I increased my citalopram from 10 mg to 20 mg 14 days ago and I would say that my anxiety seems to be worse. Im getting really worried that this isnt normal at all. Can these meds make you feel quite strange when you first take them and when you increase??
It's all normal. When you start on meds and every time you increase your dose, you will feel side effects. This will often last a few weeks or longer.
Im scared of taking the meds which doesnt help my anxiety either! I feel silly keep posting all the time but dont have anybody to talk to about it. Thanks katecogs
Yes it's completely normal, and unfortunately can last a little longer but the benefits definitely outweigh the negative. It will get better - if the anxiety is crippling you though, speak to your GP and they will give you something to help with the side effects.
When I first started on the medication many years ago I felt I had nothing to lose as just wanted the suffering to stop at any cost. I found the medication side effects were not much different to what I was experiencing with the illness anyway and I just kept thinking that nothing could be worse than suffering any longer with the illness, and I'd have tried anything.
Just keep telling yourself - you want your anxiety to stop once and for all, and this medication will work.
As gemgirl says, the benefits far outweigh the negative. The medication will work, but you have to give this a lot of time. And I mean a LOT of time.
You won't feel any benefit for a while, and when you do it might be very slight. But it's a start. It often comes in patches too - here one minute, gone the next. But over time it gets stronger and stronger.
I was ill for 15 long years and had many other types of medication and therapy. I never thought I'd ever get well, but starting the SSRI's I was well within 6 months. A long wait maybe, but compared to how long I was ill was nothing.
Don't worry about posting. Nothing you ask is silly. We've all been there and we all want help, guidance and reassurance.
Just keep going, though everything, and you'll also find in months to come that your anxiety will be behind you. Look to next year as a new beginning ... it will be.
K xx
Hi Alison
This can happen but if you feel unhappy how you feel go to your doctor and tell him what is happening there are other medsi that may not have the same side effects talk to him l myself am on a tablet called propranolol foe aniexty with hardly any side effects and if l need it l take one Diazapan at night but have not needed it for a week now see how it goes keep talking there's always people willing to listen and share good luck
Paul