Was on 20mg citalopram, effects are wearing off , i feel low, but doc refused to up my dosage

[allgonebellyup]

So what do i do now?
i have only been on the ADs for 7 weeks so she says its too early to up my dosage, but i really feel i need it.
During the first 4 weeks i had severe suicidal thoughts, the gp is worried if she gives me the 40mg i want then the suicidal thoughts may double??

But the next 3 weeks i felt really good, then i ruined it all by taking herbal sleeping pills (see my other thread!)

What should i do then?

[allgonebellyup]

bump

[ConnorTraceptive]

hmmm difficult one my gp upped my dose from 20 to 30 in the first month bit I had no side effects so I can understand your GP's caution.

Has she said how long she wants to wait before she increases your dose? Could you not go to 30mg rather than 40mg?

[allgonebellyup]

yes i didnt think of that!
just some people on here say i really need the 40mg for severe depression, although i guess it would be wise to build it up gradually!!

[TotalChaos]

I can see your GP's POV - that she's concerned the suicidal thoughts are side effects of the citalopram, so doubling them may make things worse, so she wants to give it more time to settle down. Did she say when she would be willing to try increasing them?

[cremolafoam]

i could have written your op so i am watching this thread with interest.had such a low yesterday with much weeping and dark thoughts.i am dreading going back to dr. as i hate the idea of having to explain everything again.
feel for you agbu

[allgonebellyup]

hope youre ok, Cremolafoam?

Doc said wait "a few weeks".. but i dont want to! Each week feels like a month to me.

i know she is worried about the suicidal thoughts, but i might not even get them this time if she only increases dose by 10mg? (to 30mg)

[cremolafoam]

yeh am ok today but am avoiding people atm as iam afraid i might get the rage feelings.
will see dr. in a weeks time for a review.

maybe stop taking the herbal pills? and try something else. i take an antihistamine some times to help me sleep.also takethe citalopram at night.
don't know the answer agbu. a higher dose might meake things worse, but don't know how or why.

[ConnorTraceptive]

I know what you mean agbu I held out for over a year before taking ad's and kicked myself for wasting a year of my life so everyday that goes towards getting you better is precious.

Mind you i would say it takes atleast 6 months to get anywhere near your old self agagin (although I was much improved within a few weeks)

The lows are normal, what's hard is recognising when you are just having an "off" day like every other normal person on the planet without worrying that you are descending back into depression.

If you can wait 2 weeks and then go back and ask to go up to 30mg.

[IdrisTheDragon]

I am also on 20 g citalopram - have been taking it for just over 4 weeks. Have been having ups and downs - last week very much down but this week has been mainly better.

If I hadn't improved by yesterday I was goign to go back to the GP, but as I feel a bit more "normal" I am holding off for now.

I would love to be completely all right though....

[ConnorTraceptive]

you will be idris just give it time. If you're moods are still fluctuating slightly get your gp to tweek your dose.

I found that being on 30 mg was really good when it came to coming off the ad's as I could do it really gradually.

[allgonebellyup]

Yay, doc has upped my dose to 40mg a day!!!!!

Will it take weeks to work as the first lot did ???