Need some help
Posted , 3 users are following.
So i started Citalopram nearly 7 weeks ago at 10mg for 3 weeks and then went up to 20mg, where I've been for nearly a month. I was set to start a new job today but I've had to delay it due to not being able to sleep and catastrophising this morning, along with low mood and stress. I'm using citalopram to hopefully help me through a particualrly stressful and changing period. I've got a history of periodic crippling anxiety/stress/depression and I'm also a recovering drug addict. I've always been against taking AD's in the past but my new found sobriety has changed my perspective on it all and I really do need some extra help.
My mood seems to have been getting lower these last few days and I'm struggling to see how I'm going to get better. Could just do with some advice on where I'm at and similar stories... I'd say so far my side effects have been pretty awful, and I'm just praying my situation improves soon. Thanks in advance !
0 likes, 5 replies
yuss88 liam47836
Edited
hi liam! so when you upped the dose your timeline reset so it is 4-5 weeks for you now. the first 12-16 weeks are the most tough with side effects that come and go. also along the way you will have days or weeks of improvement followed by days or a week or so of setbacks - this is how recovery has worked for most of us. they are called "blips" and they pass and then you feel better again. stay on your dose for at least 16 weeks and as long as you are getting hours or days where you feel better this means the meds are working. slowly month by month the good days get better and start to outnumber the bad days. it is a slow and gradual journey with progress happening by months. everything you are currently experiencing is normal. as hard as it is try your best to carry on with a normal routine and make sure you get yourself out everyday for fresh air and a little walk even if you dont feel like it
liam47836 yuss88
Posted
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply I really appreciate it. It is reassuring to know that recovery takes longer than what we might think and that given I upped the dose I am still early on in this process. It's just difficult to see the wood through the trees when you are going through the difficult side effects though you know !
I just had another question if you could possibly help. One of the main reasons I'm taking Citalopram is because my body has been in a state of constant chronic stress since a series of difficult events around the start of 2021. This has manifested itself through various ways such as severe insomnia, anxiety, feeling completely overwhelmed etc... I've been in therapy and try to exercise when I can but the issues still remain so do you know if Citalopram can help with all this?
thanks again!
yuss88 liam47836
Posted
i know how horrible it is at the moment and unfortunately you are currently in the thick of it 😦 if you search katecogs posts on here you will find her advice - she has helped hundreds of us on here through this process. unfortunately doctors are wrong when they say it takes 4-8 weeks. some people are very lucky and it takes that long but most of us take much longer. i would say at least 3-4 months to start seeing improvements. i would definitely say citalopram will help you with managing the circumstances that have been causing you the chronic stress and coupled with therapy and exercise this should help a lot. i will inbox you the titles of a couple of books and a blog that really helped me
chasidy44859 yuss88
Posted
Hi, I was put on Sertraline 50mg for my third time already and was introduced to a nee medicine called Trazodone. I was always put on sertraline for my depression and anxiety. However, the MG i was on the 2 times before was 75mg. I stayed on both trazodone and sertraline for 2 weeks and couldnt deal. so i had her up my sertraline to 75mg and take me off the trazodone bc of the side effects. After 2 weeks, I had a episode of intrusive thoughts. I freaked out and got scared because i HATE having them thoughts. They are scary as crap and i hate having them. So she put me on Citalopram 20 mg as well as my hydroxicine. The intrusive thoughts are speratic and not all day everyday like they were 4 to 2 weeks ago but i still have them and wonder if this will pass? Ive been on anti depressants for 1 month and 2.5 weeks. Ive been on citalopram for 2 weeks tomorrow. The thoughts get scary bc i'm scared my depression will cause me to do it bc i know depression is scary. Im just a worrier. Having a phobia of being scared to die and them thoughts make it WAY worse. any tips on if the thoughts will eventually fade? any advise.
yuss88 chasidy44859
Posted
hi chasidy!
i know how horrible and scary intrusive thoughts are as i get them too. As the citalopram starts to work they will slowly decrease and you will find yourself being able to manage them better if they occassionally do come back. you will find yourself being able to brush them off instead of feeling anxious and scared by them. are you able to do CBT as that teaches you management strategies for the thoughts? also search katecogs old posts on the forum as she speaks about intrusive thoughts too. you are still early in your journey and the fact they have already decreased a bit is good.
i have tried to change the way i look at my intrusive thoughts. i get harm thoughts and i tell myself "this is just my brain warning me about what i should not do, but it is warning me in a messed up way" lol