Struggling on dose change.

My dose was upped to 40 a week ago and I'm at the same point as you are. I can identify with the morning anxiety and feeling like I can't be bothered. I think we need to give it more time. I know it seems a long wait but ..... We have come this far so it shouldn't be too much longer for us.

Keep strong keep positive each day that passes you are one step further in your recovery xx

Blessings xxx

Hang in there, it's early days yet. It does take time to find the correct dosage for you. I went from 30mg to 40mg and now feel more able to cope with life. Hope this helps

I am also on 40mg after 10 months from starting on this wonderful "sticking plasters for the brain!" I started on 10mg for a month and then after talking with my Dr (who is well read on this subject) I raised to 20mg. I had a certain amount of trepidation when I did, but after the side effects from starting then with increasing I raised by another ten and again until I reached the max of 40mg in month four.

Just to go off on a "tangerine" for here I must say that my Dr is brilliant. When I eventually made an appoitment at the surgery (and kept it) I found my usual Dr had retired and fortunately for me (though I didn't appreciate it at the time) I was booked to see this new one. She helped put me on the road that saved my life alyhough, it took her and my Fiancee a couple more appts to get me to accept I was ill and needed help. I look back and realise what a wreck I was sitting in her room just crying, trying to make sense not fully appreciating how ill I was.

Anyway, moving on, as with the first dose, each time I increased I thought "here we go again!" The difference was by the time I was upping to 30mg I accepted the fact that things had to be crap before they could get better.

My support was from my Dr, my Fiancee, my Daughter and without a doubt everyone here and that was my strength.

Somewhere back in the fuzzy, weird days of the beginning I also decided to change my lifestyle, because with all these wonderful people helping me I felt I had to try some self help as my part in my recovery and it gradually helped. Obviously, giving up smoking, cutting back by 99% on the alcohol, giving up meat (because of animal welfare and the chemicals they pump into the poor things) and trying to treat my body like a temple (yes! That old nutmeg) I managed to ride the roller coaster, some times with my hands free and arms in the air, but only sometimes.

To be honest I think this just concentrated the mind when I didn't know what was happening to me (I don't mind admitting that as a 58 year old male, Father ex-service, worked hard all my life I was scared), but it did help me focus somewhat.

During one of the discussions here someone suggested when you are feeling low then (we know this may be difficult) try and get to the radio or your music port (whatever - sorry I'm trying to sound hip! Hip? do they say that anymore?!) turn on, tune in and crank the volume up and sing, dance, scream or shout if you so desire, just let your hair down and you'll feel better, maybe just for a while, who knows? It is a positive. Cherish every little positive and the times you are "up" to help through you the "down" times because, little by little you may not realise it at first, but gradually the ups will outweigh the downs.

As for good old anxiety, embrace it! (Yeah right!) I didn't realise that Cita actually  causes it to be able to treat it (although I didn't think I had it in the first place), but it does and after quite a while this and other side effects decreased. Okay, some  did return during the increases however, like I said you kinda cope with those that do, like unwanted old friends..

Remember, we are all different and we do not all suffer from the range of side effects as much or as little as the next person, nor do we all have the same intensity of the ones we do experience. So do not worry if you have or have not a side effect that others do or don't have.

Keep reading, keep posting, do not worry whether if what you are asking or saying may seem insignificant or not, just post. You'll get the reply you need and before long you will find yourself helping others by passing on your experiences and advice. You are now a part of this lovely and wonderful on-line Family.

In the meantime all the best and keep in touch.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Regards,

David