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Citalopram: 20mg for 8 weeks then 30mg for 2 weeks - feel much worse!

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Guest

Hi everyone. First time posting here. I am worried that I feel much worse after an increase in my Citalopram dosage from 20mg to 30mg.

[u]Some symptoms I've been experiencing:[/u]

- insomnia and bad sleep during the night

- tiredness and "brain fog" during the day

- persistent anxiety and circular thoughts

- feeling reckless and self-destructive

- hopelessness, feeling lost and directionless

- unable to write or be creative for my studies

- panic attacks and chest pains, which have never subsided throughout my 10 weeks on Citalopram

Please can anyone offer some advice or share their experience. I just really want to know that it gets better and that my life will improve on the increased dose. I am really not coping right now and can't see a way forward.

Thank you.

5 likes, 913 replies

913 Replies

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  • sam80974
    sam80974 Guest

    Posted

    hello does anyone have the link or book that @katecogs has been sharing sounds like its been a big help x

  • j97174
    j97174 Guest

    Posted

    hi everyone and the best kate cogs. I was on prozac for about a year with only some progress even after adjusting dose. i recently switched to paxil and just need hope. i am 4 weeks in. some good moments some okay some bad. ive been like this for almost 3 years now. im scared i will never recover after giving prozac sucha good try and not recovering.

  • keeley91498
    keeley91498 Guest

    Posted

    @katecogs I would love the link to the book too please.

    Ive been on 20mg for 11 weeks and upped to 25mg two weeks ago. I have good says and bad days. when im busy at work etc I feel so much better but when I have to spend time alone I get anxious and my mind goes into overdrive.

    Most evenings by 7pm i feel much better. does this sound like im improving? Some days i feel like I and other days I feel like i'll never be fully back to myself. any advice would be appreciated. thanks

    • barb97671
      barb97671 keeley91498

      Posted

      you sound exactly like me Keely. I am currently on 20mg. I started at 10mg for 1 week and increased it to 20mg after 1 week. Been on20 mgs for 6 months. I didn't find that was doing any good so I was upped to 30mg. stayed on that for about 1 month. Had to go down to 20mgs again because I was finding I was getting a nose infection at 30. So now I'm down to 20 again for the last month. I too find myself feeling better when I'm busy but as soon as I'm home in the house I get anxious again. Like you said, too much time to think. I feel good in the evenings as well. Myself I am just going to continue with the medication for a bit longer and see if it evens out my anxiousness. It is the Cortisol rising is what is doing this. I'm hoping that as spring and summer rolls in, I'll get back to doing more things To be more active. I'm must say tho, I'm better than I was at the beginning of my journey. Hang in there, it's a long process but we will make it.

  • Mowgli89
    Mowgli89 Guest

    Posted

    hi,

    im 26 years old and last october i had a mental break down. i never suffered any sort of anxiety ir panic attacks in previous years.

    i have been off work since october with constant panic attacks continuously thinking im going to have a stroke or heart attack or a seziure.

    im on week 6 on 20mg and started to feel better then had a drink and it didnt affect me till days after when i keep thinking im having a stroke.

    when i try to sleep im always either jolting or internal vibrations and brain zaps. i cant nap during the day because my body keeps twitching and shaking and panic that im going to have a seziure.

    ive been like this last 5 months and when i think im getting better thr stroke symptoms come back. i dont go a day without thinking im having a stroke.

    does this get easier or should i increase my meds again?

    id like to have a drink and socialise again but im scared that im going to have panic attacks contantly

    • carolyn38308
      carolyn38308 Mowgli89

      Posted

      You know we always think the worst, your young! I think you should talk to your doctor before you up your dose. I don't recommend drinking, ( just order a non alcohol drink ) could make your symptoms worse. When you make a complete recovery and feeling normal you could consider a drink. Keep going you will feel better soon!

  • carolyn38308
    carolyn38308 Guest

    Posted

    I just had to increase my dose, it was /is horrible. I will tell you it will gets better, just put one foot in front of the other one. It was the same way when I started, now I'm going up on dosage after 20 years of being on 20 mg. I'm going on the second week of increased medicine, I thought i had leveled out, but today the anxiety back! I'm very impatient, I wish doctors would explain what to expect! I love this site its a great support system! Take care and i hope you are feeling better by now!

  • Milkey
    Milkey Guest

    Posted

    Hi,

    I'm new here, And glad I found this I have been on 20mg citalopram for 2 years now, My gp increased this to 30mg only 3 weeks ago I feel a very slight improvement in my up and go and motivation but generally anxiety and racing thoughts have doubled and I'm just hopeing this is due to the increase and will settle down, Good to know I'm not alone with this.

  • martbass
    martbass Guest

    Posted

    Hi All

    It seems this is an old thread but I hoped someone may be able to comment. In short I've suffered anxiety for over 20 years and have been taking Seroxate (paroxetine) for all this time mostly to good effect. I gave up worrying about long term meds and settled on 20mg per day.

    Some heavy life changes occurred 3 years and had me uping the dose to 30mg. It sort of helped but they certainly don't seem to work as they used to years ago. Doctor said I may have beome a bit tolerant of them.

    So 2 weeks ago, the doctors plan was to change to Citalopram by immediately swapping out from Seroxat on the same dose.

    I'm finding two weeks in my anxiety has increased a lot but will muddle on for the full month recommended.

    Has anyone experienced this?

    By the way, I'd love to know the name of the book that has been mentioned several times here if anyone can help?

    Thanks

  • katecogs
    katecogs Guest

    Posted

    This is now a long looooong thread that's often added to.

    Tagging people ie with an '@' doesn't work, people aren't notified.

    If you want to chat to a particular person then its best to select 'reply' or 'message' under a particular persons name.

    Don't select 'reply' at the bottom of the page as it only notifies 'Guest' whoever that is.

    Hope that helps! 😄

    • mariana68654
      mariana68654 katecogs

      Posted

      Hi Kate,

      Can you please send me the link of the books.

      I am on week 6 now on 20mg of Cit for anxiety and I still cannot stay away from Xanax. This what scares me. If I have to wait for 3 month for improvements what do I do in the midtime? Xanax is adictive and need a doze increase every week of use.

      I had health anxiety for every little thing and this is probably what finally brought me down.

      I don't understand for all these antidepresent meds it says the full efect is 4-6 weeks. Are they lieing? And how to know when the medicine is not working for you and it is time to try another one? I think waiting for 3 month is a long time.

      So much want to be normal again and feel calm and relax like I use to be.

      Thank you for your forum.

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