Is this a blip? Do you guys have blips while on medication long term?

Posted , 2 users are following.

This is my second round on citalopram and now i been on it for 2 years. Just like the first time side effects were horrible but eventually it helped so much i felt no anxiety at all. I had slight blips time to time but yesterday and today it has been really bad, all these thoughts are back, scared medication stopped working and i am doomed, bad stomach cannot eat anything.

Are these sort of blips normal, does anyone else have them 2 years in on antidepressants, do they go away?

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Posted

    Have you had anything that has caused more stress lately etc ? I've taken all the SSRI's over many years and have found that if my life was getting more stressful for whatever reason,it seemed like the antidepressant was having to work harder and I would experience a return of some side effects similar to when I had started the medication. The more intense and longer the stress continued,the worse the side effects would become until sometimes it almost felt like I'd stopped the medication altogether. We are not immune to the stress that life brings and that brings detrimental effects to us all,wether you're on medication or not. There is a phenomenon where people say their antidepressant stops working completely,but I think that occurs after many years,much more than 2 years I think,and I've never experienced that. Hope that helps and I'm sure things will improve again soon.

    • Posted

      Thank you Ian, for your reply, i did get some reassurance from it. Its just weird because i been taking medication regularly and out of nowhere it seems this anxiety hit me like a ton of bricks. I mean there are some normal stressors in my life right now and could be that it just all build up. I think the anxiety was triggered by this show I was watching because I felt so anxious while watching it. (need to stay away from psychological thrillers, last time it was also triggered by some show lol) What I hate is that this makes you feel so hopeless and I get that anxiety loop in my head that is hard to get out of. So you think it is just a blip and it will pass? Have you ever had a pretty bad blip while on medication yourself?

  • Posted

    Yes, it's just a temporary setback. What you have to realise though with these medications are that they are not a 100% cure, especially for anxiety which is caused by the way we think about things,worrying too much, overthinking etc. You have to help yourself as well as taking medication eg. meditation,deep breathing,diet and exercise,walking and appreciating nature etc. These times are especially stressful with the pandemic, and I personally have stopped watching the news,papers and any programs dealing with anything stressful and sometimes I will avoid anything too upsetting on tv. The more you worry about becoming worse,the worse the anxiety will get, anxious about being anxious. Accept that it's nothing but a small setback and things will return to normal. Take care.

    • Posted

      Thank you for the encouraging words. I think it is easy to forget to look after yourself and practice mindfulness when you are feeling fine and anxiety is not there. In away i am grateful for these blips as it helps me to realize that its time to look after myself better and sit down and see what is making me stressed. I doubt the medication just stopped working it has not been that long, plus I notice when the weather gets bad this is when i start getting the anxiety. Have not changed the brand so i dont think its related. Corona definitely does not help, that's for sure. How are you doing yourself? its nice of you to help people on here, we are all so desperate.

  • Posted

    Have you swapped brands recently of the medication? Generic medication when swapping brands can make a difference. Otherwise,check out Dr Tracey Marks on YouTube,Can antidepressants stop working.

  • Posted

    I've been on here many many times in the past when I've been really ill starting Citalopram,and found great comfort from people in a similar situation, whereas when I first started taking SSRI's many years ago there was nothing. Have taken Citalopram a few different times for quite a few years,but at the moment I'm on Fluvoxamine for the first time. I started in March and was very ill on that as they all make things worse in the beginning, there's nothing for Fluvoxamine as it's mainly given for people with OCD so I came back to this site again.

    The onset of winter,stress of the pandemic,modern living and everything else,all builds up in our subconscious and creeps up on us without us realising. And watching psychological thrillers! Watch comedies instead and you'll be fine,Ha.

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