I have been taking Citalopram for 9 weeks and I still feel very low and depressed. The drug just doesn't seem to be working for me. My doctor increased my dosage to 40mg last week. Should I wait and see if it has an effect, or should I change antidepressant? I am worried I am never going to feel better.
Dear Kate,
I have been on Citalopram on and off for many years - with years in between. in my experience, they are not what are commonly mis-named "happy" pills - they simply help even out extremes in mood and help me feel calmer and better able to cope. They certainly don't get rid of depression completely - for that you need a combination of treatments including counselling with an appropriate practitioner and also exercise and healthy eating helps. 40mg is a pretty high doseage and if it is not helping you feel better after 9 weeks you should go back to your gp. Either he can reduce the doseage (you MUST do this extremely gradually or you will feel worse) or change to another brand. Good luck!
Hi Kate
I have tried various antidepressants over 13 years and would think that you should be benefitting by now. Have a word with your doc., as another might be better for you.
I have just stopped taking ANY because I was still crying all the time and felt low. Maybe something like CBT would help?
Hi Marilyn,
thanks for your helpful reply. I agree a pill won't cure depression and that it takes other things like CBT and exercise to feel better. But I was on Fluoxetine for 10 years and felt well on that. I miss having a sense of well being and enjoying life. Life feels pretty unbearable at the moment.
I will go back to my GP.
kate
Hi Ms Mac
thanks for your reply. I am despairing on the Citalopram, but wonder whether I should wait a couple more weeks to see if the 40mg works - I have been on it for 2 weeks now, in total I have been on Citalopram for 10 weeks. I just want to feel a sense of well being again, but instead I have had diaorreah for 4 months, heart palpitations, persistent low mood and tiredness, hot flushes, the list just goes on. I am utterly fed up of feeling crap 
and it feels as though there is no way out of this
I have to admit that on or off the pills I still feel/felt like that. I would go back to your doctor, if I were you, though as another antidepressant might suit better but then you have to come off Cit. and then wait about a month for the other to kick in and that's when the vicious circle starts.
I wish I had the answer but I don't, I'm afraid but hope the doc. will answer all your questions.
Dear Kate
I'm so sorry you feel so awful. Are you having any kind of therapy at the moment? Do you have anyone to talk to? Be well.
Love Marilyn x
Hi Marilyn,
i have started CBT but I feel lonely in the city where I live and don't really have anyone to talk to. Life is so tough, sometimes I feel I would be better off out of it (sorry to sound dramatic)
kate xx
Kate, as you live in a city there will be different groups you could, perhaps, join. I know that is not an easy task but the first night is always the worst. Have a look at Meetup as they have all different groups that might help.
I'm sure we all feel or have felt at some time we would 'be better out of it'. I know I feel like that, often and then things change.
Just ride the big waves, until you reach calmer waters.
Thanks Ms Mac, this is really helpful advice. My problem, though, is that most of the time I am feeling too unwell to socialise, wanting instead to hide myself away from the world and hope I'll get better soon. I do exercise, but after the initial few hours my constant low mood returns invariably. I feel as though I have been riding big waves for far too long!
Did you get better? I'm going through this horrible illness at the moment.