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Original poster

Citalopram wearing off?

44 replies

Lonelybunny · 17/07/2013 20:50

I've been on 10 mg for a couple if months for health anxiety . I was starting to feel great other then a bit zombied out and sometimes frustrated but overall a lot calmer. I can feel my anxiety trying to push through again but the thing is because it's health anxiety I don't know if I'm being silly or if there is something wrong :-/

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 20/07/2013 09:25

Hi Lonely. I think you should go and see your GP. Is the anxiety coming back at certain times? It may be that you need the dose increasing.

Original poster
Lonelybunny · 20/07/2013 11:18

Yea it's my beacause I found another lumpy patch in my boob , most likely breastfeeding related as they are very lumpy but the anxiety is trying to tell me it's bad news but I am just about managing to push it away , feeling a bit better today was a bit OCD with checking my lump this morning but I've calmed down again. I will speak to my GP on Monday I think

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Original poster
Lonelybunny · 20/07/2013 19:31

Anyone know if it's normal for anxiety to come back like this so quick ?

OP posts:
hiddenhome · 20/07/2013 20:39

10mg is a low dose, you may need it increasing.

Original poster
Lonelybunny · 20/07/2013 20:54

I think I do :( I'm getting in a right state again , can't believe it's come back this quick and fast , I
Was fine a couple of days ago

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Original poster
Lonelybunny · 21/07/2013 21:17

I'm going to look stupid going back to the GP worrying about my boobs , I hate this health anxiety hate hate hate it ! It's ruined my weekend yet again and I'm so tired :(

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MagicBaguette · 21/07/2013 21:20

I'd definitely consider going up a dose.

I started on 10mg for anxiety, but was advised by the doctor to move up to 20mg after 3 weeks. I was terrified but had no side effects when I increased the dose.

10mg is actually a sub-therapeutic dose, so it's not wearing off, you're just not on a high enough dose to feel a lot better Smile

Original poster
Lonelybunny · 21/07/2013 22:27

I feel numb :( and fed up as I'm gonna look so stupid

OP posts:
MagicBaguette · 21/07/2013 23:43

Not at all!

There's nothing stupid about having a problem.

We're all here for you on here, and most definitely don't think you're stupid.

How do you feel about increasing your dose?

Ifcatshadthumbs · 21/07/2013 23:46

You won't look silly at all. I took citalapram for health anxiety (total sympathy for you by the way it's awful) I started on 20mg and then moved up to 30mg.

Go back say that the 10mg did help initially but you feel like your anxiety is building up again.

SarahJayne321 · 22/07/2013 00:07

Aww bunny, I know the feeling. Don't let it get you down, you just need to up your dose is all :)

Citalopram didn't agree with me at all, I switched to imipramine, an old trycilic and it was fab. Started at 10mg, felt brill for a little while and anxiety returned. It's completely normal, and once my dose was upped I felt fine!

You won't look stupid at all, your doctor is there to help you not judge you. Maybe try looking into some cbt alongside the citalopram xx

Original poster
Lonelybunny · 22/07/2013 01:26

Thank you , I will go tommorow , :(

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Ifcatshadthumbs · 22/07/2013 01:30

If it helps I took citalapram for a year and I no longer have health anxiety. (Well as long as I stay away from Dr Google!) it can get better but you do need to keep going back to your GP until you've found a dose that works for you.

MacaYoniandCheese · 22/07/2013 02:02

10 mg is a really low dose to be going with for longer than a few weeks. Go back to your GP and discuss upping your dosage to at least 20mg...the good news is that you'll have got all the introductory side-effects out of the way.

Also, (I know it's hard with a baby), are you getting out to exercise? It really, really helps with my anxiety.

Flowers and {{hugs}}.

Original poster
Lonelybunny · 22/07/2013 07:53

Thanks everyone , I go cycling quite and do try to get out as much as possible as this keeps my mind off it , just depends if I can get the motivation. I think I have a bit of OCD which is fed by my anxiety , on breast is now black and blue from constant checking . I've now shifted my attention to a mole that appeared on my leg a couple of years ago , I'm getting an appointment today and hoping to get back to myself in time for my holiday in two weeks

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Original poster
Lonelybunny · 22/07/2013 08:32

Great got a man dr only :( got to show him my boob :-/

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SarahJayne321 · 22/07/2013 09:00

You'll be fine, he'll of seen more boobs than Hugh Hefner :)

Original poster
Lonelybunny · 22/07/2013 11:02

Well that went tits up (excuse the pun) dr was half hour late then I was to he waiting for an patient to arrive in an ambulance so expect a long delay so had to leave or I would miss my daughters assembly which would make me feel 10 times worse , so am
Back to square 1

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Ifcatshadthumbs · 22/07/2013 16:20

What a shame you didn't get to see the dr, please do make another appointment though. I had a mole fixation (even phoned NHS direct about it at midnight once Blush )

As tempting as it is please try not to prod and poke as it will make you sore and then you will feel even more worried.

Original poster
Lonelybunny · 22/07/2013 16:46

I know I was gutted :( I've managed to get a telephone consultation for tommorow and will tell her everything on the phone. I nearly went to the hospital bit thought I'm just going to look silly as I had an ultrasound scan on this breast a couple of months ago so surely it couldn't be anything that's turned up overnight . I don't know but fed up poking at it tbh

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Original poster
Lonelybunny · 24/07/2013 07:48

In the end I had to put myself up to 20mg cause I was going mad with anxiety , managed to her hold of the dr who agreed its best to up me to 20mg. She will also refer me for counselling in a couple of weeks.

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Stripedmum · 24/07/2013 09:21

Hi lonely!

Have you had counselling? I have really bad health anxiety too. It's awful. A sore throat is currently throat cancer. It sounds funny but it's not.

I'm lined up for CBT. I hope it helps. I've heard it's fantastic.

Original poster
Lonelybunny · 24/07/2013 09:28

I've not had any counselling at all . My dad is currently going through this too , he thinks bruises that keep appearing are lukemia and he is constantly going on te scales cause he is loosing weight , I've obviously got it from him. It really is miserable and you are right it sounds silly and funny to some people and may think it's hypochondria but it really is debilitating . When I'm bad I can spend all day checking symptoms checking again checking again etc my breast is black from bruising from checking every 10 minutes . I really hope some sort of therapy will help. I deff need to change my thinking. I have always been a negative person and always worried over things. If I am happy or in a good mood I think no there just be something to worry about in my life so I find something and then I'm all down again . So miserable

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 24/07/2013 09:37

Hi lonely. I had counselling. One thing my counsellor said was that 'anxious people try look for things to hang their anxieties on'. i thought it was a good description. Looking all the time to feed the anxiety. That was me.

I can't explain why the counselling helped but it really did.

MagicBaguette · 24/07/2013 10:03

I hope the increases dose works for you.

Counselling/CBT will help you change your way of thinking to a more positive outlook Smile

Well done for getting yourself on the road to recovery - that in itself is a massive step which you need to give yourself a lot of credit for.

Flowers