Discussion
Hi Guys and Gals
I've been in Citalopram for about a month and today got a new prescription. 20mg.
I've just opened the bag and noticed the brand has changed and the tablet is a different shape, but it still says 20mg citalopram.
I assume it doesn't matter and I carry on as normal? Is it just a different brand? I don't want to interfere with my medication as its beginning to have a very positive effect now.
If needed I can call doc in the morning but thought I'd ask here first as I know a few take it.
I've been in Citalopram for about a month and today got a new prescription. 20mg.
I've just opened the bag and noticed the brand has changed and the tablet is a different shape, but it still says 20mg citalopram.
I assume it doesn't matter and I carry on as normal? Is it just a different brand? I don't want to interfere with my medication as its beginning to have a very positive effect now.
If needed I can call doc in the morning but thought I'd ask here first as I know a few take it.
Wacky Racer said:
I've just spoken to my son's wife who is a dispensing chemist with ten years experience, and she said absolutely nothing to worry about, the active ingredients are the same, just a different brand.
Like eating two different brands of bread.
Virtual pint for you, thanks for taking the time to make that call.Like eating two different brands of bread.
I don't doubt it is needed right now - it takes a while to kick in.
As soon as you can please revisit with your GP on what can be done to sort the underlying issues that currently need to mitigated - this could be CBT or whatever they can offer but try and keep this spell on Citalopram as short as possible rather than seeing it as a longer term solution.
As a short term fix it does the job well.... fix the real problem
As soon as you can please revisit with your GP on what can be done to sort the underlying issues that currently need to mitigated - this could be CBT or whatever they can offer but try and keep this spell on Citalopram as short as possible rather than seeing it as a longer term solution.
As a short term fix it does the job well.... fix the real problem
Willhire89 said:
I don't doubt it is needed right now - it takes a while to kick in.
As soon as you can please revisit with your GP on what can be done to sort the underlying issues that currently need to mitigated - this could be CBT or whatever they can offer but try and keep this spell on Citalopram as short as possible rather than seeing it as a longer term solution.
As a short term fix it does the job well.... fix the real problem
Wise words, duly noted. And working on it. Self help books, and Talking Therapies. Thank you As soon as you can please revisit with your GP on what can be done to sort the underlying issues that currently need to mitigated - this could be CBT or whatever they can offer but try and keep this spell on Citalopram as short as possible rather than seeing it as a longer term solution.
As a short term fix it does the job well.... fix the real problem
Anti-depressant therapy is not necessarily a "short term" fix. In practice, assuming therapeutic elevation of mood within the first 4-6 weeks, we would be looking at 6-9 months before considering reducing and discontinuation. In the context of relapse prevention, up to 2 years would be the norm.
Psychological interventions may be offered as stand alone or as a co-joint approache (ie, prescribing and CBT). Current guidelines suggest initial phase treatment should be anti-depressant therapy or a psychological intervention. For mild-moderate depression or persistent sub-threshold depressive symptoms, a low grade psychological intervention should be offered. A co-joint approach is advocated when there is clinical evidence that the patient meets the criteria for a depressive episode of at least moderate severity.
with regard to coming off SSRI's - yes, many people do experience a "cessation syndrome" and medical supervision is always advised. Little discussed, but also well known, is the "initiation syndrome".
paul
Psychological interventions may be offered as stand alone or as a co-joint approache (ie, prescribing and CBT). Current guidelines suggest initial phase treatment should be anti-depressant therapy or a psychological intervention. For mild-moderate depression or persistent sub-threshold depressive symptoms, a low grade psychological intervention should be offered. A co-joint approach is advocated when there is clinical evidence that the patient meets the criteria for a depressive episode of at least moderate severity.
with regard to coming off SSRI's - yes, many people do experience a "cessation syndrome" and medical supervision is always advised. Little discussed, but also well known, is the "initiation syndrome".
paul
AB8219 said:
Wacky Racer said:
I've just spoken to my son's wife who is a dispensing chemist with ten years experience, and she said absolutely nothing to worry about, the active ingredients are the same, just a different brand.
Like eating two different brands of bread.
Virtual pint for you, thanks for taking the time to make that call.Like eating two different brands of bread.
Cheers anyway.....
this ^
when discussing treatment options with depressed patients (and i do mean "depressed" as opposed to "p*issed off and miserable 'cos my life's not how i want it to be") i always suggest that they should consider anti-depressant therapy as a "course" of treatment akin to anti-biotics. you need to complete the course in order to achieve maximum therapeutic benefits.
paul
when discussing treatment options with depressed patients (and i do mean "depressed" as opposed to "p*issed off and miserable 'cos my life's not how i want it to be") i always suggest that they should consider anti-depressant therapy as a "course" of treatment akin to anti-biotics. you need to complete the course in order to achieve maximum therapeutic benefits.
paul
Thanks for the input into this thread everyone.
Paul, I assume it must be down to the patients individual circumstances and severity of illness, but what would you consider a normal term for this sort of treatment?
I have not had any conversations about length of term with my GP as of yet, but I suppose it is only a little over a month in for me.
I'm hoping the way I feel now, which is a big improvement, will continue to improve further.
Paul, I assume it must be down to the patients individual circumstances and severity of illness, but what would you consider a normal term for this sort of treatment?
I have not had any conversations about length of term with my GP as of yet, but I suppose it is only a little over a month in for me.
I'm hoping the way I feel now, which is a big improvement, will continue to improve further.
AB, it is very much a case by case approach. As a general guideline though, initiation is approx 4-6 weeks with dose being increased to target at weekly intervals during that time.
For patients who respond to an initial regime and sustain therapeutic benefit I would be thinking in terms of 9-12 months for a "completed" episode.
That may sound a long treatment duration but the illness will have taken many months to reach the point where the need to treat is identified so quite reasonable to assume that the treatment will potentially have a lifespan of its' own. It should also be borne in mind that, for some individuals, a year would actually be "short term" from their persepective - as opposed to, say, 2-3 years in therapy.
I'm speaking here of individuals with a clinically proven major depressive episode (not by any means a suicidal depression though) - there are different pathways for loss, trauma, life events etc.
paul
For patients who respond to an initial regime and sustain therapeutic benefit I would be thinking in terms of 9-12 months for a "completed" episode.
That may sound a long treatment duration but the illness will have taken many months to reach the point where the need to treat is identified so quite reasonable to assume that the treatment will potentially have a lifespan of its' own. It should also be borne in mind that, for some individuals, a year would actually be "short term" from their persepective - as opposed to, say, 2-3 years in therapy.
I'm speaking here of individuals with a clinically proven major depressive episode (not by any means a suicidal depression though) - there are different pathways for loss, trauma, life events etc.
paul
paulmakin said:
AB, it is very much a case by case approach. As a general guideline though, initiation is approx 4-6 weeks with dose being increased to target at weekly intervals during that time.
For patients who respond to an initial regime and sustain therapeutic benefit I would be thinking in terms of 9-12 months for a "completed" episode.
That may sound a long treatment duration but the illness will have taken many months to reach the point where the need to treat is identified so quite reasonable to assume that the treatment will potentially have a lifespan of its' own. It should also be borne in mind that, for some individuals, a year would actually be "short term" from their persepective - as opposed to, say, 2-3 years in therapy.
I'm speaking here of individuals with a clinically proven major depressive episode (not by any means a suicidal depression though) - there are different pathways for loss, trauma, life events etc.
paul
Many thanks for this, really interesting to read and gives me a good insight. I am due to see my own GP on the 22nd of this month so will have a good chat about it all then.For patients who respond to an initial regime and sustain therapeutic benefit I would be thinking in terms of 9-12 months for a "completed" episode.
That may sound a long treatment duration but the illness will have taken many months to reach the point where the need to treat is identified so quite reasonable to assume that the treatment will potentially have a lifespan of its' own. It should also be borne in mind that, for some individuals, a year would actually be "short term" from their persepective - as opposed to, say, 2-3 years in therapy.
I'm speaking here of individuals with a clinically proven major depressive episode (not by any means a suicidal depression though) - there are different pathways for loss, trauma, life events etc.
paul
Thanks again
OP don't fret too much about timescales just work on feeling better. I was on citalopram for a while after a very bad episode which left me without flowering it, a complete useless bag of s
t. I'm ex forces and then after that have had some quite stressful occupations. I was diagnosed PTSD, depression,severe anxiety, suicidal and a few more things to boot. I'm doing a lot better now and it was down to a good mental health service and the backing of family. Take it a day at a time, you're not on your own 
t. I'm ex forces and then after that have had some quite stressful occupations. I was diagnosed PTSD, depression,severe anxiety, suicidal and a few more things to boot. I'm doing a lot better now and it was down to a good mental health service and the backing of family. Take it a day at a time, you're not on your own Thought I would type away into this thread rather than start a new one.
Today, I have been on Citalopram for approximately 5 months. And the experience has been a good one. I have felt the best I have felt in years and truly been able to live a normal life without anxiety and/or depression. Of course I've had moments here and there, but that's totally normal for any of us, let alone someone who has more pronounced issues with mental health.
My reason for resurrecting this thread is to ask a question to those who are/have been using Citalopram.
I have, for the past week or so, been experiencing that familiar feeling of nervousness that I used to have. It's a constant, underlying symptom that just doesn't seem to want to let go. It is the same symptom previous to taking meds that used to bug me the most.
I am currently on 20mg per night, and heading to the Docs on the 14th March to discuss. New GP surgery, so hope I get a good one.
Is 20mg considered a low dose? Has anyone else had this experience? Is it just a bad week (and first of it's kind since meds) do you think or a sign that the dose needs adjusting?
I'm keen to hear other PHer's experience. I am not hear looking for advice that I will seek from the GP. So please type away.
Today, I have been on Citalopram for approximately 5 months. And the experience has been a good one. I have felt the best I have felt in years and truly been able to live a normal life without anxiety and/or depression. Of course I've had moments here and there, but that's totally normal for any of us, let alone someone who has more pronounced issues with mental health.
My reason for resurrecting this thread is to ask a question to those who are/have been using Citalopram.
I have, for the past week or so, been experiencing that familiar feeling of nervousness that I used to have. It's a constant, underlying symptom that just doesn't seem to want to let go. It is the same symptom previous to taking meds that used to bug me the most.
I am currently on 20mg per night, and heading to the Docs on the 14th March to discuss. New GP surgery, so hope I get a good one.
Is 20mg considered a low dose? Has anyone else had this experience? Is it just a bad week (and first of it's kind since meds) do you think or a sign that the dose needs adjusting?
I'm keen to hear other PHer's experience. I am not hear looking for advice that I will seek from the GP. So please type away.
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff