Citalopram Increase to 40mg still anxious 3 weeks in

Hi Mary,

Thank you so much for your reply but I'm sorry to hear that you are suffering too.

Can I ask who told you that, I mean was it a doctor?

That is comforting to know I'm not alone as it can often feel like you're the odd one out and nobody else feels this way. No I haven't been prescribed anything else just an increase of the citalopram but I have been taking some CBD oil which helps to take the edge off for a while. Can I ask do you take anything else for the anxiety?

Hi Lady

I am almost 5 weeks into taking citalopram for the first time in my life and I feel absolutely amazing, however, I was in an absolutely awful state during the first 3 weeks, suicidal thoughts, crying, anxiety in the day and worse in the morning, was signed off for 4 weeks to get used to them, i almost quit everyday in those first 3 weeks, keep at it and keep yoir head up and please don't feel alone, we jave all been there too and will help you

Hi Larry,

Thank you for replying to me.

I'm currently on 3 weeks and 3 days and I'm still feeling anxious, on edge and tense. can I ask when you felt better? Thank you for your support.

Hi, it was a doctor who told me that yesterday. i take clonazepam when needed for anxiety. Zopiclone for sleep as i have severe insomnia but its losing its effect after a couple of weeks. Very trying times.

Youre very welcome, I stsrted to feel better around the point youre at now , then I had a few bad days and BOOM kicked in i think =)

I'm glad to hear that you're feeling better now Larry. I don't feel quite as bad as I was 3 weeks ago but I'm still not 100% so I guess the increase may have done something but I'd hoped for me plus I'm still very tired which I think is a side effect from the increase so perhaps there is still some settling in to go. what do you think?

I'm sorry to hear you're struggling with insomnia Mary, Ive struggled with that at times so I know how very stressful that is. Well I guess the doctors knows best so there is still hope that we can feel better from the increase in a few more weeks.

I sure hope so. Insomnia only makes depression feel worse. I am not a negative person under normal circumstances and it feels awful to not be hopeful when I so badly want to feel/think the opposite. This is my 3rd time going on citalopram and as Ive said in past posts, this has been a huge lesson to stick to what works. When it works, it doesn't mean you will never feel irritable, a bit anxious or have gloomy days. It just means there is a better base/balance of managing it.

Thats great its worked for you twice previously so theres no reason why it shouldn't work for you this time round, just keep sticking with it and know you will get there. I didn't come off citalopram though which is the worrying thing that after 2 plus years on the 30mg dose I started to go downhill again when this pandemic started the anxiety and panic came back with a vengence and I didnt feel I was coping well constantly worrying and not eating or sleeping much at all but I dont know why I wasnt able to manage it as I was on 30mg of Citalopram so the doctor increased it to 40mg, my worry is if the citalopram has just stopped working for me and thats why I went downhill or maybe I just wasnt on a high enough dose for me, what are your thoughts?

That's a tough one to answer but I do feel that certain events can impact us more deeply whether you're on an antidepressant or not. It is very tough I know - and to be able to shift our thoughts away from worry and stress is not easy. I'm with you so i fully understand. Lets hope this med can balance us out that we so desperately want.