Struggling a bit!

Thanks! im assuming 4 weeks plus then to feel benefit?

yeah,your assumption is correct. It will probably take a while depending on the severity of your symptoms. The worse you are the longer it will take.

sorry to add to this thread but you seen to know a lot Ian so wanted a bit of help.

I am on 20MG for 3 weeks too. before that i did 6 weeks at 10MG. i still feel very anxious like a buzzing feeling and very easily stressed too. is this normal still? am i expecting too much too soon? i have seen people say they take longer but is this really true?

also is 20mg classed still as a

low dose? i am on this for anxiety not depression so not sure if i should just have stuck to the 10mg really.

any help would be amazing.

wakeford. i am 3 weeks on 20 too and even though i habe anxiety i habe had plenty of periods of feeling quite low too and low motivation since starting too. seems my moods are very confusing!

i used to have bad anxiety before and i used to take 10MG for it years ago and it worked well. They do say 4-6 weeks but I thought I would see some change in my mood recently. Will keep holding out to see what happens.

Hi,I saw your post and Lloyd's replies and they are accurate. If your primary condition is anxiety with associated low mood then you will be on a rollercoaster ride of heightened anxiety and periods of low mood for some time. 20mg Citalopram is the recommended minimum dose for depression and I would say to remain on that dosage for quite some time,months rather than weeks,to see some improvement in your anxiety. The instant improvement you experienced in the first week or so is what you will feel when everything settles down. Although you feel the anxiety more,there will be some underlying depression, and while you recover your emotions will be up and down and your anxiety will also increase and decrease. You could experience lots of different bodily sensations caused by sensitised nerves such as the buzzing and shaking etc which is caused by prolonged stress and worry you have been going through. The Citalopram will raise Serotonin levels in your brain which has been reduced by the constant stress,but the brain and your body will require time to adjust to the changes made by the medication. How long is different for everyone as we are all unique,but 12 weeks is a more realistic time frame for anxiety depending on the severity of your anxiety and your personal circumstances. I would also encourage you to look at the reasons that caused your stress and see what life changes can be made to reduce that stress,and address the negative thoughts that cause you to worry. CBT can help with the negative worrying which can be done with a therapist or by yourself from a book which I'm currently doing, mindfulness is also a great way of reducing worry. Meditation, exercise,diet are all helpful. I would urge you to consider all these things to help you on your journey of recovery and not totally rely on the medication 100%. Empower yourself by helping yourself and all these things combined will being full recovery over time. Take care.

Thank you for your reply. I hope your mood lifts for you soon.

Thank you so much for taking the time and writing this. I have found it helpful and informative too.

One very quick question I have is. why is it that anxiety increases at first? when upping a dose or taking citalopram? why does this happen?

thanks

when you're stressed over a long period of time, Serotonin becomes depleted in your brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is involved in many functions in your brain,and in your body, including the stomach. When you take any antidepressant, especially an SSRI antidepressant,then you are trying to increase the Serotonin again in your brain. Unfortunately for us anxiety sufferers,when the brain detects the increased Serotonin it activates an anxiety circuit which causes even more anxiety. That is the hardest for us all to endure. Taking meds to help us when we are desperate,only to find it makes us worse. Watch Dr. Tracy Marks on YouTube,Why do antidepressants make you worse in the beginning for a detailed explanation. The only thing I disagree with what she says is that the anxiety will lessen in weeks,but lots and lots of people, including myself,takes months,for everything to settle. But,everyone is different.

thank you Ian. I just watched her video. So why do the doctors all say it only lasts a week or so this increased anxiety? Why do they also say the tablets work within 4 to 6 weeks if that isnt really the case?

that is what is making me feel worse as i feel like i should be getting better.

Thank you for all of the advice on lifestyle too. I am taking all of that onboard.

Hi,those are very good questions, and I could talk for hours over after taking SSRI'S for 30 years now for anxiety.

Firstly we are not robots where one spanner fits all bolts,we are human beings with very complicated minds, especially when it comes to anxiety conditions. We are all unique individuals with our own unique DNA, personality, history and upbringing, personal circumstances etc. No two people have the exact same problems. Lots of people on these forums ask,is this normal. There is no normal. Where one person could drink 10pints of lager and not get drunk, another could get drunk after just 5 pints. Secondly,if you go to the mental health charity organisation Mind,they will tell you that 40% of all Dr.s appointments are mental health related,yet GP's have next to no training in such matters and only have 10 minutes to deal with you,if you live in the UK.. They will tell you the general guidance given by the drug companies or NHS like we are robots. Antidepressants will raise your Serotonin levels and greatly improve your condition,but they can't change the way you think, your circumstances,your unhealthy diet,no exercise etc. My own experience tells me that you use antidepressants as a crutch to help you start walking again. They can be 75% effective,but to get to 100% you have to work on yourself by correcting your negative thoughts,changing your stressful circumstances if you can,altering your unhealthy diet,sugar rushes, caffeine,etc Modern living is especially stressful,so we have to make extra care to have means of relaxation in our lives, like taking the time for ourselves to walk in nature if we can. All these things can make a difference however small. Take care.

thank you Ian for explaining all of this to me and your support.