Sudden sensitivity to citalopram/SSRI

[HT85]

has anyone found they have suddenly grown more sensitive to citalopram or any ssri? i have been on it off and on since 2010, the highest dose being 30mg around 4-5 years ago. 3 years ago i cut down to 10mg as i found out i was pregnant which i have been on ever since.

Depression and anxiety has crept back in (i'm sure its hormonal as i'm breastfeeding and the anxiety coincided with my period coming back but thats another thread altogether).

Twice this year i have tried to go back up to 20mg - first time i started up to 15mg from 10 and lasted 2 days as the side effects were horrendous - it was like i was on another planet and couldn't drive, sleep, eat, i was even hallucinating. Fastforward to yesterday when i decided to try again this time moving up to 12.5mg, however again today has been totally hellish. I experience the side effects every time but they're tenfold this time around, has this happened to anyone else?

also has anyone ever switched to another SSRI with less side effects? Sorry for long post!

Anyone?

Are you discussing this with your doctor or adjusting doses yourself?
I've been on escitalopram for nine weeks. 3 weeks ago they upped my dose from 10 to 15 mg.
The doctor told me that I wouldn't feel any adverse differences.
However, my skin has become more sensitive again, I can't tolerate heat and my sleep, which had been improving has gone worse again plus backache have come back and I'm too tired to do much at all.
The doctor wants me to change to Sertraline if I'm not happy but I'm worried it will be like going back to square one.
I thought after nine weeks all side effects would have gone. Everyone I have asked has told me they didn't have side effects this long and they can work and socialise.

HT
That’s a weird one, considering you’ve been on 10mg for 3 years the med would be well and truly in your system
Do you think you’ve forgotten how bad the SE are for you when you up?
I’d have a chat with gp and tell them what you’ve tried

Lime
It may be to soon for you to move up, everyone is so different and sensitive. So what one person can tolerate or move up/down by time is so personal

It’s a hard one when it comes ad’s
We’re always questioning ourselves
What to do next, are they right, should I up. That alone is very anxiety provoking.

@granadagirl

It all seems to be guesswork with the doctor. She says I'm not being patient enough and it's a process but sometimes I wish I had never started on them.
My anxiety is not as severe as it was and I'm not deeply depressed but the physical symptoms are annoying. Backache, skin stinging and headache. The doctor assumes every symptom is my anxiety and doesn't think there are side effects.
I'm really confused.

It would be worth speaking to a pharmacist OP, they're the experts on medication. They can suggest if the side effects are to be expected or if the meds no longer suit you.

@granadagirl that’s entirely possible - last time I upped my does 4-5 years ago I wasn’t a parent and took time off work so perhaps the side effects were less concerning, this time around I have to work and look after a toddler so perhaps they’re just harder to cope with!

Lime

Once they know you have anxiety, everything is “ it’s probably anxiety “
I have weird anxiety SE
My teeth ache (clenching they say, I’m not a wear)
Itching skin ( drives me mad anxiety/menopause)

The skin thing
Is it like a spontaneous feeling you have to itch your skin?

HT
See how it goes, give it a few weeks try. You won’t then get from gp
Give it time
You’ve got more to cope with now, so yer possible. It’s hard work, working ,toddler , looking after house, shopping etc
So you may have without really focusing on it stress, coming out in anxiety
Just a thought

@granadagirl

I have teeth clenching too. My skin doesn't itch, it tingles and a burning feeling. It's mostly on my face, back of neck, arms and lower legs.
I get it even when I'm not anxious though. It's worse in hot weather.