going into 2nd week of citralopram, looking for some advice and positive stories
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Hi everyone
Wondering if you can help?
After a suicide attempt in Febuary and to get through severe obbsessive / angry thoughts and depression without meds I finally realised I needed that extra help and took my prescription I was given 5 months ago for 10 mg of citralopram and started them 1 week ago. I felt ok, ever so slightly better and was sleeping bit better than months of insomnia but still constant intrusive thoughts.
When I seen the doc 3 days ago he did a depression test and highly reccomended I go on 20mg as this is theraputic dose for what I have.
Only 3 days on 20 and I can't get to sleep for ages, even though v tired and have a clenched jaw and anxiety till about 3 in afternoon - then ok , but tired and bits of anxiety - very up and down.
It is not severe but I am nervous to leave the house and feel so anxious going on public transport which I will have to do soon. I am ok at the moment as I a took some time off work and been staying indoors and my partner has been v supportive. But I have to go back out into the world on Tuesday and back to work on Thursday and to top that off I have a family visit I can't get out of next wknd.
I am so scared that the anxiety will be overwhelming as apart from going for a local jog with a friend I haven't had much interactions as I feel arkward and anxious with other people and dreadinf work and family visit if I still feel like this.
The doc said he didn't want to give me valium or sleepers as they are addicitive and just to ride the side effects out. He is the most symathetic out of all my docs and not back in till this Friday.
I have no energy for a possible fight with the other GP's (unsympathetic - treat me like crap and little empathy for mental illness) so am thinking of paying throught the nose on internet for some thing / valium to help with side effects.
I took cocodamol last night and that didnt really help. I have bought nurse and will try that tonight if I have more trouble sleeping though I should be wary of too much paracetemol as my suicide attempt was on a lot of paracetomol and I'm worried about my liver. I do have a few di hydrocodine could this help in emergencies?
I've read night times are best to take the dose and things will get better in a few weeks.
Sorry for such a long post but I was hoping you could give me any advice and if you can answer any of the questions would be useful too.
.Meds and dosage stories - when has it got better?
.Meds / advice to help side effects
.Also anyone had experience of CAT therapy (for BPD) - I am on the a big waiting list but start it in Febuary?
.Most importantly any positive stories or stories at all of your journey - much appreaciatted.
Thank you
x
0 likes, 29 replies
caramax
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loxie caramax
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caramax loxie
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Thanks for your reply, I will leave off the internet stuff - your probably right. Was just feeling a bit desperate and anxious about next week. I will give the body breathing a go for sure, starting tonight. I have some chlorphenamine anti histamines from ages ago which I was going to take but read they can be dangerous reaction with Citralopram I will look at Priton and melatonin.
The sleeping is crap but my main worry is going to work, family meeting and public transport. I suppose I just have to hope for the best and get through it. There is little info out there for mixing dihydrocodeine with citralopram but my friend who gave me them said they should help with anxiety but also don't want to turn up to work looking off my head .
Blimey, it's a rollercoaster but I do feel detrmind to stick with citralopram and it will be worth it. I wish GP would just give me small doses of diazapam to help me through first couple weeks. I don't know why they won't, never asked for it before and from the stuff I have read it seems standard. Think they a bit nervous of me being BPD and previous overdose even though I am not suicidal at all now and the valium (in small doses) could really help me get better from what I've read. Hmmm.
Anyhoo, thanks again for reply and advice Loxie x
michael28935 loxie
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loxie michael28935
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Some people dont sleep well if they eat late, I however am one of those who gets drowsy the minute I eat anything so I scheduled into my routine eating a small wholemeal sandwich as a late supper. I always put lettuce in it as lettuce contains small amounts of laudanum, which is an opiate and aids sleep. Wholemeal bread has slow release carbs/sugars so your body doesn't suffer a drop during the night which will often wake you up. On that point actually, don't eat anything with a high level of refined sugars in the evening, they'll give you a peak of blood sugar and then a crash, really bad news for good sleep. Unfortunately I had the double blow of the cit affecting my sleep which was already pretty poor as I'm post menopausal and us grumpy old ladies don't have the easiest time with sleep anyhow. Avoid alcohol at night too, it does sometimes make you 'crash out' but it's a disturbed sleep and leaves you feeling wasted.
Bottom line, if I do something to tire me out physically, make me relax and stop fretting and balance my diet during the day, I sleep much better.
michael28935 loxie
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chris43551 caramax
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Good tip from Loxie re anti histamines, it's worth a try and Ive also been listening to some free audio tracks on self therapy .org which have been helping with my anxiety. Ive found listening to the main lesson track, relaxing in bed actually sends me off to sleep! Another thing I will just mention is, if you can face telling your nearest and dearest that you've recently started on some new meds and aren't feeling the best and brightest, it may be a welcome help having someone make you a nice cuppa and bring you hot soup and toast in bed! If you're anything like me, Ive spent so long hiding issues and play acting, taking responsibility for keeping the family happy etc, to finally give up and say Id love to see you but Im a bit under the weather, was a fabulous release. The same with work. "Im not feeling my best so please be patient" also, is there a quieter role you could do tucked away for a couple of weeks? You will feel so much better very soon, for me it was around week 4 / 5, please do hang in in there and not worry too far ahead. Next weekend is ages off!
PS I take 20mg and it certainly working for me xxx
michael28935 chris43551
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caramax chris43551
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Thanks for your reply and advice. I think I will buy a guard as am waking up clenching teeth like mad and my jaw is aching throughout the day from it. I do find the relaxing tapes can help sometimes but I have been taking valium and night nurse to help make sure I get off too - got to be careful to get myself a little habbit there.
I can't really get out of some things I have to do or take more time off so am just taking valium and trying to get the balance of normal and fake it as much as possible (which is hard and makes me anxious).
Really pleased you are feeling so much better though, great to hear and keeps me hanging in there , knowing it will pass x
louise1974 caramax
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I started Cit in July for severe anxiety and depression. Really had got to the point of no return. The first few weeks on any anti depressant is really hard work. I honestly thought I would never get there at all. It made my panic/anxiety a lot worse, My days were spent walking outside tryihng to chill out. The insominia on this med I really struggled with for a couple of months. In fact my GP really wanted to swap me to another med but I stuck it out and the sleep did improve yay. The only side effect I get from Cit is really vivid dreams but I don't mind this, they aren't nightmares just bizzare and very real. Hang in there, you'll get there.
caramax louise1974
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It's great your sleeping better now - does your anxiety and depression feel a lot better / do you feel happy? I I know it's diifferent for everyone. I heard people say they feel like there old selves again or better and I am hanging on tho this a little bit but at the same time don't want to have unrealistic expectations.
xx
Yes just hoping I can get through first weeks, I am making myself
louise1974 caramax
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loxie caramax
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caramax loxie
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Your partner sounds good
I have a supportive one too but worry my misery and constant need for cuddles will have him running out the door.
Think am just having a bad couple of days and anxious, sad and angry about everything ha ha. I'm coming up to end of 2nd week - so hopefully gets better soon.
Also I always get a bit funny around mid cycle n with PMT so that not helping.
Thanks again for letting me ramble and your advice. Wishing you all the best xx
loxie caramax
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