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increase of citalopram from 20mg to 40 mg!

Posted , 43 users are following.

emma800627
emma800627

I started talking citalapram about 8 weeks ago after suffering with sudden anxiety which started to make me feel depressed. I was such a wreck at the time that I took myself to the docs for help and they suggested a 20mg dosage. I had horrible side effects to start with nausea, dizzyness, lost a stone in weight. Eventually I felt like I was improving but after starting counselling the more I opened up the worse I felt. At week 8 I had a complete meltdown with my husband and dad and declared exactly how I felt! Sad, lonely and like I wanted to give up! So off I went back to the docs to say that I felt like I was back at square one but at least everybody knows how I really feel!!!My doc has increased my dosage to 40mg but OMG I did not expect to feel how I do! I cried almost continuously for 5 days. The nausea is much worse than before and I have started losing weight again.I am just after any words of advice or reassurance that this will get better? I cant cope with anything feeling so ill and I actually think that's why I feel much worse at the moment.Also does anubody know how long the effects of the increase will take to actually work?Thanks x

6 likes, 54 replies

54 Replies

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  • Guest
    Guest emma800627

    Posted

    Unfortunately magic pills rarely work.

    You are in control not the pills.

  • pamela12996
    pamela12996 emma800627

    Posted

    I had no real side effects to taking 20 BUT I just increased to 40 a few weeks ago due to some stresses in my life ( frustrated from the after effects of a bad fall which resulted in many injuries) I have felt worse since. My pain is worse and I am missing my usual joy in my life. Anyone else???
    • liz61542
      liz61542 pamela12996

      Posted

      Hi Pamela. I too had an accident and didn't realise until it crept up on me how depressed and anxious I was going to become. Partly lack of sleep through pain but also other family problems which have surfaced in this period. I was originally taking 20 mg and had been on this dose for many years and am just increasing to 30 though doing it gradually because of side effects and getting some increased anxiety and last night insomnia. Do you feel any better now? 

  • loz2505
    loz2505 emma800627

    Posted

    Hi Emma

    I'm on day 8 of increase from

    30mg to 40, feel shocking sick anxious scared, how long do I hang out for? Plodded along on 20mg for years till I stressed myself out. Please tell me this wares off, I'm scared xx

  • gail0278
    gail0278 emma800627

    Posted

    I have been on 20 mg for 4 weeks. Still cried alot feeling really tired and angry. Doctor just put me on 30 mg 2 days ago having a headache now. I too would like to know about the time it takes for meds to work.
    • dianna11457
      dianna11457 gail0278

      Posted

      It took about 1 month before I and others noticed a  difference in me.  However, other than feeling tired at first I had no side effects that I am aware of. I do take Clonazapram 1mg with it daily for anxiety and it really makes a difference. I have to take the Clonazapram 45 minutes before I start working or I will have a panic attack as my job is extremely stressful. 
  • Icklenat
    Icklenat emma800627

    Posted

    Hi Hun, just bare with it, trust it and let it take its course, when you feel stressed, spaced out or feel anything that's not 'normal' take time out, go to a dark room, sit/lay and just breath, think of things you love, places where you want to be, and just imagine your there with the things you love around you, take time for yourself, 5,10,15 minutes, whatever it takes, after a few weeks you'll think "what was all that about" smile xx

  • heather05784
    heather05784 emma800627

    Posted

    I started taking citalopram about 12 weeks ago. Started with 10mg for three weeks. Nothing...no side effects no change...nothing! Increased to 20mg and still really nothing. About 4 weeks ago I was bumped to 40mg. I really don't feel many side effects. The most noticeable being just feeling "blah" my sex drive has decreased significantly, I yawn constantly, and the occasional bout of dizziness. I am really not feeling much better. I was put on this due to constant jittery..and anxiety. Possibly depression. Still not sure. I don't sleep more than 5 hours, constantly tired and just no motivation. Always worried about every little thing. (But no one has ever noticed) I think I handle it quite well. I am not sure that medication can help me. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

  • deby59043
    deby59043 emma800627

    Posted

    My dr. put me on citalopram 40mg, after I was taken to ER feeling like I was going to pass out.My BP was extremely high my pulse was 120.. they said I had hyperventilated, after  ER did several tests on my heart & lungs, ruling out clots, etc,  This happened 5 days ago ,,, saw may dr on Thursday, thats when he wrote RX for this med.. last nite, watching tv, here comes the tingling up my back, so I lamaze  breathing, even got paper bag breathing in it, nothing worked.. so , I took another Carvediol, plus Lisinopril ,waited 30 minute more, my BP was 168/112.. pulse was 120.Called 911, but thank God, after another 30. passing the feeling & tingling went away, so I just went to bed & was ok.. Woke up this am my hands were shaking, I felt terrible, this started after taking this pill.. Any advice for me?  I've never had a panic attack. thats what I was diagnosed with. Just siting here watching tv , then BOOM, out of nowhere, tingling, high BP &Pulse.. hard to breath, feel like im. swelling up in my throat..

    • kelly58470
      kelly58470 deby59043

      Posted

      Did your doctor start you right on 40 mg?! If so, no wonder you had a panic attack, as a result of the side effects.

      ?Normally, doctors will start you off slow to try to decrease the side effects, which can be unpleasant: nausea, diarrhea, increased anxiety, increased depression, insomnia, and other not fun things. From what I've read on these forums, many (most?) doctors will start a patient off on 10 mg, and then increase to 20 mg. Then, if that dosage isn't effective after several weeks, they'll increase to 30 and possibly 40 mg.

      ?Like you, I was moved up fast: one week at 20 mg, then bumped up to 40 mg. Horrible, awful side effects. I will never let a doctor increase my dosage that fast again.

      ?I would schedule an appointment with a doctor first thing tomorrow morning , preferably a different doctor than the one who prescribed you 40 mg. right off the bat. Citalopram could very well be effective for you, but I think you need to increase much slowly, under a doctor's care.

    • lois95799
      lois95799 deby59043

      Posted

      What an idiot of a doctor to put you to 40instantly I have never heard of that.. increases happens gradually...you should consult with your doctor again.. citalopram in the beginning causes high blood pressure especially at that dose...
    • deby59043
      deby59043 kelly58470

      Posted

      Yes he put me on it 40 mg, , I have never been on anything except Xanax. I had been to the ER with symptoms of numbness, Blood pressure is extremely high., Pulse rate 120. They did numerous test and asked me to follow up with my family doctor. He said he thought it was a panic attack and prescribed 40 mg. Thank you all for your replies. He told me he was going to fix this & walked out and the nurse walked in with the RX.  

    • deby59043
      deby59043 lois95799

      Posted

      I hope to do that Monday morning. Thank you for your response.
    • deby59043
      deby59043

      Posted

      I just stop taking the medication altogether. I let his office know how it affected me. I already feel better today. How about y’all have a great day!
    • deby59043
      deby59043 lois95799

      Posted

      Thank you so much. My blood pressure just shot  up again. Going back to bed sure hope all these symptoms go away by tomorrow   
    • lois95799
      lois95799 deby59043

      Posted

      I know is good to have that blood pressure machine around.but my phychiatrist told me to hide machine because all I did all day was check my blood pressure..and checking always gave me high readings because when your nervous about the readings is always going to give you high readings..
    • deby59043
      deby59043 lois95799

      Posted

      Lol.  Only check mine when I Can tell my heart rate is up, being a surgical technician is not hard to figure that out, so I know when my heart rate goes up to 120 my blood pressure is got to be a part two. Going to try to sleep a while. It was nice sorta meeting you. Maybe one day we can exchange phone numbers if you like. But right now let’s just all get to feeling better! Night night! ❤️
    • deby59043
      deby59043

      Posted

      Just checking to see how you are doing. I finally got that med out of my system, the c word, have it marked on all my records as allergic to it. I find it strange that they call it s “happy pill” when all it did for me was cause more anxiety. Sure hope you have a great day!!  
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