Hi All,
I hope I am in the right forum thread hopefully!
I am typing this from work so trying to hide my screen at the moment haha!
I am 27 and been on citalopram for 7 years with little of no issue I went on them after an EXTREME bout of anxiety when I was 21. The really helped once they got started and I was stable for about 5 years on them no issues just living my life. I needed to bump up twice though on them once to 30mg and once to 40mg so that is where I sit now.
My Dad passed away last year and I have had really hard time coping with that and some other life pressures and about 4 months ago I noticed my anxiety starting to spike again. As a temporary measure my Doctor put me on 60mg of citalopram but it did not work. Then she added in Zyprexa 2.5mg and I went back to 40mg of Citalopram which is where I am now. The Zyprexa helped the extreme anxiety I was having and panic attacks and I havent missed work I have been going in, socialising etc but I still feel incredibly flat and I am still getting bouts of anxiety I can have two or three very bad days in a row etc so yesterday my Doctor thought that potentially the citalopram has run it's course with me and its now time to try an snri and she suggested Effexor which I agree I think I need a change.
However this is required to take 20mg for one week (halving my dose of citalopram) then onto Effexor 37.5mg for one week then up to 75mg.
This obviously terrifies me. I took 20mg last night and I know one day will not have a difference but I am worried about the rest of the week on 20mg then the startup effects f a new anti depressant. Can anyone who has been through this tel me what to expect or even changed their ssri before? I would be so grateful to chat to people.
Thanks so much!
Reb