Citalopram

[Jimmyluke55]

Can anyone help me had anxiety all my life but these last 12 months have been hell been on citalopram for 10 years 20mg a few months ago doctor upped it to 30mg two weeks ago upped it to 40 mg feel terrible woozy head can’t eat can’t sleep shaky when I wake up on a night and in a morning never had anything like it jerks when I sleep too can anyone relate to this doctor said I’ve to stay on 40 for 4 to 6 weeks for it to work xxxx

[Starie]

Hi, maybe 40 is to strong for you. I had my dose upped to 30 in the past and I was ok. I dropped back to 20. Then a while later increased to 30 and this made me worse so I phoned my doctor ans they said drop back to 20 which I did. They prescribed me medication for an instant release of the anxiety which I used just for a few days. It’s such a hard thing getting the balance of your medication right. Maybe speak again to your doctor. Also there is a website called no more panic and this helped me loads to get through it. There are forums also on this site. As well as so much information. When I’m having a flare up I go on and re-read all symptoms of anxiety and it seems to calm me down xx

[Jimmyluke55 in reply to Starie]

Ok love xxx

[Jimmyluke55 in reply to Starie]

What did you get for quick release diazepam I have these sometimes but doctors won’t give me any morel xx

[Starie in reply to Jimmyluke55]

Yes diazepam or there is a beta blocker they can also give you if they won’t give you diazepam, always ask to speak to a different doctor if yours isn’t being helpful. I know that suffering you have now it’s awful xx

[Starie in reply to Starie]

I remembered the name it’s propranolol the beta blocker xx

[Jimmyluke55 in reply to Starie]

Cant have beta blockers as I have asthma love xx

[Starie in reply to Jimmyluke55]

Do try and see what else the doctors can give you, you shouldn’t have to be suffering so bad xx

[SimonUK]

Increased anxiety can cause what you described. When increasing the dosage the body needs to get used to it, during this process it can heighten anxiety before it decreases. Furthermore, can you confirm you didn't stop citolopram and then start taking it again when you noticed the anxiety coming back? The only reason say this, is I was on citolopram for over 15 years, I thought I was fine, and then I stopped for 2 months and all of a sudden, my life was in tatters. The doctors tried to put me back on it, but the side effects where so bad, I couldn't get passed 20mg, even though I had been on the drug for 15 years at 40mg. I was put on escitopram instead and instantly my body stop shaking. There is lots of things that can help you sleep at night, even with anxiety, I take 50mg of Amitriptyline is very safe and has minimal side effects, it's used to treat depression, nerve pain, and a wide range of conditions, it does make you tired, but in a good way, and really makes you get a good night sleep, so it'll help with anxiety at night, and help you sleep, and if you get pain from being anxious all the time, it'll help too. But whatever you do, best to speak to the doctor again or wait it out, if you can.

[Jimmyluke55 in reply to SimonUK]

Thanks love no never stopped taking them thanks for your advice doctor as put me on sertraline now and I’m scared to take it as I haven’t been weaned off citalopram

[SA65]

Hi Jimmy, one month later how you feeling please?

[Jimmyluke55 in reply to SA65]

Not on any now love do the Charles linden method it’s amazing thanks for asking , he doesn’t agree with Ssri make you feel worse , and they are not for anxiety

[SA65]

Interesting, hadn’t heard of Linden before but just googled. Glad to hear that you’re well though - early days for me yet as only been taking Citlopram for a week - hope the side effects get better 😱

[Jimmyluke55 in reply to SA65]

Have you got anxiety or depression love

[SA65]

Anxiety but moving into depression I think Jimmy