc is reluctant to try anything else right now which is a shame. He wanted me to see a mental health care specialist which I said seemed unnecessary. Anyway am now on 50mg per day. I am kinda doing better at the moment. Still have problems sleeping and feel tired a lot in the day. Concentration is affected I think. Don't seems as sharp. The only other thing is sexual side effects. Not getting upset much now so it is definately having some positive effect.
i'm 7 weeks in & feel they are working for me. The detached from reality moments :shock: & teeth clenching have stopped & my general anxiety is now minimal.
I wasn't looking for a 'buzz' off the medication, just wanted to get back to my old self, must be one of the lucky ones :wink:
Tony tony how did you persuade your doc to let you go up to 50mg? Mine insisted that 20 mg was enough to do the job and then would look to reduce it to 10mg!
I am 5-6 weeks in now and the side effects have gone, i now have my concentration back (although still lacking movation to study) i dont feel like giving up anymore.
I think I am feeling a bit more normal (whatever that is). The depression is still there but im not a crying wreck now and it doesnt feel quite as much of a mission to get up in the morning or to go out and do everyday things.
If anything i feel less anxious and more chilled which is a good thing, i feel like ive realised some of the small things that i felt were so important arent the end of the world if they dont work out (like exams etc)
Like you i dont feel like im on medication anymore, as taking the pill at night before bed has immensely helped the tiredness and quite enjoying being aware that i am having dreams.
The only thing I feel like i'm missing is happiness. I do feel more normal but my normal state is depressed and negative outlook but still being able to get on with everyday life. I definitely went through a nasty dip. But I think partly its because i am very introvert and hate social situations and have lost touch with pretty much all my friends and avoid any social events. Something I probably need to work on but it feels like it is so draining to spend time with anyone other than my boyfriend and my close family.
I wanted to ask you did you feel much difference increasing to 40mg then 50mg? Or did it just make the side effect (tiredness etc) worse?
I wish people would post more on these boards. It would be nice to get more up to date experiences & thoughts.
xxxxx
Hi sarahfacingupto things, Glad to hear your side effects are subsiding and you are feeling the benfits of the drug. Sounds that you would benfit from some sort of counselling as no pill will take way what psychological problems are causing you to feel down. Have just been down this avenue myself and believe me it works.
But what do you talk about? I find it awkward talking and don't really know what there is to talk about? other than moaning about work and study, but i do that to my boyfriend & mum, & it doesnt usually help that much to keep talking about it. Im not sure.
By the way I think I had a couple of shocks last night that woke me up, it was abit like when you sometimes dream you are about to fall over and then wake up with a jolt. Does anyone know what that is about?
Dont know about the dreams but probably to do with how you are feeling. As far as the Counsellor is concerned, a good one will get you talking as they use open ended questions. Only problem is that you can wait a while to see one through your G.P.
Hi Sarah. I found that 50mg was too high and actually started getting other side effects. It was digestive problems so I decreased back to 40 again. Am on 20mg now as gonna swap to Duloxetine. To be honest I didn't notice a massive improvment with the increases but was some.
20mg is enough for a lot of people. Depends how severe your depression is. As the other guy said the pills alone won't fix anything. They just need to make you functional again so you have the ability to deal with any other problems with counsellor etc. I would recommend trying it. A good counsellor can point out things you might not have realised. Cognitive behavoural therapy is good also. You can try it at
moodgym.anu.edu.au if you haven't already.
Hey Tonytony
That mood gym thing looks brilliant, I have just registered & will definitely try it out.
I am 6 weeks in on Citalopram now & am definitely better able to \"function\" as I remember when I had to go and pick my first presecription up it seemed like such a mission & the pharmacy was only round the corner.
On saturday I was feeling low so instead of staying home to study I went out for a walk with my boyfriend & we just sat in the sunshine for some time.
I am starting to feel some benefit again from exercise too. I often feel low in the morning but once I make myself go swimming on a Sunday I feel much better for it.
I think also part of feeling less on edge is my manager has backed off a lot to the point he is not approaching me much anymore. But I think when he does I will feel more relaxed & not let it stress me (partly because I dont care anymore). I think for the first year I was so keen to impress by working really hard as I was sacked from my previous job (for no good reason) but there's only so long you can keep it up. Im in a very career driven job but dont really have a burning ambition to be a slave for the rest of my life.
But I do want to pass the exams & be qualified. So need to get motivated!
I would say it has taken about 6 weeks to feel better & its so subtle that I still wonder if it's the tablets or just because ive taken the pressure off at work & also by deferring exams.
I still dont feel \"happy\" but I guess that is not what the pills do, & until I pass my exams & then the world will be my oyster, I just have to suffer and take one day as a time, but at least Im not 60% wanting to quit like before, not its more a case of, lets have a go, and if you fail both, maybe call it quits, & if you pass 1 reassess the situation.
I am also going to be sitting the exams at work which scares the hell out of me! Dont know why it just does!
Sounds like things are starting to look up so I'm happy for you. Probably is the tablets as can take 6 weeks to get up to speed. I find exercise very useful too. Makes me feel more motivated. Must be helpful to have a partner too.
Know how you are feeling with exams. I have my 3rd year of university to finish. Actually took a year break because last September was too depressed to continue. The uni has been very good about it and my adviser is great. Just worried now if i'm going to be able to handle it this year. Hopefully the Duloxetine will be better for me.
I don't feel happy either. Mind you I've heard its best not to try and chase happiness or you might never find it. I just feel pretty lost most of the time these days.
Tonytony
Well good luck with your start back at uni, I think the only thing that helps with the stress is starting with the material as early as you can.
I found my concentration was zapped during the 1st 5 weeks of the medication but it has passed. My motivation/energy to just concentrate on work is pretty bad though.
I used to be able to come home from work and just get on with it, now Im lucky if I can sit down for 15 mins at a time!
I think if you can find out what books you need etc & plan ahead some sort of routine, you'll be alright. Plus you'll be more likely to work harder than some of the others as you've had a bit of time to reflect & it takes some determination to get back into study mode!
I cant wait to finish exams for the rest of my life! Got only 3 to go, but it seems like a giant mountain, as so scared that I am incapable & will fail!
Just hope to be ready by 1st Nov as going at snail pace at the mo. Plus doesnt help working full time too.
Are you definite about going back to uni? Do you feel the time out has helped?
xxxx
Yes definately going back. Already selected modules and project. Pretty sure I would have failed if I didn't take the time out so its definately helped. Did want to do some more work throughout the year to try and make it easier when I go back but haven't been able to do much. Especially after all the medication changes. Mind hasn't been clear at all and like you concentration has been pretty bad.
You're doing really well to study and work also. What are you studying?
take care
Accountancy for the ACA qualification, its really hard as you have to use all the books from previous modules plus 4 new lots of modules & they examine alot of topics in combination so I get all bogged down with about 10 thick textbooks & not knowing how to condense it all down! Its like being lost at sea and not being able to see land in any direction!
The concentration side effect was annoying. Did you experience that side effect every time you switched?
Are you feeling any better now? xxxx
I've only really had concentration problems on Citalopram. Although tbh my concentration is not good anyway. I keep drifting off in lectures and thinking about other stuff. Venlafaxine had worse side effects. Memory was terrible and brain just didn't seem to work right. Was like being disabled. Got off that pretty quick. I've been on Duloxetine for 3 days now. No side effects so far so just waiting for them to start working. I feel ok at the moment, managing pretty well.
Sounds like you have quite a challenge with your work. If struggling with managing it all is there someone who can help like an adviser. Maybe they can give you some guidance on a study plan or something.
No really as the tutors generally give mainstream advise, but i do not fall into that category so it is often not helpful. The institute who set the exams said I could just do one at a time, but the 2 up & coming exams are based on the same giant syllabus & seeing as Ive already deferred im going to try & sit both, as this year has been a complete write off, - spent the whole time battling to 'try' & study, so dont want it to be prolonged into next year as well if I can help it.
Although I do have to sit a case study next july, so if I fail one i could potentially resit it then. But if i fail my training contract with work will probably be terminated, as I have failed before & you only get so many chances..no pressure there then.
It's an open book exam but because I will litterally have to take a large suitcase full of books, i am trying to type up answers to past questions in a generic way, in a key file to use in the exam, in the hope that something broadly similar comes up. Its a risky strategy but its the only thing I can think of to avoid having to get bogged down digging out books in the time pressure exam, then not knowing how to put the relevant things into suitable words.
My memory has collapsed under the sheer volume of topics covered so I dont intend to rely on it at all.
I think other students prepare an exam file but then dont really use their notes at all. Unfortunately I dont think I can do this/or trust my own words in the exam.
I hope your new meds are better for you, I guess 3 days is way to early to tell.
Im planning to stay on citalopram until after the exams now as dont want another severe crash! My brain seems to be concentrating again, but I am still struggling to sit down & study which I think is due to lack of motivation & very little energy, I feel exhausted just sitting at my desk!
How long were you on the other meds for? Not long til you go back now is it September? xxx