i have taken citalpram 20mg for 5 years now and really has been a excellent lifestyle change for me with lashings of confidence. Last few days i have started to feel the anxiety come back , i guess its time to increase dosage. Anyone else had to do the same ?
i have taken it for 3 years and reciently started to feel more anxious as well. I have increased my excercise and decreased my does. I have read some horror stories about higher dose citalopram causing heart issues. I thought if i could drop it and deal with it vie more exercise then after a while i could increase back to 20 mg with the same effect just less risk. My GP has offered a change to Mirtazipine as well which i may take.
I think anything up to 40mg is considered safe for the heart. I've also read horror stories though of citalopram 'pooping out' on people (not working anymore ) I am terrified of this! I was on it for 4 years, came off it successfully and 6 months later I am back on it again after worse anxiety than ever, so I'm worried I will have to be on meds for life. I think everyone is different though, I've heard alot of people just move from citalopram to something else if it stops working. I wish you all the luck, let us know how you get on.
I understand Holly as its not my first time on Cit! I came off for a few years then had to go back on it again when the anxiety kicked off again. It has worked well for me, but I have to confess to the same thoughts of having to be on them for life!
But then some one said to me if you were diabetic and were that bad you needed insulin you would be on that for life! That's a chemical imbalance as is the need for citalopram re anxiety and depression.
That kind of put it in perspective for me.
Thanks holly. Pleased I'm not alone with all this. Helps knowing other people are going through the same as me .
I was well for 13 years before this episode of depression/anxiety.
I honestly think that I've already made the decision to never come off melds again. No matter how well,healthy,drama free I live my life,,,it always finds a way to come back and get me.
13 years ago I thought I'd made all the right choices and moves to prevent this ever happening again.
This has been the biggest struggle of my life but I will get through it and no matter how great and strong I may feel,I will be staying on the meds :D xxxx
Hi hobrick
I was put on citalopram 14 months ago after a cancer scare. I was on 30mg for 9 months then at my request the doctor reduced them to 20mg . I have now been on 20mg for 5months, and like you I now have a happier life style and more confidence. I dont see the point in reducing them any lower if its going to make me feel like some of the other replies to this forum. At one stage I did have to go back to see my GP over a anxierty problem and was put back on 30mg for one month ONLY, then back on 20mg. I know in an ideal world it would be nice to not have to take any medication.But if a little white tablet can make you feel good about yourself without to many nasty side effects I am quite happy to continue taking them.
Thanks george I totally agree . I've started feeling better since I last posted and have continued to stay on the 20 mg . I know if I start feeling bad again I will up it to 30 mg but only if it starts affecting my life again
I've done very well on 40mg for a year then dropped down to 20mg which was ok until two weeks ago as the anxiety came back. I am now back on 40mg but still feeling worse. Spoke to a friend today who said he feels great on Citalopram and to give it three or four weeks. Hope he's right.
Hi Hobrick. I've just seen your post saying that you're feeling better two days after your original post. So pleased to see that and long may it continue. I only hope that I can follow in your footsteps.