escitalipram(cipralex) uping meds

[alwaysanxious]

hello all ive been on 5mg of cipralex for 3half weeks now, and tomorrow night got to take 10mg from then on.... will there be a big incresase in side effects ???? i need this dose as feel 5mg is not doing enough i know it takes 4 to 6 weeks maybe to feel better but am scared with the extra rise in dosage anyone started on 5 and gone to ten could give me advice i really would appreciate this ....???

thanku:scared15:

lisa

[Spot-the-frog]

Hi,

I went from 10mg to 20mg of cipralex with no side effects at all, I can't say if the same will be for you. I hope it goes well.

[steveo]

5mg is sub therapeutic so unless you're a frail old lady, it's not really expected to work. It's just given so the dose gets in your system without too many problems. Going from 5mg to 10mg is a fairly small step so it should be OK. Upping a dose is always a lot easier than starting a brand new medication so the hardest part for you is over now. Over the last month I've gone from 10mg to 20mg to 30mg. Only minimal side effects and it always settles down by 2 weeks at the most.

You will be fine! Best of luck and let us know how it all goes!

Steven x

[karenp]

Wow Steveo 30mg's of Escitalopram, that is a huge does now. How are you doing now? Much better I hope.
I started going up from 10 yesterday to 15mg but had anxiety, not terrible though, just nervousness but my mood felt really good though I was asleep most of the afternoon as increases always make me feel so tired and I was in bed at 7pm last night and slept through till 7.30am today but feel flat at the min and headachey but ok...Lisa you will be ok darl! If you do get side effects they are never nice but so tolerable on this drug I have always found and do pass very quickly, the first couple of days are always worse for me and then I settle down. xxxx

[Sober2000june]

good luck on 15 Karen:)

Paul x

[steveo]

I'll be taking over your job as the resident Escitalopram expert soon Karen hahah.

To be honest I started feeling better on 20mg but here in hospital they don't give me a weeks break from some sort of change !!

30mg is making me feel a bit out of it. It is holding the anxiety back but paradoxically for me, it's causing a worsening of depersonalisation/derealisation which then in turn adds to the anxiety.

They wouldn't let me go from 10 - 15mg. Had to do my jumps in 10mg!! I found that it takes 2 weeks to subside from a dose change but really the side effects peak at day 6,7 and 8. That was what I noted in my diary anyway. We're all different though!

I do believe it's one of the SSRIs with the least amount of side effects which is lucky for us. If this doesn't work for me then I will be saying goodbye to my fellow Escitalopram friends and moving to the Seroxat of Venlafaxine threads! That won't be a comfortable journey.

[karenp]

I only thought they let you go up to 20mg but I suppose hospital's have different rules as they have consultants not just gp's, I'm struggling at the mo, just worrying over far too many things so my dose of Escitalopram isn't helping at all, even Lorazepam isn't helping much and all I want to do is sleep until this all passes again but I am gonna really tell myself off today and say worrying just isn't worth it and problems always get solved in the end and try and think positive to calm myself down again here!!!
I really hope the 30mg's really helps you...that is a whopping big dose of Cipralex. All the very best darl xxx

[steveo]

I think this dose is way too high for me to be honest. I have no energy and I've been getting terrible headaches. The last few days have been a complete nightmare for me and diazepam is barely touching my anxiety.

I have the ward round tomorrow so I'm going to ask to go back down to 20mg as a last option before I change meds to something that I really don't want to try.

Have any of you tried many different meds? Would love to know your experiences.

[karenp]

I've been on Mirtazapine (made me suicidal and was hell to get off), also tried Sertraline, Prozac and used to always be on Citalopram but they gave me Ecitlaopram this time for less side effects but still not enjoying this 5mg increase, I just feel tired until about tea time...I think 30mg's is way too high too Stevo, it's above the max dose, though you'd think an hospital would know what they are doing. How long have you been on it to be getting bad anxiety still?
Im going to stick on 15mg's for a couple of weeks and then go up to the 20mg.
Lisa and Paul how are you getting on??? I think the first 5 days were worst for me last time I increased and then I levelled out.

[alwaysanxious]

Hi karen its my second day on my 10 mg and just fwlt realy tired today and had bad headache. But rook some paracetamol .im taking mine at night . Im still waiting for massive anxiety due to the rise and scared
Fingers crossed it be ok
Lisa xx

[karenp]

Awww Lisa, I know it's harder said than done but try not to even think about it and you will be ok...I'm on day 3 of my increase to 15mg's and my mood is so much better already, I don't even have headache today just a little irritability that feels more annoying than anything else. I am really prone to side effects but with this drug they've never been that bad where as when I was on regular Citalopram my head used to feel like a pressure cooker for days and I'd even get panic attacks. I do remember having anxiety going from 5mg to 10mg but just nervousness that only lasted a couple of hours and then it would pass. If you can drink lots and lots of water and try and get as much exercise as you can. Looking back I think my side effects used to peak about day 5 and then I'd start to settle again but it took a good month or so before I actually felt properly better and my mornings have never been quite perfect hence me now going up again.
I take 5mg's on a morning and then my usual 10 at night time as I thought it might be easier that way for some reason...ha ha! Probs makes no difference at all. lol. Don't be scared though darl as just tell yourself it is a chemical imbalance whilst your brain adjusts to the new dose and it can't really hurt you...each day will get easier and easier xxxx

[alwaysanxious]

Thanks karen. Its been 6 weeks now on meds 2 of them on 10mg. Still getting ok days and bad days. The worst thing is I feel so down will my mood lift as I take more each day. ?

Lisax

[karenp]

Hi Lisa, hopefully yes but you can always increase to max dose if not which I am having to do. But I would give the 10mg's a few more weeks darl to build up in your system xxx

[Sober2000june]

Hi Lisa i'm just a couple of weeks further on than you. Stated 13th June and been on 10mg wks today. couple of weeks ago felt i was on my way as i was able to concentrate in the office for hrs at a time(1st time in yrs). Last week and half have been harder; tired, harder to concentrate and more agitation with the kids. Just plodding along a day at a time and hopng it'll come good:)

Take care,

Paul:hugs:

[alwaysanxious]

Hi both. Thats my main concern the low moods as if im sad, its horrible the panics and anxiety are getting little better. But normaly im very outgoing and bubbly just want me back. I was put on the meds for panic and gad. But feeling like depressed to is this normal? Xxxx

[Jmac]

Quick note on that... it's not uncommon to have some down moments while getting used to the meds. I had it as well when I started two years ago. It should resolve and if it doesn't, speak to your doc. There are myriad ways to tackle this issue.