Citalopram brand change, feeling awful...any connection?

Posted , 9 users are following.

Hi, I started back on citalopram 10mg on 29th Nov last year and the brand was "accord" I had a bad few weeks on it until side effects settled, then after 4 weeks the dose was increased to 20mg...Then after 5 days of increase the brand changed to "aurobindo" i carried on and things settled after a few weeks of bad side effects (I get increased anxiety when I start these meds) anyway, I had 3-4 good days once side effects settled but then 10 days before my period I dipped and was crying a lot and anxiety was there. Then once I started my period I seemed better. Had a better 3-4 days and a fantastic 3 days after that and really thought I'd turned a corner.

I woke up on Friday and had hardly any anxiety at all I'd been to the chemist to collect my new prescription and the brand had changed to "accord" again. Didn't think anything of it as I'd been on it when I started the 10mg. I took it on Friday morning and on sat morning I woke up really anxious and nervous, took it again sat morning and pushed through the day but didn't feel as good as day before...Sunday I felt rubbish, took in the morning as normal but by Sunday night I felt awful, took it again Monday morning and things just snowballed, anxiety through the roof, dry heaving in a morning, nauseous, burning stinging skin on my arms which I havnt had for 3 weeks + and panic again. It's just getting worse.

Could it be due to brand change? Or is it just coincidence and it's my anxiety? Iv spoken to pharmacist and she's going to change me back to the brand I was on before. Iv not taken my citalopram this morning as pharmacist told me not to and wait for the old brand I was on which should be ready today.

Anybody else found this with brand change or am I just reading too much in to it? X

0 likes, 22 replies

22 Replies

Prev
  • Posted

    Hi claire and Wendy

    I have just spoken to my pharmacist and he said that the brand change will not make a difference.  In fact he said he had never heard of it making a difference and that manufacturers are not allowed to do anything different to them, they have to be made to a specific level, if that makes sense!  Not sure I believe him right now!  I still asked for the same brand as my other one and they didnt have it.  So im stuck with it right now.  Or I just stop taking it.  God this is a minefield.  

    I fee crap this morning again, and have taken a diazepam which has not touched the sides!  I did feel like this when I first started taking cit so maybe my issue is with the increase, who  knows x

    • Posted

      I’ve been on medrich for 4 years this week I was told they’ve stopped making it. I’m trying activis but the morning anxiety has come back with the brand change. I’m gutted I hope it settles soon xx
  • Posted

    Well I felt slightly better yesterday, not feeling as good today. Can't get rid of that awful doom feeling hanging over me. No motivation, feel lost, getting intermittent twinges in my chest, stomach is in knots. Just not feeling right.

    Maybe the brand change thing is phycological for me I don't know. The brand I got yesterday is one Iv had before but was a few years ago. I'm not expecting to feel 100% better overnight but I'd like to see an improvement in the intensity of my anxiety. If I have a better couple of days (which are few and far between) when it comes back it snowballs and is as intense as ever! Makes me so restless and agitated that I can't think straight and feel like I'm losing my mind! It's a horrid feeling x

  • Posted

    Hi, is anyone using TEVA 40mg, my chemist wants to change me from Medreich which I have been on for years and I’m worried.

    Why can’t chemists get Medreich anymore, does anyone know???

    • Posted

      Hi Debbie, just seen this, sorry!

      I have pretty much always had Medreich too but when I got my new prescription a couple of weeks ago, it was Accord and Sandoz! I'm on 30mg so the accord is 20mg and the Sandoz is 10mg. The

      Pharmacy apologised and said they couldn't get it any more. It's more likely that they hunt for the cheapest deal they can get at the time!! 

      Anyway, it hasn't made any difference, no weird side effects etc, I've just carried on as normal.

      When I first started cit back in November last year, I did think that brand changes were causing problems but having now recovered, I think it was more likely the cit taking its time to sort me out!! My prescription does specify Medreich but I guess, unless you phone around the pharmacies in your area to check what they have, you just have to take whatever they give you. It does play on an anxiety sufferers mind though x

      I'm sure you will be fine x 

  • Posted

    I have been on citalapram 20 mg for some years and recently received a prescription with a new supplier MEDREICH. I have suddenly noticed swishing in my ears which I only get when I stop taking Citalopram for a few weeks i.e.. when trying to withdraw from taking them. There is definitely something about this batch that appears less strong. I can't see any other reason.

    Just one other thing about anxiety and this is especially for young girls. Do not yo yo diet or try starve yourself because there is no doubt in my mind that an increase in anxiety is linked in some way to panic attacks. Eat a balanced diet especially before your periods and cut right down on sugar. I'm no doctor but trial and error has proved to me that if I try diet and I go overboard on come the panic attacks.

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.