Hi I've been on citalopram 40 mg. I tried lowering and it messed me up. I was upped to 60 mg citalopram to even me out so they could lower me back down. But a manufacturer change in medicine messed that up. Was switched over to fluoxetine Dec 8th 60 mg. by a cross taper. The 60 was about to drive me nuts so my psychologist lowered it to 40 mg on Jan 2nd. (So seven weeks tomorrow on 40.) At nearly 4 weeks I started feeling better for almost two weeks and thought my good days were here. But last week on Jan 15th I went backwards and not feeling real well with side effects tight chest, heart burn, spaced out, ears ringing, and anxiety a.m. and depression noon to afternoon. Today (nearly 1weeks into this set back) has been the worst so far I broke down this afternoon after work and haven't been able to settle down too much yet just crying uncontrollable. My poor wife just wanna be well and strong for her and my kids. Is this part of the adjustment phase I mean is it normal for the medicine? People have said it is but I just need some reassurance. Does this get better?
Also other side effects that are going on are the ever present upset stomach, diarrhea, some dizziness. Big lack of appetite. Is a weeks time set back normal? Just so.....I dont know!
I'm sorry you're having a difficult time. I'm afraid I'm in the same situation; on for 12 weeks at 40 and no better; crying all the time...spacey, agitated, anxious. Hang in there though...I know there are some who could offer the best advice.
Geesh, I read so many of these negative stories and only have my own experiences that were very negative too, so I stopped after a month of taking it. I was SO depressed for a couple of weeks after I stopped. The side effects were worse than my reason for taking the meds.
Thanks Kim. Sorry your going through it also. Any advice or help of encouragement is sure appreciated.
Hi Danny...I would say just to check back with your doctor. I know that I've been steadily encouraged by members on this site...one lady has been so supportive; katcogs...can't remember the rest of her screen name...She could tell you lots of information...just hang in there. I know how hard it is...I'm thinking it's not for me b/c it's been twelve weeks and I'm worse...I'll see if I can give kate a msg to see if she can help you out.
40mg is the maximum dose on Citalopram - 60mg was over the limit. I'm not surprised you felt unwell. Some people also struggle on the 40mg dose - a larger dose doesn't suit a lot of people and doesn't mean that you'll recover any quicker on that either.
These type of meds often take a long time to work - months, not weeks. Progress is not obvious either for a long time, so lots of patience and perseverance is needed.
Many people chase recovery and hop from dose to dose and medication to medication. This just confuses the body and makes you feel ill.
Yes it does get better - but you really need to just settle on one medication and one dose for many months. It is a rough ride for many, but it does ease as time goes by. All the side effects are usually the result of anxiety, and the anxiety is increase initially when taking these type of meds.
I'll message you.
K
Ah ..... have just posted here and then I saw your post Kim x
I can't private message you for some reason Danny - there's no option on your page to do so.
Hey Kate. Thanks. It's just so hard getting on to work and starting the day again. Will this downward turn last a long time or will it began to pick up? It's just hard going from feeling better to this again. It makes me think has the medicine quit? Just want to be well again. My gosh I'm blessed but just can't be happy. Am I still considered early on the medicine. Will I feel like this for months before I feel better?
Kate I fixed my private message.
Mornings are always the hardest part of the day. Realisation that another day has to be faced plus waking from fully relaxed just sets the body off again.
During recovery you'll be up and down - you rarely just get better. Its always 3 steps forward / 2 steps back all the way, with it easing. The backward steps always feel like you're back at the begining - they're called setbacks or blips and seem to be an inevitable part of recovery.
No the medicine hasn't quit - as said, its just how recovey works with the blips.
You will be well again. It can take many months, but it isn't bad all the way as it eases gradually. The blips are annoying, but pass through them and onwards all the time.
I'll message you.
It depends on what country you are in whether they consider 40 or 60mg the max dose of citalopram. I was on 60mg for 6 years and 40mg for 10 years.
The cross taper how did they work that? Do not tell me they just switched you over to 60mg straight off?
Thanks Kate. That gives me encouragement. This set back is 7 days in the making. Sure makes a rough go. Hearing from you that have been through it is good testimony to hear from. Just have to keep on. I think back to my good days before the blip and I guess that's gotta be some signs that it will eventually get better and better doesn't it? Sure ready for them.
Thanks for replying lookingonwards. They worked me down on the cit over a month at the same time increasing the fluox to 60. It was rough. Still rough. Like I told Kate I had some good days around two weeks then the rug got yanked out from under me. When I'm down trying to get some sort of direction it makes me question if it's gonna get better. I've seen some of your posts as well and it helps to see those that's went through it. I've been praying and trusting the Lord will bring me through it.
Yes these blips will come and go - some lasting longer than others, some stronger too. Seems no rhyme or reason. Letting them be there, relaxing towards them really helps - as a blip arrives instead of saying 'oh no, here we go again' try thinking instead 'its another time to practice letting go and passing through'.
Yes if you're having blips and good days too then things are definitely working.
Don't fight the blip. Let them come, let them do their worst and then let them disappear.
They'll stop coming eventually.
K x
Thanks Kate. Sure appreciate you.
Hi Kate. Still feeling rough. The evenings seem to be a little better but do these blips typically or can they last longer than a week? I'm into my 8th week on 40mg but haven't completed it yet.
Hearing you say your evening seem a little better ...... that's often how recovery starts. It creeps up on your so slowly - often beginning with feeling a little better in the evenings. Also having some good days a few weeks ago is also a sign that the meds are working. The blips will come and go and they can last more than a week sometimes yes - I think it also depends on your attitude towards them. Fight them, tense up against them, worry about them and they'll cling longer - but accept them, go with the flow, relax towards them and it helps to shorten them.
K x
Hey Kate. I sure thank you for all your help. Hey I dropped from 60 mg of fluoxetine to 40 mg of fluoxetine on Jan 2, 2017. I had previously been on 60mg of citalopram for 4 months and 60mg for two weeks of the fluox after the switch. I'm looking at the weeks since the drop (7 1/2) now. But would I have to allow for the 20 mg from the initial 60 to clear my system before I could track the the time for recovery? Or does it matter? And if so how many weeks for the fluox to clear my system?