Citalopram for ocd/anxiety - increase from 10mg to 20mg

Treatment and medication
1

Hi everyone,

I hope you’re all well. I’ve not posted in a while but just wanted to reach out, see how everyone was doing and find out more about increased dosage symptoms.

I’ve been on cit for 11 weeks - 8 weeks at 10mg and 3 weeks on 20mg. My doctor suggest increasing to 20 mg as 10 was a very low dose.

First week on it, I actually felt a lot more stable with less crying, bit more rational. but after that noticed that my ocd/anxiety has got so much worse. My checking has gone through the roof, as have all the thoughts that make me think I’ve done something wrong or made a mistake.

I’ve had CBT which was really useful and I know it’s all about breaking the cycle, but since increasing to 20mg I’ve been less able to apply these techniques and take every thought seriously. I’ll go to great lengths to check one thing then soon as that’s provided some relief, something else will pop up and cause just as much distress. A lot of time it’s things I can’t check which makes it all so much worse.

Am just hoping that this is all just part of the increase and everything will die down a little in the next couple of weeks - just wondered if anyone had advice or experienced similar things.

All the best,

X

2

I suspect very much its the increase. Citalopram increase definitely provokes circular thinking for me, and I also need to keep rechecking doors, keys etc. After increasing.

Seems to sometimes increase intrusive thoughts before they go away, for me.

Just out of curiosity... did YOU feel that 10mg was too low a dose? Were you feeling any better?Asking because maybe 10 mg was OK for you?

I'd give it a couple of weeks, if tolerable.

3

Hi Ruth and thank you for your reply.

It does make sense from what you’ve said that it’s the increase making things worse and causing the checking behaviour to increase.

I found that the 10mg didn’t really do too much for me, I was still very teary and sad most days and anxious. It did begin to lessen the physical signs like increased heart rate. Going to the 20mg has decreased the frequent crying but the checking behaviour is very much still there. I’m guessing that it just needs more time and will hopefully die down after the increased dosage has settled in.

Thank you x

4

Yes, it sounds like it's the increase. As long as its not getting progressively worse, it will most likely settle. Its a pain though.

I also find a hike in dose makes me either check everything a lot, or just totally forgetful.