Took Citalopram for 3 months Now on Ecitalopram 5mg (Help Advice needed)

Treatment and medication
1

Hi all,

I use to take Citalopram 10mg i took them for 3 months for panic attacks and anxiety but medicine gave me horrable side effects and i was not feeling right. 

Then my GP switched me to Ecitalopram 5mg and told me to come back after 4 weeks for review now i am on day 13.

My first week was ok but secound week i feel panic and have anxiety and worried all the.

Any advice help please or please share your experience. 

Regards.

2

Get off this drug and get on another like brintellex or trintellex or something else. 

It will make you anxious especially in the morning. Come off with your doctor slowly.

Dont do anything on your own but know that you are not the only one.

Trust me it will get better sorry I know how much you are sufferring but just remember its just the medication.

3

Hi Ali. I have been on escitalopram for over 4yrs now with success in controlling anxiety & depression - it keeps me as the real me. its very common when starting escitalopram or indeed increasing in dose, to have heightened anxiety especially in morning for first 2-4wks. i also got increased tiredness, dry mouth & small pupils when i first started it or increased in dose. i have been on 15mg for some time now which is my optimum dose. you will know when you reach the right dose for you, as you will simply feel more like yourself . expect improvement within about 4-6wks of starting, then review with your doc(like you said) to assess whether 10mg is enough or you need to go upto 15mg. stick with it if you can, but if you have any terrible thoughts or are dramatically worse then go back to your doc urgently. although this is very unlikely to happen. if you can't get on with this med after giving it a fair trial like i suggested above (4-6wks each dose), there are others such as fluoxetine-quite toleranable with most people who take it. everybody's different & while one person may get on great with a particular ad, the next person might not. take care, really try not to "what if" & just take one step at time. take care & i hope you start to feel better soon. xx

4

Thanks Killgodroad for the support and giving hope i will update on my situation soon. 

God Bless You

Regards 

Ali 

5

Hi looloo43 and thanks, 

First when i started Citalopram it did help me but not the way it should and then i stoped after 3 months and i was thinking i can do it but after week had to go back to Dr and then he gave Ecitalopram 5mg and told me that it will help and take 5mg for 4 weeks and then review now i feel bit ok from  yesterday less anxious hope as you said 4 to 6 weeks.

My Dr told me that after 4 weeks he will see if i should stay on 5mg or increase the dose to 10mg.

I will update on my situation soon and if i need help i will ask you again for advice.

Kind Regards,

Ali 

6

No problem Ali, sounds like a good plan. just post on here, plenty of us to help you or advice etc if you need it. x

7

Thanks a lot smile and have a good day i will be back soon 

confused 

8

Hi looloo hope you are doing.

My anxiety and panic bit increased from last few days is this normal after two and half weeks...???

Regards. 

9

Hi Ali. Yes hun, its normal to have these temp side effects when starting this med for 2-4wks. i did. try telling yourself when the anxiety feels heightened "its ok. this is normal & to be expected" it may help to reduce the temp increase in anxiety a bit for you. if you go up in dose in the future you may also experience the same but no so much. its just your body adapting to the med. xxx

10

Thanks you Looloo you are very good smile i am avoiding diazepam in case i become adict...??

11

Hi looloo

It's day 10 of upping dose from 10mg to 15mg and still have low mood and tierd a lot when and how will I know if 15mg is working

Thanks

12

HI Ali, 

Ecitalopram has side affects as per any other SSRI.

Mine took two to three weeks for me to start seing some form of effect and for the side affects to start wearing off. 

It does take time !

My second week was also the worst i felt like i was zoned out , i had hot flushes and cold flushes, i could barely sleep, had anxiety, felt nauseas, dizzy , lost my apetite ,dry mouth and i would have blurry eye vision. 

Into the third week they had mild down and now i have been on the tablets for a year without any form of side affects.

Deffinitely give them four weeks as hard as it will be !

Just keep pushing through the second week as it will get easier  

 

 

13

Hi Ali. just draw on your inner strength (you know it's in there somewhere from when you were well) & try to ride out the initial 2-4wks then review with your doc if 10mg is enough to make you feel more like yourself or if you need to go upto 15mg. please also take on board what alana said in this discussionb - sound advice. Take care & be strong - you can do it, & things will get better - it just takes a little time. xx

14

Hi Don. its only day 10, so give it the usual 4-6wks to see if 15mg is enough & only then review how things are with your doc. if needed you can still go up to 20mg (which i have been on in past when bad) but its important to find the right dose for the individual. if you take too high a dose too quickly, you will not know if a lower dose would've been your optimum, & could just end up feeling permanently sedated if on too high a dose for you. i know its tough, but these meds unfortunately take a little time to work if you are suited to that particular one, so you must give it a fair try, or you could go round in circles trying lots of different ones too quickly (ie not giving one a fair try). your side effects are completely normal, so please be assured its just you adapting to the med & finding the right dose. Take care Don. x

15

Thanks again looloo

I guess I need to be more patient and give it more time 😬

Thanks

16

Hi looloo smile yes i am trying and will stick with it i will go to my doc after next week its going to be 4 weeks by then on 5mg i have asked my doc when he started 5mg do i need to up my dose to 10mg he said after weeks he will see at the moment i am on day 19 today lets hope and finger crossed 

Talk soon looloo smile x

 

17

Hi Alana and thanks for sharing and advice really means a lot to me at me momemt i am today going to take my 19th dose i take them around 5pm and on 5mg.

Hopefuly things will get better soon my side effects will be gone.

My doc told me to come back after 4 weeks for review as he want me to stay on lowest dose.

Best wishes Alana.

Ali smile 

 

18

Hi, Hope everyone is ok.

Update on my situation is i'm still on 5mg and third week finished yesterday starting fourth week today and i have very bad constant anxiety/panic from last week and still sad 

Making app with Dr this friday hopefuly i can drive that day coz my dr clinic is 15km from my place. 

Side effects should not slow down by now???

 

19

Everyone is different Ali, but see what your doc says on friday. If you feel a bit dodgy driving, please get someone to take you - don't risk driving if you don't feel right. let us know how you get on on here. xx

20

Thanks looloo hope you are doing well and had good weekend.

I still have 5 days to go so finger crossed my forth week is finishing on sunday but decided to see dr on friday. Maybe 5mg is not enough dose for me or maybe they are working as you said anxiety can be increseed for the 2 to 3 weeks but it will show improvement in 4th week. 

best regards looloo smile x

Ali