Citalopram

[KP the nut]

(((Sazza))). I look at it as an aid. It doesn't make miracles happen. I am in a v dark place, even with Citalopram. For me the PTSD cup doest overflow. I try to reward myself for doing 'stuff' but sh*t it is hard. Mine has been made worse by my adoring H (main supporter) being away until Christmas Eve.

I'm taking it a minute by minute. Very small baby steps.

 

[cat]

I've been on 40mg Citalpram for nearly 3 yrs & combined with therapy it has worked very well for me. I take it in the morning as i find it so hard to wake up if i take it at night. As KP says it is an aid, rebalancing our brain chemistry, the hard work is in managing our symptoms.

I thought medication would be short term to get me over the worse but i've come to understand that you cannot rush recovery. For many of us its taken years of suffering with the effects of ptsd to get to this point, take your time, take the meds & recovery will come when you are ready.

 

[Sazza]

Thanks Kp and cat, I know it's just an Aid but at moment need something to lift me to that place where I can deal with things and do natural things to help me mood. I am just wanting to sleep all the time. I am Going to go doctors tomorrow and ask if we could try wellburtin With it to see if helps lift me. I don't like recommending Meds but can but ask, I just feel I can't continue with Citalopram without adding something. Yeah sorted anxiety but I'd rather be anxious than feel like the living dead.

 

[cat]

Hi Sazza
I've lost track of the dose Citalopram you are on, is it 20mg? I found that while I was on 20mg it helped with dampening my anxiety but didn't have much affect on my depression, I had a constant need just lounge around with a feeling of apathy. My T suggested I increase to 40mg & I have been so much better since, it has lifted my depression & I feel so much stronger.
Hope you get a positive result at the doctors tomorrow.

 

[KP the nut]

(((Sazza))), I hope your doctor can help. I'm still on 60mg. It is a big help, but some weeks, this has been a horrendous couple of weeks, I struggle. Then I go back to making sure I am doing grounding and breathing and whatever else is needed.

 

[Sazza]

Thanks ladies. Yeah on 20 at moment cat, was increased to 30 couple week again But we reduced it back 20 decided take it slower due to me becoming very agitated. I think maybe my Gp will increase the dose back to 30 but I havd Been on 30 in
The past and still didn't help the depression. I will mention if cam increase and add something else see what is advised. Just concerned with holiday period something needs be sorted.

Thanks again hope things improve again soon for you Kp.

 

[cat]

Hi Sazza
No 30mg didnt help me either, made me very grumpy!
Good luck tomorrow.

 

[kimba]

Hi Sazza,
Sorry you are still struggling. I am on the 40 of Citalopram with Trazadone also to help me sleep. The combination has made a real difference. Getting more normal sleep with more variety of dreams. Not as many horrible or anxious ones and longer time in between. I expect this to go up and down as I go through therapy, but today I feel the most me I have for a while. Actually surprised some friends for an impromptu get together this afternoon which I haven't felt like doing for a while. Good luck with whatever you try next.

 

[Sazza]

Thanks Cat and Kimba. Glad things are improving for you Kimba. Like have said very apprehensive of stopping citalopram as anxiety wise i like it and after a brief change to sertraline while back sending me off the rails i don't fancy unsettling things. Fingers crossed tomorrow goes well, going to write little note take with me make life easier as im that tired talking it hard.

 

[Che Guebuddha]

Iv been on 20 mg Citalopram for a few month and the depression seems to be comming back. No anger outbursts only depression.

I wonder if 20mg is enough for PTSD sufferers??

I also became very sleepy during day so from today Im taking it at night time and see how it goes.

May we all be happy at heart

 

[cat]

Hi Che

I was on 20mg for 6mths & found I was still depressed, when i increased to 40mg it made such a difference. I felt like I'd woken up after a long sleep, suddenly noticing birds singing, & appriciating the changing seasons. I also found it better to take at night.

My GP & psychologist told me 20mg is ok for a maintenance dose but you need the higher dose to restore the chemical balance. I've been on Cit for 3yrs now & over the last 6 mths have felt more emotionally stable than I ever have so I'm hoping to decrease my dose next month.

 

[Gamereign555]

Yeah agreed there, and don't feel bad because it's pretty common to up the dose to 40mg. at any time within that particular time frame. Your body utilized all of the serotonin as soon as you got used to it probably and often it is still not enough to prevent the depressive and anxiety symptoms. I think most of the time your own brain can slowly start to rebuild its process itself... though I am not sure. You could think of it as your nervous system meeting the drug part way to get the desired effect. Some peoples systems are probably damaged or being prevented from acting more than others and that might be why different people require more or seem to feel the drugs aren't working. Unfortunately beyond dosing sizes and different methods of activation there, we don't seem to have a way to tailor a drug or procedure to that persons' exact need to miraculously restore balance.

I am quite curious if the SSRI can actually restore a brains natural process to create and use the serotonin properly. Ultimately I am hoping that the Celexa isn't needed at all because brain and nervous system has its natural pattern restored.. I wish I knew more about this but I don't. Hopefully I am not tied to the use of this drug and the corrupted issue with my system isn't able to restore itself or maintain on its own. A better question is also, does the drug prevent my own brain from finding its own way and is that 'way' not dependent on taking an SSRI forever?