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Update 20mg citalopram to 30mg

Posted , 6 users are following.

garyflinn
garyflinn

spoke to out of hours GP last night regarding my medication , was on 30mg citalopram mornings , 15mg mirtazapine night time and 10mg amitriptyline in evening , was advised to stop the mirtazapine and amitriptyline but continue on 30mg citalopram , didn't take the amitriptyline last night , continued to take the mirtazapine as I wouldn't sleep . Woke this morning with stomach and back pain still but head is really foggy , muted and kind of blunted , focus off too , 9th dose of citalopram at 30mg taken this morning . Fed up of feeling like this .

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Marf
    Marf garyflinn

    Posted

    So glad you spoke to someone, I was really worrying about you xxx if you think that when you first start taking Citalopram then you feel totally sh1t for at least 3-4 weeks, if you're upping the dose then you're prob doing the side effects all over again 😬 the good bit is that having done 9 days you're half way to feeling better! Just sit back and know you're allowed to feel rubbish for another week or so (I know this is the hardest part EVER) keep going and keep speaking to the professionals (although some seem to know more than others!) and us xxx big hugs xxx
  • Richardt
    Richardt garyflinn

    Posted

    It will be OK Citalprom does miracles but takes time, it has done miracles for me.
    • Foxy_polly
      Foxy_polly Richardt

      Posted

      Hi Richard how long did it take to work miracles for you and what dose are you on? I'm on 20mg and 12 weeks in although I'm better than I was I still get anxiety every day although not as bad and I can control it better! My appetite is still not great and I still over think things! Would just be nice not to have to struggle so much and wake up with no churning in my tummy!
  • Foxy_polly
    Foxy_polly garyflinn

    Posted

    Hi Gary so glad you spoke to someone it is rough but it does slowly get better! I went up to 30mg for 10days and had to go back to 20mg as I was awful and doc said 30mg was too high for me once I went back on 20mg the high anxiety reduced some what!
  • Sourgirl
    Sourgirl garyflinn

    Posted

    Well done for speaking to someone Gary. I hope you are feeling a little better today? As Marf says, it is just a matter of time before the meds kick in properly for you. Hang in there and remember you are not alone. I am on week 9 and still not feeling back to 'normal', although I am better than I was at weeks 1-4 - which was undoubtedly the worst month of my life (high anxiety, intrusive thoughts, very tearful etc). This is a longer process than any of us would hope for, but you will feel better, incrementally, over time. Thoughts are with you and anyone else reading who is having difficulties like this. Hang in there. Lots of hugs X
  • katecogs
    katecogs garyflinn

    Posted

    Hi Gary

    It often happens that when people first start Citalopram, or other SSRI's, they don't get better quick enough and so think they need to up their meds.  This won't make you better any quicker.

    This medication takes a long long time to work, and whilst you're waiting you will feel rough for weeks and weeks - probably months.  These meds don't work like paracetamol or antibiotics where you see an improvement within a week or so ....... so thinking your meds aren't working and your aren't seeing any improvement, you get your dose upped making you feel worse than ever.

    When you start these meds you have to stay on either 10mg or 20mg and get through the uncomfortable side effects and then following that your mood will be up and down for many more weeks.  Often 3-4 months, or even longer, you will only then start to feel an improvement.

    Its a very difficult and uncomfortable period to get through, and this is when people often rush to get their meds upped and result in more side effects.  You will then probably get back to the same up and down period that everyone seems to go through.

    These meds are no quick fix.  You can't ease the anxiety.  You have to just wait and get through all the horrible side effects and then wait a long long time for things to happen.  These meds don't work in weeks - it's more like months.  As each month goes by, that's when you see teensy changes.

    I've been exactly the same position as you.  I felt so ill, so desperate for it all to stop, I plagued my doctor with appointments and phone calls as I just didn't know what to do with myself.  Eventually I just carried on as best I could and very slowly over many months I began to notice small changes.

    You may need 30mg ..... but your body needs to get used to one dose a long time before you can tell.

    My son went through exactly the same and it took him longer to get better than I had done many years ago.  He couldn't get out of bed, was off work for 4 months and lost so much weight.  He shook, sobbed, was terrified and just looked dreadful ...... but we took him out every day for exercise, I gave him extra small meals, talked to him and reassured him, went to the doctors with him always ...... and was just there for him.  From what he went through a year ago to now, he is now back to himself again and already reducing his medication.

    You will be fed up with it all ..... but remember, you're not well, you are recovering, and even if you can't see it yet, you will get better.  Tell yourself daily that you are recovering, just as it takes time for a broken leg to heal ..... it takes time for this illness to heal ...... much time.

    You will get there xxxx

    Sorry for the long post.

    K xx

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