Posted , 8 users are following.
Well I've been googling stuff on the internet wanting to find out whether Citalopram is likely to keep improving my mood over time and the answer is yes.
This has been really encouraging for me because although I have experienced an improvement in mood and my anxiety has definately reduced, I do not feel back to my normal self. Still feeling a bit low at times.
In layman's terms this is because people who suffer with depression have low levels of serotonin. When you take SSRIs it stops your body reabsorbing the serotonin it produces. This allows it stay in your system longer but the bit I was really pleased to hear is that the reason why it does not immediately improve mood is because the body needs receptors to receive the serotonin and people who suffer with depression have less receptors, making it harder for the serotonin to be taken up by the body. What SSRIs do over time is enable the body to produce more receptors allowing your body to receive more serotonin.
Just wanted to share because it explains why you need to give them a fair trial and also stay on them for a long time if you don't want a relapse. You need to ensure that the antidepressants have enabled your body to produce more receptors.
This is my 3rd episode of anxiety/depression. The first time was PND and I stayed on the antidepressants for 2 years and it didn't reoccur for 10 years. The second time I stayed on them 3 months as I recovered quickly but the depression/anxiety returned within 18 months, so I will be staying on them this time for at least 2 years. I'm on 20 mg of Citalopram now but will think about dropping down to 10 mg after about 6 months. I've only been on them 10 weeks.
Hope you find this information helpful - It made me feel much more hopeful.
1 like, 74 replies
Donna00112 anna78365
Posted
This all started in October 2016. I'm finally better after 6 months!
anna78365 Donna00112
Posted
Hi Donna, It's great to hear you're better. I was the same, my anxiety started in Oct 2016 also, but I was reluctant to go on antidepressants. I did eventually after Christmas. How long have you been taking Citalopram and what dose are you on?
Thanks
Anna
jayne20624 anna78365
Posted
anna78365 jayne20624
Posted
Hi Jayne, glad things are improving for you. Yes, I'm also taking Omega 3 supplements - i've also read they are beneficial.
Yes, the side effects are horrendous to start - hope the head pressure eases for you soon.
Good luck x
Leah1990 anna78365
Posted
I'm on week 6 of 20mg and I'm feeling gread almost back to my normal self. This drug is amazing
anna78365 Leah1990
Posted
That's great to hear. It's important that people post up their positive experiences because so often it's only when people are having a difficult time they post and it can be really daunting for others to read, so thanks for your positive message and i'm sure you will be fully recovered soon.
zoe62821 Leah1990
Posted
Hi Leah
How's things? Still great?
kain anna78365
Posted
Your post really helps me understand why it takes awhile to take effect but right now I'm in a tough spot . My doc advised me to go up to 40mgs since my anxiety came back now I've gone from 10-20-30 now to 40 over the course of 2 years. Ive only been on 40 for 2 days but I feel awful. I havnt felt this sick since I first started. I hope I start to feel better because on 20 and 30 I didn't feel like this.
anna78365 kain
Posted
Hi Kain, I feel for you. It's so tough. So many people on this site experience bad side effects when they up their dose but they go within 2-3 weeks. 40 mg is a high dose but I think if you are on antidepressants and you say to your doctor you are still suffering with anxiety they have no option but to up your dose. Did something trigger your anxiety? You don't have to give details but maybe you just need the higher dosage for a few months and then if things are better for you think of lowering it. I've heard 20 mg is the theraphuetic dose. I'm not an expert on this and you must get advise from your doctor but you do need to give these medicines time to work.
Hope things improve for you soon.
zoe62821 kain
Posted
Hi kain. I too am on 40mg. My meds have been upped quickly over 12weeks. I am 2weeks in on 40. Side effects of no appetite, sweating and extremely tired. Didn't wake up sweating this morning so I am seeing it as a positive.
Some days all I think about is the side effects but that's all they are. I didn't have these before the meds.
Things will improve.
Are you working? I'm on sick leave which was helpful at first but now I think I have too much time to think.
zoe62821 anna78365
Posted
I am on week 12 of citalopram and am still struggling.
I have joined this forum for encouraging words but feel like I may be exacerbating my thoughts.
The general view is my dosage has been increased too quickly but now I have been on 40 for 2weeks I feel I should persevere but the side effects on this jump are really bothering me.
Any advice?
anna78365 zoe62821
Posted
the medication becomes such a focus when you first start or you change dose but you will soon not give it too much thought when things settle down.
Another week and you should be over the worst.
Good luck. x
zoe62821 anna78365
Posted
Thanks Anna.
Have your side effects settled? Did you stay on the 20mg or have you upped?
My GP said that 20mg was the minimum dosage for treatment, 10 was just a tester. That's why he has increased because he believes that the meds should be at the maximum dose.
anna78365 zoe62821
Posted
Hi Zoe, yes my side effects have all gone now. Still get anxious at times and still feel a little low but I can notice an improvement so I have decided to stick with the 20 mg for a couple more months. I have been on 20 mg for 11 weeks now.
Did you notice any improvements while taking the lower dosages?
If you weren't then your gp must think you need the 40 mg. He will have plenty of experience with prescribing Citalopram so have faith in his advice.
zoe62821 anna78365
Posted
I told my doc when I was on the 30 that I felt OK once the side effects had settled. He said that wasn't good enough and I needed to go up.
I think I am just a bit needy at the moment and am needing lots of reassurance that I am moving in the right direction.
I don't want to change meds as I have faith they will work but it the getting the right dose that I am struggling with. My emotions change from one day to the next. Sometimes sad, sometimes anx. What improvement have you noticed?
When do you take your meds? I take in morning. Didn't want them to affect my sleep. Sorry I seem to be monopolising you but I really value your advice. As you may have gathered, today is a needy day xxx
anna78365 zoe62821
Posted
Hi Zoe, please feel free to ask for any advice or reassurance when you need it. I've been in the same position and know all to well what it feels like.
I take mine in the morning at 9 am after my breakfast.
You have only been on this dose for a couple of weeks so you will be feeling awfull. Just stick to this dose and give it chance to stabilise. I don't know why your gp upped the dose if you felt ok, but now you are on the higher dose just stick with it.
Things can improve so quickly and at 2 weeks on a change of dose you are bound to feel awfull. Over the next couple of weeks things should start to settle down.
I had the sweats, felt jittery, had morning anxiety, loss of appetite and now thankfully they are all gone.
I'm always around and happy to chat. xx
zoe62821 anna78365
Posted
Thanks Anna. You will wish you had never put that last comment ' I'm always around and happy to chat '
Are you free to chat now, I seem to be at a calm for the moment.? By
Do you work? I have been off for 8 weeks and am desperate to get back but I do not feel I will cope at work if I'm not getting to grips with the side effects.
I feel I am letting them rule my actions but feel so exhausted trying to fight them.
People say be good to yourself, rest when you need to but when do you know when you should challenge yourself?
anna78365 zoe62821
Posted
Hi Zoe, no worries honestly. I just popped out to get some shopping in before my kids got home.
I'm self-emplloyed and work from home so that takes a lot of pressure off, but i do miss the social side of going out to work.
I think that you will probably need another week maybe two off from work if you are anything like i was when i started taking the tablets and a change in dose is very similair - your body needs to adjust, just the same. At 3 weeks on Cit I told the doctor I was so sleepy and wanted to sleep all day and then by week 4 the sleepiness was gone. They say 2-3 weeks and it was for me.
I think it's too early to challenged yourself. I just slept and watched tv. treat yourself like you are off sick with the flu. I had my duvet on the sofa and made myself lots of cups of tea.
In a couple of weeks you could start challenging yourself a bit but don't worry about that for the time being. xx
zoe62821 anna78365
Posted
I feel so lazy if I rest too much. I feel like while I'm off work I need to keep things running at home. My oh is so supportive, maybe too much! If I say I don't want to do something he just gets on with it.
Are your children at an age where they understand how you are feeling?
Have you had a trigger or has this happened before?
anna78365 zoe62821
Posted
It won't be for ever but it is so hard to motivate yourself when you have side-effects.
My oh is also really supportive. We all need support from time to time. I'm sure you'd do the same for him if he was struggling.
My kids are both teenagers and they have no idea I have had any problems. It started for me back in October when I started having difficulty sleeping. It had been a hard year with family problems and financial problems and I was stressed and worried. I think the long term stress and the sleeping problems caused the anxiety. I had PND with my daughter also 17 years ago and had another episode about 4 years ago but that only lasted about 6 mnths. I think I came of the tablets too soon, but yes this has been my 3rd time on antidepressants.
I obviously need to learn to cope with things better. I'm just a born worrier.
I'm planning on staying on Cit for at least 2 years this time.
zoe62821 anna78365
Posted
I'm a worrier too, anything and everything, past or present. I also take on everyone else's worries.
Because of this I find it very had to show vulnerability so when I realised I needed help it has knocked my confidence. Maybe if I had found you sooner I might have questioned myself Gp alittle more.
You can't change what's happened, only deal with the here and now.
You sound like you are doing well anyway x
anna78365 zoe62821
Posted
yes, thanks Zoe. I am doing good considering what I was like before Christmas.
It has also been a knock to my confidence, but I'm starting to get it back slowly and I'm also starting to feel more positive about the future.
I'm also doing a CBT online for building confidence which my GP arranged. It's basically about taking a more positive outlook on yourself and life in general and has helped.
yes, so definately turned a corner. I know you will also soon. You sound like a fighter. xx
zoe62821 anna78365
Posted
Hi Anna. How are you today?
I had a good day yesterday but today is not as good. Back at docs tomorrow and just wondering what they might want to do?
Any advice? I'm thinking I should just continue with my current dose? X
anna78365 zoe62821
Posted
Hi Zoe, I'm a bit up and down these days. Not great today - not anxious just feeling low and demotivated. When I feel down I keep thinking should I up my dose and then the next thing i'm feeling ok and I think 'no I'll stick on this dose'.
Maybe your doctor has done you a favour getting you onto a high dose quickly. Get all the side-effects over with quickly. Yes, I also think you should just stick at your current dose for at least another month because your body won't have adjusted to this dose yet so you won't know whether it's working for you. I'm not a medic though and obviously take advice from your gp, but I wouldn't want to decrease it if I were you because people say everytime you increase or decrease you run the rist of side-effects.
Glad you had a good day yesterday - if you have one it proves you can have more and as time goes on they say that the good days increase and the bad days decrease.
Good luck at the docs and let me know how you get on. xx
zoe62821 anna78365
Posted
Sorry you are not feeling it today x
That's exactly how I feel today. I have things I want to do but it's taking me an effort to get them done. I just wanted to keep up the momentum from yesterday.
You are better than a doctor. At least you have solid evidence of how this drug works!
Will see what the doc says but I think I will stay as I am.
Thanks again. Chin up x
anna78365 zoe62821
Posted
zoe62821 anna78365
Posted
Hi Anna.
Sorry for not replying sooner. Oh was off yesterday so he made me help in the garden for distraction.
My docs appointment went well. Two weeks sick note and to continue on current dose. She agrees that as long as I am not getting worse then it's too soon to change anything.
I've not been as sweaty or fatigued for last few days so it may be a turning point. 23 days in ( is that week 4?) and I am being optimistic.
How are you doing??
anna78365 zoe62821
Posted
Hi Zoe,
No worries, gardening is very theraphuetic so good for him.
That's great news, just the thought of 2 more weeks off will help to relax you.
I'm much better today thanks. Been out for a long walk with my dogs and got some fresh air so feeling pretty relaxed.
You could well be turning a corner as on 23 days you're 2 days into your 4 th week and that's when most of the side effects subside.
Have a great weekend. xx
zoe62821 anna78365
Posted
I hope you are right. I'm usually having my dose increased at this point. Hopefully the benefits of this drug with shine through the clouds of side effects this time haha.
Hope you continue to feel better and have a good weekend too x
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