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Originally Posted by
Windywel
Hi all I am new to this forum and would really appreciate some support and reassurance.
:welcome: to No More Panic,
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Is it normal to have a marked increase in anxiety at the beginning and should I just try and ride it out? Or should I talk the doctor about changing to another medication?
Yes, it is a common initial side-effect of most serotonergic antidepressants (ADs), caused by the increased serotonin activity. The brain will respond after a while by downregulating serotonin synthesis and expression, but the heightned anxiety may return for a while after dose increases.
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I’m feeling really panicky about the medication not working and being stuck with this awful anxious panicky feeling. I can’t relax or sleep or even sit still for long and I can’t eat anything!How long does it take to go away?
If citalopram worked before then there is a good chance it will again. Talk to your GP or psychiatrist about the side-effects as there is no need to suffer. Small doses of one of the benzodiazepines (BZDs) - diazepam (Valium), etc - should help, but they can interfere with the mechanism by which ADs work, so maybe try *hydroxyzine first. It is a prescription antihistamine with good anti anxiety properties, not quite as potent as the BZDs, but often potent enough. It is also mildly sedating which may help you sleep, however, be aware of this if driving, or engaging in any other potentially hazardous activity.
*Hydroxyzine comes in two forms, hydroxyzine pamoate (Vistaril) and hydroxyzine hydrochloride (Atarax). Anecdotally, the pamoate form is claimed to be the more effective anxiolytic, but just how true this is remains a matter of debate in forums
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I just need to hear about people’s good experiences going back on medication. Surely because it worked last time it’s more likely than not to provide some benefit even if it doesn’t take it away entirely?
It is likely to work as well as before, but some find the initial side-effects are different than the first time.