Celexa dosage and what to do
Posted , 6 users are following.
My entire life I've never had any problems with anxiety or panic attacks. Recently I went through a lot of stressful stuff to the point of developing anxiety and panic issues. Went to the dr all the tests came back good and put me on 20mg Cit. I delt with all the side affects week 3 and 4 were amazing I was back. Then after the first month I had a bad attack to the point I had to take .25 Xanax which he gave me incase a of a bad day. Called the Dr told me to bump up to 40mg. I told him that was a big jump so I tried 30 for a couple weeks it wasn't doing anything so jumped up to the 40mg delt with some side affects they passed had some good days couple bad. I've been on the 40mg for five weeks. All of a sudden Tuesday I had a bad attack and had to take a Xanax leave work and come home to lay down. I was off work for two day Thursday I made it back to work it was ok not great. I had a huge test that day and needed to take a Xanax to calm down. Now mind you I take my xanax very sparingly I was only given 15 at the beginning of the month and only took 4. Now I guess I can get to my question. After being on the 40 for this amount of time is this a blip? This feeling started Tuesday it's now Saturday I'm not horrible today just a little edgy. Can a blip last a couple days or a week? How long do you ride it out before an increase? Should I take the Xanax or deal with all the crap? I'm new to this site but have done some reading on here and see a lot of positive things and it's awesome to see how everyone helps each other here.
Thank you
0 likes, 12 replies
charlesv30 Adam826
Posted
Hey Adam! Well first things first my man have you ever tried doing other alternatives like deep breathing excersises? Or meditation? Alot of these things have helped me out the most because I was just like you and somehow developed anxiety and a panic disorder out of no where. For me it was all about work and school but I guess the stress of both kinda got to me and before I took any medication a Doctor gave me, they always recommend seeing a therapist, and let the psychiatrist tell you what you should take because other wise you'll just be a guinea pig trying different medicines. Right now I'm on Celexa 20mg and Ativan, Ativan is like a Xanax but is (To me) less addictive, lasts way longer and is just overall great for those days that I'm just too edgy, I went from taking .50 mg of Xanax a day to only taking half an Ativan every couple days and taking less as the days go by. Sorry this might not answer your question but it is something to think about brotha.
Adam826 charlesv30
Posted
Marf Adam826
Posted
Hiya, I took 10mg citalopram for 7 months, the side effects took ages to wear off and although I felt better I wasn't quite right so I went up to 20mg. I've been on that for 18 months now and feel really good. Though I do sometimes have blips which can last 3 or 4 days.
I'm wondering if you went up a bit quick but I think it depends on each individual.
I take diazepam (which is like xanax) for the hard days and try not to fight taking them, it's like I have a power trip in my head!!!
Take the xanax if you need to, the blip will go away, just be kind to yourself xxxx
Adam826 Marf
Posted
Thank you. I thought the same thing about going up that fast. Also I feel better knowing a blip can last a couple days. Its hard to explain how I've felt the last couple days. It's almost like I get surges throughout the day.
Marf Adam826
Posted
Yes to the surges! Even though I've been taking it now for 18 months I still occasionally get them! They will pass even though at the time you feel like you've been thrown right back in at the deep end.
I now know the feeling and either go for a walk in the park/woods or shut myself in the other room and watch crime dramas!
I completely agree with breathing techniques, I did a mindfulness course which to begin with I thought was a load of poop but ... the breathing has seriously helped xxx
Adam826 Marf
Posted
katecogs Adam826
Posted
Recovery comes in waves, so what you're experiencing is perfectly normal. Doesn't matter what dose you're on you will get that up and down period.
People usually start on the meds, get through the side effects, some might start feeling ok, and then find themselves back to square one with panic and anxiety. This is how the meds and recovery works - its your body finding its level. Increasing your dose will not alleviate this, and in fact it'll probably make it worse because it will again heighten your anxiety (side effects).
Yes stress does cause anxiety. Your body can only take so much before it builds up and overflows resulting in an outpouring of anxiety. Its when we become afraid of that anxiety (adding on more anxiety) that the problem starts.
The meds can take many, many months before you recover completely. Throughout that time you will have many blips, and its just a case of letting them be there, working with them there (sort of ignoring them ... hard I know), relaxing towards them ...... and they will pass. These meds will not give you an instant fix and they will not soothe the symptoms. That will happen over time.
It took me 6 months on 20mg to recover on these. Some people take longer and others much shorter.
Blips will last any length of time. Its often your reaction to them that helps soothe and shorten them. Do not fight them as that only adds tension and more anxiety to the already anxious body.
Some people struggle on 40mg and end up with continuous side effects and find they have to reduce in the end.
The body's natural defence is to fight anxiety ..... that's actually the wrong thing to do as you only reinforce it. Your body is in a heightened alert mode, nerves are on edge constantly, thoughts become strange, anxiety is raging ..... and so your naturally tense towards it and try and fight it. You should be doing the opposite by letting it be there, relaxing towards it, understand it will go. I know this is uncomfortable and the anxiety won't go immediately, but with continued practice you're giving your body the message to calm down, which will in time soothe the nerves, anxiety and all its related side effects.
The meds will work, but don't try and hurry recovery because you can't. Let it come to you.
K x
Adam826 katecogs
Posted
Thank you for providing a good prospective. I have a feeling the 40mg may be to much. I talked to the dr the other day he did mention that may be the case. I tried taking 30 mg today no nausea not as edgy. So I'm going to talk to him tomorrow. I'm not giving up I've devoted to much to go back now.
katecogs Adam826
Posted
Its always trial and error getting the dose just right for each person as we're all so different. Alterting your dose might feel a bit edgy for a few weeks but once settled its best to stick with it. These meds then need lots of patience, so don't be alarmed if you don't notice anything for months. It will happen.
Hope it goes well.
K x
elaine73067 Adam826
Posted
Adam sorry to hear about the anxiety relapse. It's just so annoying especially when you have been feeling good. I'm similar that I was on 20mg of citalopram for years and led a normal life. Several months ago my anxiety appeared and doc increased my meds to 30mg. Three weeks ago I had a really bad anxiety attack and could not go work for 2 days - felt awful. Doc increased dose to 40mg and after 3 weeks started feeling normal again until I had some alcohol on sat! Starting to feel a bit better now but not drinking for a while until dose gets into my system properly. I've never heard of xanax but I'm assuming it's to calm you down. I would check with your doc to be honest or trust your own judgement. Hope you pick up soon 😃
Adam826 elaine73067
Posted
Yea it really sucks. I feel better with it backed down a little bit. Now I have to do the readjustment thing but is not that bad. The dr jumped me to 40 pretty quick. So we'll see how it goes. Xanax get rid of you anxiety attack very quickly. I wait until I know I'm not going to be able to control it before I take it. They say it can be very addictive. But when your in a bad way and take its amazing.
elaine73067 Adam826
Posted