Citalopram - anyone find panic/anxiety better but depression worse?

[Quootiepie]

Been on these a few months now, and find it does help with anxiety but I seem to be more depressed. I think all the old "spark" which made me axious is supressed, but it's the spark that made me have some get up and go aswell. Anyone had this? Did things improve? Did you change ADs?

Thanks x

I came off Citalopram in the end for similar reasons. It helped with my anxiety and OCD, but it didn't really help with the depression, and it left me not actually feeling anything - almost as if I was emotionally numb.

The GP prescribed a different ad, but for various reasons I decided not to take them.

Not all ads hit the spot for everyone - you may respond much better to a different one, and it would definitely be worth trying.

Hmmmmm.... but then the depression I guess I can cope with, the anxiety is really the worst of it all, I don't want to have one that worked the other way around, or not at all... I have the CMHT person coming today, maybe I'll ask her, GP isn't very up on ADs I don't think. x

I had much the same on citalopram, decided to come off ad's altogether in the end. Wish i had gone back to gp though and asked for something different as i had a very very difficult 6 months.

From what I remember, Citalopram is one of the most commonly prescribed ads for treating anxiety disorders because it's generally very effective. But there are others which could be as effective at helping the anxiety, but which would help with the depression better.

You're right that the GP isn't the best person to talk to aboiut it, though; their knowledge of anti-depressants is very general. Plus there are some that they can't or won't prescribe without the agreement of a psychiatrist.

Have a chat with the CMHT lady and see what she recommends. Do you have access to a psychiatrist through her? You would get far better advice that way than seeing the GP.

No psychiatrist, I do not seem to have a very high level of care at the mo.

are you on a high enough dose ? some need fine tuning like everything else in life

if you feel your GP doens't know or isn't keen to help with doses or changing antidepressant, ask- if you're in a practice with more than 1 doc if someone has an interest in MH problems there, and see them.

That's pretty poor.

Have you asked to be referred to one? I saw several and was referred at the drop of a hat - partly because to start with I refused ads, partly because the GP wanted to change my ads and accepted that he wasn't the ideal person to recommend a different brand.

Does the GP understand how bad things have been for you?

I have been referred (in Jan) to a PTSD therapist - I guess that is the equivalent? I am on 20mg, already an upped dose, although I will ask the GP about upping again or changing. I have only seen a private psychiatrist 2 odd years ago.