increasing citalopram

[zain]

after being on citalopram for 4 yrs my doctor says i have to inc the dose because my symtoms are recurring has this happened to anyone can u plz let me know as this has really distressed me thank you

[onepieceoflollipop]

Hi Zain,

I haven't been through this but when I am not on maternity leave I work in mental health - I am a mental health nurse. Has your dose been increased from 10 to 20mg, or 20mg up to 40mg? - or some other change? Are you on it primarily for depression or anxiety symptoms too? Sorry you are feeling so distressed by this.

Is your dr a GP or a Psychiatrist? Sorry if these are nosey questions, just trying to understand more. Ignore any questions you don't want to answer!

If you reply to me I won't be around for half an hour or so - off to check the dcs and tidy up!

[zain]

hi
thanks for replying this is new to me im always on this site but have never joined.
i was on 20 and have increased to 30mg, im supposed to start tomorrow but not sure if i want too.

I was put on them for depression 4 yrs ago when things got to the point where i couldnt get out of bed eat or focus on anything and suicidal.
it took time for me to begin to feelnormal but eventually idid.

Then a year ago i felt ready to come off them so me and gp did it reasonably and slowly and eventually 3 mnths ago i was completly off, i was fine for about 2 wks then all of a sudden uncontrollable crying loss of appetite and the great fear of going downhill again, so i decided to go back on my gp left the decision up to me.
sinc then i have not been 100% but im able to cope then again 3 days ago all of a sudden anxiety again tearful and very shaky from inside, and palpitations so i went back today to the gp and she said to increase dose to 30 i feel like im nerver going to come out of this, im sorry for going on but id just like to feel that there is hope
thank you

[onepieceoflollipop]

Hi Zain, I was on here as a lurker/observer for quite a few months, but have been a regular poster for about 4 months now. My problem is keeping away as I love it on here.

You're not "going on" at all - just sounding quite vulnerable and (naturally) quite anxious about the whole situation. I have been depressed in the past (many years ago in my early twenties - I am 36 now) so I can understand a little of what you are going through.

This may sound like a scary suggestion, but you have the option of asking your GP for a second opinion. I know that this might be something you may not want to consider. Basically you could see a Psychiatrist - possibly just as a "one off" or for short term monitoring. He/she could assess your medication and look into other options. What worries you particularly about increasing the dose?

Have you had (or would you consider) any type of talking therapy? This could be alongside anti depressants. You may have already tried this, but I am trying to think of different options.

Also I think there is a "Citalopram Buddies" thread in the Feeling Depressed topic. I may have the title slightly wrong. Sorry I can't do links - must work it out one day.

[zain]

hi onepieceoflollipop,
yes my gp mentioned a psychiatrist and i have been put on a waiting list, what gives me hope is that these symtoms that im getting arent all day thank god but they come and go im not sure if its just a bad week im having or if it will get better its all so confusing i just need to be as normal as possible for my children they are the main reason i push myself when im feeling at my lowest

[lucyellensmum]

Hi zain

Please don't worry too much about the increase in dose. I started on 20mg and was fine for a few months and then i could feel myself slipping - i went up to 40mg and its much better. Someone also pointed me to a paper that suggested that 40mg is a far more realistic and effective dose, especially for long term depression. I didnt get any other side effects when i put the dose up.

Have you had ANY counselling at all? If not it might be an idea to go and stamp your feet at the doctors. Citalopram help emmensly but they wont take away the root of the problem without further help.

Was there a trigger for you feeling worse? I find that i am relatively normal most of the time and feel ok, but the slightest thing sends me over the edge. My doctor is considering changing my meds, well that was before she buggered off on maternity leave without really giving me a game plan .

Hope you feel better soon

[zain]

hi lucyellensmum
yes i had couselling 3 yrs ago which did help but i felt that it didnt give me an answer as to why i got depressed in the first place, anyway i used to go reg, once a week for about 7 mnths then he just discharged me but i was felling okay then.
i hit a car on friday whilst driving could that have triggered it all off?

[onepieceoflollipop]

Sometimes a shock (like your accident) or a particularly stressful few days can trigger off another episode of depression. Or it can make you feel very vulnerable and anxious for a few days, with the worry that the depression will come back (which it may or may not).

I have not had a true episode of depression for over 10 years, but on several occasions I have had the fear that it is coming back. For example I might feel very anxious for a week or 2, or notice my sleep being disturbed. Or I might start to want to withdraw from friends, or feel a bit inadequate. However these feeling then pass for me.

Obviously depression affects us all differently so it's difficult to give definite answers.

As lucyem says, 40 mg is seen as a therapeutic dose for some people, so it may well be worth you trying the 30mg to see how you get on.

[zain]

im going to give myself one more day if by thurs i hve not improved ill just do as the doctor said and inc to 30mg, its usually much worse for me in the mornings but around this time my physical symtoms are bearable i wonder if thats normal?

[Granny22]

I've been on ADs for about 13 years now and have had quite a fight to keep taking them. I have had counselling and seen a psychiatrist and both agreed that as there seemed to be nothing wrong psychologically it must be clinical rather than reactive depression. I am sure this is correct and I am so grateful that by taking 1 pill a day I can function normally and indeed can now experience happiness, contentment, even joy.

However I have had to come off them (very slowly) 3 times because that is what the guidelines for GPs say. You are supposed to be weaned off after 2to 3 years on. Each time I have gone back into the dark pit within two weeks and stuck it out until my family forced me back to the doctor who reluctantly put me back on. Always needed a higher dose - 40 - for a few months, then back down to 20 where I tick over nicely.

Got a new young GP who has agreed that I will probably need the ADs for the rest of my life and just issues repeat prescriptions as long as I see her once a year. I can see now that my awkward, miserable, PITA mother was exactly the same as me, as was her mother, and just wish that more of the medical profession would accept that for some of us Depression and Anxiety is caused by a chemical or electrical fault in the brain which no amount of counselling, fresh air, exercise or hobbies is going to correct.

[Granny22]

PS
I have a younger friend who is also long term on ADs and she always increases the dose for December, January, February and lowers it again for the summer.

[zain]

hi granny22
thank you for your msg it helps put my mind at rest

[zain]

thank you lucyem and onepieceoflollipop it really has helped chatting i no longer feel so overwhelmed by the thought of increasing the dose.
take care and i hope we chat again

[onepieceoflollipop]

You are welcome Glad it was helpful.

Just one other thought (which may or may not apply to you). Sometimes well meaning friends/relatives will give you "advice" about anti depressants when they really have no idea about depression or medication. (and they wouldn't dream of advising you if you had a "physical" illness - they would leave that to the doctor!) It seems that you know yourself that you need the ads at the moment.

Some good advice from Granny22; some people do need ads long term - as I said before it affects everyone differently.