hi everybody new to this forum I am suffering from depression and anxiety at times and used citalopram from last 4.5 weeks but with no such good results I am bit health anxiety case my question is can somebody relate to me here within a day few times at least I feel I will come of this depression and anxiety and will leave my life again and than the same day I will feel no I will never come out of it is that normal ? Can anybody relate? Am I bipolar with rapid cycle ?but I don't have any mood swings prior this depression and anxiety came to my life 6weeks ago and even my depression and anxiety was not that bad before I went to these medication I don't know please can anybody help pleaseeee!!!!
I'm the same and doctor just tries increasing my dose. I had 2ok weeks where I was saying o its going and I can go this. Now I'm crashed again and so scared I'll never be me again or who me is! I feel flat low and number with a can't move attitude it's awful 
Hi Leo,
From what you say your moods appear to be fluctuating daily, giving you concerns around bi-polar symptoms. I am not a clinician, and as far as I understand in the UK you reuire two full blown psychotic/mania episodes before they consider a full diagnosis. You speak of depression, and it comes like the tide, ebbing in and out. Stick with the meds, try to be productive in your day, attempting the llittle things that you get joy from. Listen to your body, rest, breathe, relax. The drugs can highten your anxiety, but they are trying to do their job, stick with it my friend as we are all in this journey together. Take Care
Jen and Rachel thanks for your replies I really appreciate ,whatever is the case wheather its depression or anxiety or something else my main concern is correct diagnosis and these thoughts feeling like trapped in ur mind thinking what if !!! Killing me inside my doctor think coz I cannot tolerate high dose of citalopram because of reactions I should switch to escitalopram today he gave me Rx of escitalopram here you go another uphill struggle with side effects for few weeks now u understand where I am coming from? But I have no option than try and error !!! I feel sad
I feel your pain. Iv two children and a baby too who I love so much I'd do anything to be me and not this crying confused mess. I feel trapped in my mind too its like been in a bubble or looking through glass at everyone. I'm very disconnected and hazy. I say this in hope relating helps a little x
PS I worry of bi polar too but you have to trust the doctors I'm seeing the home treatment team so I'm in what they call the expert hands so its it hope they know the difference but I can tell u know if very up and down and its very disheartening x
Hi Leo, I am sorry you are having a rough time. I understand your frustration as Celexa is the third med I have tried in four months. I was on Brintellix and then Remeron before the Cipramil. I think each time meds change we feel frustrated and even more desperate to start feeling better. Trust the process and your Dr and go with the escitalopram. We are all here to help eachother through the dips, so I hope things start settling down soon for you. Lee.
Citalopram takes around 4 - 5 months before you feel any benefit from it. Perseverance and much patience is the best. Increasing your dose will not bring faster results. You have to wait for the meds to work.
Along the way your mood will be up and down to on these meds, until eventually it'll even out and the anxiety and depression will ease away.
I was ill for 15 years until these meds sorted me out, and have now been well ever since.
Its a tough journey on these meds, but waiting for things to happen is so worth it.
K x
Hi Kate. I had two good weeks well of been OK ish to drop AGAIN and left feeling I'm loosing the plot and so on edge. Iv been on sertraline since march and been on 100mg 5weeks now I'm so so desperate now but they don't seem to want to change meds so they must think there working and yes they help but then I drop again. I do worry its bi polar as I go from OK to been on the floor again and can't focus (become dumb) I question if I was ever normal all my life ! Forgetting who I am its all so alien x
Hi Leo. Firstly, Citalopram is a slow release medication and can sometimes take an age to have an effect so it may be good to persevere. On the other hand you could as you mention be Bipolar (have you discussed this with your doctor) if this is the case then Citalopram could be taken alongside another medication or as a replacement you could be given something such as Lithium (Look it up) which I took most successfully. See what your doctor has to say.
You say that depression came to your life 6 weeks ago - what triggered it?
Hi Rachel
This is perfectly normal in the early few months on this type of meds. Feeling good, then plummet again and feel you're back to square one. This pattern will continue for a while as you recover and should even out to feeling good all the time eventually. It's a long slow process unfortunately and you need to try the meds for about 3-5 months before you can see if they're the ones for you.
When you're in the grip of it all you do wonder what it was like to be normal. It's hard to be patient, but if you've felt good for 2 weeks already then things are surely beginning to happen for you. Just let the feelings be there, carry on and you'll find they'll disappear again.
K x
Hi gwen nothing triggered it that's where my worries are just came from no where but I never had mood swings ever in my life and today went to private physiatrist and after longggg history he said no you haven't have bipolar and saying it's my anxiety which is negative thoughts and depression is causing it but all I need is to get out of this that's all whatever it is !!!! When I said mood swing means between feeling hopeless and thinking no I will fight it out !!! Trust me 6 weeks ago my depression/ anxiety was minor but these tablets in last nearly 5 weeks kill my resistance means fighting power!!!!
Thank you everybody for ur love and assurance ,much appreciated
So the doctor has rules out bipolar for now ?
I didn't feel myself but I wasn't crying and I was warming to my feelings rather then been flat and dull (hate this) I'm a loving warm person so been unable to feel things is awful. I'm forgetful and confused a lot of the time and question if I dreamt things or if it was real (I feel in a bubble nothing looks right) its scary been disconnected from the world. Doctors coming round to review me tomorrow. I'm scared I'll never come back its a fight I keep loosing
Yes Rachel for now
Yes I felt in a bubble too. I began to forget how it felt being normal. Your mind is so focused on how you're feeling that you do get confused and forgetful - it's as if there's no room for anything except 24/7 on your illness.
it does get easier.
Just think maybe sert is not for me. They say it is as iv improved, its just getting up to a does to keep me there. I just feel flat like I care about nothing. No personality at all
How long have you been on it?
All SSRI's take a long time to work unfortunately. It's worth persevering for a good 3-4 months plus before you can see if they'll work. It's very hard waiting for them to get into your system.
K x
Since early march so 3 1/2 months nearly. The 100mg has been 5weeks the rest 50 and 75mg. If I look back I'm better then I was just not good enough ! I get to where I'm on track to get pushed off again. There is nothing in my life making me unhappy apart from dealing with the illness. Maybe Dr is right and I need the 150mg (seems high) I can switch from OK to super low a lot throughout my day.