Citalopram doses

[squashedfrogs]

Does anyone know what the maximum dose of citalopram is? I know that 10mg, 20mg and 40mg are often prescribed but are there any higher doses or is 40mg the maximum?

[tiredlady]

60mg is often prescribed in secondary mental health services.It is unlikely a GP would go that high without the patient having input from a psychiatrist

[squashedfrogs]

Thanks for that. I had a feeling that 40mg would probably be the highest dose a GP would prescribe.

[GetDownYouWillFall]

A friend of mine is on 60mg and is being managed by the GP.

[Rockbird]

I never got to 60mg but was offered it by the GP. I felt I wanted to see how 40mg was for a bit longer and it was fine for me.

[babylove2]

My GP said he wont let me go above 20mg .. not really sure why though.

[thingamajig]

I'm on 60mg, and it was prescribed by the psychiatrist, but managed month to month by my GP. I believe this is the maximum dose. (I was pregnant when it was increased to 60)

[Rockbird]

That's interesting thingamajig about you being pg. I have come off them because we are starting to ttc. Otherwise I would have stayed on them, they were wonderful for me and completely changed my life. I am literally counting the days till I can go back on it.

[thingamajig]

There is not much data about the effects of citalopram on the developing foetus, but what there is does not preclude its use, DD is healthy and normal at 2. In Scotland, the official advice is that no woman should have to come off an SSRI for pregnancy, in England they like you to if you can.
I am a great believer that you should stay on throughout pregnancy, having done a little survey of MNers, 9/10 who came off ADs relapsed, 6/7 who stayed on stayed well.
Untreated depression is probably worse for your baby than ADs; you tend not to eat/sleep properly and the effect on the rest of your family is not nice, also you are more likely to get PND.
But if you don't need them it is probably better to come off..... You just dont know if you need them til it is too late.

[thingamajig]

Rockbird, if you are reallyfinding it hard without the citalopram, go back to your GP and insist on seeing a psychiatrist or that he/she speaks to a specialist in the area, most general hoispitals have someone who knows their arse from their elbow regarding maternal mental health/pharmacology. GPs in my experience (and a lot of other people's) do not.

[Rockbird]

Thanks for that. I think I will have to. It's getting increasingly hard without them, first month was ok but three months down the line I'm back to where I started, if not worse. I am concerned about the added stresses of (hopefully) being pg on top of it all, it's hard enough to cope now.

[babylove2]

Hi thingamajig so glad you have some positive ad story, me and DH are ttc and plan on staying on them regardless to what any gp sais i sufferd through out my last pregnancy and had terrible pnd, i refuse to put my family through that again when there is no need.

Saying that though my gp os happy for me to stay on them

Im on 20mg