scared to increase from 10mg to 20mg of citalopram

hi im 16 and about 3 months ago my doctors diagnosed me with depression/anxiety. she prescribed me with 10mg citalopram ive been on it for like 3 months but a few days ago she increased me to 20mg ive been really scared to take it just incase i get any initial side effects that i first did when i started taking it. i took it 2 nights ago and the next day i felt really dizzy and light head and a bit zombified so i didnt take it last night because i was scared i was going to feel like it again. iv been feeling like this for months now its ongoing and i just dont feel like im making any progress:(:( i dont feel like anyone understands! i dont know whether to take it tonight or cut it in half to 10mg. i also have my exams coming up soon :(

oh you poor thing, what a tough time you are having and it can't be easy with having exams coming up soon too. I know that the side effects are quite scary, i have been thru it too myself but things will improve. 10mg is a very low dose and 20mg is more of a therapeutic dose and might be just what you need to get you thru these tough times. xx

I started on 20mg, when I probably should have eased myself into it and taken 10mg for a while. Anyway, 20mg wasn't quite working so my GP told me to increase to 30mg, I was a bit worried about that so I upped to 25mg and that seems to be working fine for me. So do cut 10mg in half for a while if it makes you feel better, I got a pill cutter off Amazon. Good luck. xx

Hi, 10mg is a low dose but it will still be a shock to the system. If it is hitting you hard, and believe me when I first took citalopram at 20mg it blasted me over backwards, you are fine to simply cut the tablet in half for a week or two.

Don't let this turn into a phobia though, your body will definitely start to adapt to the citalopram over the coming days and weeks, and don't delay your treatment by staying at a lower dose for too long. See how you feel after a week on 10mg and if you think you're ok, try a 20mg dose.

Honestly, while citalopram can be harsh at first, it's not dangerous. It isn't stronger than your body's ability to adapt. Keep taking it and you'll be fine.

thanks for the replys. my doctor rang me a couple of days ago and said to cut the 20 mg in half and take one half in the morning and one in the night. i still havent brought myself to do it so ive just been taking 10 mg. im going to start taking the 20mg next week, but im just scared i wil get side effect which i cannot afford to get at this time as i have exams coming up very sooon. ive been on citalopram for like 3 months now and dont really feel that much better tbh :(

Go for it jessi, the side effects will not last long and you get the real benefit at 20mg believe me in a few weeks time you will feel good again.

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Originally Posted by jessi

thanks for the replys. my doctor rang me a couple of days ago and said to cut the 20 mg in half and take one half in the morning and one in the night. i still havent brought myself to do it so ive just been taking 10 mg. im going to start taking the 20mg next week, but im just scared i wil get side effect which i cannot afford to get at this time as i have exams coming up very sooon. ive been on citalopram for like 3 months now and dont really feel that much better tbh :(

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i hated the feelings these gave me so i used to take them soon as i was getting into bed and if i did feel anything i was asleep do just take 15mg for a week at night and then go onto the full 20mg xx

i just cant bring myself to do it :( i feel as though ill either get even worse i just want to feel myself again :(:(

Jessi, you wont feel better on 10mg it is sub-therapeutic (eg. not strong enough). The side effects of going from 10mg to 20mg are not too bad and only last 1-2 weeks. You will feel yourself again. A year ago I said to my wife I would give away everything I own just to feel myself again, well 5 weeks on 20mg cit have made this happen for the price of a £7.20 prescription.

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Originally Posted by jessi

i just cant bring myself to do it :( i feel as though ill either get even worse i just want to feel myself again :(:(

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I know how difficult it is, really I do. :hugs: I went straight onto 20mg and had a tough first month but knew it wasn't really helping, so upped to 25mg and it works fine for me. Just up gradually, my GP recommended I go up to 30mg but I wanted to try 25mg first and it worked and there were no side effects. Good luck. :hugs:

thank you all for your advise apprecitate it alot. i hope your all doing okay :). i am going to increase my dose but not till my exams are over as i cant risk the side effects as they were bad when i started taking them. thanks for all your help. will keep you updated. xx

ive also been going to a therapist which has been helping alot, its a massive relief being able to talk to someone and them not judging you. i have been feeling a bit better just been trying to keep positive and not think about it to much. and mohc thats exactly how i feel... my doctor asked me the other day if i had one wish what would it be and i said id do anything to feel my self again :( i hope it happens

can someone pls help me. i want to come off citalopram but im scared ill get brain zaps and other withdrawal symptoms! also how do you start a new thread? thanks x

:)

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Originally Posted by oldtime

Jessi, you wont feel better on 10mg it is sub-therapeutic (eg. not strong enough). The side effects of going from 10mg to 20mg are not too bad and only last 1-2 weeks. You will feel yourself again. A year ago I said to my wife I would give away everything I own just to feel myself again, well 5 weeks on 20mg cit have made this happen for the price of a £7.20 prescription.

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i am happy about this quote as i am about to increase my dose from 10mg to 20!! this website is the best i have ever found!! Thank you NOMOREPANIC!!:yesyes:

go for it jessie!! believe me you will feel better and a few weeks of side effects that will wear off is ten times better than a life time of depression..we are all here to support you and i hope by now u are recovered or as near as x