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OCD CITALOPRAM DOSAGE CHANGE

Posted , 2 users are following.

mackem1
mackem1

I was on 20mg for 6 weeks. The GP inreased it to 30mg 4 weeks ago. I got appointment Thursday to review medication. The only real side effect I had is tiredness which I can deal with with because I am signed off work.

THe medication has helped reduce anxiety a bit and made intrusive thoughts a bit less intense. But still very anxious especially in public places.

Should I ask to stay on 30mg for 4 more weeks.I read you should give medication time to work fully. Or if GP suggests increasing it to 40mg should I agree I am 62 and worried by such a large dosage. Or change medication if she suggests it. I sence the GP will agree to whatever I suggest and I just dont know what to do???

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • Mermaid3011
    Mermaid3011 mackem1

    Posted

    Your GP wants to find a solution that you are comfortable with, so you are taking your meds and not going "rouge" or off meds completely. 

    So yes, you and your GP will talk about the different options you have. 

    The so called "therapeutic dose" of Citalopram is 20-40mg. Being 62 brings you just over the age of so called "geriatric" patients. So I doubt your GP will suggest a higher dose. 

    But the beauty is that you can always use a second medication as "augmentation". Sometimes very low doses of a second medication can make the first one work better.

    Combinations of drugs are quite common - I am on 2 different Antidepressants and an Anxiety medication. They work well together because they are responding to different chemical brain functions.

    See what your GP has to say. Don't feel rushed with your decision. If you agree to a new med or a different dose at your appointment and sleep over it and dont feel it was the right decision, call your GP and make a new appointment immediately (same day or next day) to revise / discuss again. 

    Maybe your GP agrees that you would benefit of seeing a psychiatrist who knows much more about meds than a GP does. A specialist. If your car was broken, you'd bring it to a garage with "specialist" and not to someone who does "a little bit of everything", right?!

  • Mermaid3011
    Mermaid3011 mackem1

    Posted

    P.S.: I always used to joke with my doc when he asked me what I felt I rather wanted to go with. "Don't ask a depressed person what they want to do. That's why I am here in the first place!"

    One side effect of depression is the inability of making decisions. Another side effect is that you dont feel like doing anything but laying in bed smile

  • Tango
    Tango mackem1

    Posted

    You may be able to get another med for during times when you get more anxious. For example, I am on mood stabilisers and also have diazepam to help out with any episodes of extreme anxiety. That seems to help me.
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