I'm a newbie to these forums... so nice to meet you!
Need some advice and positive personal experiences of people who have increased their dose from 20mg to 40mg of Citalopram?
I started it last year, after an awful 2 years of depression caused by anxiety related to the traumatic loss of my dad and generally being a little sensitive soul!
I was reluctant at first to start medication and had counselling that was effective and helped with the ssri's- however the depression/anxiety soon returned... I sat with it for about 2 months before I couldn't take it anymore.
Started 10mg for 3 days then moved up to 20mg. Had an awful 2 weeks... increased anxiety, couldn't keep food down, couldn't sleep. Was so desperate I stuck with it, and after about 3 weeks my mood started to lift. Was able to 'feel' just felt like me again and laugh and cry and feel angry, normal emotions!
Felt great and wondered why I didn't seek medical help sooner... then about 3 weeks ago after a few stressful events started to feel like I was dipping, anxious with friends, worrying excessively so started 30mg for about 6 days (spoke to doc about this) got impatient and upped to 40! (Possibly too quickly)
Have been on this dose for about 8 days and have increased anxiety, low motivation to go out with friends, the only people I can face are my mum and boyfriend and that's it. Feel so sorry for my flat mate who I love to bits and feel it's so not fair on her!
If anyone has increased from 20mg to 40mg did you feel rubbish at first and how long did it take you to feel better at the increased dose?
I don't like to think my body has got used to the meds and hope that my body will get used to the higher dose! D:
Thinking of anyone going through it at the moment. X
hope this helps! I increased from 20 to 30 about two months ago and it took the best part of 3 weeks to settle again. Went right back to the beginning with awful anxiety, loss of appetite, feeling sick, you name it!! However after that time it gradually just all went away...until I accidentally managed to take two of the 20 mg instead or a 10mg and a 20mg. So I increased to 40, accidentally, and that took a week to calm down again and that was just one dose of 40mg if you see what I mean!!!!
So yes it will all calm down again, just give it two to three weeks, if you're anything like I am!
Thanks Debbie, that is so so helpful! Sometimes we just need a little bit of reassurance to help ride it through! I think the anxious dread makes you doubt it sometimes! X
I'm on day 10 and feel terrible, can't stop crying no energy can't sleep, feel sick. Weight falling off me. I'm trying so hard to hang in there too, I've a lovely teenage lad and I'm desperately trying to be normal round him. I've got my parents here cause I'm useless ATM and so scared. Got sleeping pills have only been taking 5 mg a night but they're starting to lose their effect so may have to take 2. It's so frightening and I'm at my wits end. Trying to make it to the 2 wk mark. I was on 20mg for years then due to stress up to 30 for 4 wk's as the panic attacks set in, now 40mg and too am wondering if it's too much. The not knowing is the terrible xx
Hi Loz, I think we just need to try our best to keep positive and patience is key!
It would be great to know if you are feeling better within the coming weeks!
Debbie's reply is a relief and I think I'm going to try and be kind to myself and allow my body to get used to the change! We may feel worse before we feel better...
That's what I'm trying to remember anyway! D:
Stick with it and and keep me updated of your progress!
I'm the same I wake up wondering, after not a full sleep. It's there waiting for me the anxiety, and all I want is for the worry of it to go away. Take my pills and it just intensifies. Side effects joy.
Ive had bad depression for 20 years or more - have missed huge chunks of my life where I have just gone to work for structure, and then slept every weekend and holiday away. I have self medicated for the last ten years with booze, which is the worst thing to do. Tok the step of returning to meds again last year and was prescribed 20mg of Citalopram. I started to hear the birds singing again, felt the warmth of the sunshine and stopped despising myself as much. I am now on 40mg - it works for me and I'm slowly starting to live again. If the lower does has plateau'd a bit - which is what happened to me then go for the higher dose. You'll soon get used to it.
You're welcome. Sometimes you feel like it's never going to go away but it will. Some people are great from the outset, some take weeks, others take months but eventually it all kicks in. I started end of November and started to feel slightly better within about 3 weeks but had what we all call blips in between. Only in the last month have I really felt back to normal. Don't let that put you off as we are all different and we all need different strengths of the med.
Another user on here is Katecogs. Read some of her posts. She is amazeballs!!! X
Hi Loz. I was the same when I first found this forum! It made me keep going to be honest as I'm sure I would have given up...doctors are useless!!!
It will come out again, you just have to persevere. Damn hard I know but just keep going. A lot of people stop after a few weeks and sometimes that just isn't long enough. Believe me when I say it's one of the most debilitating feelings I've ever had and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
Hey Neil, you are not alone. 6 Weeks tomorrow for me and the morning anxiety is excruciating. Feels like a combo of internal tremors, fear and tight chest with your head spinning with rapid thoughts. Truly awful, plus exhausting. This has to resolve soon. I am constantly amazed at the docs and pharmaceutical companies saying 2 weeks of side effects. In my opinion this is the worst side effect of all. I can put up with nausea and the other common side effects but this is intolerable and bloody frustrating.
Hang in maybe tomorrow will be a better start to the day for Us!
Hi Louise. I'm new to the forum as a contributer but have been reading it for some time. It's so useful to read of other people's experiences. I've been on a 20mg dose of citalopram for some years since my son was ill ( and he periodically is ill with a long standing mental health problem) and usually it has managed my severe anxiety just fine.
About four months ago I had a serious accident to my arm which caused a lot of pain and I have not had a decent nights sleep since. My GP prescribed propranolol (it's. Beta blocker) to deal with the anxiety and depression the lack of sleep was causing but it actually made my insomnia worse. I have reluctantly decided to increase my citalopram from 20 to 30mgs as I remember when I first took it my sleep improved quite quickly and I took my first increased dose yesterday. Been awake all night virtually and writing this at 430 am having woken properly and feeling my anxiety setting off again. Just writing this helps. I am expecting to feel worse before I get better! I asked and got some diazepam 2mg to help with this last week and have. Just taken one. Also got some zopiclone ( sleepers) which I tried one of but it didn't give me a sound sleep and I felt bad he next day so haven't continued with it.
id be very interested to hear how you get on and would like to share my experience with you. It will get easier( I've increased before and then reduced again) and I remember it taking two weeks before I felt any proper benefit though after about five days I did feel some difference especially with my energy levels which had hit rock bottom. The extra anxiety does subside though it's horrible while it's there. Katecogs wrote an interesting piece on here about why the anxiety gets worse before it gets better. She's a very knowledgeable and empathic contributer and knows a lot about citalopram.