Please can I have some reassurance

[jool5]

Hi All

Would love some reassurance as the same thoughts are going round my head all day every day...

I am on 3rd day of 5mg Cipralex (for GAD/bit of depression/bit of SA). Having been on Citalopram 10mg in the past (and it working well), I was getting ready for some seriously bad side effects but so far, they haven't been bad atall. The thing is, now I am worrying that they won't work because 5mg won't be enough. The leaflet says to up the dose to 10mg after a week and I don't know whether to see if the 5mg works first or up it anyway. I can't ask my doctor as she was highly uncooperative on Monday and more or less shoved the pills at me (she didn't want to give me them, presumably due to cost) and I don't think she even knows anything about anxiety/depression anyway.

I have a baby to look after and if I take the 10mg and my anxiety shoots though the roof like it did with the Citalopram, I can't go out etc which I need to do to get shopping etc because I get so agoraphobic!

Should I up the dose after 7 days or is it possible the 5mg will work. Also I am worrying that becuase my side effects aren't so bad this time, the drug won't work and I'm obsessing about these thoughts constantly!!

A couple of people have told me that 10mg of Cit is equivalent to 5mg Esc but is this really the case as I can't find evidence of this anywhere. Sorry to ramble, anxiety is taking over here!

Can anyone advise?

Thanks!
Jools

[KK77]

Hi Jools

Yes, escitalopram is supposed to be roughly twice as strong or potent as citalopram. Having read a lot of experiences of people taking escitalopram, I would say that 5mg would be too low for major depression/anxiety. However, it's difficult to judge how it'll affect you so I would advise you to stay on 5mg for a few more weeks and if after that time you still feel unwell to increase to 10mg.

Your GP being "uncooperative" is unfortunate. I would try to see another doctor if you feel that way - or ask to be referred to a mental health specialist.

Good luck with it and hope you feel better soon.

[jool5]

Hi Melancholia
Many thanks for your response. I will stay on the 5mg for about a month I think and see what happens from there....yes it's annoying about my GP and out of order to be honest but c'est la vie eh.

Thanks again

Jools x

[tinkerbel]

hi there, i was on 20mg citalopram before i asked to be put on escitalopram, my doctor started me straight off at 10mg and i had no side effects at all, spoke to the pharmisist and she said because they are similar there should be no side effects from changing.