Feeling appalling at 13 weeks 😬

Treatment and medication
1

I've been taking 10mg citalopram for 13 weeks, the first 6 ish weeks were awful, then started to improve. But I now feel like I'm going backwards, I've had 3 diazapam this week having not had to take them for over a month. Today I've woken up with a massive anxiety dread feeling that won't shift, I'm so gutted that I feel like this. Has anyone got any experience of this and if so what did you do about it? Thanks so much everyone xxx

2

as a rule of thumb, i have found, for me anyway, that if side effects are still bad or that the meds have shown no improvement by week 12 then i see about changing them as by that time they should be being beneficial

3

Hi iv only been on cit for 3 days today and on the 1st day of takin them i had a panic attack. I was laied in bed and all of a sudden started to panic over absolutley nothing. Iv never had a panic attack ever and my anxsiety is quiet bad these past 3 years. Altho yesterday i felt sluggish as i was panicin i was goin to have another attack. Today i feel fantastic! I just feel that everytime i start to panic i breath in threw my nose and then let ut out my mouth and count with each breth i take so i can see how long i panic for and it takes my mind off the panicin. Hope this helps u x

4

Hi marf

13 weeks is a significant time on this dose to ascertain if it's going to make you feel better. I think you will find an Iincrease may help you in this instance. Don' play the waiting game for too long, it's time for you to get some relief from your symptoms. Please have a chat with your doctor. When I increased from 10 to 20mg I saw a noticeable improvement in the first few days of taking it.

wishing you better ♥

God bless x

5

Hi, just like you I had a horrible 6 weeks when I started on 20mg and then seemed to improve and even experience a few OK days. However, the last few weeks have been horrible and I start week 15 on Monday. I don't have any answers I'm afraid but would love to hear from others if what you and I are experiencing is common???

6

Thanks, I'm thinking a Dr visit is now necessary too, I'm also wondering if escitalopram might be better as it seems to be more geared towards  anxiety xxx

7

it does seem to be a 'thing' but I wonder if anyone has pushed into a few weeks further on and been ok (or not!) I don't want to spend much longer feeling yuk if it's not going to change. I felt ok ish for a while too but now not so much 😬😬 xxx

8

Hi marf

please let me know how you get on. I stayed on citalopram for six months! Just kept waiting and waiting! Changed to mirtazipine and felt better instantly with zero side effects.

Glad your speaking with your doctor xx

9

My feeling is this may not be the correct AD for you marf. Waiting game can make you lose valuable time in getting well. Only my view but also from personal experience ♥

10

You've read my mind......so to speak......should we push on for a few more weeks or change dose or, indeed, medication. Hopefully some of the other members on this fabulous forum can offer their advice and personal experience?

11

Omg really?? I thought mirt was likely to make you fat and tired? Were you more depressed or anxious do you think? xxx

12

With citalopram i was plagued with every side effect and unfortunately it didn't work for me. With mirtazipine I felt instantly better after just one tablet! No side effects at all. But you are right..It makes you eat like a horse! As I had lost so much weight on citalopram (resembled a skeleton! ) I was pleased to be eating and could not believe that my joy of life came back nearly instantly. I was on it 5 weeks, then started having sporadic rages.. my doctor was unsure if it was citalopram withdrawal causing it, or mirtazipine side effect. He asked me to stop taking it immediately. now I'm day 5 cold turkey from any AD!

Please speak with your doctor marf and try getting yourself better, quicker!

♥♥

13

Hi Marf,

You are a few weeks ahead of me and I'm likely to be increasing from 10 to 15mg next week, I've been on 10mg for 8 weeks Tues and so I think I've given that dose a long enough stint.

Whilst I'm much better now (I'm functioning and not lying in bed crying!) I'm not quite there if that makes sense, it could come in time at my current dose but I'm happy and my GP is happy I try move up to 15mg now.

I know the side effects fear is probably holding you back but I really think maybe you should try a small increase, worse case scenario you feel worse and then reduce back down to 10mg, but if you're feeling as bad as your saying you really haven't got anything to lose!

14

That's harsh though if you're now back completely to the beginning! I think I will go to the docs this week and see what he thinks. I'm possibly liking the idea of escitalopram as its similar but has more stuff that works on anxiety xx

15

thats is so true David, I'm going to go and see the doc this week and see what he reckons xxx thanks for your kind reply xxx

16

Wish you loads of success with your docs appointment.

Keep us posted on your progress xx

17

Hey Bax, I'm going to see the doc tomorrow as I can't bear this any more xxx

18

let us know how you get on

19

Hi Marf

I started on 20mgs and by week 13 was doing ok, but like you was still experiencing horrible, scary anxiety and intrusive thoughts. I went to my Dr who recommended going up to 40mg, but I instead tried 30mg first. It certainly made a huge difference and combined with Cbt, yoga and lots of exercise I was beginning to feel so much better, having many more good days, a return in appetite and the ability to actually sleep more than 3 hours.

I did however eventually go up to 40mgs as I suffer horrendous pmt, which was sending me in to an awful state of anxiety. I got in to this 2 great weeks, 2 crap weeks mode.

Seven months after starting citalopram I'm beginning to feel better than I have in such a long time. Pmt time I still sometimes need an ativan, but hopefully that will become less.

It's really hard work this recovery process, but this forum is awesome for reassurance and guidance.

I hope you are having a better day than you have been.

Take care of yourself.Louise.

20

Thank you so much for your reply xx I too have bad pmt but I'm menopausal so have no idea when a period is coming!! I saw a gynae chap last week who had given me a progesterone pill to take all the time to stop me having periods, I'm not really sure how it works so im going to see my gp this pm to discuss it plus talk about upping my dose, Although I think doing both at the same might not be helpful xxx I'll see what he says xxx