I’ve been on Citalopram 20mg for 5 years and it really worked well for me - would say I started feeling better within a few weeks and just got better.
Anyways, end of January I had anxiety come back and waited a month before seeing GP - she increased my dose to 30mg.
Been on the 30mg ever since about February and I still don’t feel like my normal self - I would say the panic attacks have lessened, but I still get general anxiety, overthink everything and within the last 2 months have developed OCD and bad intrusive thoughts.
Saw a Psychiatrist and he recommended I switch to Escitalopram. My concern is that the drugs are too similar and won’t do anything for me, or god forbid make my OCD/intrusive thoughts worse since I believe Escitalopram is supposed to a stronger version of Citalopram?
I haven’t filled my prescription yet and plan to hopefully call and talk with my Psychiatrist about this, but what do you guys think?
Sorry the citalopram is not working for you anymore. I was on citalopram a few years ago and it did wonders for me but went off it as I became pregnant. My anxiety came back after our house burnt down last January and the doctor put me on escitalopram because it has lesser side affects. I haven't had much trouble with the start up symptoms I think the citalopram start up was worse for me.
I'm on 20mg of escitalopram now have been for a few months and am glad I started them. I have some good days and bad days still but not as often as I did before.
Oh, wow, I’m so sorry about what happened to your house. Hope you’re okay now.
Yeah, I’ve heard there’s less side effects which makes me happy. I’m just worried I’ll be wasting my time as it might be too similar, but I think many people have switched from Citalopram when it stopped working to Escitalopram and it helped.
Plus, I’m worried that if Escitalopram is “stronger” my intrusive thoughts will get worse - I didn’t start having the OCD/intrusive thoughts till I went on the 30mg increase. But, that might not be due to the increase either because I was on the increase for a couple months before all that started..
I’m hoping it’s still my present anxiety and fears that are causing these doubts.
Thanks. Were all good now we lost everything but at the end of the day I still have my partner and 3 kids so that's all I need!
Yes definately less side effects. But you wont know until you try. Your anxiety will be making you doubt it mine did. I had them sitting in the cupboard for over a month before I started them and then I was kicking myself for waiting that long!
Hopefully your OCD and intrusive thoughts will go away once everything settles. God anxiety is cruel isnt it?
Wishing you all the best with what you decide and hoping you get better!
I had a very similar situation as you: I had been on Citalopram (40 mg) for 5 years, and was doing great. My anxiety started to creep back in March of this year, maybe even February, but I just ignored the signs. Then, in early April it came back full force.
I was so nervous about switching meds that I put it off until late May, and started at a really low dose (5 mg). I've slowly worked my way up to 10 mg, where I've been for almost 3 weeks now. It does seem to be helping, but I think it's possible I might have to go up to a higher dose.
I've found the side effects to be much milder than when I went on Citalopram, but I had a really rough time when I started that, probably not helped my the fact that my doctor increased me to 40 mg after only a week. Compared to starting the citalopram, escitalpram has been a breeze ;-).
Well, I'm now changing my answer, as I would recommend you try something else, due to them being so similar.
I've had a major increase in anxiety the last few days. I did some online research, and came across several instances of people saying escitalopram did not work for them after citalopram "pooped out" , or vice versa.
I think I will be going in to visit my doctor tomorrow, and get switched to something else. I hear Zoloft/sertraline is good for anxiety.
I've been on escitalopram a total of 2 1/2 months now! I was nervous about side effects, so I started on 5 mg and slowly made my way to 10 mg. I've been on 10 mg for exactly 4 weeks now. I did have some days (several in a row, even) where I thought I was doing better, but then I'd regress again, and be back to square one.
Realistically, I probably should give this dose another 2 weeks before switching or upping doses; I know it can sometimes take a good 4-6 weeks or longer to kick in. But I'm just so sick of this. I just want to be back to my old self again!!
Have you considered bumping up to 40 mg on the Citalopram? I was on that for the 5 years, and it really worked great for me. No blips or anything. Of course, the downside is that when it quit working for me, I was already at the highest dose and had to switch meds.
Well, I spent more time on the internet today, searching for others who have made the switch:-). I did find some cases where people did have escitalopram work for them after citalopram quit working. That gives me hope:-).
You'll have to keep us posted as to how it works out for you!
Hmmm, ok well it might be that you need to give it more time? If you had several good days that might be a sign it is working...
But, I’m not a doctor, so you can never know. I do hope it is working for you! I know it can be so disheartening to have to keep switching :-(
I have considered upping to 40mg, but my Psychiatrist didn’t suggest that and I’m kinda glad because I feel like my body just needs something different, you know? I feel like it’s just gotten to used to th Citalopram.
I would say my general panic has decreased, but I’m still very irrational about stuff and have weird OCD symptoms.
Oh, good! That gives me hope too - thank you for your research.
Have you decided to give it a couple more weeks? Is there a way you can contact your doctor and let them know how you feel without having to physically schedule an appointment?
Yes, when I finally get around to it/get the courage I will try and remember to! I’m planning on trying next weekend. My psychiatrist has me slowly tapering the Citalopram and increasing the Escitalopram every week, so hopefully that will give me the least amount of side effects.
Yes, I plan to give it a few more weeks at least :-). I think in a few weeks I'll try 20 mg, if I'm not seeing any improvements.
This week has been a roller coaster! Moments with high anxiety and then NO anxiety, all in one day. I hope that means it's starting to work.
I've seen escitalopram referred to as a "slow burner" several times; apparently it's common for it to kick in a bit later than other SSRIs! 4-8 weeks seem to be the time frame when most people feel it start to work.
Hope you see more positive days and it works fully for you! This has been a really bad year for me so far - I think it’s been like 6 months that I’ve not felt like myself :-(
I think SSRIs in general take 4-8 weeks to at least start to work - which can be really hard. I know when I first went on Citalopram 5 years ago, I really felt better after a month and just kept getting better.
It was kinda amazing. Hoping this will happen with the Escitalopram and it’s just enough of the “change” I need to get back to my normal self.
I also was on Citalopram for 5 years, then had massive anxiety attack March, since then been on mitazapine, then escitalopram, then prozac, now back escitalopram day 4, 10mg, now having the urgency to wee all the time drive g me Nutts, I go to see pysicatrist September, will see how it go,s good luck if you try it,
Wow, it's funny how 3 of us on here had Citalopram quit working at 5 years...and pretty much the same time of year, too.
Mrs.Susan, how long were you on the escitalopram before? Did it work at all? Why did you switch to Prozac and then back again, if you don't mind me asking?
I’m currently on 30mg Citalopram. My psychiatrist wants me to eventually switch to 20mg Lexapro. Going to slowly taper the Citalopram while increasing the Escitalopram.
. That’s not good news. I actually haven’t switched yet - was gonna wait till next weekend as I have some stuff going on with work.