Citalopram/anxiety setback
Posted , 4 users are following.
Hi all,
Been on citalopram since 2018 after having bad anxiety due to a build up of stress. Took a long time to get back to feeling normal, I was close to giving up on citalopram but reading katecogs posts really helped and sure enough I came through the other end.
However I had a blip a few weeks back and managed to get over it but since then have been pretty up and down, am now in the middle of another blip and feel pretty bad. Its especially hard to take as I'd been pretty much anxiety free for at least a year and a half. Any reassurance would be great, any words from @katecogs would be much appreciated.
C.
0 likes, 14 replies
katecogs c97951
Posted
Hi there
Has your brand of medication changed - some people find when they’re prescribed the same meds but a different brand, it gives them a blip.
Are you still on the same dose? Have you had any stress or life changes recently?
Sometimes those can cause a blip - or, it can just be ‘one of those things’.
Whenever a blip happens the best thing you can do is to leave it alone and don’t try to fix things. When we’re back in it, our head will start to race as we try to figure things out, and I guess you’ll also be head chattering about it all?
So, even though it feels awful, understand you can’t fix it in an instant, and if you do then you’ll dig yourself in deeper. Just leave it alone, let whatever feelings you have just be present and don’t try stopping them. Try not to head chatter about how you feel, and any thoughts that crop up (head chatter) just leave them there.
Often when a blip crops up we talk ourselves in deeper. If we just leave things alone, accept something has caused this and these feelings will be around for a little while, don’t add in any head chatter (why, what if, how long etc etc) then the blip will play itself out in time.
But do check with your brand.
K
c97951 katecogs
Posted
Hi Kate,
Thanks for responding to my message.
I very rarely get the same brand, just take what I am given however i have been slowly coming off them, i started at 20 mgs then went up to 30 mgs and ive very slowly been tapering off over the last year. I am down at 20 mgs having dropped from 22.5mgs in june so maybe that has something to do with it? I felt in good enough a place to start lowering and eventually coming off but i guess am not ready yet.
I did have a stressful personal issue which i think was the trigger for it, its since been resolved but i seem to keep having these small blips, iam on holiday atm and iam having another small blip.
Thanks for the advice its really helpful and reasuring, been trying these techniques and it does pass but its pretty difficult when your in the thick of it.
Should i start upping my dose again?
Thanks again
C
amber90012 katecogs
Posted
Hi Kate, its Amber here. gutted I can't access my inbox anymore! I too am having a set back. I went back on Citalopram in March and upped to 30mg in April. I am just going through a horrid blip. I am 23 weeks pregnant and I am tired and drained and so anxious. I am so fearful to go back to where I was but the heavy dread in my tummy is there again and its paralysing. I just can't seem to go with it, it feels so unatural and the fear of going back to such dark thoughts terrifies me. I am doubting everything in my life again. Do you think this is really a blip or I need an increase?
katecogs amber90012
Posted
Hi Amber
I know, its so sad they’ve disbanded the messaging service as many people relied on that.
You could try searching for me on the internet as some have, and we can email each other.
Sorry you’re having a tough time - I was the same when pregnant with my first baby (the meds weren’t around then) and I felt so ill with anxiety.
Hormones are playing a part I guess, and probably mixed with recoving on these meds.
The bigger the dose of meds isn’t always the answer - some people find a large dose makes them feel worse and that a smaller dose brings them relief. The meds are strange.
I know that tummy dread so well. Really not nice. I know hard to go with the feelings and doing that doesn’t mean that’ll give you relief - but it will over time. Accepting feelings and thoughts means you need to let them be, take them with you every day and try not to analyse them.
Even the thought of going backward to dark thoughts is another negative thought. Even if you think this, just let it pop into your head but try not to get into a conversation with your head about it. Take that thought with you, and leave it be.
You can recover from this - when you’re in the middle of it you won’t ‘see the wood for the trees’ because all those feelings and thoughts become mixed together and make your mind race even more.
We don’t need to treat each feeling and thought separately - treat them all the same as one - let them come, let them be there, don’t head chat about them, and just know you will recover.
Yes I guess its a blip - treat the blip as above - I know its hard, but think of it as those blips are meant to be there so you can practice the above. It will pass.
K x
katecogs
Posted
Amber
I've just seen you have contacted me - I'll email you back.
katecogs c97951
Posted
It could be tapering off them that has given you the blip (though its only 10mg), but mixed with the stressful issue maybe its just tipped the balance.
Often when the stress has passed / been resolved, the body may continue to cause you these feelings for a while longer until they fade.
Yes it may be not the right time to withdraw from the meds if you feel like this.
Increasing may put you back on track yes, but do it slow. Talk to your Doctor too though xx.
amber90012 katecogs
Posted
Hi Kate i think I emailed you back but let me know on here if you didn't receive it.
How long do you call it a blip before it is going backwards?
I have been following your advice the best I can and it seems I am getting better with the secondary thinking. I have noticed an improvement in my anxiety but I have been feeling low and exhausted. I am not sure what is worse?! depression or anxiety? Either way I am trying to not over think though I have a way to go yet and am by no means perfect! I am also trying not to beat myself up when I do overthink and try to just keep going back to primary thoughts and letting them fizzle out and pass by.
Thanks for the advise again.
katecogs amber90012
Posted
Hi Amber
Yes I received your email and sent a long reply the day after on 19th August. Have a look in your junk file as it might be in there. I can send again if you can’t find it.
amber90012 katecogs
Posted
yes thank you so much, I did see that one however I did sent another one back but wasn't sure it sent as it was through your reply and didn't know of it was a 'no reply' kind of email.
Thanks so much for responding I really do appreciate it more than I can say!
Amber
katecogs amber90012
Posted
Hi Amber
Oh so sorry - yes just seen your other email and no not replied to that one. It slipped by me somehow. I'll do a reply to it today.
K x
katecogs
Posted
Just replied.
c97951 katecogs
Posted
Hi kate
Soo I decided to up to 25mgs about 3 weeks ago and my anxiety levels have been a bit all over the place. I've had some periods of feeling really good but then get hit with a low, I do usually feel fairly normal from about 7 in the evening .It's all a bit inconsistent at the moment. Could it be side effects from upping my dose?
katecogs c97951
Posted
Hi
Yes anxiety usually increases when you up your dose so you will be all over the place.
I always felt better in the evenings - this is how my recovery started. That good feeling spread more into my day over many months.
So yes - its just the dose increase thats causing the side effects. It will wear off in time.
ian90586 c97951
Posted
In my experience of taking SSRI medications for many years,they do not protect you 100% from the anxieties of life. Everyone experiences life stressors from time to time whatever that may be,and you'll find that the stress will affect the effectiveness of the medication and you will experience an increase in anxiety or lowering of mood. You just have to work through it and accept it,and use other methods of relaxation to help. Medication should never be solely relied on to relieve anxiety. Also,a change in brand of a generic medication like Citalopram can affect some people,though your doctor would never admit to that. I speak from personal experience.