Citolopram - worth increasing dosage?

[Ithinktomyself]

I have been on citalopram since around May thanks to you lovely people kicking my backside and sending me to the GP. It has helped enormously. I still have lows but I am able to identify them for what they are rather than being sucked into a spiral of self-hatred.

The problem is that in the last week or so, possibly in response to the end of Christmas, the lows have come back and, while I know logically that they are part of an illness, I also know that I really dislike myself right now and I am starting to have nagging thoughts about what to do about that.

I do not want talking therapies. They will not help because I am not willing to be honest (that's as honest as I'm willing to get!). I am wondering if increasing my dosage might be the answer? I'm currently on 20mg which I know is quite low. Obviously I'll ask the GP but wondering about other people's experiences.

Thanks.

You could could go up to 30mg but 40mg is pretty high and I would be questioning whether it was having an exponential effect.
Sertraline, on the other hand means you can go from an initial 50mg daily up to about 150mg daily ( possibly more under guidance of a psychiatrist)
I've seen pregnant people on 150mg daily, bit each drug is different and the dose cannot be interchanged.
Good luck

I am a complete ignoramus on this sort of thing - what is the difference between Citalopram and Setraline? Are they just different brand names or do they do different things? What sort of difference might I feel?

Hi, you sound a bit like my daughter - she isn't ready for talking therapy. I'd go and speak to your GP. When you say you are having nagging thoughts about disliking yourself do you mean that you want to harm yourself? If that's the case definitely speak to your GP. I'm not familiar with Citolopram but these thoughts might be a side effect and you may be better off with another med. Take care - if you can't get an urgent appointment with your GP, and you are having thoughts of self harm please go to A & E, that's the advice my daughter has been given.

They are different and can effect people differently. Sometimes a change in medication is needed to find the most effective one for you.

Forgot to add as well as depression Setraline is used to treat anxiety.

Thank you. Please don't worry. While I am having thoughts about "self-harm" I'm not making any plans if you see what I mean. More that it's in my head (the fact that I'd rather it wasn't, makes me think I don't need to panic). I'll call the GP tomorrow I think - they're pretty good and get back to me by phone.

Good, hope it goes well with the GP.

I'm so glad citalopram is helping you! I take 30mg with approval from GP and am pregnant. Maybe you could try online therapy as then you don't have to go face to face with a specific therapist. Or something like hypnotherapy where they do the talking & you lie back & 'relax'. I have found mindfulness meditation using the App Headspace helpful in self-management of symptoms.
Sometimes I go through little blips when things get too much and I think this is normal but if you feel consistently worse for a period of several weeks the GP sounds like a good call.

It's not really a need to "relax" - more a need to shut up the nagging angry, abusive voices. They appear to have calmed down a little today. I am less inclined to smash my head against a wall until it bleeds.

I would appreciate it if someone could explain how Citalopram and Seteraline are different.

I was on citalopram and wasn't really helping I went back to the gp and they put me on fluoxtine 20mg and they have helped me a lot hope this helps x