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Week 8 on 20mg

Posted , 7 users are following.

katie58615
katie58615

So iv been on 20mg for 8weeks now.

I was previously on citalopram for 4years for anxiety then me and my partner wanted to try for a baby so i gradually came off citalopram. After about 2months i was gettin tired cryin no motivation out of breath easily fast heart rate and losing weight i went to my GP she thought it was anxiety related as id came off citalopram (which makes sense although i cant help think theres something else wrong with my health- ecg fine bloods fine)! GP put me on fluoxetine (as its better than citalopram for during pregnancy) had horrendous side effects off fluoxetine i still dont feel right i also have bad acid reflux which comes and goes but with it brings anxiety as i think im gettin better then i feel crappy again no appetite feeling sick. Iv been off work 8weeks i feel useless at home on my own all day over thinkin and not much motivation. Id like to go back to work to occupy my mind a bit even tho i dont feel 100%. So now we have decided not to try for a baby and i am thi king do i stay on 20mg fluoxetine, up my dose or go back onto citalopram??!! Any advice would be appreciated thank you!!

0 likes, 56 replies

56 Replies

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  • monica62597
    monica62597 katie58615

    Posted

    Been on this seven weeks just had a big massive panic attack I guess!Hot dizzy breathless trembling badly feel like passing out!Why now so far on this med!Been on 20 mg for three weeks and 25 mg last 9 days.Seven weeks on med total!Why am I getting this now
    • monica62597
      monica62597

      Posted

      It was very scary!Still feel trembly and dizzy
    • katie58615
      katie58615 monica62597

      Posted

      What was you doing just before the painc attack? Have you looked for videos on meditation and breathin exercises? Anxiety causes anxiety, i know its sh*t!! Hlow are you feelin now?
  • monica62597
    monica62597 katie58615

    Posted

    Better now just have had a headache for a day and was cleaning my house. And got really high and then sat down to read a book to my phone and was getting more and more and hot and flushed and felt like I was gonna pass out and breathless and started shaking and then just had I guess a panic attack and I don't normally get those so I didn't know if this being at this 20 mg for a couple weeks if my bodies trying to adjust to the dose if this is normal to get a panic attack this far in on a mad when I didn't have them before.

    • katie58615
      katie58615 monica62597

      Posted

      Keep a note of how your feeling and let your doctor know next time you have an appointment so they can have a good idea of the side effects your experiencing. You just have to remind yourself its either the medication or your anxiety, you will be ok. Have a look at meditation it can be helpful!!
  • cookienz
    cookienz katie58615

    Posted

    How did you feel while you were on Citalopram for those years? Did you get weaned off it onto the new drug or just were changed?

    ​Maybe its better if you had no problems while on it to just go back on it

    Im on citalopram myself

    • katie58615
      katie58615 cookienz

      Posted

      I felt fine on citalopram but stupidly i weaned myself off it slowly as i wanted to try for a baby....i didnt realise how much i actually needed it!

      How long have you been on it? How are you feelin?

    • cookienz
      cookienz katie58615

      Posted

      Hi Katie, I was put on it about 9 years ago after my father passed away. Since then we have had some hard times like the sexually abuse of our small granddaughter whom is now in our care. Im keen to wean myself off but again life has thrown a curve ball at me like in Sept when I had a major operation for prolapse repairs then a few hours later had a major heart attack so once again Im reluctant to come off until things settle down. I had read in the past that it can be a hard drug to come off. I after reading your post will probably opt to stay on it as I dont need to start feeling down about life. Can you not go back on it? what is the problem with being on it whilst trying for a baby ? regards Kath
    • cookienz
      cookienz katie58615

      Posted

      Even with all the hassles I have not felt depressed so in my mind citalopram is working well for me. Ive also learnt some "coping" tricks!  I find a diary really helpful and make sure you write in the good stuff as well as the bad. Also I was told to "Box the Monkeys" in other words the stuff that is really getting you down can consume you so set times in the day to allow yourself time to think about it, for the rest of the time when ever it pops in your head tell yourself Im not thinking about this stuff until say 4pm I know it sounds silly but it worked for me and allowed my brain time to rest and not beat itself up Regards Kath

    • katie58615
      katie58615 cookienz

      Posted

      Im sorry to hear of your hard times!!

      Im glad it works well for you i felt it worked well for me too.

      I feel so guilty beacuse like you have had upsetting things happen on your life i havnt been through bad things really. I got a new job moved house got engaged n started plannin a weddin and also came off citalopram and my anxiety went through the roof. I had a lot goin on but not bad things. But still i was over thinking all the time and i suffered mentally and physically.

      Taking them during pregnancy has risks on the baby im not totally sure. I believe fluoxetine is licensed during pregnancy even though there still are risks and also many people still take citalopram during pregnancy.

    • cookienz
      cookienz katie58615

      Posted

      Morning Katie, thanks for replying. No wonder you have had some struggles its a huge thing starting a new job, moving house and planning a wedding on top of everything. Probably on looking back if you read a similar post you may advise someone else not to come off such a powerful drug whilst they had so much going on. The chemicals our bodies become used to are not always easy to wean off which is probably why you are experiencing panic attacks. Stay strong keep posting, be kind to yourself. this will pass and will give you knowledge to help others. xxx Kath 
    • katie58615
      katie58615 cookienz

      Posted

      "Box the monkeys" thats a good idea. At the moment im feelin useless and im off work so all i keep thinkin is oh my god is this my life forever bein in the house feeling awful no motivation and so on!! I enjoyed work i want to go back but i keep worryin incase im not able to so i may use that technique and just allow myself a certain time to think about work. I really wish i didnt comeuoff citalopram now i didnt realise how much i crually needed it but then i would never of known.

    • cookienz
      cookienz katie58615

      Posted

      I know in my own case that I needed to keep busy. Too much time to think is not healthy for me as I start to dwell. I started volunteering for a charity shop here in New Zealand, after several months I was employed by them. Helping others makes me feel happy as our family was helped by the charity when we were at our lowest, so it meant a lot  to me to be able to "give back".  Katie can you not go back on citalopram? 

      After I had my son in 1996 my new doctor changed my medication I had been on since I was a teenager for epilpsey, the change in medication started my seizures again and I continued having up to 6 seizures a night For 6 years I felt absolutely awful.Very down and in a lot of pain  Finally I insisted on getting put back on the original pills. The nightly seizures stopped and became further apart it did take years but now the last seizure I had was 6 years ago. Try the "Box the Monkeys" and I recommend writing stuff down but also make yourself write down the good stuff as you can read back and tell yourself ok Im having a bad moment right now Im going to be ok this will pass. Teach yourself that this is just a little chapter that you are going thru and its because of the chemicals doing this. Good luck Katie stay in touch xxxx

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