Citalopram - again (apologies)

[Maddie645]

Hi

I recently posted about early experiences on Citalopram for anxiety. Lots of brilliant responses and shared experiences.

After a (promptly) bailed first attempt, I started on it again last Wednesday and am feeling okay.

I just wanted to ask if anyone knows about therapeutic doses. I was precribed 20mg but have been halving them so only on 10mg a day.
This was with the intention of going up to 20mg nest week.

However, I am only 4ft11 and weigh just over 7 stone so I'm wondering if that would make a difference, and if 10mg would be enough? Is 10mg enough as a therapeutic dose?

Has anyone else had any success with 10mg long term?

Or should I just bite the bullet and start on the 20mg?

I would very much appreciate your thoughts.

Thank you.

Hi there. I started on sertraline 6 weeks ago, 50mg which has now been increased to 100mg. It’s been so helpful and I was quite dubious about anti anxiety meds before. I think you should take the dose you’ve been prescribed - your dr has given you 20mg for a reason and if you do find that it doesn’t agree with you then you can discuss with your dr. Best of luck with it - anxiety is awful but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Hi Larry

Glad to hear the sertraline is working for you. I have a friend on it and she said it has completely changed her life.

I suppose I'm still a bit nervous. I've been doing the worst thing possible in looking for horror stories about SSRIs online (of course, there's plenty of them!)

I will speak to my Dr but I'm sure if I suggest staying on 10mg, she'll probably say 'give it a go and see if it works'. She's very good but sometimes I think Drs just want to send you away thinking whatever it is will work.

I just want to know if 10mg can be therapeutic or if it too low a dose. I want to tread carefully but don't want to waste time taking too little for it to be effective (if that makes sense?)

www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/6095/smpc

Says here 20mg is minimum therapeutic does but can start on 10 for first week. I really think that you should take the prescribed dose.

Ah okay. I did look online but couldn't find any info. You're clearly a better googler than me!

Thank you for your help.

and yes, anxiety is bloody awful.

Hoping to see the light at the end of the tunnel soon :)

No problem, have a lovely Christmas and hope you feel better soon.

I started on 10 both times - first time 10 worked straight away, but eventually had to increase dose to 30 over several months. Second time I went up much quicker & it was only on 30 that I started feeling better. Am taking 30 now & am 30weeks pg with no complications so far. I'm no gp though so bear go with what they say! Merry Christmas!

I've been on citalopram twice and only been on 10mg both times - however, that was my prescribed dose. Made a huge difference to me. Go back and talk to your GP about it, don't just decide the dosage you need yourself.

Took 20mg yesterday and will carry on with that from now on.

Congrats on pregnancy KarBB.

Onwards and upwards :)

20mg is the usual dose. I read somewhere that 40mg was considered the therapeutic dose however most on 20mg. I was on 40mg for a while. I am now on 10mg Escitalopram which is the equivalent of 20mg citalopram.

The key is what works for you. If 10mg works for you then there is no reason to increase. But there is the chance that once your body has accustomed to it you'll need more to feel the effects.

Anxiety sucks rotten eggs. Medication saved my life