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Mental health

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Original poster

Citalopram - only worked for a week, help please!

3 replies

monkey2010 · 01/01/2011 19:31

Hi
I started 10 mg of citalopram and went through 2 weeks of horrid side effects and then had a week feeling much better. After that, I started feeling bad again and upped the dose to 20 mg. The same thing has happened this time and i feel bad again after a great week.

Has anyone experienced anything similAR? I'm worried about increasing the dose again because I know 40 is the highest you can go and will have to go through the side effects again. Can anyone help?

OP posts:

GetDownYouWillFall · 01/01/2011 21:06

It may be that you need to up it a bit more to find what they call the "therapeutic dose" that works for you.

I have a good friend who is on 60mg of citalopram.

I know it's a scary time starting ADs and wondering if they are going to help. Remember part of your anxiety is due to the illness. Just hang in there, hopefully your dose will be sorted out very soon.

earwicga · 01/01/2011 21:23

It takes about 6 weeks for each different dose to kick in. Citalopram really works for me and I have been on it up to 40mg. 60mg is unusual. I am now on 20mg. Each change gives loads of side effects, and when I forget for a few days also gives side effects. I forgot for 8 days when we got back from holiday last year and I actually thought I was going to die - partly physical side effects, but I think mostly the anxiety. Good to know that I still really need it, or it still works, I suppose.

How long have you been taking citalopram, and how long on each dosage?

JarethTheGoblinKing · 01/01/2011 21:27

what earwicga said. Try the 20mg dose for a few more weeks, and see how you go. This time of year is awful for depression for me personally.

When I started with citalopram I found exactly the same thing as you. After about 3 months I was put on 30mg, and that was definitely yhe right level for me. About 4-5 months after that and things had settled) I went back to 20mg and was fine on that for almost 2 years.

Have recently dropped to 10mg and coping very well on that.

Don't be scared by speaking to the doctor about increasing your dose, but do keep with it as it takes a while to properly start working

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