Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[vanessa spain]

hi all been taking perifem hrt for 3 months already on citalapram 40 mg been on it for years about 5 wks ago doctor added mirtazaprine 7.5 said to incerease to 15 mg up until a week ago when i had period i was doing well the anxiety i  was suffering and feeling anxious when going out was much better i have just finnished a period and feel anxious and symptoms have returned i really dont want to take 15mg of mirtazprine just cant understand why this anxious feeling and low mood has returned please has anyone else had the same sort of symptoms come back it would be great to have some advice thanks vanessa spain

[cheekygal]

Hi Vanessa

Sorry I can't be of help with the HRT or Citalopram but I was prescribed Mirtazapine 30mg back in May for anxiety and mild depression, I found they more or less worked overnight by lifting my mood, however after a week or so I found my anxiety increased, this can be common with all AD's though, worse before better, I did persevere for 7 weeks but had to come off them, been off just over 2 weeks now, had a few lows and still high anxiety but can't say for sure if it's related to the Mirtazapine or not.  I use rescue remedy mouth spray which I find does help.  Maybe you need to go back to your GP x

[karenja]

Hi Vanessa I too am suffering terrible anxiety, I have tried tablet hrt, herbal, homepath, citalopram and now hrt patches, still anxious but a little better, the citalopram made me worst, maybe Im not giving anything long enough to work but its awful you just want it to stop x

[Kelly]

On 2nd week of citalopram for anxiety and I am feeling awful. Loads worse ! Just had full blown panic attack . Doc says persevere but I got no appetite shaky legs headach. Please any advise.   First of all doc said 2 weeks to improve then yesterday said 6 weeks . Can't feel like this for six weeks!  I missed on tablet on Sunday night and felt better monday but thought i better keep going as I had a week in. This is awful. Appreciate any advise at all   How long did you try them for karenja?  I know how you feelxxx
Kelly x

[karenja]

Hi Kelly, I really feel for you its awful, I came off hrt straight onto citalopram and to be honest only took four, I feel very very low never felt like that before, maybe it wasn't a side effect of them as only had four but I came off them I had to, then tried herbal stuff not much help, although when I had panic attacke l-thanine I think that's what you called it did help for short term relief, but ive gone back on hrt the patches and the anxiety is a bit better it hasn't gone but its helpingx

[CLKD]

Oh these GPs and their 'stick with it' ……… I never could!  If side effects are unbearable then stop the medication.  There are several types of AD out there so it's a bit trial and error.  I get on well with Cipralex 5mg at night 5mg in the morning - what dosage has the GP started you on, it might be too high!

Life is too short to keep on with medication that makes us feel worse!  Deep breathing can help as can rescue remedy.  Taking time out - i.e. a long bath, good book, sitting quietly in the garden can ease anxiety, I find keeping really busy rather than dwelling: I'm a good dweller  .

[Suzyq]

I think citalopram can be very good but you may well have more anxiety for six weeks. This is generally the way with ad's. Did your gp give you diazepam or anything to help you through this period? It's obviously your choice whether to continue or not but you are a third of the way through (at least) and they may end up working brilliantly for you! Whatever you decide, I do hope you feel better soon xxx

[thorntrees]

Antidepressants seem to cause a lot of discussion  and like most medications individuals have to make their own choice as to the way to go. I can only speak from my own experience. Being about 8years post meno and after chemo for a blood cancer I found myself still having flushes and night sweats, anxiety etc. My GP ruled out other things with blood tests and offered citalopram as although not licenced as a treatment for menopausal symptoms it has been shown to help some women. I reluctantly decided to give it a go. The first few weeks were horrid with lots of side effects and yes my GP did say "stick with it" and with my DHs support I did.Slowly I have begun to feel the benefits,  less flushes and less anxiety- not perfect-but at least I feel I can get on with life and it has given me breathing space to try other remedies - breathing exercises, mindfulness, change of diet etc which can all help.Citalopram has a very long half life which is why it can take quite a while for the body to adjust and to get the full benefits, even if you have only taken it for a short time you have to taper off it slowly or the side effects will happen again.I have now been on a low dose of 10mgs for about 4 months and my GP says at least a year before attempting to stop the drug.Hope some of this ramble helps but whatever you decide hope it works for you and you get some relief soon. 

Thorntrees x

[vanessa spain]

hi as i said been on citalapram for quite few years have tried to come off them in the past but symptoms returned as for herbal nothing worked troble is it all messes with your head started to feel better then bang back to square 1 cant believe menopauce can cause all this you feel you just exist day to day not knowing how your going to feel but its nice when you know your not the only 1 suffering vanessa spain

[Kelly]

Hi everyone on 10 mg citaopram daily. Doc gave me diazepam 2mg to take if needed and they do help in the morning but she said try to take them only in emergency as she won't give me any more . ! I have 10 left so i am trying to battle through . Doc said Prozac would be another option. I am trying to get to the two week point to see how I feel but the anxiety is now waking me up at 5 in morning. Got no appetite at all !
Kelly xxxx
Hugs to all ! It's no picnic isi it!

[Milamam]

Hi Kelly, Citalopram 10 mg is really a low dose, recomended for a start . Can u ask
Your doc to increase it to 20 mg daily? This is how I started the med and
Felt the relief after the increase. Again I am not a doc ! Citalopram has its benefits but if it doesn't suit you after the increase, you should change to a different type . We are all different.
Hugs

Mila xx

[CLKD]

20mg is a lot but is often used as a start-up dose.  For me any AD of that dosage was too much, I had to spread it throughout the day ………. fortunately my GP is supportive.  I have never found that it takes 6 weeks to gain benefit! with 1 AD I had benefit within 3 days …. others never worked due to side effects.

Valium is addictive.  But necessary and why GPs can't accept that sometimes it's important to use it …… I had 10mg on an as necessary basis for years because once I knew it worked, I knew how to use it. 

If herbal remedies worked they would be available on the NHS!

[Kelly]

Totally agree CKLD with everything you say! 2mg of diazepam is very low isn't it and I only take them if I am in a very bad way. These docs just don't know what it feels like!    Today I am not as bad coming to the 1 half week of citalopram and maybe just maybe ( I daren't say it) i am coping little bit better with the day especially the morning. Hypnotherapy helping too.
I really think 10 mg is enough for me as they make me so tired as well. I wish herbal worked taking kalms had no effect ,reflexology was relaxing but 30 a time didnt really do much . Has anyone had any benefit from acupuncture homeopathy  or anything else at all.
Hugs to everyone.

[CLKD]

There's nothing wrong with the placebo effect  ………… I went to the GP in an absolute state 2 years ago, I could hardly stand up because the anxiety was crippling.  She prescribed an emergency drug (Name escapes me) which I use sensibly.  Valium did me fine in the 1990s until I had 2 weird reactions  …..

Why GPs don't see patients weekly until the anxiety eases or to check on how we feel  - mine was very good when I was really ill  , I would wander into the surgery because that was where I felt the safest, he would have a quick check which I found supportive and I would wander home again. 

[cheekygal]

CLKD what kind of weird reactions did you have to diazepam?  I asked doc if that's what was causing me the shaking, she said no, if anything they will help with that, they do help with the restlessness and anxiety in that they enable me to go out  but I still have the shaking if that makes sense, thought not quite so severe till I go to bed, then it starts all over again!  Sighhh