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Suggest Ways To Manage The Side Effects Of Citalopram
Question: Hi, I was taking 20mg of citalopram after 4 weeks and I was still having side effects,my doctor told me he did not think it was the medicine so he told me to go back down to 10mg to see if that would help.
Brief Answer:
Follow his advice
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing through HCM.
I have read your query and understood that you are on 20 mg of citalopram and after starting the drug you developed some side effects. If the side effects are disturbing you then following his advice would help you. I just want to know which kind of side effects do you have?
In my patients I would have stopped citalopram and started escitalopram [lexapro 5 mg].
At this moment, I can suggest you to follow his advice and if that doesn't work then ask him to change the drugs in next visit.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further query then I shall be happy to help. Wish you good health.
Follow his advice
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing through HCM.
I have read your query and understood that you are on 20 mg of citalopram and after starting the drug you developed some side effects. If the side effects are disturbing you then following his advice would help you. I just want to know which kind of side effects do you have?
In my patients I would have stopped citalopram and started escitalopram [lexapro 5 mg].
At this moment, I can suggest you to follow his advice and if that doesn't work then ask him to change the drugs in next visit.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further query then I shall be happy to help. Wish you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Pradeep Vitta
I was having anexity and irribility and stiffness.
Brief Answer:
SSRI can cause anxiety initially
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.
SSRI can cause anxiety symptoms initially after starting it but it subsides within 4 to 7 days on its own. If you have persistent symptoms then it is something else.
Answer the following questions:
1. Do you have tremors in hands or in legs while resting? Do they subside while doing some activity?
2. Do you feel stiffness while changing position in bed or while standing from sitting position?
3. Do you feel slowness in all activities?
4. Do you have difficulty in walking? Have you started walking with small steps?
5. Have you developed stooped position with bending forward?
Answer the questions and meanwhile cut down the dose of citalopram as per advice of your doctor.
I am waiting for reply. Wish you good health.
SSRI can cause anxiety initially
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.
SSRI can cause anxiety symptoms initially after starting it but it subsides within 4 to 7 days on its own. If you have persistent symptoms then it is something else.
Answer the following questions:
1. Do you have tremors in hands or in legs while resting? Do they subside while doing some activity?
2. Do you feel stiffness while changing position in bed or while standing from sitting position?
3. Do you feel slowness in all activities?
4. Do you have difficulty in walking? Have you started walking with small steps?
5. Have you developed stooped position with bending forward?
Answer the questions and meanwhile cut down the dose of citalopram as per advice of your doctor.
I am waiting for reply. Wish you good health.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
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