mjh74
18-07-05, 17:50
Hi all,
I know there is a sticky about this drug but I just wondered if I could have some personal experiences from people with their reactions to it.
I'd previously taken Cipramil/Citalopram for depression about 5 years ago and it was my life changer for depression, I'd tried various other drugs including prozac, dothiepin and moclobemide but none helped. As soon as I started Cipramil my life changed totally and I felt brilliant, I haven't since suffered depression. I withdrew from the drug very slowly and felt brilliant afterwards too!
This time my problem is anxiety and panic attacks which I'd class as severe at times. My GP's first choice was obviously Cipramil but for anxiety it seemed to make me feel worse, I'm not sure if I gave it long enough but I just remember after 6 weeks I still felt really anxious. I was then moved onto Efexor/Venlafaxine and felt really sluggish and out of it so I withdrew from that and moved to Cipralex. I have now been on this drug since about March starting on 5mg for the first month and then to 10mg until now. I expected a lot more from these drugs for anxiety but they don't seem to be as affective for anxiety as they are for depression.
At the minute I am still struggling through the days, I find that I'm way more obsessive about my problems than I was before, quite often I have bursts of panic and feel my throat tighten up just by swallowing and it's an all consuming fear. I remember after being on the Cipramil 5 years ago, after about a year I think I had similar obsessive thoughts and started to withdraw from the tablets as my depression was pretty much non existant, this was coupled with CBT therapy and I made what I considered a full recovery. It's only severe pressure, mismanagement and misorganisation at work that started my anxiety which all seemed to explode into the worst panic attack I've ever had. Ever since I'm obsessed with choking/gagging and somedays I just can't bear the feeling of my own throat and just having to swallow or speak leaves me with crippling anxiety for the day and fighting to hold off heaving with each swallow.
I'm debating whether to ask my GP to move off the drug and either try something else, or try it alone. Work have been really good so far and I've been on the sick for nearly 8 months but I just don't feel well enough to work.
Sorry for the long posting but any suggestions/experiences from others would be GREATLY appreciated...
Best wishes,
Mark
I know there is a sticky about this drug but I just wondered if I could have some personal experiences from people with their reactions to it.
I'd previously taken Cipramil/Citalopram for depression about 5 years ago and it was my life changer for depression, I'd tried various other drugs including prozac, dothiepin and moclobemide but none helped. As soon as I started Cipramil my life changed totally and I felt brilliant, I haven't since suffered depression. I withdrew from the drug very slowly and felt brilliant afterwards too!
This time my problem is anxiety and panic attacks which I'd class as severe at times. My GP's first choice was obviously Cipramil but for anxiety it seemed to make me feel worse, I'm not sure if I gave it long enough but I just remember after 6 weeks I still felt really anxious. I was then moved onto Efexor/Venlafaxine and felt really sluggish and out of it so I withdrew from that and moved to Cipralex. I have now been on this drug since about March starting on 5mg for the first month and then to 10mg until now. I expected a lot more from these drugs for anxiety but they don't seem to be as affective for anxiety as they are for depression.
At the minute I am still struggling through the days, I find that I'm way more obsessive about my problems than I was before, quite often I have bursts of panic and feel my throat tighten up just by swallowing and it's an all consuming fear. I remember after being on the Cipramil 5 years ago, after about a year I think I had similar obsessive thoughts and started to withdraw from the tablets as my depression was pretty much non existant, this was coupled with CBT therapy and I made what I considered a full recovery. It's only severe pressure, mismanagement and misorganisation at work that started my anxiety which all seemed to explode into the worst panic attack I've ever had. Ever since I'm obsessed with choking/gagging and somedays I just can't bear the feeling of my own throat and just having to swallow or speak leaves me with crippling anxiety for the day and fighting to hold off heaving with each swallow.
I'm debating whether to ask my GP to move off the drug and either try something else, or try it alone. Work have been really good so far and I've been on the sick for nearly 8 months but I just don't feel well enough to work.
Sorry for the long posting but any suggestions/experiences from others would be GREATLY appreciated...
Best wishes,
Mark