maks
18-03-11, 11:05
Hi,
Need some reassurance / opinions today please?!?! I'm having a really low week and need a bit of support.
I've been taking Citalopram for about 8 weeks now, 40mg for General Anxiety with a bit of Social / Agrophobia thrown in just for fun :weep: I have also been taking a high strength mutli-vit and Inositol and being careful about what I eat.
In general, I was making very slow progress, but the steps were really hard and there was just no consistency to what I was feeling - one day I could get out by myself for an hours walk or so and feel better for it whilst I was out, upon getting home I would have panic attacks and the next couple of days would be really low again.
I kind of lost the plot this week and did a few stupid things - being very honest, I drank too much alcohol and I stopped doing the things to help myself....
So I picked myself back up I decided to see my GP again - her reaction was incredibly supportive (so lucky to find a GP who specialises in mental health) but surprised me. She tells me she refers to guidelines from the biggest medication study done for depression / anxiety ( Maudsley hospital in London I think?) so her idea on the next steps is not just her guess, but is supported by evidence. Anyway, she recommended, stopping the Citalopram dead that day, and starting the next evening on Venlafaxine at 37.5 mg and then a gradual increase up to 300mg to get the symptoms under control and then a review at that point to decide a dosage for long term. She also mentioned that this is a 'second line' treatment for people that don't respond to the SSRI's - that has got me a bit worried now I have had time to think - what is the third line - 'hospitalisation' ???? I guess I didn't really understand how bad the situation is and was kind of viewing the whole thing from a third party perspective?
I'm awaiting CBT / counselling (approx a month away) so I kind of agree with this approach as a short term way of getting the symptoms under control and then using the counselling to start to move forward. As I was feeling very low, I just did what I was told and started the Venlafaxine. I've got to say, last night, I slept like a baby for 8 hours (1st time in months) and so far don't have any nasty side effects. Actually today, the weirdest thing is that everything seems a little 'lighter and brighter' i mean actually the light I'm seeing - even though it's p-ing it down here today, it looks nice and bright outside - weird i know :scared15:
However, since starting the venlafaxine, I've read some horror stories on what it can be like to come off, especially at higher doses, I know google should be banned for anyone with anxiety - but I just can't help looking - what I haven't found are many positives though - am a bit worried now.
Have I done the right thing just to move onto the new drug? Will I ever be able to get off of it? Is the effect I feel today going to last?
Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh - a million questions that won't stop :shrug: I know that is the anxiety, but it's really feeding itself at the moment........
Really sorry to ramble, I just needed to get it all out today - Please offer me some words of wisdom :weep:
Need some reassurance / opinions today please?!?! I'm having a really low week and need a bit of support.
I've been taking Citalopram for about 8 weeks now, 40mg for General Anxiety with a bit of Social / Agrophobia thrown in just for fun :weep: I have also been taking a high strength mutli-vit and Inositol and being careful about what I eat.
In general, I was making very slow progress, but the steps were really hard and there was just no consistency to what I was feeling - one day I could get out by myself for an hours walk or so and feel better for it whilst I was out, upon getting home I would have panic attacks and the next couple of days would be really low again.
I kind of lost the plot this week and did a few stupid things - being very honest, I drank too much alcohol and I stopped doing the things to help myself....
So I picked myself back up I decided to see my GP again - her reaction was incredibly supportive (so lucky to find a GP who specialises in mental health) but surprised me. She tells me she refers to guidelines from the biggest medication study done for depression / anxiety ( Maudsley hospital in London I think?) so her idea on the next steps is not just her guess, but is supported by evidence. Anyway, she recommended, stopping the Citalopram dead that day, and starting the next evening on Venlafaxine at 37.5 mg and then a gradual increase up to 300mg to get the symptoms under control and then a review at that point to decide a dosage for long term. She also mentioned that this is a 'second line' treatment for people that don't respond to the SSRI's - that has got me a bit worried now I have had time to think - what is the third line - 'hospitalisation' ???? I guess I didn't really understand how bad the situation is and was kind of viewing the whole thing from a third party perspective?
I'm awaiting CBT / counselling (approx a month away) so I kind of agree with this approach as a short term way of getting the symptoms under control and then using the counselling to start to move forward. As I was feeling very low, I just did what I was told and started the Venlafaxine. I've got to say, last night, I slept like a baby for 8 hours (1st time in months) and so far don't have any nasty side effects. Actually today, the weirdest thing is that everything seems a little 'lighter and brighter' i mean actually the light I'm seeing - even though it's p-ing it down here today, it looks nice and bright outside - weird i know :scared15:
However, since starting the venlafaxine, I've read some horror stories on what it can be like to come off, especially at higher doses, I know google should be banned for anyone with anxiety - but I just can't help looking - what I haven't found are many positives though - am a bit worried now.
Have I done the right thing just to move onto the new drug? Will I ever be able to get off of it? Is the effect I feel today going to last?
Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh - a million questions that won't stop :shrug: I know that is the anxiety, but it's really feeding itself at the moment........
Really sorry to ramble, I just needed to get it all out today - Please offer me some words of wisdom :weep: