CITALOPRAM AND EATING DISORDERS??

[NoMoreGuiltTrips]

I have been on Citalopram for a year or so, and was doing well, but have had a lot of life stress (new baby(no 3)/move/DH away in Iraq) and so the Trickcyclist ahs upped my dose to 30 mg from 20. But now although I have no anxiety feelings, my bulimia is going haywire - gone from being in control to binging/purging to binging and not purging. Trickcyclist suggested going up to 40 mg a day but I am worried that a) it will not work and b)it will decrease anxiety to the point that the DCs could walk in front of a car and I would say'they'll be fine'. Not sure if anyone else will be able to help, but thought I would give it a go. Please be gentle with me - I cannot deal with tough love tonight.

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is it an SSRI?

can you look at other ways to decreas your anxiety rather than upping the does?

How is your caffine intake?

How is your exercise?

Have been in lots of places where you are.

It is one of the newer SSRIs, I think. I don't know how to reduce my anxiety/stress more as the main things are unchangeable. I am going v little exercise as I am on my own with the 3 of them (3, 2 and 5 months). Caffeine intake is maybe one coffee and one diet coke a day.

that is not much caffine at all really. I understand how hard it is to exercise with little ones. Have you any stratgies to reduce anxiety? LIke relaxation techniques or ways of talking yourself down when you are anxious?

Being on your own with three sounds like really hard work and if you do not have anyone to talk to the anxiety can feed itself somewhat.

Are you getting any help for your bulimia?

No, the psychiatrist suggested increasing the dose to take away the urge to binge - but I am not sure that will work. I am trying the CBT techniques, but it is very slow progress.

CBT is really good if you keep the techniques in mind - it does seem like slow progress but is very empowering when you realise that you alone have ben able to make a change in mood.

I know the increase in dose takes a while to settle in so if you have given it a week or two and the urges are still there it is time to see your GP again.

Best Wishes.

many many thanks BBBeee

I was just reading this and just on a thought that I increased my dose to 40mg from 20mg at about 4 months after having a baby and am still on the increased dose. I have had eating disorders - but I think that maybe the hormones readjusting, and also being by yourself in the evenings it may be really hard once the eating cycle starts to stop.
40mg will not make you not care... it is double your normal level of cit. but you sound as though your stress levels are much higher too so it makes sense - I certainly have not been numbed by it. So maybe try if you want to -
(after all if you were training to run a marathon, you would give your body more food because your body needs so you can (sorry about the food example)

Also with the binging, I know that it is easy to say but I have found it very hard as the only adult in the house recently (DH away for short time) to eat normally at all, especally in the evening - so try maybe having a friend around for the evening just for the company - it sounds a pretty silly thing to say - but all day stress of kids, interupted sleep, DH in iraq and exhaustion in the evening and all that stress and no adult to just talk to (and not feel guilty about just off loading) I would be in a far worse state!!!! don't be hard on yourself - but also try and see what the eating problems are pointing too in the rest of your life -

hi i am on thesame 20mg i feel so worried all the time about things that do not matter i do feel better but i have only being on them 4 week my son is 11 month i feel so bad

hello, i also have bulimia and my dh suggests i take citalopram which he is on. do you think it will help me? i am fairly depressed and stressed but my main problem is the bulimia.