Help please
Posted , 3 users are following.
I have been on 40mg of Citalopram for around 7 year. i felt really good and decided to half my tablets. i done this for just over a week.
i then started feeling terrible so started taking my normal 40mg.
i have been on my 40mg for around 3 weeks now but still not feeling good at all.
would that 1 week of halving the dose cause this? should i just keep taking 40mg and wait? or should i call the doctors and ask for a new medication.
0 likes, 6 replies
ian90586 gillian26312
Edited
Hi Gillian, sorry to hear you're still having problems. After taking these meds for 30years and messing around with them for the last 10 years going from one thing to another trying to improve,it's taken until recently for me to realise that my brain needs consistency. I committed myself to another SSRI Fluvoxamine,and have spent the last 7 and half months going up in dosages and feeling ill and unsettled and now I've reached the minimum therapeutic dosage I'm just going to stay there hopefully and give my brain a rest from messing. So my answer is I would ride it out for longer while your brain is adjusting to the disruption. Even if you swapped meds you'd still probably have loads of problems with that disruption, so easier to stay put and go back to normal eventually. Good luck.
gillian26312 ian90586
Posted
thank you so much Ian. i thought after a couple of weeks id be back to feeling good but its just not happening. I will keep going with my citalopram and see how it goes i just hope its not long as i am really really struggling. I hope your break lets it all settle and your feeling good.
ian90586 gillian26312
Edited
Anxiety when it's bad is horrible,and the depression that can come with that is even worse. I increased Citalopram once from 20mg to 30mg and my anxiety went through the roof,was horrendous for a long time,so the drastic drop from 40 to 20mg,even just for a week,and back again is going to take its toll. Also I've never taken an SSRI for longer than 3 years,and then it was very difficult to come off them all,so 7 years of constant dosing is a long time ,your brain would be so used to having that drug and it can't cope then with a drastic change. On top you are wishing quick recovery on yourself,and panicking that it's not happening which adds to the anxiety. I know how you feel,I would be exactly the same . Improvement will come when your brain adjusts again.
gillian26312 ian90586
Posted
thanks Ian yes i am desperately wanting to feel ok again. I called the GP again today and she said i need to just give it more time and it could take up to another 4 weeks. the thought of this for another 4 weeks is torture.
i hope you are well now?
ian90586 gillian26312
Edited
I'm getting there thanks, you're right it is torture especially if you've been well for years. It is a lesson though on what the meds are still doing in your brain and not to take anything for granted. Maybe you could take something while waiting. I've found Valerian root really helpful on anxiety in the past,but I haven't taken it with an antidepressant but I think it's O.K. to take with Citalopram,check online. Take care.
gillian26312 ian90586
Edited
I will look into that Ian thanks so much and im so glad to hear you are doing ok