Posted , 7 users are following.
Dear all
I'm not doing to well at the moment. No apetite no energy and spending a lot of time in bed. Still find it hard to spend time with my beautiful family and isolate a lot. I can't even do normal day to day things and have not been out in months. I have been on citalopram for 3 months. Last week I was put up to 30mg. As from tomorrow will be on 40mg. No doubt I will back to crying and retching along with dizzy spells.
I'm wondering if anyone else has taken so long to get better? So desperately fed up. Is my age a factor in my delayed recovery (55 )
Any advice would be great.
0 likes, 20 replies
gemgirl60 lorraine52317
Posted
sorry to hear that -I remember we spoke a few weeks ago as I went up to 40mg about 6 weeks ago. I had terrible side effects, nausea, full on gagging/ dry retching, crying, not feeling like I could cope, panic attacks. I had to have several days off work on the bad days, eventually I told my boss and they were very understanding and let me take the time I needed. I also think the best thing I did was understand they are side effects and do stop. The past week things have returned to normalish - still a bit of nausea sometimes but sleep is returning and feeling able to cope.
Because I went through this when I first started taking it 1.5 yrs ago, I also understood it may take some time, but my god those bad days are terrible and I sympathise, as does everyone on here who suffers the side effects. But they do stop and I feel so much better now, citalopram changed my life so the side effects were worth it in my opinion.
I'd suggest you go 35 rather than 40 for a week or so but do speak to your GP.
I also used bachs rescue remedy for calming effects. Alcohol can also enhance the side effects so just to be careful with that as well.
lorraine52317 gemgirl60
Posted
Thank you so much for your wonderful response. You have truly given me hope. I was beginning to feel I was the exception to the rule and I wasn't going to get better.
Your reply means so much to me
God bless you
Warmest wishes
Lorraine xx
lynda70899 lorraine52317
Posted
i am in the same boat. I am on sertraline. Was on citaploram. My appetite is still not great and my emotions have been up and down. Time to increase. I think the suggestion of upping to 35 is a good one. Do you suffer from night sweats?
Lynda
lorraine52317 lynda70899
Posted
Thank you for your response. So feel for you too. I do get night sweats and a host of other things. Are you managing your daily routine? I will do 35 for a few days it sounds like a good idea.
Bless you for taking the time to respond when your going through your own pain.
Really wishing you a speedy recovery and lots and lots of bright days
Lorraine xx
katecogs lorraine52317
Posted
You've only been on 30mg for a week, so you're not going to know yet if this dose is suitable for you. Why put it up to 40mg so soon? You're feeling the side effects of this meds and this will ease in time, but upping to 40mg will give you more side effects.
When you start meds, the waiting game begins. It takes so, so long for the meds to kick in and progress should be monitored on a month by month basis, not week by week. As each month goes by, small changes happen - that's why nothing is noticed for a long time. During this time people and doctors think they aren't getting better, and so up the dose, making you feel worse and prolonging this initial period.
Age has nothing to do with it. I'm the same age as you :-)
I started out on 20mg, played the waiting game and found this dose was suitable and recovered on it.. I've never taken a higher dose.
It's very painful and uncomfortable waiting, and so very tempting to up a dose thinking it will work quicker or will make things better. Wrong. It'll make things worse. Each dose needs the waiting game played.
So much patience and perseverance is needed on these meds.
40mg might be the dose for you, but then again so might 30mg or even 20mg. But you need to wait moths for one to settle first.
Hope that makes sense.
Personally I'd wait it out, but of course you need to see your doctor on this.
K x
lorraine52317 katecogs
Posted
You really make a lot of sense. I think the go agreed to 40 as I asked for it. You hit the nail on the head of think I'm becoming impatient and not giving the dose time. The road seems so long and arduous but having you all here makes you keep willing yourself to go on with the uphill walk!
Thank you so much your advice makes so much sense.
God bless
Lorraine xx
barbara39684 lorraine52317
Posted
hi Lorraine I ha e been taking Citalopram 20mg for 6 weeks not really any improvement feel like coming off them should I have seen an I provement
feel like giving up
thanks x
lorraine52317 barbara39684
Posted
That happened to me too. I have now been on 30mg for a week and think on reflection I am not a lot better. But the advice from katecogs on here made sense that I need to give it longer before going up again. I think 6 weeks is a enough to know if your dose is working. I would suggest seeing if your feeling no relief it worth speaking to your gp about a possible increase.
I really wish you well Barbara and fully understand how challenging this illness is.
God bless and willing you a successful swift recovery
Lorraine xx
jim48507 katecogs
Posted
katecogs lorraine52317
Posted
Taking these meds isn't a quick fix - it's not like taking a painkiller or antibiotics where you start noticing the difference straight away almost. You wouldn't expect a broken leg to heal in a couple of weeks, and even when it starts knitting together it's another month or 2 after that before your leg feels back to normal and able to walk properly or resume sport. It's the same on these meds. Treat it as a broken leg ...... initially 6 weeks, then add another 2 months, maybe.....
Some people start on a small dose of Cit, suffer side effects, see no change quickly, up the dose and get more side effects so up it again to the max. Finding this just doesn't suit them, it's then reduced giving them withdrawl symptoms, and what with that mixed with the side effects still makes for a very uncomfortable ride. In the end they withdraw completely thinking they're not suitable for them ..... and in the meantime suffer horrendous withdrawal symptoms.
The road is long - very, very long ..... and progress is so very, very slow. It does make us impatient especially we can't see any sign of improvement - not one glimmer. But, all this time, the meds are working in the background, building up in your body. You don't suddenly wake up better either - recovery comes in patches - here one minute, gone the next, here for an hour, gone again, here for a few days/weeks, gone for weeks. Each time the low times get less intense and the happy times get stronger and longer ....... this period takes a few months too.
I've been through this years ago, and now my son has too. For him it took around 6 months to start feeling better ... having 4 months off work as he was so ill. It was horrendous watching him as I knew exactly how he was feeling. He's now recovered, happy and back to normal - still on medication. It was only a year ago he became ill too.
You will get there, but just be patient, and persevere ..... and when you feel you can't go on, just remind yourself you're another day nearer and be patient some more.
K xx
katecogs barbara39684
Posted
The wait is worth it :-)
katecogs jim48507
Posted
Week 2 is still the beginning. Doctors really underestimate how long these meds take to work. You don't see any sign of recovery for a really long time - nothing at all, and if anything, you'll feel worse for a while. I just did a long reply to Lorraine that's worth reading. My son and have both been ill - took him 6 months to start feeling well. He's recovered now.
These meds are quite tough to endure ..... but the wait is so worth it. For me, 15 years of illness was cured in months. A few months is teeny compared to the years I was ill.
Keep on going - there's lots of support on here.
K x
lorraine52317 katecogs
Posted
So glad to hear that your son is better and I imagine that was such a difficult time for you both.
We are very blessed to have you on this site. Xxx
katecogs lorraine52317
Posted
Watching my son through this illness was one of the worst experiences of my life. That's why I felt the need to restart meds myself again last year, having come off them once. I needed to stay well for him.
I wish you well and hope your time will come soon too. Keep in touch, be great to hear your progress.
K xx
lorraine52317 katecogs
Posted
I have looked at your response you posted to me a few days ago and just wanted you to know how very much that helped me. I've reread it at least five times over the last few days. Can I please ask you your views on lack of energy. I have been mainly in bed the last four months and although my head is feeling clearer my body doesn't seem to be at the same pace.
I try to walk around the block daily but am finding the prospects of going anywhere else frightening. It's my daughters 30th birthday tomorrow and she desperately wants me to join her for her birthday breakfast out in our local area. I don't know why going out is causing me such a problem.
Wondered if you or your son had experienced this?
Warmest wishes to you
Lorraine x
katecogs lorraine52317
Posted
You do seem to be suffering with lack of energy don't you. These meds can make you feel tired, especially in the early weeks/months, and of course when upping the dose. It does usually settle down once the meds level out.
It may be worth checking this out with your doctor though. It could be age related - I know my energy isn't what it used to be, and of course a high dose can make you feel more tired.
My son yawned a lot when he was first on these meds, but he doesn't do that now and has no problem with energy. He is 21 so probably full of life :-) I don't have as much energy as when I was younger, but I do weekly sports which help energized me. I do have one problem with tiredness and that's when I drive anywhere for a long distance - I struggle sometimes, fighting against sleep and have to park up somewhere. Only happens on some journeys. Annoying, but I cope with it.
Walking round the block daily is good, and maybe in time you should feel the benefits. Having a good diet helps too - fruit and veg, water little processed food, and no fizzy drinks.
Explain to your daughter of this tiredness problem, and do go out with her - maybe just take it easy, sit somewhere cosy.
I'd definitely chek out with your doctor.
lorraine52317 katecogs
Posted
Really feel like a lower today! But you are right I think I need a chat with doc and in the meantime try and get up and go for a coffee at least with my daughter.
Thank you from the heart for responding xx xx xx
Wishing you and your son continued good health xx
God bless
katecogs lorraine52317
Posted
Yes do see your doc, just for a good check up.
Keep in touch.
K xx
lorraine52317 katecogs
Posted
God bless x
katecogs lorraine52317
Posted
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