How to manage start up anxiety / depression on Escitalopram
Posted , 6 users are following.
Hi - I posted this on the anxiety forum too.
I have posted a few other items on here and am going through a terrible time with severe anxiety and depression. I also am extremely sensitive to medication. I asked to try escitalopram but don't know how I will be able to get through start up problems particularly the increased aniety, depression and insomnia. I live alone which makes it more difficult. It might be that other side effects make it impossible for me. I am in despair at which medication to try as every one seems to affect me too much and I have not been able to be strong enough to push through. Perhaps I should have started sooner rather than leaving it for the depression/anxiety to take a greater hold thereby making any increase in anxiety/depression and other side effects feel intolerable as I am at my coping limit anyway.
I also worry tremendously that the start up seems to last a long time.
Any feedback appreciated.
0 likes, 16 replies
lynne82155 caroline50055
Posted
I live alone with no family near by and I have had many medication changes with all different side effects
caroline50055 lynne82155
Posted
I worry about it being so bad I cannot function - insomnia and nightmares also worry me and sleep is a refuge at the moment. It does preoccupy me as medication seems to be the main solution and I have had such awful effects but am not getting better without it. I have been taking a small dose of mirtazaine at night to help me sleep but I am sure it has made me quite a bit more depressed.
C
NooNooHead1981 caroline50055
Posted
Please please try the meds - I refused to go down the anti-depressant route after a head injury, post concussion syndrome and very severe anxiety/insomnia. No sleeping pill or minor tranquilliser seemed to work for me. If I'd taken the Citalopram two months sooner before everything got out of hand, I wouldn't have been prescribed a first generation anti-psychotic as a last resort by my GP which has consequently left me with the movement disorder Tardive Dyskinesia. 😥😞😩
I know it is obviously your decision but Citalopram was literally the med that could have saved me sooner , if only I'd been less stubborn about taking it. 😳😒🙄😖
Take care
Xx
lynne82155 caroline50055
Posted
Stay Strong
KMRC lynne82155
Posted
caroline50055 NooNooHead1981
Posted
NooNooHead1981 caroline50055
Posted
Side effects from Citalopram were OK... Mainly the odd involuntary eye movements and slight restlessness, and at times I felt like my head was 'empty'😖
There is no doubt about how severe the side effects were from Pericyazine (the first generation anti-psychotic) compared to anti-depressants... They make taking anti-depressants a walk in the park!
Severe and acute dystonia reactions when I was on an anti-psychotic (for just a WEEK!) included akathisia, Buccolingual crisis and Opisthotonus.
My gut instinct told me it was a very severe reaction but for some unknown reason I kept taking the damn drug. Why didn't I stop it go to A&E? God only knows, but now the damage is done and I have a movement disorder because of it, I want to warn as many people not to take anti-psychotics or any dopamine antagonist unless ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
Take the anti-depressant, definitely. It may end up saving your life.
Don't end up like me and take anything stronger. The stupid doctor was only helping me in a crisis but God only knows what will help me now. 😥😩🙄
caroline50055 NooNooHead1981
Posted
JackDM caroline50055
Posted
You could discuss the possibility of being admitted to a ward for the first two weeks of your new antidepressant. That way any trouble you might experience tolerating the new med could be observed and treated.
Good luck, I hope things work out for you.
caroline50055 JackDM
Posted
JackDM caroline50055
Posted
Not all benzos are heavy and make you dopey.
I hope you'll see a doctor if you're feeling physically unwell
hilary95948 caroline50055
Posted
caroline50055 hilary95948
Posted
I;m sorry to hear about your husband. How did you go worse? - I don;t think I could cope with that I am at my limit of coping now. It has taken feeling this bad to try and take them. Did you start on a low dose? Why was fluoxetine prescribed - was it because you had them before and asked for them. Also remember different generic makes can have different effects depending on the fillers etc.
I do feel really bad - it is scaring me to think it will be like this day after day so I need to do something to help myself.
hilary95948 caroline50055
Posted
I think if my husband was still here I would have coped a lot better, maybe that's why I coped better on Fluoxetine last time, although i am beginning to think they get the tablets off cheaper labs, which may give you more side affects when they trying to make you better..... I didn't just lose my husband, I also lost looking after him, he was also a joker, always made me laugh, sometimes at my expence, but I didn't care, as it wasn't really meant, now I feel I have no purpose in life, I think that's what's made it harder, but I also went worse, as some of the tablets didn't agree with me, so I was swopping and changeing, or going weeks without, till in the end I new I had to stick with something, I must admit it is hard going the side affects, but i need to get myself better somehow..... Hilary x
caroline50055 hilary95948
Posted
How are you doing now? - I must say it is so hard being on your own with an illness like depression and anxiety which make you feel so lonely and vulnerable anyway. What were your initial side effects with Fluoxetine and which tablets made you go worse as you say above you also 'went worse' as some of the tablets did not agree with you?
regards
C