Posted , 6 users are following.
I've been on 20mg for 6 months but felt depression kicking back in 3 weeks ago. Doctor suggested an increase to 30mg. Since then I've been really anxious, had insomnia most nights and am really down for no reason. I'm at my wits end, will I always have to deal with these feelings? Can anyone help? Thanks x
0 likes, 19 replies
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David_21660 linnyM1978
Posted
More experienced "forumers" will join soon I am sure, I thought as I was here I would say Hi!
You have about two months on me, but I started on 10mg went up to 20mg at the start of the 2nd month, then 30mg the start of the 3rd month. Went to the Docs today and she advised to stay at 30mg for the moment.
Whether you started to high or not right for you I cannot say, I'm not a Doctor. However, since joining the forum I have heard that some people take longer than others to get and especially see the benefit themselves. Cita causes me anxiety so that it could treat my anxiety, sounds weird, but quite common the wonderful people here have advised. At night, really bad dreams, if I got up once, twice whatever I would either return to the same dream or start a fresh one! Believe me that got me well down, until I asked for help and someone suggested I took the tablets just before bed. I did just that and I still dream, but only once (I think!).
I was just saying to someone else just now I am pretty up at the moment, I know. I also know later I may very well be down, buit I try to look forward to the ups and that is sometimes all I can do.
I have had some pretty bad feelings and even dark thoughts (perhaps not as bad as some) and I have managed to accept these through the help and advise of some wonderful people here.
There is also the question that someone raised here recently and advised on which was hormones v chemical imbalance which can effect all of us, obviously in different ways. Hopefully or maybe some of the other (as I said more experienced) forumers may be able to help more with that.
Things are slowly getting easier for me, but at a very, very slow rate, but each one is a plus and I try to ignore the downs, but it ain't that easy. Just gotta keep on trying to move forward and keep posting here, they are a wonderful bunch!
All the best,
David
linnyM1978 David_21660
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michelle48123 linnyM1978
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Don't panic ok. You have just has a dose increase which will take a little while for your body to get used to again..i had this exactly when I moved from 10 -20mg it is normal to feel anxiety as this I a common side effect of the drug. As for feeling down..this is why u have been given the increase, just like when you first started taking citalopram it would have taken 4-6 wks to properly start working. Because the 20mg wasn't enough moving up to 30 is like starting from scratch all over again and unfortunately a fresh dose of side effects come with it. You should start to see an improvement with the anxiety in a week and soon after your mood should start to lift..i hope tho is of help and reassurance, but if you don't see an improvement in ur symptoms within the next two weeks then go back to ur GP and possibly discuss a different medication. Let me know how you get on xx
linnyM1978 michelle48123
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michelle48123 linnyM1978
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michelle48123 linnyM1978
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Luke7580 linnyM1978
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linnyM1978 Luke7580
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Luke7580 linnyM1978
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linnyM1978 Luke7580
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Luke7580 linnyM1978
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katecogs linnyM1978
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Yes you've got dose increase side effects. They'll ease off in time.
When taking medicine you might find your depression returning after months of feeling well. This is normal, and it doesn't mean the meds aren't working, it's often just the normal route this illness and recovery takes. It's such a pain and it feels like you're back to square one again.
It takes so long to recover - being up and down for months, and even after feeling well for ages you can suddenly feel down again.
My experience is to let the down feeling be there, try not to worry about it or analyse it too much (I know, easier than done), try and go about life as calmly as possible, know that this will pass, know that those constant negative and often scary thoughts are just thoughts stuck in a tired mind that keep bouncing around. Try and exercise regularly, try and find something absorbing to do, socialise lots if you're able to, and laugh lots too.
Try not to don't race around trying to get rid of it all ... It'll go in it's own time.
It's often such a long, tiresome and rocky road to recovery.
K x
David_21660 linnyM1978
Posted
Yep, agree with other comments, tis nice too know yer not alone isn't it!
Dose increase side effects has happened with both my increases and as katecogs basically said before, just gotta go with it, let it happpen and don't worry too much, if you can!
One thing is that each time, you may have an idea of what is coming. Any thing different, I think oh! that's interesting, yuk!
Regards,
David x
katecogs David_21660
Posted
Hows it going with you? K x
David_21660 katecogs
Posted
Not too bad thank you. I have levelled out at 30mg at the moment and everything is fairly calm. Had a few bad nights with dreams again, but I am hoping this was due to having to think about the reason I am here.
Doctor feels that it will be anything up to a year as I am coping now.
I have started to look into a change of career and semi retiring. After suffering from work related stress and being here has made me realise that there are a lot of us out there needing help. Obviously, there are other types of stress and problems people have so, I am looking for the right kind of course at diploma level to help.
My downs are far less than the ups and I have returned to art and design in the meantime which has helped me chill. I have been decorating the house which has been good therapy too! I have been out four times on my own since December, all in the last 5 weeks so, that is getting better too! Ann and I took my daughter back to her Mum after staying the weekend with us and we jumped on another bus and went for quite a ride and everything was ok!
One day at a time, mind you I hope I don't crash and if I do the positives will prevail!
How are you?
David x
katecogs David_21660
Posted
thats all sounds so good! You went up to 40mg didn't you ..... so you found 30mg is a good dose - that's great. Hey, a course! Sounds good! To hear you talk about that sounds like you're getting back on track - when really ill, there's no interest at all.
Very therapeutic, decorating. Strangely I like stripping wallpaper .... find it very satisfying. Don't like putting it back up mind :-)
How many people do I know who've been off sick with work related stress! I left my job over 2 years ago because of the boss from hell caused me so much stress, so I just left. Best thing I ever did!
Hey, that's very spontaneous jumping on a bus! Sounds great fun :-)
It does take some people longer to recover .... I'm so glad you're feeling more ups now. And if you do get any more downs, remember you can do it, you've been there before, and if you wait again, it'll all pass again. The positives will win through.
Bless you :-)
K x
David_21660 katecogs
Posted
Yes, it appears that things really are levelling out, but I felt like this before and crashed a bit a few times. However, that was before, this is now and I have to look forward.
I have the support of a beautiful woman who holds me when I need it and it is a very warm and safe feeling.
I gave up smoking and cut out the drinking end of November. I also used to roll a small one paper J once every few months to help with the arthritis, but I haven't done this either since being prescribed. Mind you, since taking cita my knees, which have been very bad in the past are much better! Okay, they can never be "better", but are not so much of a pain! I also realise the life style change may have something to do with it too! We share the odd 500ml bottle of the various ales that are on offer and when better or where I am comfortable we shall socialise, but that is for the future.
Hopefully, I can find the strength to fulfill my new dream as bullying appears to be rife. For example, a friend of ours who is an A&E Staff Nurse has just returned after stress related leave, albeit on reduced hours and, eventually, she may change speciality. She has revealed to us that she was drinking to excess and the reason she has only now returned, finally, is that her manager has retired, who was bullying her and others! This is adults putting up with someone and I mean some "one" like that and ending up feeling, in the end, suicidal!
If I do have the strength to continue this dream then every aspect of why we end up here has to be considered I feel, every aspect of modern day love and life, bearing in mind hormonal and chemical imbalances which the late Mel00616 emailled me info about. Grief and learning to live or cope with it too.
Re Mel, I say late because, the powers that be, here, deleted her after a complaint from, definitely, not one of us! Possibly a site stalker!
I have sent a message to them, but as there is no direct link, I don't know if they have receievd it or if they have, even looked at it yet, asking to reconsider. She put so much in and so many were following her, as we do you, because of your experience and wisdom. It does seem a little harsh to delete her for something she said to one of us. I have read what she said and feel, ok, it may, just, have breached the T & Cs, but they should have at least talked to her, at most warned her! Not delete and leave some people emotionally hurt.
Anyway, there I go, I tend to live my life fighting for good over evil, but evil, again, has a growing grip these days as we can see by the news - and for what? A few more pounds at the end of the day and sadly they are so blinded they can't see, where they are going, they can't take it with them and, that it is costing Mother Earth!
Now you're wondering oh! my giddy aunt he's barking! Or you may realise I am just someone who has a social conscience.
Thank you Kate, I had a bit of a rant there and do feel pretty good, no buzzing in the ears! First time since going sick!
If I don't hear from the site by the end of the day, I think I'll post to everyone what I sent them, start a bring back Mel campaign! Doloroso and a few others have left because of it already.
Lovely talking with you (and having a little rant!). Bless you!
Best Regards,
David x
katecogs David_21660
Posted
Yes bullying is rife - my husband had a taste of it some years ago, and eventually it made his decision to leave easy too. An ex work colleague was also harassed by the same boss who harassed me, and after being off work for months with stress from it she took her to a tribunal too - unfortunately lost though. Has since moved on to another job and is happy and well again. Sorry to hear your nurse friend had a rough time too .... it's disgraceful that adults like her Manager and my ex boss have to behave like children in a playground. They're often very manipulative, and are usually quite clever too in how they do it. Sadly it's all too common these days :-(
Hey I didn't know Mel00616 had gone! What happened? Someone complained about her? Oh that's sad .... what on earth for though? Someone who has helped many people gets treated like that :-(. People in this group suffer enough with their illness .... She can always sign up again I suppose under a different name? Message me all about it.
No you're not barking .... just a good person fighting someone's cause ;-) Rant on, til good for the soul.
K x