Hi All -
I’ve been on citalopram (wavering between 10 and 15mg) for the past two years. In a sudden fashion, my anxiety came back very strong on January 26th. Three weeks earlier, my endo increased my thyroid meds (NP Thyroid) and two days earlier, I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy. The colonoscopy and endoscopy were not anxiety creating events for me; just seeing where I was at. Anyway, I’m having trouble getting my anxiety back in control. My doc suggested increasing my cit dose to 20mg per day - I’m currently doing 15 and 20 on alternating days because I’m afraid of a straight increase. My thyroid meds are back down a bit for the past two weeks (that T3 can be a real anxiety starter). I feel like I’m in some sort of storm and cannot handle much outside of hiding in my office at work and then in bed at home after nibbling on a lorazepam. I don’t have the funds to see a therapist, so I’m reliant on my GP and endo right now. Oh, and I’m most likely perimenopausal. Any suggestions, words of advice, inspirational stories out there?
Hi Jess
From what I have read on this site, alternating the dosage as you mentioned is a no no. The least alteration in dose, whether it is an increase or decrease is going to give you both start up side effects and withdrawal side effects respectively. You also mention you have been wavering your dosage for two years previous.
I am still struggling after messing around with my dose, I went from 7.5 mg to 10 mg about 10 weeks ago and still haven’t stabilized.
I think the consensus is to stick with one dose for at least 8 weeks or until you have stabilized on it before changing it. I hope some of the more experienced members here can advise you.
Thanks for the response. I didn’t previously alternate my doses - went from 10 for over a year to 15 for about six months; no side effects or trouble with the increase. Part of me is wondering if the anesthesia triggered something that made my anxiety spike and/or the citalopram less effective. I will take heed your advice about not alternating doses. Maybe I should just go to 20 and stay there.