Help with Citalopram and Venlafaxine

Treatment and medication
1

Ok so I was started initially on 20mg Citalopram for panic attacks and I felt I have some mild depression but the panic attacks were the worse part of my symptoms by far. These were happening mostly around a week before my period. Anyway I took citalopram and it was ok, then around a week before my period I started having really bad panic attacks much worse than before the tablets. One that debilitated me for a whole day and continued to upset me - with very bad nausea and feeling very anxious indeed for about 2 or 3 days - I barely ate. The panic attacks then continued to be more privilant and started happening more frequently - to the point where I actually feel much worse then I did before starting the tablets. I visited the GP after 8 weeks on Citalopram and say said I need to be on a antidepressant with noradreniline to help with the panic attacks. So she told me to continued 20mg Citalopram for 3 days and then nothing for 3 days. Day 3 of Withdrawal was absolutely horrendous - feeling like I was having my brain squeezed , extremely dizzy and nausous. This subsided after taking my first Venlafaxine , at 5pm that day. I struggled to sleep that night which was really unusual for me. Next day I felt absolutely fine.

Took tablet again in the evening and struggled to sleep. Next day I noticed and my other half noticed that my pupils were dilated more than normal. For the rest of the day I felt very unwell. So dizzy that I almost blacked out, sick , sweaty , shivering and like I was having a prolonged attack like I had whilst on Citalopram which has never happened off the drugs. I decided not to take the next tablet and visited the doctor this morning. She has said she thinks the symptoms are from withdrawal of the Citalopram. She wants me to carry on with the Venlafaxine and 5mg of Citalopram. To be honest I am startign to think I would be better without any of them and maybe to take 10mg Cit and taper myself off ! Any thoughts / experiences ?

2

Hello,

I came off of citolapram last year, but went back on it recently because of my general anxiety came back. However, when I did ween off of it I was on 30 mgs. It took me about a month and a half to wean. I started with 25 for a week or two. See how I felt, then 20 did the same thing and kept repeating. If you do wean. Do it slowly. But I do advise citolapram worked for me. So much so that I thought I was fine and didn't need it any more. It does take time to adjust. But maybe go on it very slowly. 10 for a couple weeks, 15 then 20 then 30. That's just my own opinion

3

hello ros, i have taken venlafaxine in the past and what i found personally was it was very activating and energising, and felt like a boost, rather than a med which chills you out

you didnt mention what dosage of venlafaxine you were on.. whatever it is, perhaps you are taking too much at the moment

the current meds i take are trazodone 150mg at night time before bed (should start on 75mg for a week or two until you get used to it), and i also take 5mg of escitalopram in the morning.  for me this combination has given me relief from depression and anxiety after a very difficult 6 months of severe depression and anxiety which left me pretty much 'hospital material' and suicidal/negative/distressing thoughts

everyone is different of course and some people suit certain meds, while other people suit other meds.. but thought i would let you know what is working really well for me, incase you need or want more options to try instead of citalopram and venlafaxine