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

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Patient

im the same 12 week on thursday since mine have been upped from 20mg to 30mg , still having bad anxiety, got to soldier through it knowing ya will get better

Yeah you def do. I know it works its just getting through this rough bit of constant anxiety. Before I tapered off I was completely panic attack free for 3/4years. Hope it eases up for you soon.

i was the same sunday night anxiety all night , and all day monday , had to have monday tuesday off work. Its terrible the saving grace is we know it doesnt last , hope you get well soon too

Hi SJ95753

Yes I'll message you with the book details and other links that will help.

Its strange when you become anxious again as we are always convinced we won't recover, the meds won't work etc etc, but you'll get through this again. I've taken Citalopram twice and both times they helped me.

When I was at my worst I often skipped work as I just couldn't get out of bed. I always felt it was worse being at home, but sometimes we just need to have that rest.

Anyway - I'll message you.

K x

Hi Chloe

Yes most people are led to believe you'll take a pill and hey presto you'll be well in a few weeks - when in fact it takes months. Its all different with each person too - there is no one timescale for all - it all depends on your body, which meds suit you.

The meds do increase your anxiety at first - its just the meds settling down.

Yes I'll send you the book link.

Hi Kate, I've been on Sertraline for 11 days before i switched to 10mg Flouxetine. I've been on it for 4 weeks and started feeling better..however because of pain and fullness of ear and i was scared it is an ototoxicity from the medication and would result to hearing loss i stopped taking it for 6 days. But after realizing i should have not stopped, i took it again and I am now on day 8. It was a big mistake i know and i've noticed anxiety comes more often now than before. I feel like I'm starting again coz i got

back the anxiety, nausea, loss of appetite and dizziness. Does that really mean back to square one? I still feel the fullness of ear ..when i stopped the med for 6 days I somehow felt the fullness started to clear though.. I'm contemplating switching to another med again.....

too many changes too soon.you will have withdrwals and star ups all over again.that ear issue is just a side effect it will subside.if we all thought that all of the side effects where all ototoxity related doctors wouldnt prescribe celexa.best regards

thank you @lois95799 .. yes it might be a side effect..i hope it will subside soon...when my GP checked my ear she said my eardrum is swollen. I had 2 rounds of antibiotic eardrops but it didn't help.. i don't know what to do.. i'll have my first appt with the Pshyciatrist later, I hope everything will get better.

are you taking any other meds ???

I'm taking zopiclone at night. Just seen my Psychiatrist a while ago. His diagnosis is Panic Disorder/Social Anxiety. I didn't ask for

the med to change but after listening to me, he right away told me to take citalopram as it is better with the type of disorder i have. I only take 10 mg of flouxetine so he said no need to wean off. Oh, here I am again counting days, weeks til the med gets settled in my system. I'm praying GOD will carry me through all this.

Btw, the Psyc told me also to stop taking the zopiclone so I'll start tonight. I'll be having 2 months off from work so I'll work

on getting my sleeping habit back.

That seems like a whole lot of changes in a pretty short period. I would stick with the prozac you did say in earlier posts that you were feeling a little better on it. I've heard from people who take prozac that it works really welll for anxiety and panic disorder also. I would try to stick with that one longer before switching again, it will be like starting all over again, and you will go through all the start ups with the citalopram too.

Best Wishes!

Hi Thez

Just realised I missed your post.

Agree what the others say too. Yes you can't just stop these meds because you'll feel much worse than when you were taking them - they have to be weaned off. Some meds do cause ototoxitity, but SSRI's aren't one of them.

Yes restarting meds will make you feel ill - you'll no doubt have had a mixture of withdrawal symptoms and restart side effects - not a good combination. Hopefully you've stayed on the meds.

Mmmm I don’t think it means you’ve started from the beginning again as no doubt some meds are still in your body, but you will have a rough ride for a while.

Don’t switch meds again - you really need to stay on one for now anyway. To keep stopping, starting, switching is going cause havoc.

Have you had your ears looked at? Sometimes it can be something as simple as wax build up which can give you a feeling of fullness and make you feel unsteady.

How are things going now?

Thanks Kate for the reply.

I'm on my week 3 of Citalopram. So far so good. Didn't have much side effects from switching and increased dosage. Just the ear feeling blocked or full that makes it uncomfortable. I'll ask my GP to refer me to ENT Specialist on my next appt to get it checked.

Glad the meds are going well. Some people get tinnitus from SSRI meds though not heard anyone mention about the blocked feeling. I'm sure your doctor or the specialist will get to the bottom of it though.

i have had that block feeling.it feels like when your ears pop in an Elevator or airplane.but it subsided

like they dont want to pop.

Hi Lois.. how long did it go away? I have it since starting SSRI about 2 months already..

six months off n on.