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Doctor cut dose from 40 to 20mg instantly, then backtracked.

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rob94809
rob94809

Good evening all,

been a reader for a few months now, long story short, i have been on citalopram for 15 years but recently was bullied out of my job by a fellow director, knocked me for six and ended up back at the GP, they stated that my meds might need changing and i was advised to cut from 40 mg of Citalopram to 20 mg for a week, then start venlafaxine (75 mg), after a week on 20's i suffered the first panic attack for 15 years, then again the next day, my mood slipped to an all time low.

The GP rang me to see how I was getting on and i explained, he said to immediately start back on the 40 mg of citalopram and stabilise. that was 3 weeks ago tomorrow and i am still in a mess, horrifically low moods in the mornings, no get up and go, no interest in doing anything, bed being my only solace.

i again spoke to the GP today and he now tells me that the increase from 20 to 40 mg will take time to work. how can this be the case when he only took me from 40 to 20 for 1 week, i am at the stage now where i don't believe a word he says, every time we speak he changes his story to suit.

can anybody advise if this is correct, will the 40's really take 8 weeks again, or has citalopram simply stopped working after a 15 year stint?

any advice would be welcomed.

0 likes, 1 reply

1 Reply

  • katecogs
    katecogs rob94809

    Posted

    Hi Rob

    Am really sorry to hear of the tough time you’ve been having - I’m not sure why your doctor would have changed your medicine after so long especially if it was helping you.

    Anxiety is caused by stress, so I’m not surprised you had a setback following your issue at work. I was also bullied out of my job 10 years ago and know how traumatic it is.

    I doubt very much Citalopram stopped working.

    I imagine your body was just having an an extra surge of adrenaline and cortisol, and though that feels horrendous it would have settled in time. Personally I wouldn’t have changed my medicine, as there is no quick fix, but it may have helped in time.

    Firstly reducing from 40mg to 20mg is far too big a jump, and would imagine your body may have started to feel withdrawal effect. Changing meds may have alleviated that somewhat, though am not sure, then changing back to Citalopram is another huge upheaval - I’m not surprised your body is reacting the way it is …… and that on top of the stress from your job.

    A panic attack is an accumulation of the adrenaline and cortisol in your body and is just looking for an escape route. Its frightening I know, and of course it then gets your mind racing.

    If it were me I’d return to the Citalopram if you know they has helped you in the past - they will again. Just know that your body has gone through a lot and it will take time to settle.

    I’ll message you with some links that will help explain how anxiety works and about how to also help yourself with a method called acceptance.

    You will be in for a bumpy road for a while, but stick with it and you will start to feel ok again.

    K

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