To worry anti depressants just won't work for me. Citalopram increase.

[RestingMyEyes]

I have been taking citalopram for 3 months for severe anxiety and depression. I have previously had horrific effects with sertraline and venlafaxine. I've tapered the citalopram up from 5 to 20 mg and was pleased to feel positive effects. However it's all went backwards. My anxiety is constantly high again and mood slipping downwards, angry etc. Gp couldn't offer much advice except increase to 30mg, but I'm wondering what's the point. More side effects etc and what if they just stop working again? Has anyone had a similar experience?

Dances why would OP consider switching back to what gave her horrific side effects?

OP I'm on citalopram which suits me very well. However, I've previously used others that I didn't get along with so it might be worth giving another one a try until you find one that suits.

Incidentally, I believe that venalfacine is not an SSRI (unlike sertraline and citalopram) and works in a slightly different way. Therefore, you've only tried two SSRIs and there are plenty more. Perhaps give 30mg a go first, as you know you can tolerate citalopram?

Citalopram suits me at 20 mg, but I also take an Amino acid, tyrosine once a day to boost dopamine. I read The Mood Cure, and its very helpful.
So sorry to hear you're feeling so bad. Anxiety and depression are evil bastards.

20mg is a fairly low dose, so if it's no longer working for you and your depression is severe, it's quite normal for your doctor to increase it.

It doesn't mean it will never help you, it just means you need to find the right dose for you, and if it's on the higher side, so be it. At the very worst, increasing the dose won't change anything. At best, it could really help. So don't give up now.

Also, increasing the dose doesn't necessarily increase side effects. I didn't have any more side effects on 30mg of Citalopram than I had on 10mg. If you can tolerate Citalopram better than you tolerated your previous medication there is absolutely no reason to resist an increase in dosage.

I hope you feel better soon and best of luck.

You poor thing :-(

The lowest effective dose for me is 30mg citalopram, and the side effects wore off after a month or so. I've been taking 30mg every evening for the last 6 years (alongside weekly therapy) and it's working very well for me.

If i was in your place, I would be seeking a talking therapy alongside the drugs. Is that a possibility for you?

... and of course, I would also take the GP's advice and increase the dosage to 30mg, as Polly said.

I went from 20 to 40mgs citalopram and the difference was amazing- like having a light switched on.

It's difficult and it really is just a case of trial and error. I'm really sorry you're feeling like this, I know how tough it can be. Even when you do find 'the one' it may only work for a while and then it starts all over again.

Give the 30mg a chance for a few weeks/months if you can cope, maybe in the meantime the doctor could prescribe a low dose one single script for something like Quetiapine to get you through it whilst it begins to work.

There are other options for you if it doesnt, don't give up.

Thank you for the replies, it's really helpful.

JessicaEccles That's interesting to hear the difference between 20 and 40, it's encouraged me to keep going with it

It worked for me and I was on 30 mg. biggest mistake I made was coming straight off them instead of lowering my dosage.

Citalopram is the bane of my life ! I've been trying to get off the bastard things for over 2 years.... sideeffects of withdrawal have been horrendous.
I wish I never started taking them years ago.

I hope you find something that works
For you OP. Not an easy road to endure x

Unfortunately as you know finding the right AD at the right dose is very much trial and error.

I would go with the increase in dose, it will hopefully help and side effects are usually worst when starting a drug not neccessarily just increasing it.

Last year I was on, at various times, venlafaxine, citalopram, fluoxetine and mirtazapine. And currently on the maximum dosage of mirtazapine but honestly, finding the right drug and dose finally was like switching my life back on. I was off work for months but have been back for almost a year full time with no issues.

I would also see if you can get counselling or CBT (I found CBT most useful once I had started to feel better as before then I wasn't in the right state to engage with it)

Poor you OP, I feel for you.
From my personal experience, I honestly believe upping my Citalopram from 20 to 40 saved my life.
That was a year and a half ago now, and I'm looking to go back to the docs to start weaning myself back down to 20.
20 is still a low dose, and the 5mg was just to get you acclimatized as such.
Good luck OP. I hope whatever you decide it works for you

Please keep going with it and adjusting the dose. At my worst I was on 60mg and it literally saved my life - I was on it at that dose for 2 years and then tapered it down and stopped completely and haven't needed to take anything for 14 years now although I wouldn't hesitate to go back on it if I felt I needed to. I'm not even sure thy give anyone 60mg anymore but the point is everyone has an optimum dose.

Hi, I know this is an old post but I’m in a very similar situation and just curious if you did increase the dose and if it worked? xx

It certainly is an old post!
I did in fact increase my dose and it took many months but things did settle down.
I’m still on citalopram at 20mg, I have been lower but this seems to be the dose I need to keep me functioning day to day. In times of severe stress though it doesn’t quite cut it.

Do you have bad side effects again when you increased? I’ve been on 20mg for the past 8 weeks but the last two weeks the anxiety is back and it’s horrendous. I’ve got no appetite I feel exhausted and don’t know what to do for the best x

There was an increase yes but nothing like when I first started them just a bit of nausea mainly

Thank you