Is it possible to become more depressed after years of successful medication?

[Boomerwang]

Hi I've suffered from depression for most of my life, since puberty. I have taken citalopram 20mg every day since 2009 apart from a controlled withdrawal period lasting 3 months which was fine until I lost my job and I was forced back on the tablets for the sake of my 3 year old daughter.

So, taking the medication has been successful for all this time, and the dosage has never changed.

I usually like to play computer games and socialise and watch tv and I have enjoyed these pursuits for years.

For the last couple of months I've lost interest in all those things, and it wasn't really a slow change either, it's just taken til now for me to wonder if it's related to depression, and whether I am in fact depressed again despite regularly taking my usual medication.

Has anyone else become more depressed over time despite meds you thought were working? Did you increase your dosage? Did it help, if you did?

Thanks for your views in advance

If more info is needed, I have a seasonal job working outdoors from spring to autumn tending to public lawns and parks and I enjoy it, as well as the people I work with. I feel comfortable and not anxious at all.

yes, I had to switch from citalopram to sertraline after about 10 years as I seemed to become immune to them. Sertraline has worked fine though.

I guess that’s because medication does t fix anything.
You’ve never got to the root cause of why you needed to take the medication in the first place.
It’s showing now, as so much stuff is coming to the surface for everyone. We as a whole world are going through a massive change / crisis that’s effecting all people.
I’d highly recommend breathing into your feelings, allowing them to surface and making peace with them and yourself

*doesn't

it does fix it when the issue is a chemical / imbalance

Thanks for your responses. I'm not in the UK so I am not affected by any changes to my daily life which would cause anxiety.

I am, however, at the heaviest I've ever been and I have to take diclofenac just to be able to walk otherwise my knees and feet are in agony. Last year I developed a baker's cyst behind one of my knees which I assume is due to my weight. I have no idea how much I weigh, but it's a lot.

I must admit nobody has ever suggested I 'breathe into my feelings' before.

I'm trying to work out whether I need a higher dosage or if I need to do something else. I do live a sedentary life and eat a lot. Not for comfort but because food elicits a feel good response which I otherwise don't get. I've taken up geocaching to get out and exercise but today I just couldn't get off my fat ass to do it because I'm doing it on my own and it doesn't feel fun. Nothing feels fun any more.

@Baskininthegarden can I ask how your immunity to citalopram took shape?

it just slowly started to seem like the depression was returning over time, getting gradually worse despite the rest of my life continuing as normal. I spoke to my doctor who said it was common with long term users todevelop a tolerance and need to swap. I assume that was indeed what it was, as when I did swap, the new one started working again.

However, I do wonder if you are significantly over weight that it could impact on dosing you need? worth a chat with your doc.