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[Briggsy]

Hi I have been on protoxatine  20 mg and now my doctor has changed me to citalopram 20 mg  because I have been on them 10 months and was great at first but the last 2  months my symptoms seem to be coming back i.e. Moods crying lack of sleep  losing confidence feel generally awful  ! I was told after a while they can stop being so effective? Has anyone else found this ? And also if so are there side effects to changing ? My dr was not very helpfully has he say unfortunately this is how it is  with a slight chuckle which made me feel as though I was being a bit of a drama queen  don't think my husband who is going through it thinks that  just want to feel my usual happy self 

[Samade]

I so feel for you, big hug! when they work well they're great. I'm on citalopram 20mg too, its taken about 4 months for them to become effective. It seems a bit quick for them to lose their effectiveness but perhaps some of the other ladies will know more. I'd go back to your doctor I often feel they don't take you seriously until you keep coming back, so wrong!xx

[Plum]

I'm on 20mg citalopram and still have swings just before my period or if I eat chocolate. I find the pills take the edge off my depression without making me a zombie so I try to make the effort on down days to watch what I eat and snuggle up with a book and some lavender oil. I personally prefer citalopram to anything stronger, but if you don't feel like you're coping then definitely go back to your gp.

[Butterfly22]

I was on citalapram for 15 years I was mainly on 30mg but got down to 20mg the last year and had to go back up, I didn't feel they worked well and made me really tired so I changed, I tried a few others and settled on venlafaxine. They really work for me and give me a little boost of energy in the morning which is good as have ME.
Maybe you need to try another as should still be helping as you've not been on that long xx

[babyjane]

I had too many side effects on Citalopram so my GP changed me to the sister drug which is Escitalopram.  this is gentler and has less of the ingredients that cause the worst side effects.  I have used it successfully for 15 months and it is still working at a low dose.

[Hurdity]

Hi Briggsy

 

As you have posted on a menopause forum I am wondering if you are thinking you have menopausal symptoms?

Depending on what your cycle is doing ( re periods) - if you have started missing the odd one or your cycle is getting longer then your symptoms could well be hormonal ( ie mood swings, crying etc) - and a sign of peri-menopause.

If this is the case then anti-depressants are not supposed to be given as the first line of treatment - instead HRT is more appropriate - if you are not medically unable to take it. The tricky thing is that many women start to get worsening pms and mood swings sometimes just before peri-menopause ( ie when periods are still regular and maybe getting closer together) - and HRT may not necessarily help.

Some gynaes who recognise that the mood swings are hormonal (rather than due to underlying anxiety or depression) - prescribe the pill to control the cycle. if you are under 50 this might be the answer rather than ADs if you are able to take it? There is one that is a bit like HRT so much gentler on the system.

I cried buckets when I was peri-menopausal - but I had no idea it was anything to do with hormones - until later! I rarely cry now!

In case you are heading towards peri-menopause then here is an article you might be interested in:
https://menopausematters.co.uk/magazine/pdf/Article%20-%20Perils%20of%20the%20Perimenopause.pdf

Hurdity x

[CLKD]

Hurdity - this Member has not mentioned menopause but that the GP is changing her anti-depressants ......  .  It really does NOT matter what is causing the depression/anxiety, but to address symptoms.  If menopause is the culprit then that can be sorted at a later date when the patient is more stable.

Yep, occasionally ADs poop out!  The brain becomes used to the over-all make up of the medication, I've had 5 different ADs since 1988.  So do NOT despair!  Usually 4 me it's my brain feels depressed more and more, I get generally un-well, i.e. unable to eat, get out of bed, deep despair ; I now recognise that my brain requires a different type of AD so trot off to my GP for support and advice.

Sometimes one can stop one type and begin the new 1 without withdrawal, some ADs need tapering under supervision to clear the system B4 the next.  Your GP or Pharmacist will give advice on that.

Have a browse round and see if anything here rings a bell.  Make notes.  Maybe keep a list of mood/symptoms/food to get a clarity on when symptoms are better/worse?  Let us know?

[Taz2]

I do think that Hurdity has a point. Many times on here ladies have been prescribed anti depressants for what turn out to be menopausal symptoms and Briggsy has possibly arrived on this menopause forum due to being peri menopausal or menopausal as it's not the first port of call for depression symptoms and anti depressant advice?

Welcome to the forum by the way Briggsy

Taz x

[Woodlands]

Hello honey.
I started on citralopam 10mgs initially four years ago this month. I had an awful experience with my MH and ended up in bed and crisis for a month.
Now I'm upto 40mgs daily and I hsve never looked bsck. I avoid tea, coffee and drink limited alcohol but I'm happy and great
Hugs
Woodlands x

[Briggsy]

Hi Briggsy

 

As you have posted on a menopause forum I am wondering if you are thinking you have menopausal symptoms?

Depending on what your cycle is doing ( re periods) - if you have started missing the odd one or your cycle is getting longer then your symptoms could well be hormonal ( ie mood swings, crying etc) - and a sign of peri-menopause.

If this is the case then anti-depressants are not supposed to be given as the first line of treatment - instead HRT is more appropriate - if you are not medically unable to take it. The tricky thing is that many women start to get worsening pms and mood swings sometimes just before peri-menopause ( ie when periods are still regular and maybe getting closer together) - and HRT may not necessarily help.

Some gynaes who recognise that the mood swings are hormonal (rather than due to underlying anxiety or depression) - prescribe the pill to control the cycle. if you are under 50 this might be the answer rather than ADs if you are able to take it? There is one that is a bit like HRT so much gentler on the system.

I cried buckets when I was peri-menopausal - but I had no idea it was anything to do with hormones - until later! I rarely cry now!

In case you are heading towards peri-menopause then here is an article you might be interested in:
https://menopausematters.co.uk/magazine/pdf/Article%20-%20Perils%20of%20the%20Perimenopause.pdf

Hurdity x

hi thank you for answering I am pre menopausal iam on prempac hrt I have been like this for 2 years I can cope with all other symptoms but really struggling with moods and tears lol I am normal happy go lucky positive person but feel mental tired of the fight to stay there if that makes sence I have  tried exercising which works to start but find I need more and more to get where it works it can make me so low and as for conference it takes it away same 10 to 14 day each month this month it's been 16 day gp smirked and said unfortunately it's life you have to put up with it . Which if he new how much it took to go back and admit I how felt just burst in to tears . So was thinking about try private gp ? I feel I have failed with having to have AD to 😂 But must keep my chin up I have a brilliant surpportive husband ( who actually wanted to go to the gp and tell him ) off to see menopause musical soon so probably see myself haha thanks for listening to my rant 😀

[Briggsy]

I so feel for you, big hug! when they work well they're great. I'm on citalopram 20mg too, its taken about 4 months for them to become effective. It seems a bit quick for them to lose their effectiveness but perhaps some of the other ladies will know more. I'd go back to your doctor I often feel they don't take you seriously until you keep coming back, so wrong!xx

thank you sending hug back 😀

[Briggsy]

I do think that Hurdity has a point. Many times on here ladies have been prescribed anti depressants for what turn out to be menopausal symptoms and Briggsy has possibly arrived on this menopause forum due to being peri menopausal or menopausal as it's not the first port of call for depression symptoms and anti depressant advice?

Welcome to the forum by the way Briggsy thank you I have found it to be really helpful most of all iam not going mad 😀Iam just normal 😀

Taz x

[Briggsy]

Hurdity - this Member has not mentioned menopause but that the GP is changing her anti-depressants ......  .  It really does NOT matter what is causing the depression/anxiety, but to address symptoms.  If menopause is the culprit then that can be sorted at a later date when the patient is more stable.

Yep, occasionally ADs poop out!  The brain becomes used to the over-all make up of the medication, I've had 5 different ADs since 1988.  So do NOT despair!  Usually 4 me it's my brain feels depressed more and more, I get generally un-well, i.e. unable to eat, get out of bed, deep despair ; I now recognise that my brain requires a different type of AD so trot off to my GP for support and advice.

Sometimes one can stop one type and begin the new 1 without withdrawal, some ADs need tapering under supervision to clear the system B4 the next.  Your GP or Pharmacist will give advice on that.

Have a browse round and see if anything here rings a bell.  Make notes.  Maybe keep a list of mood/symptoms/food to get a clarity on when symptoms are better/worse?  Let us know?

rhank you for responding the thing is it's like i don't want to feel like it but carnt help it feels so overpowering and confusing I shall plod on thanks again nice to know your not alone 😀

[Briggsy]

Hello honey.
I started on citralopam 10mgs initially four years ago this month. I had an awful experience with my MH and ended up in bed and crisis for a month.
Now I'm upto 40mgs daily and I hsve never looked bsck. I avoid tea, coffee and drink limited alcohol but I'm happy and great
Hugs
Woodlands xhi thank you for replaying it's horrible time for us all big hugs back 😀

[Briggsy]

I'm on 20mg citalopram and still have swings just before my period or if I eat chocolate. I find the pills take the edge off my depression without making me a zombie so I try to make the effort on down days to watch what I eat and snuggle up with a book and some lavender oil. I personally prefer citalopram to anything stronger, but if you don't feel like you're coping then definitely go back to your gp.

thanks for answering iam going to look for a gp on hear for some advice rather than my own 😀 Hope it's a good day today for you 😀